Here are a few things to do before signing the contract for your venue. The majority of wedding planning is pretty fun. If you have a few options or a range of dates that might work, you’ll be more likely to secure a spot at the venue of your dreams. Venue checklist questions to ask yourself. Take your notebook and write down the answers to all the questions so you don’t get venues confused. Find out what happens if you don’t meet it, as well as what upgraded options you might be able to add to your menu to help you meet that minimum. Called “plus-plus,” that means you’ll be paying tax and gratuity on top of the listed cost. If you have specific needs of the band then this is the time to ask. Pro tip: A venue like a hotel will usually have staff available to help arrange and set the tables, then help pack up any rented glassware, flatware, and dishes at the end of the night. Note the sliding scale, which typically begins on the date the contract was signed and continues in increments … Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms? Heat lamps? Is our date available? ), Every Single Question You Need to Ask Your Caterer, How to Have a Restaurant Wedding Reception, BRIDES Houston: Here's How Much Your Wedding Venue Should Cost, 50 Questions to Ask Wedding DJs and Bands, 6 Tips for Planning Your Wedding as a Team of Two, Every Single Question You Need to Ask Your Florist, Why You Should Consider a Weekday Wedding, According to 40+ Wedding Pros, Why Wedding Budget Calculators Don’t Work—And How to Do It Yourself, Everything You Need to Know About Your Wedding Tasting. Some venues will give a discount for ceremonies that occur on a Friday instead of a Saturday, or in the early afternoon, rather than the evening. 2. Pro tip: If they aren’t the person you’re doing your tour with, try to meet these contacts in person ASAP to find out if you get along. All Rights Reserved, Best Bridal Shower Gifts for the Bride Who Has Everything, Best Bridal Shower Decorations on a Budget. Will guests be charged for parking? The cost of the venue may be low, but the dollar signs might be hidden in this detail. 7. Planning a wedding is a lot of work and can be very costly. There are five questions everyone should ask a band when they approach them to do a wedding. You have consider so many things like an open wedding or a fancy place. But make sure you know the total cost upfront and how that can be broken down (and if the venue has a deposit or payment schedule). Furthermore, some venues charge tax on top of the service charge and others calculate it only on the tangible items, so having an estimate prior to signing … We know wedding planning can be tough. An easy way out would be to direct all your questions to your shortlisted photographer before you take the final call. How many bathrooms are there? We have the top 10 questions to ask when you’re out touring venues for the big day. Both of these items would be a good thing to add to the contract before signing. If yes, what services are included? How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How close is the venue to a major airport? Your wedding’s style, budget, guest count, and preferred locations all affect your venue. And how much time is available for breakdown? Some venues have a list of preferred vendors that they like working with. To help, we've come up with this comprehensive list of questions to ask a wedding venue—before you put down a deposit. Choosing the right venue for your day defines many of the. Here are the questions to ask a wedding venue — before signing on the dotted line. Discover (and save!) 8. Who will be our point person as we plan our wedding? While no one wants a rainy wedding day, it happens quite often, so you’ll want to love your Plan B just as much as Plan A. If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee? Do you want an outdoor ceremony or an indoor one? This may seem obvious, but it's always a good idea to get everything in writing. When is the earliest we can start setting up? Especially now, as I finish the 2020 update. Jaimie Mackey was the Brides real weddings editor from 2013 to 2015. How far in advance can I reserve my date? Questions to Ask Before Signing a Wedding Venue Contract February 27, 2019. We’re here to help with a list of questions for you to ask before you make it official. Here’s a sample list of questions to ask a wedding venue. Essential to your special day is finding your perfect venue. If you’re having an outdoor wedding, or even just a ceremony, you’ll want to know what plans the venue has in place for severe weather. Pro tip: Find out how many guests you can fit in the space with and without a dance floor, with a band vs. with a DJ (as a band will require more space), and with round vs. rectangular or square tables to understand which decisions will help you maximize the space and your guest list. © Copyright 2020, Meredith Corporation. In what capacity? Will the venue coordinator be available as the day-of-coordinator? Ask these questions first. Before you start thinking up plans to hang lights from the ceiling and string confetti or flowers all over, make sure to ask what is and isn’t allowed when decorating. Looking for wedding venues is not an easy task. Feb 10, 2017 - Selecting a wedding venue is often the first big item that a couple checks off their list. When brides and grooms start looking for wedding venues, too often they fall in love with the beauty of the place and sign a contract before they’ve considered the more practical things. The Ultimate Wedding-Planning Checklist and Timeline. While not the glitziest part of planning, it is the most important. Don’t forget, the venue is there for you not only the day of, but all the days leading up to the ceremony as well. Is it also easily accessible from highways or public transit? Luckily, we've created a list of every single wedding venue question for you to use as you interview and tour potential wedding locales. Top Questions to Ask Before Signing Your Wedding Venue Contract Contagious April 6, 2020 Planning , Vendor Selection , Venues Leave a Comment Discovering the perfect wedding venue will be quite the task. Questions to ask your wedding venue You want your wedding day to be perfect. Confirm exactly what the venue’s staff will be doing so you can pass that information on to your other vendors. Consider bringing this list of 28 important questions to ask potential venues with you on your site visits. Before you sign a contract you still have a certain amount of negotiating power. Chair, tables, dining utensils — whatever it is, you’ll want to know what the venue will handle and what you’ll need to worry about. Consider wedding insurance so you don’t lose a big deposit if something changes. 6. The venue we chose had everything BUT the bridal suite. There is so much to factor in, … Who will be our point of contact before the wedding? It can, however, come with a hefty markup. If not, are there limitations or guidelines we need to meet when bringing others in? Do we have to use your approved vendors? You’ll want to ask these before you book. You'll likely be in contact with your wedding venue during the planning process, so this will come in handy. 28 Wedding Venue Questions You Should Be Asking Before you sign on the dotted line, here's what to ask the wedding venue. 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