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When you are trying to select a venue for your wedding, forgetting to ask an important question could mean you end up selecting a venue that is missing a key element. To save this from happening, we have designed the following guide to help you select your venue. Whilst you may not think that all the questions are relevant to you, we would suggest you try and answer as many of them as possible. Your circumstances may change and questions that seem unimportant now may prove to be very important when your big day comes.
Venue Questions
1. Is your venue available on the required date?
2. Is your venue easy to find?
3. Is your venue licensed to carry out civil weddings?
4. If you do hold a license for civil ceremonies, what authority do you come under and can you supply names and contact details for the registrar?
5. Will ours be the only wedding at your venue on our wedding day?
6. How many people can you accommodate?
7. How many car parking spaces are available?
8. Do you allow confetti to be thrown at the venue?
9. Do you allow candles to be lit in the reception room?
10. Do you allow professional firework displays at your venue?
11. Do you have landing permission should we want a helicopter to whisk us away after the evening reception?
Room Questions
12. Do you offer the option of a marquee?
13. Are there separate rooms provided for the wedding, reception, meal, evening reception, etc?
14. Is there a room provided for the use of "bride and groom' for the day?
15. Is there a dressing room that the bride and bridesmaids can use prior to the ceremony?
16. When can we have access to begin setting up the room in terms of decorating it with balloons, flowers, banners, etc? (Morning of wedding, day before, etc?)
17. If the evening reception is being held in a room that is being used for something else earlier in the day, do you require the DJ/Band to set-up their equipment beforehand?
18. Is there an area that could be used as a crèche if needed?
19. Is there a quieter are for older guests to get away from the noise of a band/DJ?
20. If rooms are available for overnight accommodation, how many?
21. What are the costs for overnight accommodation?
22. Is breakfast included?
23. What is the checkout time the following day?
24. Do you have a room where you are able to store wedding presents until you are able to collect them and are you insured for any loss or damage to these presents?
Catering Questions
25. Do you insist on doing all the catering?
26. Can you supply examples of suggested menus along with prices?
27. Do you include a cake stand and knife if required?
28. Do you have a preferred order of service (when and where do we cut the cake)?
29. What time do you offer an alcohol license until?
30. What time do you insist the reception finishes by?
31. Do you insist on supplying the wine and champagne?
32. If we are able to supply the wine, what do you charge for corkage?
33. Can you recommend a company to supply our wedding cake?
Extra Questions
34. Do you have a Public Address (PA) system that can be used for speeches?
35. What facilities are available if the weather is poor?
36. What photographic locations are there?
37. Do you supply or can you recommend a DJ or Band?
38. Do you have special arrangements with, or details of local hotels for guests to stay at?
39. Do you have any arrangements with local cab companies that offer a reasonably priced and reliable service?
40. Is there any entertainment provided during the void between the afternoon and evening receptions (casino, magician, etc)?
41. What decoration do you supply for the reception?
42. If we begin to run late, how will your staff help us to ensure we are still able to make the most of our big day?
43. Can you recommend a videographer?
44. Can you recommend a photographer?
45. Is it OK for the photographer/videographer to visit the venue beforehand to get an idea of what they can expect on the day?
46. Can you recommend a company that can supply wedding cars?
47. What facilities do you provide for a videographer?
48. Can you recommend a good florist?
49. Can you recommend a company who are able to supply favours?
50. Can you recommend a company who supply decorative balloons?
Cost Questions
51. What are the various options and costs for the use of your venue?