Wedding Set-up

Some venues have multiple weddings in a weekend, so they may not allow it unless you pay for the night before. We asked our venue to rehearse the day before, and we could have the ceremony space for the afternoon, but not the evening. We had the reception space for the morning early. My friend's venue had a wedding the day before hers, so she had to have the rehearsal a few days before.

Thank you everyone! This has all been great advice . I was nervous booking with our venue over this as I don’t want to even have to think of setting up the morning of the wedding but we chose a different date and they’re allowing us set up the day before. So exited!

Our venue had the reception area set up the day before as soon as we arrived. My husband and I put the final touches on the tables and head table. I put the guest favours per table as arranged on the sheet created on windows word.

The Thank You card was places too rather than sending it after. Waterbeads and LED lights were placed before the start of the evening start.

Ask your venue. Ours has no problem with us coming the evening before to set up if they don’t have anything going on. And no we don’t have to pay for it.

I think most venues only make you pay a fee if you are actually holding a rehersal the night before.

I would ask them. But it will probably cost more. I know my venue does. It also depends on their availability. If you're wedding is on a Saturday, you might not be able to set up and rehearse the day before because they might have a Friday wedding.

I'm getting married on a Friday, and my venue doesn't even offer Friday set-up for Saturday weddings because they're booked solid. We had the option to pay more for a Thursday set-up, but chose not to do it.

It all depends on your venue. We have to pay $150 extra to have the rehearsal the day before, and we get the venue booked off for 2 hours. It's still an active venue, and they could have other events on the Friday (wedding is Saturday), so we have to wait until much closer to the date to figure out if we can bring stuff/set up anything the night before.

You can check with venues before booking, but it is not mandatory by any means to include a rehearsal, or to allow you in the day before. It will be part of their contract/policy, so make sure you ask those questions before committing and realizing you're stuck.

Some venues won't even let you in before a certain time on the day of! We can go in as soon as there is staff there, but sometimes you literally only have from noon til midnight on the day. Double check!

I think that is pretty common. Check what the specifics are for your venue.

You can definitely ask the venue to set up the day before. If they don't have any other events going on that day I can't see why not.

We have the whole day before the wedding to set up for ours and it will definitely make a difference- less stress and pressure for time. Then you can enjoy your rehearsal and rehearsal dinner with family

If they don't have anything the night before, they will allow this. However, don't expect the place to be ready probably until past 6 pm based on my previous experience.

I think it's very reasonable. The church I'm having my ceremony at includes a rehearsal in the price. We will do the rehearsal 1-2 days before my wedding. In terms of setting up, I dont see why a venue wouldn't allow doing this a day early or so, unless they have other events scheduled before yours.

I believe it depends on the venue. Some places hold weddings on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday so in that case you wouldn’t be able to set up early.

I would definitely check and if nothing is booked prior I would tell them you want to set up early!