The Questions You Should Ask Potential Wedding Venues | Dallas Wedding Photographer

The Questions You Should Ask Potential Wedding Venues

You’ve got the ring and set a date! Now it’s time to start planning your wedding day. The venue is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. After all, it’s where you get to celebrate your marriage to the love of your life!

Choosing a venue is so much more than picking a pretty building and putting down a deposit. There are tons of details and concerns that you need to take into consideration as you make your choice. Here are a few of the top questions to ask any potential wedding venues.

How much does it cost and what’s included in the price?

When you talk to a venue, you’ll receive a quote for the price of booking it, but be sure to ask what is included in that cost. Does the venue offer cleanup, or are you expected to handle that yourself? Some venues include tables, chairs, linens, staffing and more. Be sure to know what all your options are and what each item would cost you. Some venues just give you the venue and you do the rest.

Is outside catering allowed?

Some venues require you to use their in-house caterer, while others leave it up to you to book a catering service. All-inclusive venues are definitely convenient, but you’ll want to make sure any in-house vendors can provide the services you want. Take time to review the menu options and details before you book the venue’s caterer and read reviews from past brides to make sure you know what to expect.

What is the capacity of the venue?

This is the big question. You have to know how many people the venue can hold, especially if you’re planning on a larger wedding. If you love the venue, but it only holds 100 people, you may have to trim down your guest list. Or the capacity may be a deal-breaker for you. Know your priorities before you choose a venue, so you’re aware of where and how you can compromise.

What time can we access the venue on the day of?

If you’re planning to have your whole wedding day in one place then be sure to ask what time you can be onsite. Some venues won’t allow you to be on-site until 2-hours prior to your ceremony. Some give you all day so you can get ready on-site and have time to decorate the area. This is such a huge deal when you are trying to coordinate hair and makeup and getting ready photos.

Do you have a wedding coordinator on staff? If not, who do I contact?Many venues have a coordinator who can help you make sure everything is set up for your big day and even get you down the aisle. But most venues, just have a venue manager on-site and they are there to help if you need anything that relates to the venue. It’s a good idea to hire a planner if your venue doesn’t provide you a coordinator. Planners can really help make sure everything goes as planned and they keep everyone on schedule to make sure your day is amazing and stress-free.

If you still haven’t narrowed down your venue search, check out this list of DFW wedding venues I created.

Good luck planning your day and I hope you find the perfect wedding venue.