Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you will make for your big day. Your venue sets the tone, style, and mood of your celebration, and affects everything from your budget, guest list, and vendors. That’s why you need to ask the right questions when touring a wedding venue, and make sure it meets your expectations, needs, and preferences.

Before you visit a wedding venue, you should know its availability and capacity. You don’t want to fall in love with a venue that is already booked or too small for your guest list. Check photos and reviews of the venue, to get a sense of how it looks and its service during actual weddings.

Wedding venue tour questions

The best way to get the most out of a wedding venue tour is by keeping the schedule of your wedding day in your mind. Think about the key parts of your wedding day: ceremony, photo session, cocktail hours and reception.

Ceremony

Which spaces are available for the ceremony? How many guests can they accommodate? If it is an outer space, what is the backup plan in case of bad weather? Are there speakers? If not where can the DJ setup? Does the space require decoration and is it already furnished?

Photo session

Which areas are available for doing photos? Are they private areas or shared? If shared, what are the usage and time restrictions?

Cocktail hour

Which spaces are available for cocktail hour? How many guests can they accommodate? What are the snack and drink options?

Reception

Which spaces are available for reception? How many guests can they accommodate? What are the catering and menu options? Do they have a dance floor or stage? How are they decorated and furnished? Is there a functional in-house audio and visual system?

Cost

How much does it cost to use each space? What is included and what is extra? Are there any hidden fees or taxes? What are the payment options and schedule?

These questions will help you compare and evaluate different wedding venues, and find the one that suits your vision, budget, and needs. Remember, your wedding venue is more than just a place to host your event, it is a part of your wedding story. So, choose wisely, and have fun!