Careful planning is the key to a perfect wedding day. From the flowers to the reception, it’s important that you are completely organised and have everything in place in time for the big day.
One of the most important parts of the day (about from the vows) is the wedding venue. This is the place where you and your guests will spend most of the day, it’s vital you choose the right place that can cater for your wedding.
To give you a helping hand, here are some questions that you should ask venue owners before selecting your perfect wedding venue.
Do you have a marriage licence?
If you are looking to get married at the wedding reception, check that the venue has a licence to allow people to marry!
How many can your function room cater for seated and standing?
It’s all very well a function room stating that they can cater for 200 people, however what happens when you put a few tables in there? Will you all be like sardines in a tin? Ensure you ask this question so you can work out how many guests you can potentially invite to the evening reception as well.
At myfunctionroom.co.uk, all of our function rooms listed feature information about how many people their function room can hold both seated and standing, taking the hard work away from you!
Is there a deposit to pay?
Most wedding venues will require you to pay a deposit for hiring the venue, however it’s important to check the terms of this deposit. It’s also important to check where their costs come from, as it may be case they will charge you for the marquee extension or for the use of additional rooms around the venue.
Can I have an individual breakdown of the costs?
If you aren’t sure of the costs they are quoting, then ask for a breakdown so you know exactly what you are paying for making sure you know what to expect on the big day.
Make sure that you ask:
- If there is a charge for the room.
- If there is a booking or admin fee.
- Is there a service charge included.
- Is the VAT included.
- Is insurance included.
- Is there a deposit to pay and is it refundable.
Are there further charges for the cost of the venue equipment?
There are wedding venues that will charge for each piece of equipment that you use so make sure you find this out before you sign on the dotted line.
Can you provide catering?
There are many function rooms that provide catering for weddings, however some don’t. If this is the case then make sure you source a caterer first and check whether they are available for your wedding day. It may be the case that you ask your caterer to visit the party venue to see whether they have the facilities they need at the venue to serve your guests.
Do I have to use your preferred suppliers?
Some venues specify that you have to use their preferred supplies. We suggest you avoid this types of venues as you will more than likely be charged over the odds.
Do you have a bar?
It may be a surprise to you, but some venues don’t have a bar. Or if they do it’s a public bar and not one that can be made private for a function. Ensure that you check with the venue before booking and paying your deposit.
Do we have to spend a set amount at the bar?
Some function rooms require you to put a tab behind the bar as a minimum amount that should be spent on the day. Make sure you find out before hand, so you don’t get a nasty surprise. Also make sure that if you do put a tab behind the bar, the staff members are aware of the limit.
There are many horror stories in the past whereby the tab was kept open long after the limit was up, meaning the newlyweds were left to fork out more at the end of their big day than what they had planned.
Can you supply your own alcohol?
Some venues will allow this, however you will be charged a corkage fee.
Will the venue be exclusive to us for the day?
Some venues will pack as many functions as they can over one day so make sure that you double check the venue will be exclusive to you before you set the date.
What’s your music policy?
Some party venues have policies on when they can play music, so make sure you enquire about that first. The last thing you want is your party coming to an end at 11pm because the DJ has to go home.
Is their an outdoor area for the party to spill into?
Outdoor space makes the perfect overflow at a wedding reception so check whether there is outside space available to you and whether there is a cost to use it.
Do you have a complete list of all the local accommodation?
Your venue may be a hotel, however they may not have enough rooms. If this is the case then make sure that you obtain a list of all local venues for you to email around to all of your family and friends should they wish to book a room for your big day.
