Perhaps one of the most important decisions you will make about your wedding is the selection of your wedding venue. It can set the whole tone for your day, so it’s important you get it right for the day that you want.
There are so many amazing venues out there in the South East (and beyond!), some will fit your ideas more than others. This is the first in our ‘Questions to ask your wedding venue’ series - THE BASICS. Those questions that you should start with…
If your venue, answers all of these questions with answers you like the sound of then you are off to a good start!
Come back to check out the questions focused on the ceremony, wedding breakfast and much more including those questions that you didn’t think you needed to ask…
9 QUESTIONS TO START WITH
1. How many guests can the venue hold for the day and the evening?
Can the venue hold all of the people that you both want at your wedding - a simple but important question before you get too far along the journey.
2. Can we get married on site? I.e. do you have a wedding license?
Do you want to get married at your wedding venue or at a church? If you want everything in once place and on site, then this is an important question to ask the venue. A lot of venues these days do have a license, but there are some that won’t.
3. Can we hire the venue exclusively?
If you have followed me for a while, you will know my strong opinion on exclusive venue hire. Although sometimes more expensive, it means that only you and your guests have use of the venue - I have been on the bad end of the general public walking in on a wedding reception and it can kill the vibe. If you’re looking at getting married in a hotel or a landmark wedding venue, then it’s likely you either won’t be able to have exclusive hire OR you will be paying an extreme premium to do so.
If a venue where multiple weddings could be taking place, then it’s important to know who will be allowed to go where, from your suppliers to your guests.
4. Will we have a single point of contact?
It’s important to understand who your point of contact will be, not only in the run up to the wedding, but on the day itself. Will that be the same person, for example? It’ll be important for you to know, but also for your bridal party to know should something go wrong or you need something on the day.
5. Can we stay on-site?
If this is something you want, is there accommodation on site? Are there hotels nearby? Very important, especially if you are marrying away from your hometown or where your friends and family are coming from.
Do they offer discounted rates for your guests? Do the local hotels offer discounted rates? It’s often something the venue will know - or drop by the local hotels to give them a visit as well before you recommend them to your guest.
Another question that you will be bombarded with from your guests, are check-in and check-out times. This will allow your guests to plan. The likelihood is, you won’t be able to check-in until the afternoon, when guests are at your wedding, but hotels normally allow space for bags etc. to be left.
Do they provide breakfast the following morning? Is there space to have breakfast the following morning where you won't see the next wedding being set-up (as this could dampen your spirits on the first morning as a newly wed).
6. Do we have to use your suppliers?
Many venues will have a list of recommended suppliers to help you decide who you should go ahead with on your day. They have done some of the hard work for you! Some will only want you to work with these suppliers, but many will just be giving you some advice from their own great experiences.
Do you need to use the in-house catering? Is there a corkage fee for bringing in your own catering and drinks? You may be able to find a more cost-effective supplier, but if there is a corkage fee it might not be worth it.
7. What time can we access the venue? And what time do we have to leave?
When can you get in to set-up? When can your suppliers get in? If you are getting ready on-site, then when can you access the venue. Really important questions to consider for the start of your day.
Whether you are staying at the accommodation overnight, or you have to be out that night, it’s important to know when you need to get all of your stuff out essentially. Do you need your suppliers to then come in at midnight to take things down? Or do you have until the next morning when it’s likely the next wedding will be kicking off for the day.
8. Is there parking on site? Is there a certain time when cars have to be removed from the venue?
An important one for your guests - can they park on site? Can cars be left overnight and if so, what time do they need to be collected.
Linked to this, it’s worth asking your venue for their recommendations on taxi companies. If you and/or your guests are staying close-by, is it worth you putting on mini-buses to shuttle people to the hotel. A nice touch!
9. Can we get ready on site the morning of the wedding? Is there space for both of us to get ready?
Not all venues will have this type of space available. If your ceremony is at the venue, then I think this is a more important question as you may not then want to travel once you are ready. Some venues only have space one of you to get ready - so again, something to ask and consider.
Linked to this, is the question about catering in the morning. Do you want to have breakfast and drinks at the wedding venue while you are getting ready. Is this something you can organise before-hand?
Bình luận