Everyone has an idea of what they want their wedding to look like; from the wedding outfits to the size of the cake. The venue is a major part of planning your wedding day, and with the average wedding venue cost coming in at just over £8000, it’s not a decision you’re going to take lightly.
You’ll probably visit a few venues before you find ‘The One’, and it might all feel a bit overwhelming, so we’ve put together a few pointers including the key questions to ask your wedding venue that will help you narrow down your choice.
Dates
Of course, you need to know that they’re available on the date you’ve chosen, but you could also ask if they can provisionally hold that date for you, particularly if you’ve got other venues to look at, and how long can they hold it for. Is there a cutoff point for when you can make changes?
While you’re looking at dates it’s worth checking to see if there are any other big events happening on the same day; things like local events and close family anniversaries and remember, nobody wants to compete with a World Cup semi-final!
Money
- Will they need a deposit, and if so, when do they want it?
- Can you pay in instalments?
- What does the fee include? Are there any hidden charges, such as clearing up after the event?
- What is their cancellation policy? Despite your best intentions things can sometimes go wrong, or plans can change unexpectedly, so it’s always worth looking at wedding insurance so you know you may be covered for your big day.
Capacity
Try to have a rough idea of the size of your guest list before you go and look around a venue, as well as how you want your day to go.
- Is there a limit to how many people you can invite?
- Will you be inviting more people to the evening?
- Can the venue accommodate more people, or will there be room to put up a marquee?
- Will yours be the only event happening that day?
Accommodation
- Is there accommodation on-site?
- Are there B&Bs nearby?
- Is there a reliable local taxi service?
- If you do need accommodation, will you need it the night before too, and will it be available?
- If you don’t need accommodation, will there still be somewhere you can get ready/do the final touches to your outfit? How about somewhere to store gifts?
Food & Drink
- Is the catering in-house and if so, is it included in the price? Can you choose for it not to be?
- Do they have different menu options that cater to different dietary needs?
- Can you choose between a sit-down meal and a buffet-type meal?
- If they don’t have in-house catering, do they have a list of suggested caterers other bridal parties have used?
- Is there a licensed bar at the venue and if not, and you have to bring your own alcohol, do they charge a corkage fee?
Decor
- Does the fee include decorations?
- Are there any restrictions with decorations?
- Can you hang things on the walls? Use candles?
- Can you use confetti?
- Will there be people around to help you set up the room?
- What time will you have access to the venue?
Music
- Does the fee include entertainment, such as a disco or a live band?
- Can they recommend a band or a DJ?
- Is there a dance floor?
- Do they have a sound system you can connect to to play your own music?
- Is there a sound limit?
- Do they have a curfew?
License
If you’re planning on having the ceremony and reception under one roof then you need to check that they are licensed for civil ceremonies, if they don’t then you’ll need to have a religious or civil ceremony elsewhere on the day. Are you wanting to get married inside or outside? If it’s outside will there a back-up plan for bad weather?
There are a few little extra things you might want to check too:
- Parking – is there enough and will guests have to pay?
- Are dogs allowed?
- Toilets – are there enough or will there be portable toilets available?
- What’s disabled access like? Are there many steps? Are there lifts available?
- Where’s the best place to take photographs?
- Do they have photographers/florists/caterers/musicians that they recommend?
- Who will be the main point of contact in the run-up to the big day, and on the day itself?
Your wedding day is supposed to be the best day of your life and often you’ve been planning it for years. So why wouldn’t you do everything in your power to ensure the day goes smoothly, in your dream venue, so afterwards you can head off on your honeymoon happy and relaxed?
No two weddings look the same, they’re unique to you, which is why we offer 7 different types of wedding insurance policies that let you choose the one that best suits your needs, and your budget; you can then tweak it with our range of optional benefits. Give us a call today and talk to one of our friendly team for a free, no-strings quote that will definitely make you want to say ‘I do’!
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