10 Questions to Consider (and Ask) When Selecting Your Wedding Venue

There are so many wonderful venues out there, and they look amazing in their marketing photos, but most Couples get so caught up on the aesthetics that they neglect some of the important factors when choosing a wedding venue, so here are the Top 10 Questions you should consider (and ask) when selecting your Wedding Venue. Already booked it?! It’s not too late to be informed and make the necessary accommodations to suit your needs. So let’s dive in.

1 Where does the caterer set up, or where is the kitchen? (Inside or outside?)  If you need to bring in your own caterer, find out where their station is. For most museums or historical homes, they usually do not allow the catering company inside the structure, and the caterers are forced to work outdoors. This is fine as long as you don’t mind paying a bit more for stressors like this, and if you are ok with insects potentially being all over your food.  

2 What’s the bathroom situation like? Is it handicap accessible? How’s the lighting? Do porta-potties have to be rented? Are they nice and clean? Maybe you don’t care now, but imagine everyone all dressed up. Think of your elderly guests or those needing assistance. Many rustic venues do not have bathrooms, so know what you are getting yourself into before you book.

3 What’s the parking like for guests? Is there a Valet? Meters? This could be a nuisance for your guests. For most beach weddings, for example, parking is metered, limited, and really far away from the location of the ceremony. Perhaps hiring a valet parking company could alleviate some of the stress here, but if not, and you have older guests in attendance, you may need to find an alternative. Already comes with Valet service? Great! Is it complimentary for your guests or vendors? It really better be for your guests! If it isn’t for your vendors, they could put those fees on you and charge you more for this inconvenience because most venues do not comp a vendor’s valet ticket. In addition, many vendors need easy access to their cars, so this could prove to be an issue.

4 Is there an air-conditioned holding room or Suite? (If you are not doing a First Look, ask: Do you have 2 rooms for us?) Is there a space just for you and your Party? You may want to freshen up away from the crowd. You may need somewhere to leave some of your things. You may need a breather for a minute, too. A Wedding Suite is a luxury that you will appreciate that day so see if there is a room that can be dedicated to you and your party for the day.

5 Do you provide food in the wedding suite pre-ceremony? This is HUGE. You and your entourage will be starving and thirsty that day, so having some refreshments and snacks is ideal. Most do not provide this without an extra fee, but it is totally worth the expense. If they do not provide food and drinks in the wedding Suite, then have someone bring some for you: a fruit and cheese platter, mini sandwiches, or vegetable crudités, etc. Get some protein in there, and be sure to have lots of cold water handy for yourselves and your wedding party! Your wedding day is a very long day, and these little sips and bites will go a long way to keep your body feeling good.

6 Do you provide a personal attendant the day of? Most do not, but it is nice if they do. This person is literally assigned to you, and they will do, they will get, and they will help, anyway they can! They are at your service for the entire day. You are never looking for anyone because you have this person with you, doing your bidding, as you need it! 

7 How do we get to the Ceremony location—in other words, where do we line up and walk the Processional?  If you want to be hidden from guests before the walk down the aisle, this is an important question to ask. One of my Couples didn’t want to be seen, so their only alternative was to walk through a kitchen to get to the ceremony location; I kid you not! Yikes.  Another Couple had to wait outside doors on a public street. Awkward. They could barely hear their music cues to walk down the aisle because the noise from a bustling city drowned it out. Typically, most Couples have to stand in a fully exposed spot as they wait their turn to walk down the aisle, or they have to walk through some long, far away, perilous terrain—which is not an easy thing to do in uncomfortable shoes. So get the layout of the land and where you’d traversing before booking.

8 Is there power provided at the Ceremony location? If not, make sure the vendors that need power have a generator and/or really long extension cords. Your DJ cannot play your music selection, and no one will hear the officiant or you during the ceremony without electricity. 

9 What time can we arrive that day, and what time can our vendors arrive?  Did you intend on getting ready at the venue? Taking pictures there? Then definitely ask this question. Some venues will not allow you on the premises until an hour before the ceremony’s commencement, so be sure that aligns with your plans. Couples are not the only ones forbidden to arrive too early the day of their ceremonies. Sometimes, vendors are not allowed on site until an hour prior to the ceremony’s commencement too, and for some vendors, that’s a very difficult task. It is not easy for a florist to build and assemble your archway or chuppah let alone do it in under 60 minutes! It takes time for the rental folks and party planners to set up your ceremony décor, and if they have to be in a mad dash against the clock, they could put that stress on you by making you pay extra fees.

10 Is there a Plan B in case it rains? Depending upon the season, most parts of Florida see lots of rainfall, so if you are getting married between May – November, be sure to inquire about a Plan B just in case. Make sure it is an alternative you can happily live with, without regrets, or keep searching until you found the right place to hold your celebration of love.

Of course there are a lot more questions depending upon your vision, but these are the top 10.

When you scope out the handful of venues your heart is set on, make sure you go in there with at least some of these questions, or you could end up with very unpleasant surprises!

As always this message is brought to you with love as the intention.

So happy planning and feel good, my friends.