Questions To Ask Your Wedding Venue

The Man and I will be going to view our dream wedding venue next week, and so I have compiled a list of questions that we need to ask to make sure we can plan everything as we want it to be. I didn’t realise that there was so much to think about. In my head it was just- view venue, book it, get wed there!

It’s just not that simple. So I have spent hours and hours trawling the internet to find the most important questions. There’s a lot of lists out there and hundreds of questions, but it just seems too much! How are you supposed to remember it all?

I just don’t think I can remember it all, so I’ve decided to narrow it down a little while still getting the most important information that you need.

How Do You Find Your Venue?

Finding your perfect wedding location is not easy! I’ve spent an eternity scrolling through potential venues looking for the perfect one. Trying to find the right fit for the type of wedding you are going for.

Eventually we figured that we’d probably just hop on down to the registry office. Then I found Cornish Tipi Weddings on Bridebook. Everything changed. I looked at their instagram and I was in love. So we booked in to go and see it and we can’t wait!

What Should We Ask?

How many guests can the venue accommodate?

You and your fiancé should have an idea of the amount of people you plan to invite to your ceremony and reception. Make sure to check how many people can be accommodated so that you don’t go over numbers! Sending out more invites than can be accommodated could be embarrassing!

Is the venue available for exclusive hire?

This is important to know to avoid unnecessary disappointment or shock when you’re expecting to have the venue to yourselves and that isn’t the case. This is especially worth asking if you are getting married in a hotel or historical landmark. Hiring your venue exclusively means that you wont have a bunch of people you don’t know in the back of your photos or wandering through your day.

Is there accommodation?

For family and friends travelling in from afar it may be worth checking if there is accommodation available for them to book should they wish. Some venues may offer a deal on accommodation booked as part of the wedding package. If there isn’t accommodation, then you may want to ask about local hotels or B&Bs and reliable taxi firms.

As well as accommodation for your guests, are you considering staying the night? If so, is there a bridal suite or accommodation for the newlyweds?

What’s the parking like?

It’s a good idea to check whether or not there will be enough space for all of your guests to park their cars. If not then you may have to look into nearby car parks for them to use and check out the prices so that you can let people know in advance. It’s also a good idea to check if gusts can leave their cars parked there over night, just in case anybody decides after arriving that they would like to have a drink.

Do you have recommended suppliers?

A lot of venues have a list of recommended suppliers that they regularly work with and that they trust. This could be beneficial for you if you are unsure where to start. They may be able to recommend suppliers from caterers, and cake makers to photographers.

However, some venues prefer to stick with their recommended suppliers only. This might not work for you, maybe you have your own suppliers in mind or maybe they’re not compatible with your budget. So it’s best to check. If they do allow you to bring in your own supplies such as caterers then it’s worth asking if there is a fee.

What about décor?

Some venues may have restrictions on certain types of décor. Some don’t allow things like lit candles or confetti, or they may only allow certain types of biodegradable confetti. So make sure you ask what kinds of things are and are not allowed.

It may also be worth asking if they have any ideas on how to decorate, they may have some inspiration from previous weddings and they know the venue better than anybody else. It’s possible that they’ll show you something that you’ll love and wouldn’t have thought of otherwise.

Can you accommodate entertainment?

If you’re planning on having a DJ or a live band then it’s important to check if this can be accommodated. Is there sufficient space? If not, what other options can they advise? Venues that regularly hold weddings will have experience with a variety of different forms of entertainment and be able to offer advice on what works best with their space.

Are there any restrictions?

Depending on the location of your venue, they may be subject to rules about noise. Depending on the type of venue then you may be limited to over-18s. Some places are only accessible by foot, so wheelchair or pram users may have restricted access. Are there time restrictions on when we can set up before and when we have to have everything cleaned up by? Some venues may allow you in the day before the wedding to set up and allow you the following morning to get tidy again, but others may have restrictions on this due to other events. Be sure to ask so that you know how much time you have to get these things done.

What kind of accommodations can be made for any disabilities?

If you have a guest who is elderly or disabled then you need to check that the venue is accessible for them. They may be able to enter, but do they have to walk up a Wetherspoons Toilet amount of steps to the loo? That might not work, check if there are any alternatives for them. What about the assistance dog- legally they’re allowed anywhere when they’re working hard to keep their humans safe. But they take up space, so will they be counted as a guest? Will there be fresh water available for them? Somewhere to dispose of any… mess?

What’s your cancellation policy?

It’s very important to ask about the cancellation policy. We don’t like to think about the possibility of having to cancel our big day, but it’s important to know your options.

How do I pay?

When asking about payment it is important to check for any additional fees, are there any extra costs? Once you have paid your deposit you can discuss paying off the rest of the amount. Some venues will set a date for a final payment where you simply pay the final amount. Others will allow you to set up a payment plan made up of smaller, more manageable payments. Chat to your venue and see what can be agreed.

Now We Have Our Questions!

Now that we know what to ask, we can set about just enjoying our visit. Basking in the beauty of our chosen venue and imagining ourselves having our big day there. We’re wedding planning on a budget, big time! I was convinced that the only important thing was that we ended our day as Husband and Wife.

The more we talked about it and the more I looked into it, the more I realised that this wasn’t entirely true. However, I couldn’t quite put my finger on what it was that I did want. So I went hunting. I searched barn weddings, beach weddings, woodland weddings and I just could not figure it out.

Then I found them. Cornish Tipi Weddings.

I knew instantly that it was what I wanted. Suddenly I was willing to do whatever it takes to get this venue. I showed The Man bouncing like a child at Christmas. He took one look at my excited face, and before even seeing the pictures, he said yes. Whatever makes me happy.

I look at their photos of the beautiful weddings they’ve hosted, and I picture us. The Man and I, stood in that beautiful place, as Husband and Wife.

It’s that which makes me happy.

All of the images in this post are shared from the Cornish Tipis Instagram Page with their permission. This is not a sponsored advertisement. Just a blog by a ridiculously excited bride who is in love with the venue she is hoping to book!