70 Questions You Should Ask at a Wedding Venue Showround

Choosing a wedding venue is an important decision and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Viewing wedding venues can be a fun and enjoyable experience and can really help you to visualise your big day. To make sure your big day goes exactly how you want it, we recommend creating a list of questions about your wedding venue. Here are the top 70 essential questions to ask your wedding venue.

Get the Basics Nailed

The first questions you should ask your venue are your non-negotiables. Questions surrounding who you want to invite, budget and if you have any specifics you have in mind about dates, times and accommodation, now’s the time to ask.

1. How many guests can you accommodate for our wedding day?
2. What availability do you have for our wedding day? (if you’ve set a date)
3. What availability do you have in my preferred date range?
4. Can I have my ceremony here too?
5. How much does it cost to have a wedding here?
6. Is the venue exclusive? Will there be any other events or weddings on my wedding day?
7. What’s included in the price?
8. Can the bride/groom/bridal party/groomsmen get ready here before the wedding?
9. What are the parking/transport arrangements like?
10. Do you have overnight accommodation?
11. If yes, how much does it cost?
12. If no, what accommodation options are nearby?

Questions about Planning your Wedding

After you’ve asked about the basics, it’s time to get down to the nitty-gritty and find out everything you need to know about planning your wedding.

1. How long can I hold a date for?
2. Do you have a wedding planner/coordinator?
3. When do you need to know the final number of guests for our wedding?
4. How long do we have to set up for our wedding?
5. Are there any restrictions on décor?
6. Can we have confetti?
7. Can we deliver or collect items before/after the wedding?
8. What time can guests arrive from?
9. When do guests need to leave after the wedding?
10. Can we see the venue again before the wedding?
11. Do you have any preferred suppliers?
12. Can we use our own suppliers?

Questions about your Ceremony

Your ceremony is the most intimate part of your wedding and sets the tone for the rest of your day. Understandably, you’ll want to get your ceremony just right, so we recommend asking the following questions if they’re relevant to you.

1. What type of ceremony can I have? (Civil, Religious, Humanist, Inter-Faith, Non-Denominational)
2. Is my wedding ceremony legal?
3. Can I have my ceremony outside?
4. Is there a contingency for an outdoor wedding in case of bad weather?
5. What room or rooms can be used for my wedding ceremony?
6. Can I have candles in my ceremony?
7. Can I have live music during my ceremony?
8. Can we have a ceremony rehearsal?
9. Where are the nearest places of worship for a religious ceremony?
10. Can our photographer take photos during the ceremony?

Questions about the Drinks Reception and Wedding Breakfast

Keeping your guests fed, watered and entertained during your drinks reception and wedding breakfast is essential for a good wedding, so what do you need to ask when viewing your wedding venue?

1. Is there an in-house caterer or do I need to provide my own?
2. If I use my own catering is there a kitchen available?
3. Is there a corkage fee?
4. Are you licensed to serve alcohol?
5. Do you offer food and drink packages?
6. What options do you have for different dietary requirements or allergies?
7. Do you have a children's menu?
8. Are canapes available for the Drinks Reception?
9. What are the drinks options for the Drinks Reception? e.g Champagne, Beer, Cocktails
10. Is there an opportunity for menu tasting before we book and choose food?
11. What are your non-alcoholic options?
12. Do you provide napkins, table linens, glasses and silverware etc?
13. How many people can be seated at each table?
14. How far in advance do you need to know our guest's food choices?
15. Will there be a Master of Ceremonies included?

Questions about your Evening Reception

Your evening reception should be the opportunity for you and your guests to let your hair down and celebrate your special day. We’ve collated the following questions to ask when viewing your wedding venue.

1. Is the Evening Reception in the same room as the Wedding Breakfast? If so, how long does it take to turn the room round?
2. Can we have our own DJ/Band?
3. Do you have your own sound equipment?
4. Do you have a dance floor?
5. Do you serve evening food?
6. What time does your kitchen close?
7. Can you cut and serve our wedding cake to guests?
8. Do you have a bar?
9. How many people will be working on the bar during the wedding reception?
10. What time is last orders?
11. What time do guests need to vacate?
12. Can we invite more guests to our wedding reception? What is the capacity?
13. Can we have fireworks or sparklers?
14. Is there somewhere safe to leave our gifts and cards during the reception?
15. Do we need to empty the room before we leave?

Admin and Finance Questions

Finally, we’ve listed the finance and admin questions that you need to know when choosing your wedding venue.

1. How much is the deposit?
2. When is the balance due?
3. What happens if numbers change?
4. What’s your cancellation policy?
5. Do you have insurance?
6. What are the insurance requirements for vendors?

Ready to Book your Wedding Showround at Eastnor Castle?

Book your private wedding showround with our wedding coordinator, Hayley. She’ll be on hand to ask any questions you have about the venue. You can also find out more information about our prices, food and drink choices and accommodation for your guests. Contact us for more information today!