10 Important Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue

While this sounds like an easy and practical place to start, with so many choices regarding wedding venues, you may need help knowing how to spot ‘the one’.

Your venue sets the tone for your day, so when viewing potential venues, it’s essential to ask the right questions to determine if it’s right. To help you know what questions you should be asking, Huntsmill Farm has created a helpful list of their top 10 questions to ask your wedding venue.

What availability do you have?

I think the most important thing to consider when you like a wedding venue is its availability – particularly if you have a preferred date in mind. Wedding venues can be booked quickly during busier times of the year, so asking about their availability from the beginning may avoid disappointment. If you don’t have a date in mind, asking for their availability can help you decide about booking your wedding.

Is there a maximum number of guests we can have?

Depending on your wedding day plans, the maximum number of guests a venue can comfortably accommodate may be a deciding factor in your choice of venue. You want to ensure the capacity aligns with your guest list and the kind of wedding you want to host, whether an intimate gathering or a grand celebration. Once you know how many guests you are looking to invite to your wedding and if your venue can accommodate them, this will help with your decision process.

What is included in the venue hire fee?

Another question to ask your wedding venue is what is included in the venue hire fee, as every wedding venue runs things differently. Some venues offer a ‘dry hire’, meaning you have use of the space and will need to bring in all other suppliers, and other venues provide extras such as catering, decorations, linens, and tables and chairs. Asking your wedding venue what is included in the hire fee will help you better understand, and then you will know if you need to factor any extras into your wedding budget.

How does catering work?

One of the big questions to ask your wedding venue is how catering works. Having a grand wedding breakfast with your loved ones is essential for some couples, whilst for others, something lowkey and more intimate might be a better fit. Each venue may have different rules and restrictions on catering. Again, this is something to consider how these fit in with your wedding day plan.

Do you have any drink packages?

Some wedding venues offer drinks packages, while others may be happy for you to bring your own drinks. Some may offer a mix of both. The benefit of having a drinks package is that the wedding venue will take care of everything for you and often have flexible drink options.

What happens if it rains?

One important question to ask your wedding venue is what happens if it rains on your wedding day – especially if you have your heart set on planning an outdoor wedding or drinks reception! Your venue will have a contingency plan to ensure your day runs smoothly, rain or shine, and it’s a good idea to understand this early in your wedding planning journey.

Do you have a preferred supplier list, and can we use our own?

Many venues have preferred suppliers they work with – these are usually suppliers the venue has worked with before, and they can recommend working with them for your wedding day. You may also have specific suppliers in mind for your wedding day, so it is worth checking with your wedding venue if they allow you to use your suppliers.

Is there any accommodation available?

If any of your guests are travelling for your wedding, consider whether your venue has accommodation or if they can recommend any nearby accommodation. As accommodation varies from venue to venue, it’s important to ask how it works.

Remember to ask your venue about check-in and check-out times as well – you will undoubtedly have your guests asking this!

Are there any restrictions or guidelines we need to follow?

wedding venues might have some restrictions you need to consider, such as time and noise restrictions or even rules on candles (open flames), so it is essential to know if there are any limitations for you to factor into your decision or planning.

How early can we access the venue for setup?

One of the final questions to ask your wedding venue is how early you can access the venue to set up for your wedding day. While your wedding day may be a while off from when you initially viewed your wedding venue, having an idea of when you can access the venue will help you with your planning – plus, you don’t want to be worrying about this close to your big day!