5 Things To Do Before Booking Your Wedding Venue

5 Things To Do Before Booking Your Wedding Venue

Congratulations to all the newly engaged couples out there! Getting engaged is undeniably one of life’s most thrilling moments, but it can also feel daunting when it comes time to ACTUALLY plan a wedding!

A lot of people say to start with the venue, and whilst it is pretty high up there on the ‘to-do’ list, there’re a few things you’ll want to do first to ensure a smoother venue hiring experience!

From managing your wedding budget to knowing what to ask your wedding venues, we’ve got you covered with our 5 concise steps to do before booking your wedding venue. – In the recommended order!

1. Establishing Your Wedding Budget:

Planning a wedding often comes with unexpected expenses. It’s crucial to determine upfront how much you’re willing to invest and whether your family will contribute financially. Set a rough budget to guide your decisions when hiring vendors. Keep in mind that your budget may evolve as you refine your vision, but having a starting point is essential for managing expectations and minimizing stress.

2. The Wedding Guest List:

Creating your wedding guest list is a crucial step in the planning process. Instead of selecting a venue first, I advise couples to prioritize compiling their guest list. This ensures that you don’t fall in love with a venue that may not accommodate your desired number of guests.

I recommend that both partners independently make a list of essential guests they can’t imagine getting married without. If appropriate, involve your families in the process as well. Once you have individual lists, compare and negotiate to create a collective list. Use this estimated number of guests to determine the appropriate size of venue needed to accommodate your starting guest list.

3. When and Where Will Your Wedding Take Place?

Are you envisioning a stunning garden wedding amidst picturesque roses, or perhaps a wedding abroad on the beach in Indonesia?

Once you have a vision for your wedding you can start looking for venues that fit your right criteria. Looking for wedding venues can be quite overwhelming at times but having a clear vision of the look & feel of what you’re after can help narrow down the list and give you the confidence you need to choose the right one for you. Then you can start to work with your wedding venue to organise dates, but being prepared with a rough idea will help!

4. Come to Your Wedding Venue Prepared With Questions!

We all know that what makes the perfect wedding venue is more than just the aesthetics—though good looks are, of course, a huge aspect. There are so many important details you’ll need to go over before you fully commit to one.

Ahead, we’ve compiled the key questions that you should ask your wedding venue before making a final decision. Make sure that you’re checking all of your venue boxes by bringing this list of 25 essential questions with you on your site visits.

Questions to Ask Wedding Venues About Pricing and Availability

1. Is my date of choice available? If not, are there any surrounding dates available? Or do you have a waitlist for dates?
2. How far in advance can I reserve my date?
3. What are the rates for different days of the week and times (Friday, Saturday, Sunday; morning, afternoon, evening)? What about different seasons?
4. How many hours are included in the rental of the space? How early can we arrive, and how late can we stay?
5. Do I have exclusive access of the venue?

Questions to Ask Wedding Venues About Payment

1. How much is the venue deposit?
2. How do you structure the payment schedule?
3. What is included in the total?
4. What is the cancellation policy?

Questions to Ask About Logistics

1. Is the site handicap accessible?
2. Are there noise restrictions?
3. How many bathrooms are there? Will we need to rent additional portable restrooms?
4. Is parking available on-site? How much space is there? Will guests be charged for parking?
5. Is there availability to stay the night on site?

Questions to Ask About Event Specifics

1. What is the venue’s capacity?
2. Do you have your own sound equipment and speakers, or will those need to be rented or provided by the entertainment?
3. What is the backup plan for rain or inclement weather?
4. Are there any décor restrictions?
5. When can vendors arrive for setup?
6. Will your staff be involved in setting up and breaking down the décor? In what capacity?
7. Who will be out go-to venue spokesperson on the day?

Questions to Ask About Food and Drinks

1. Do you have an in-house caterer? If so, are food and beverages included in the venue rental fee?
2. If there is not an in-house caterer, do we have to choose from a list of approved options, or can we hire our own caterer?
3. Do you have a food and beverage minimum? What are the consequences if we don’t meet it?
4. Do we have to purchase liquor through you, or can we source liquor elsewhere?
5. If we can bring our own liquor onto the property, is there a corkage or service fee?

5. Compare Apples with Apples Before Signing on the Dotted Line:

When selecting from your list of potential wedding venues, it’s important to consider the comprehensive offerings of each. Opting for the least expensive option might entail overlooking crucial inclusions such as glassware and sound systems, or encountering restrictions such as venue sharing with another event or noise limitations post a certain hour. The additional expenses for these overlooked elements or the constraints imposed may ruin the desired vibe for your celebration.

Ensure your analyzing your must-haves and the cost associated to ensure you’re making the right choice for you. To find out more about our Wedding Packages simply click here.