Your venue search is underway but you haven’t hired a planner. Can you trust everything they tell you? What key questions should you ask? Here’s how to navigate the process on your own without professional support. Come prepared with questions and ask them to thoroughly breakdown the details for you. 

The Key Questions We Focus On Are The Following:

1. What does the rental fee consist of and what is included within that? 
At minimum does this  include tables and chairs? 

2. If a flip is required and the venue is providing tables and chairs, confirm the venue's staff does this. 

3. How many hours are included in the rental fee? What if we want to extend? Is that an option and how much extra is that? 

4. How many weddings do you take on each weekend?

5. Am I guaranteed a rehearsal time the day before? 

6. I am considering this month “give them the specific month you are wanting” what does it look like around here this time of year? How is the weather? What do you as a venue do to prep this space? 

7. What do the Plan B “rain plans” look like? (As a bride, ask yourself do you love the Plan B option as much as the main option.) 

8. How many guests does the space accommodate? 

9. I want to get HMU done onsite,  what time do I have access to the bridal suite open? 
**The 10am start time is too late.** 

10. The venue is all inclusive - have them break this down for you in depth. 

11. The venue comes with a planner - Does it actually? 
Your venue most likely includes a “venue coordinator” which is drastically different from a planner. Your venue coordinator will handle all things venue related; i.e the lights, the ac, their venue staff, anything pertaining to the venue. They do not handle your timeline, vendors, floorplans, vendor communication, etc. 

12. The venue has add ons - a.k.a you can add a planner for this cost (usually significantly lower) than an outside planner, would you like to add this on? Please know this is not going to be the same quality as booking an outside freelance planner. Just because the price looks better does not mean you will get the same quality of work or care.