Choosing your wedding venue is the first step in setting the tone for your entire event. Don’t let that cause you any anxiety though! Just ask the right questions to make the process go a lot smoother.

When choosing your venue, pick one that embodies who you are as a couple. Choose a wedding venue that shares a bit of who you are with your guests. Whether you are getting married on the top of a mountain, near the ocean or in the middle of a bustling city, here are 20 questions to ask your potential venue to help make the process a bit easier.

What dates do you have available?
If you don’t have your heart set on a certain date, ask your venue what dates they have in a certain month. Being open to a date range rather than a specific date at a venue will provide a higher chance of you getting into your dream venue. Take into consideration that having your wedding on a Sunday or Friday can be a significant price difference.

What is your max capacity?
Knowing how many guests you can invite to your wedding will inform so many other decisions, like how many invites to order, your catering budget and ultimately your overall budget. A large guest count will be substantially more expensive since catering and alcohol are calculated per head.

How long are we and our vendor team allowed on premises?
Knowing how long the space is yours to decorate and occupy is important. You want to make sure you and your vendor team have enough time at your venue to pull off your dream wedding but also clean it all up before your event time is finished. Many venues charge an hourly fee if you go over your allotted venue rental time.

What is the venue cost?
Make sure you know the total rental cost and what is included with the rental. Ask if any other fees or surcharges are added onto the rental price.

Is special event insurance required?
It is now considered common practice for event and wedding venues to require special event insurance to be obtained by the couple. Obtaining insurance is easy and averages $150 -$300 depending on the overall budget of your event. You should also inquire whether your venue requires vendors to be additionally insured to work at their venue.

What is required to book my wedding here?
Make sure you are informed on the venue’s process on holding your date. Most venues require a deposit to secure an event date. You should also be aware of the payment schedules when your contract needs to be signed and how many walk-throughs are required.

Is a damage deposit required?
Determine if you need a damage deposit, how much it is, how it will be paid, and when it is due. Most venues have refundable deposits, and the venues will usually return the money within a month assuming there was no damage during your wedding.

Can we view a sample contract?
Venue contracts can be long and full of legal jargon, but that doesn’t mean you should skip reading them. Make sure you ask to see a copy of the contract well in advance before signing, so you can write down any questions that arise from reviewing it. ALWAYS read contracts before signing.

Are candles/confetti/ sparklers/etc. allowed?
If you have your heart set on a sparkler exit or hundreds of candles lining your aisle, make sure to get these things approved before booking. You don’t want to be disappointed if those items are not allowed after you already signed your contract.

Are we required to work with specific vendors?
Often venues will require you to choose from an exclusive or approved list of caterers, bar service, and rental companies. This can be a huge perk. Working with a team of vendors that works together frequently and knows the venue well will result in a smooth and stress-free event. If you have your heart set on a caterer that is not on your venue’s list, ask if there is a fee to bring in a non-listed vendor.

Is a planner required?
More often than not, venues will require a day of planner at a minimum. This is oftentimes someone that they have on staff for hire or someone you can bring in yourself. Ask the venue if they can offer suggestions for planners that work at their venue often. A good wedding planner can make your wedding a breeze to plan and a dream to attend.

Is there a space for us to get ready?
If this is something that your venue offers, you just crossed another to-do item off your list. You no longer need to find a hotel for getting ready at. Check and check!

What is your refund policy?
Make sure you have all this information before you sign your contract. It is important to know your options should you need to make a change to your wedding day. Most venues have a non-refundable deposit to secure your date.

Can we have our rehearsal here?
Ask if you can have a short rehearsal at your venue. If your venue is known for hosting multiple weddings on a weekend, it is unlikely that the space will be available the night before your event. If that’s the case, you will want to know this well in advance so you can make other arrangements and inform your bridal party and family.

When will we have our final walk though and who needs to be there?
Make sure you know when and who needs to be there for the final walk-through. If multiple vendors need to be in attendance, this can be a coordination nightmare to do last minute. If you get it on the calendar well in advance, your vendors will love you and it should be easy breezy to schedule.

Are tables and chairs included?
If so, that’s a huge boost to your budget. If not, it’s important to know so you can budget accordingly. This is a good time to ask if linens are provided and if not, where the venue recommends renting them from.

Is parking available on-site?
Make sure to ask detailed questions about this so you can pass it along to your guests. If parking is not provided by the venue, ask them for a list of lots nearby or shuttle services that you can book for your guests.

What is your clean-up policy?
Ask if cleaning is included in the price of the venue rental or if it is an added charge. Cleaning might not be provided by the venue at all and needs to be something you hire a cleaning company for. Get the details so you can plan accordingly.

Are there noise restrictions?
This will help inform the time your party goes until. It is also good to know if you can have amplified music in the outdoor space if there is any.

Who will be our point person at the venue as we plan our wedding?
Creating a good rapport with the point person who will be helping you plan your event is huge. Make sure to ask if this will be the same person the day of your event and if not, make sure you know who it will be and if you can meet them beforehand.