Wedding Etiquette Forum

questions to ask venues?

We are going to meet with some reception venues for the first time in a few weeks.  Any advice?  What are some questions I should come prepared with?  Thanks so much!
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Re: questions to ask venues?

  • "If me or my FI dies right before the wedding, what is your policy/level of compassion?"

    I asked every single vendor that.  Just to get an idea of what kind of people they were.  I know that a contract is a contract, but I like to work with reasonable people with a little of compassion. 

    More questions:

    -clean up, who is responsible
    -taxes, services fees and grats, how much are those and what exactly do they cover
    -what time can they serve alcohol til
    -what is the very latest that music has to stop
    -ask for some references
    -can outside wine or alcohol be brought in
    -can the cake be brought in from outside
    -how far ahead of time do they need a final count

    "It's shart week." -georgiabride
    "This post is seriously retarded." -Stackeye210
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    Miss
    Mrs & ZOMG we built a howse!
    being healthy. blog.
  • Ask about:
    set up fees for tables & chairs
    if they have any decorations they rent or supply for renting their space
    table linens, provided or not and colors available
    if they cater or if you're allowed to get someone else to cater
    -if they don't allow outside food make sure you taste their menu
  • Ask about the A/C, who controls it and what time will it be turned on day of wedding.

    Ask what time they open doors for vendors to come in (with cake, dj, etc)
  • Ask about decor restrictions (candles, things hanging from the ceiling) and if they'll set it up or if you have to. Find out what time you have the space available (earlier that day? the night before). If they'll set it up, is there a fee?

    Ask if the person you're meeting with will be present for the night of the event.

    Is there a cake cutting fee? How many entrees may we provide? Is there a fee for doing more than one entree?

    Are there any preferred vendors (DJ, florist, etc) that will give you a discount if you book with them?

    What's the parking situation? Do they have valet, and if so, are you required to use it? Is there a self-park lot nearby?

    What's their sound system like? Can the DJ use it, or do you need to bring your own?

    What are your lighting options? Are the lights on dimmers?

    If you're working with an in-house caterer:
    -What's the minimum amount you have to spend? Will they waive the room rental fee if you reach a certain dollar amount?
    -What's the bar situation? Can you bring your own alcohol? If not, are they willing to do a flat package fee (4 hours of beer/wine/soda for $XX), or is it solely based on consumption?
    -If you book now for an event next year, will they allow you to secure the current pricing? If not, make sure you get in the contract that the food prices may not increase more than by a certain percent (try for 3% or 5%). There was a girl on here a few months ago who didn't get this in her contract, and the venue doubled the entree prices a month before her wedding.

    The book Bridal Bargains has lots of great questions to ask. It was incredibly helpful!

    And get everything, and I mean EVERYTHING in writing. There have been horror stories of event managers being fired or leaving an establishment a week before the wedding and brides scrambling to combat extra fees.
  • I have some that we used under Questions for Vendors in my bio.
  • Thanks everyone!  I woudn't have thought to ask half of those on my own!
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  • These are all great questions to ask.  Also, if you have children attending, you may want to ask if they do they reduced pricing for the kiddos.

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