Booking a vendor

Read the contract over very carefully and make sure you know all the costs of everything. Some vendors will put "hidden" costs and extra costs in that you don't see right away. I had gone through our contract and highlighted all the prices and made sure us and the vendor were on the same page as to what was included in the various costs and what wasn't.

Double check on things like having to buy your own individual wedding insurance in addition to your venue having their own. Corkage fee and if you are doing drink tickets if there is an additional cost for someone to distribute them. Double check on the types of décor that you are allowed in, some vendors don't allow candles above a certain height, etc.

Before you sign it make sure that you make a list of things that may not have been mentioned or small details and ask about them.

For sure read the contact over and over! Make sure if you have any questions ASK THEM! I had my contract edited about 4 times before I was okay to sign it!

Make the wording on it fool proof (no chances of reading between the lines) and that all information is present! Make sure you get a signed copy as well from the Venue and all copies of receipts!

I actually had a 3 page document of questions I went to each venue with to make sure I knew I was asking everything! There's a lot of great tips online about the top questions to ask any venue!

You can straight up ask about hidden fees! Also if there is a tax and gratuity fee, double check that the gratuity fee is or isn't taxed too (some venues when the gratuity percent is listed it will be taxed as it is considered a service at that point and not a "tip)

Make sure you know exactly what your venue will and will not do to help on your day - something like setting up and tear down. Also find out if they host more than one event a weekend. If they have other events the same weekend, you may not be able to drop your stuff off ahead of time (the night before) and you may have to make sure you collect everything the night of your wedding. This also if you are having your ceremony at the same location as you venue, that might also mean you may not have access to your venue for your rehearsal.

There are questions that may arise on the contract and beyond them, inquire about these aspects.

1. SOCA fee: DJ music rights charge based on bringing one in.
2. Wine bottle corkage fee
3. Cake cutting or plated charge ( if plated service is your option chosen).
4. Ceremony time restriction and rehearsal booking time.
5. Set up timing and day so you can get things done ahead of time.

Apart than these questions, you may come across others that couples have incurred while venue shopping.

A few questions that we thought about before booking or HD to clarify after getting the contract:

Do you need to use set vendors from their list or can you use who ever you want?
what time can you start the set up and what time does take down have to be done by?
What can you supply yourself and what must be supplie by the venue (cake, food, drinks, decor, etc)?
Do you need to purchase event insurance?
What does your contact give you access to (are there outside grounds you want for pictures, other areas of the building, etc).?
Do you have to have a day of coordinator (supplied by the venue or by you)?
Do they have limitations for decorating (no pins, staples, tape, also no crayons at some, etc)? And can you hang things like lights?
What happens if the event is canceled or a massive storm passes through that day and they have to close the venue?
What additional fees do you have to keep in mind (cake cutting, garbage disposal, service charges for bartending, using an outside DJ that will need to plug into the system, display for a slideshow, etc)

im sure there are more but along with others this is just a quick list. If you’ve already gone over these questions with your venue it’s a good idea to make sure these terms are included in the contract or have an email trail?

Read over the contract in detail and ask what every fee is for so that you understand all that you are paying for. Also if you want to bring in your own wine, is that aloud or do they have a very high corkage fee.

Parking! Does your venue include parking? Is there a charge? Mines $200 to reserve an entire lot next to our venue (it's on a university campus). That's in the contract. There was a bride on the other day that said when they booked they were told the lot was free, and less than a month from the wedding they were informed it was now run by a 3rd party, and it's now $12 per vehicle. If it's free, make sure it's in there.
Also I made her write that we could bring in outside desserts. They didn't have a policy against it, but I wanted it committed just in case.
Also if a rehearsal is included... what set-up/take-down is included... hours you have access to your venue...
There may be more but those are the top things I can think of. Pretty much, don't take anything for granted and assume, if you want to guarantee something, put it in writing! You'll thank yourself later! There's no such thing as being too picky when it comes to spending all that money, and securing your big day.