Choosing your venue is one of the most important decisions you can make during the wedding planning process as everything stems from that first decision. I recently sat down with Your Perfect Bridesmaid, one of the wedding planning teams I love to work with to get their tips for how couples can ensure they find the right venue for them. Below is a terrific list of questions to ask when you are touring venues. Print this list and take it with you to ensure you have all the information you need to make the best decision for you.
The Ultimate Checklist: Key Questions Every Couple Must Ask Their Dream Wedding Venue
What dates do you have available?
What is their guest count capacity? What is their sweet spot? What does a ceremony, cocktail hour and reception layout look like with your estimated guest count?
What is the pricing for the dates you are interested in?
What is the access time (when can you be onsite, when can the event start, when does the music have to be off, when does the event have to end, when do the vendors need to be offsite)
What tables/chairs do you include? Note, get quantities, and pictures of what is included.
What is their bad weather plan (rain, extreme heat, wildfires)
Must-ask questions to understand the inclusions, limitations, exclusions of Washington state wedding venues:
Am I able to choose my own vendors, or do you have a preferred list of vendors I need to choose from?
How much is it to add on extra hours if needed?
Do you have a place for the wedding party to get ready. When can we access that?
Can anything be left onsite before or after the wedding?
Are there setup or room flip fees?
Is there parking available for guests, do you require we provide transportation?
Is there a possibility of other events happening at the same time as your wedding?
What decor limitations/rules are there? (i.e. can things be hung from beams, taped, nailed, etc)
Do you require clients to provide additional liability insurance?
What services/goods will have sales tax attached, if any? What fees will a gratuity or service fee be attached to?
Besides the stated venue fee, what additional costs should we expect.
Do you have any other requirements that have additional costs tied to them.(for instance,do you need to rent restroom trailers)
Dishing Out the Details: Catering Must-Knows for Wedding Venues Near Me
Is catering in-house, limited to a preferred list, or open?
Are there any outside catering fees?
Is there a full-sized fridge or oven onsite? Any other catering equipment?
Am I able to bring in my own food or desserts, or do I need to use a licensed caterer?
Are there any alcohol restrictions?
How much power is available
Nuanced and Detailed Queries for Selecting the Perfect Wedding Venue:
What is the most common complaint of your clients?
What is the role of your venue coordinator/manager.? What tasks will they be doing the day of my wedding?
What is your postponement/cancellation policy?
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: Nailing the Nitty-Gritty of Wedding Venues
Where does the sun set, what part of the property will be in shade at what time?
If indoors, confirm AC/Heat.
Do the indoor lights dim, how do they dim?
Do they have drink-able water?
Do they require rentals to be removed from the property that night or is early the next day ok?
While these questions will definitely help you be prepared to narrow down your choices, I highly recommend booking a planner/coordinator before you book your venue so that you can have a professional sanity check the details and review the contract before you sign. This really is a huge decision, have a wedding expert and advocate in your corner ensuring it's the right decision for you. If you are looking for a little more help with your wedding venue search YPB offers a specific service for this; their Venue Hunt Add On. I highly recommend this service. With over 16 years of expertise in orchestrating weddings in Washington state and Oregon, locating the ideal wedding venue near you will be a piece of cake.
