9 Questions to Ask Venues Before Booking
Planning how you want to celebrate the start of your marriage is a long list of questions. Deciding on your venue may be one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Your venue helps set the tone for your day and provides the back drop for all your memories. Finding a venue that aligns with your vision, budget, and logistical needs can make all the rest of your planning that much simplier so make sure you do your research in the beginning. Here’s our top list of questions to ask your wedding venue before booking!
1. How Many People Can This Venue Accommodate?
Understanding the capacity limit of a venue can drastically inform your guest list and budget. Love the venue but its a bit small? Add a tent rental (planning ahead means it becomes part of your budget)! Or maybe you really want to have a small, intimate wedding but you’ve been wrestling with how to let people know they won’t be invited? “Due to the small size of our venue…” It’s also important to consider how many usable spaces they have for your guest count – will you need to direct budget towards flipping spaces?
2. How Many Hours Does Booking This Venue Include?
Understanding the hours of a rental is an important consideration to avoid unexpected costs. Do the hours listed apply specifically to guests on property? Is time included for the wedding party to be onsite getting ready/doing photos? Is there additional time detailed for vendor set up / clean up or is that included with the contracted time? Without a clear understanding of the rental period, you might face additional charges (so make sure you are considering preparation, ceremony, reception, and any post-event clean-up)!
3. Is There a Bridal Suite and Groom’s Suite Available Throughout the Wedding Day?
Some venues have separate spaces that serve as get ready spaces for the Bride and for the Groom. Or sometimes there is a general space for the Wedding Party to store their things. You’ll want to confirm availability/ details ahead of time to avoid any surprises!
4. Are There Any Noise Restrictions?
Weddings can be pretty enthusiastic celebrations. Understanding any noise ordinances/restrictions is important. And you want to know any important information at the time your tour not in your final walk through (just weeks before your wedding)! Some venues require music to have a cuff-off time (which can dramatically impact your timeline) while other venues have restrictions on amplified sound (directly impacting the layout and design of your event).
5. Do They Have a Bad Weather Contingency?
If your perfect wedding venue uses an outdoor space, make sure there is a solid backup plan in case of bad weather. Rain, wind, and temperature can be unpredictable in areas like the DMV/ Northern Virginia. Make sure you’re comfortable with the indoor space and understand the logistics, like who is responsible for making the weather call and when.
6. Do You have Required or Preferred Vendors?
It is not uncommon for venues to have exclusive relationships with catering companies, bar, planners, etc. And while some venues don’t require that you use their trusted vendors, there may be an additional charge for you to enlist your own team. Having to use a more expensive catering company or pay an extra fee to use your choice Planner can definitely impact your budget so it is worth noting up front.
7. What’s Included in the Venue Rental?
Do find out exactly what is included with your rental. Some venues provide items like chairs and tables, linens, and even silverware. Other venues only include the use of the empty space. Always make sure to find out (and take photos of) exactly what is included.
8. Are There Any Limitations on the Decor We Can Use?
Every venue has rules on decor. Want a draping install from the ceiling? You might have to use their preferred technician. Are you a candle lover? Some venues only allow electric candles while others stipulate flames must be 1.5″ below the edge of a glass enclosure. Want an outdoor wedding but getting bitten up by bugs is one of your worst nightmares? Some venues allow for treating outdoor spaces to deter insects while others are organic and anti-chemicals.
9. When Can the Rehearsal Be Scheduled, and How Far in Advance Can It Be Booked?
Venues often run 2-3 events a weekend. That means, if your dream wedding venue has other events planned, you’ll have to get creative with scheduling your rehearsal. Some venues lock in your rehearsal time when you book. Some have a set-aside rehearsal time you have to plan on. Others don’t assign rehearsal until 30 days out, which can be less then ideal for you and your wedding party as you all plan.
Recommended Venues
For our couples in the Northern Virginia area, here are some of the venues that meet our (very high) standards:
How We Can Help
While many venues offer a venue coordinator, their role is typically limited to overseeing the venue’s logistics. A wedding planner, like Coddiwomple Events, provides comprehensive services, including vendor management, timeline creation, and on-the-day coordination.
Having a Coddiwomple Events Planner on your team helps de-stress finding the perfect venue. With our experience working working at the top venues, we already know the right combination of questions to ask and prioritize to help your planning run smoothly!
Photographers Featured in this Blog
Choosing a venue is a big decision, but we can help! Book a consultation with Coddiwomple Events today!
