Finding the right venue can take a lot of work, and requires you to know the ins-and-outs of how a venue works. There are a lot of questions you must ask your wedding venue before signing a contract. You’ll want to ensure that it fits in with your budget, overall plan, and vision for the big day.

Do not worry; we have drafted a list of key questions you should be asking when you chat with a venue!

Is the venue available on the target date?

If you have any specific date in your mind, the first question to ask is the venue’s availability for that date. Then, you can either be more flexible with your date or move onto another venue. If you are flexible enough about your wedding date, you’ll be more likely to book that dream venue of yours that might already be booked on the date you had in mind.

What is the cost and about any service charges?

Pricing will likely be among the most crucial discussions you have with a potential venue. First, of course, you will get a price quote typically per guest—One question to ask is what that price includes. Check if you are only renting the space or if you’re getting a complete wedding package with other included services (some venues we work with provide a free cake, free centerpieces with flowers, etc) . Before signing the contract, make sure you ask about any other fee’s, including the service fee. Most venues will charge you a service fee that acts as a tip for its staff. This will definitely be outlined in the contract but may not be brought up in the initial conversations.

How convenient is the location?

Does the venue provide an appropriately sized parking lot, or maybe shuttle service to a nearby lot? Well, if the wedding is in a major city like NYC or Philly, travel and parking can be a nightmare for your guests if the venue doesn’t have a lot. Likewise, if you are hosting a destination wedding in a far-off location, you will need to accept that elderly guests, or those who may have difficulty traveling won’t be able to attend the wedding.

What’s the capacity?

It is one of the biggest questions to ask a wedding venue. The reason is that many venues come with strict capacity rules and regulations. If you think your guest count will go too high, then you might want to look for a different venue. You can also consider trimming down the list a bit.

How does the space look?

Do you picture yourself getting married here? Does it fit your style? If you want a rustic-style wedding, an elegant hotel in the city might not be a good option. On the other hand, if there are architectural or décor aspects to the venue that you hate and cannot be removed, can you live with them (or decorate over them)?

Where will you hold the different events of the day?

You’ll want to visit the venue ahead of time, so you can walk through the spaces where the different wedding-related events will be held, specifically, the reception, cocktail hour, and ceremony. In a few venues, each event is held at various locations, while at others, the reception and ceremony are held in the same space, which will be restaged during the cocktail hour.

How much work will the venue put in decorating the space?

Few venues come with the built-in décor, so for those, you won’t need to add much. However, outdoor wedding venues like lofts or barns require a ton of added décor, which could be expensive and time-consuming.

How’s the food?

One of the most critical questions to ask the wedding venue is if they offer in-house catering, or will you need to bring an outside caterer? Even though all-inclusive venues are convenient, you must still make sure that you are happy with the food. We recommend that you taste the food and look for the presentation before booking.

Who will be the main point of contact?

Make sure to speak directly to the person you will work with on your wedding day before making the booking. You must share a good rapport with the person and feel comfortable before moving forward. Also ask if you will have a bridal attendant the day of. Their job is to help make sure things run smoothly when you arrive to the venue.

Conclusion

Now that you are aware of some key questions to ask the wedding venue before you book them, it is time to start making a list and comparing the venues. At Events Dragon, we will provide you with a hand-picked list of the best wedding venues and vendors in NJ.You can also plan your event in minutes with our recommendations and make your wedding a successful one.