What should i have prepared when seeing a venue for the first time?

Congrats and the first step to confirm your venue/location. Venues have a lot to offer yet have separate charges for extras you make want to make your day special.

1. Ask about what is included as a package within the services and bar timings.

2. Food cost per person based on buffet style vs. plated course meals

3. Décor that is provided by the venue or supply your own

4. Open bar price vs. Regular bar with extra hours cost on top vs. Cash bar if you want to do a few rounds for your guests

5. Backdrop available? Head table/Gift table set up and location and seating plan to accommodate around the dance floor.

6. Bar is provided with liquor or to stock up on your end? If so your end, charge for corkage and to bring in?

Hope these questions help you plan out your answers when the time comes to make the layout and overview your whole reception hall.

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Tori's got a great list going! I would also include some simple things like:

- Coat check options?
- Who else would have access to the venue? (It's good to know if you're gonna be sharing a lobby, or bathrooms, or if it's just your party)

I second:
- Parking!!! (My venue rents out a huge lot next door for $200 for the weekend. Some venues it's free, some venues it's $10-20 per CAR)
- Occupying the venue - set up time, tear down time, can you bring stuff to store the day before even if you can't set up, can you pick things up the next day or do you have to be 100% out by 2am? (example)

Ask what their payment plan is. that was an important one for us.
how gratuity works

how customizable is the menu? (this one is more important if you know you will have a lot of dietary restrictions).

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Yes!! SOCAN was included for us too! We aren't serving cake or else they charged like $3.00 p/p

Drives me nuts how "gratuity" is technically a service fee now so that was added on top of taxes for us... ah well! Just be on the look out because even a few dollars per person can add up REAL FAST!

Also check to see about upgradable chairs and if they supply linens! 2 great places to save if they include the good stuff! Out venue has the upgraded chairs, linens, charger plates and even offer a centrepiece! (which we are using just throwing some flowers on top!)

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Definitely ask about hidden fees!! SOCAN is another one (the music licensing one) as well as a cake cutting fee, if you have a cake!

Our venue's inclusive package included a lot of those fees plus taxes and gratuities up front so there was no surprises.

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Ditto this! A list of preferred vendors is great! This is how we got our decoration people actually!

Also ask if the in house DJ requires a hook in fee if an outside DJ comes in! We did not go with the in house DJ (they were quite expensive) but it is almost $700.00 extra for us to use the soundsystem in the venue with an outside DJ....

Be very open about asking about surprise additional costs! The plate may be $100.00 per person... but then there's taxes and gratuities so that can actually go up to $130.00 + per person. Ask about security! Where you can store gifts, do they offer any security guards for the doors? Ask about bringing in any outside food! Our venue allows us to bring a Wedding Cake but pretty much nothing else! We are giving out wine as our favour and we can only do that as long as the wine is corked and sealed and NOT opened at all in the venue (a take to leave kind of gift)

Both ladies have pretty much covered everything. If open bar is included make sure you ask them if it is fully open or if they cap the amount of alcohol they serve. Some places say open bar but will put a limit on how much they serve.
Our venue does all inclusive too but there were different packages. One included just basics. And the other you could upgrade your linens and have a wider selection for late night buffet. So make sure you get information on everything that is included for the price they are giving you.

Tori has all the main questions down!

Another thing you could ask is if they have a list of preferred/recommended vendors. It can definitely help narrow down the search for other vendors once you book the venue.

Congrats on the engagement and welcome to the wedding wire community!

Here are a list of things that me and my FH asked each venue (from what I remember):

Length of time to occupy the venue?

Do they set up/ tear down or do I have to do that?

Do they supply any decor at all? If so, is there a cost?

Parking?

Bar service prices or can you bring in your own?

Do they allow any outside food or drinks at all? (Some places only allow wedding cakes from bakeries and not ones that you make yourself)

DJ set up fee if you don't use their recommended DJ?

Is there a room to get ready in?

Nearby accommodations like a hotel (if this isn't one), hair dresser, etc.?

If the venue is also where you are having the ceremony - is there a separate space or will they require a tear down reset during cocktail hour?

Here are some discussions here on wedding wire that others have asked the same question:

Questions to ask when visiting venues

Venue: important questions!