Shopping for your wedding venue will be one of the most exciting parts of your wedding planning process. But to ensure you’re not overwhelmed and flustered with the choice, variety and amount of different options that every wedding venue may offer, we’ve devised a handy list for you to print out and take with you to all of your venue viewings. Some couples walk in to a wedding venue and fall instantly in love (again), where as others try to imagine what their day could be like in each venue before making that final decision.
Step one of your planning should be to visit wedding venues with potential dates and guest numbers in mind. Of course location, time of year, cost and venue capacity are all huge determining factors but you should also consider choose a wedding venue for its staff and its great reviews. You need to trust the people running your wedding – no venue will look beautiful if you’ve been double booked or it is suddenly three times more expensive that what you’d originally budgeted for. Think of venue shopping as a job interview. It is really important you make sure you understand exactly what the venue can offer BEFORE you sign anything.
To help you along your way, why not print out our list of essential questions to ask your wedding venue, so that you don’t forget to ask them all as you’re wandering around what could be ‘the one’.
Is there a food package included? And does this include a tasting?
Are we required to use your in-house caterer or is there an option to bring in our own?
If so, will they have access to the kitchen, running water etc?
Are they flexible with the type of food and service? Buffet, finger food, family service, seated banquet etc.
Can we create a bespoke package? Can we upgrade the food options and add on buffets or canapés?
How do you manage vegetarian options and other dietary requirements?
Do you allow external suppliers such as an ice cream van or Prosecco van to come on site?
Is there a mandatory drinks package available?
Do you have an alcohol license? What time does this run to and can we extend it?
Is there an option for us to bring our own alcohol? Would there be a corkage fee?
Is it a free bar or a paid bar? Could you accommodate both?
Are children fed at the same time as adults on the day of the wedding?
Do you offer a separate children’s menu?
Questions About: Wedding Entertainment
Are there any requirements for suppliers/bands? (e.g. PAT certificate)
Do you allow fireworks, sparklers or Chinese lanterns?
Are there any noise level restrictions we’d have to adhere to?
Does music/entertainment have to stop at a certain time?
Shopping for your wedding venue will be one of the most exciting parts of your wedding planning process. But to ensure you’re not overwhelmed and flustered with the choice, variety and amount of different options that every wedding venue may offer, we’ve devised a handy list for you to print out and take with you to all of your venue viewings. Some couples walk in to a wedding venue and fall instantly in love (again), where as others try to imagine what their day could be like in each venue before making that final decision.
Step one of your planning should be to visit wedding venues with potential dates and guest numbers in mind. Of course location, time of year, cost and venue capacity are all huge determining factors but you should also consider choose a wedding venue for its staff and its great reviews. You need to trust the people running your wedding – no venue will look beautiful if you’ve been double booked or it is suddenly three times more expensive that what you’d originally budgeted for. Think of venue shopping as a job interview. It is really important you make sure you understand exactly what the venue can offer BEFORE you sign anything.
To help you along your way, why not print out our list of essential questions to ask your wedding venue, so that you don’t forget to ask them all as you’re wandering around what could be ‘the one’.
Is there a food package included? And does this include a tasting?
Are we required to use your in-house caterer or is there an option to bring in our own?
If so, will they have access to the kitchen, running water etc?
Are they flexible with the type of food and service? Buffet, finger food, family service, seated banquet etc.
Can we create a bespoke package? Can we upgrade the food options and add on buffets or canapés?
How do you manage vegetarian options and other dietary requirements?
Do you allow external suppliers such as an ice cream van or Prosecco van to come on site?
Is there a mandatory drinks package available?
Do you have an alcohol license? What time does this run to and can we extend it?
Is there an option for us to bring our own alcohol? Would there be a corkage fee?
Is it a free bar or a paid bar? Could you accommodate both?
Are children fed at the same time as adults on the day of the wedding?
Do you offer a separate children’s menu?
Questions About: Wedding Entertainment
Are there any requirements for suppliers/bands? (e.g. PAT certificate)
Do you allow fireworks, sparklers or Chinese lanterns?
Are there any noise level restrictions we’d have to adhere to?
Does music/entertainment have to stop at a certain time?
