When you start planning your wedding, one of the first items to tackle, is deciding where to host your wedding. Where you choose to host your wedding will be one of the most important choices you make during the planning process, so keep the following 10 questions to ask your wedding venue top-of-mind to ensure you choose the best-possible wedding venue to make your big day magical.
What Is the Maximum Number of Guests the Venue Can Accommodate?
Determining how many people that the wedding venue can comfortably accommodate should be at the top of your list of questions to ask. If you want to have a sit-down dinner, this will affect how many people can attend your wedding because of the specific seating arrangements. So, if you want all your guests to be able to attend both the ceremony and the reception, make sure your wedding venue understands your precise vision and how your plan will affect space and seating/standing room.
Also, don’t forget to ask if there is a minimum number of guests that will need to attend your wedding to secure the space!
Does the Venue Have a Designated Event Planner?
Planning a wedding can be hectic – especially when you try to go it alone, without the support of a professional. A designated event planner will understand the wedding venue, inside and out, and they will help you get a more fulsome understanding of what works in the space and, equally as important, what are its limitations.
What Support Can the Venue Offer Leading Up to and On the Day of the Event?
When you plan your wedding with a venue, like Vintage Hotels, that offers its brides and grooms a seasoned Special Events Manager, you’ll have support from the beginning of your planning journey through to the day of.
Our Special Events Managers will help you identify which ceremony and reception spaces best suit your tastes. They can also help coordinate your vendors and ensure your wedding menu will meet all your dietary needs, while also wowing your guests with fabulous farm-to-table offerings. Ask about special add-ons or unique requests that you may have in mind to make your wedding stand out – our team will be more than happy to accommodate as best as possible to make your dream a reality.
What Are Your Catering Options?
If you have an appreciation for exceptional food, you won’t want to wait to find out what you can expect to put on guests’ plates during your wedding reception, so it’s important to determine if the venue has an in-house catering services that meets your expectations.
Check out how customizable the venue’s catering menus are and consider meeting with the Executive Chef with your special events manager to make sure they share your vision of delicious elegance, so there are no unfortunate food-related surprises on the day of.
When Will the Wedding Venue be Available?
It’s important to find out precisely what time will you have access to the venues before and after the event.
There’s so much to do leading up to a wedding, and many of the tasks may require access to the venue to ensure all the decorations and special flairs you want are set up to your liking.
Talk with your wedding venue to find out what time on the day-of you can get into your event space. Discuss the process for decorating the space; can items be brought in in advance?
Also, make sure you understand the clean-up process. How quickly do you need to clear out of the venue? Can you return the next day? This will be important to know, so you can make proper arrangements to avoid unforeseen fees.
What Does the Venue Supply?
Have an open and transparent conversation with your wedding planner or event coordinator to understand what the venue can provide: think about seating, tables, dishware, linens, and any décor elements that may add sparkle and pizzazz to your wedding celebration.
Many venues have items on-hand that can be used, they are either complimentary or can be rented. It’s good to ask your venue about unique items you may be looking for; they might have them on-hand or can make suggestions about where to source specialty items.
Which Spaces Will You Have Access To?
Whether you have a particular vision for your wedding photos, or you want to have a private space for the “first look” at your fiancé, it’s important to fully understand which areas of the venue will be open to you, your wedding party and your guests.
Having various spaces for people to sneak off to for a reprieve from the party, take photos or a place to get ready in, such as a bridal suite, can elevate your wedding by creating changes of pace, scenery and atmosphere. So, don’t forget to see which areas of the venue you can take advantage of.
What About Transportation?
If you’re hosting your wedding out-of-town, make sure you find out if there is enough parking available at the event. Also, if you are travelling from your ceremony to the reception venue, can the venue supply or connect you with a trusted vendor for transportation? This is important to figure out ahead of time, so you can plan with your guests to ensure everyone gets to the wedding on time – and, potentially, in style!
Does the Venue Work with Trusted Vendors?
Finding out who your venue works with and what they can offer your special day is essential to affirm you’ll have access to exceptional florists, entertainment, officiants and décor specialists.
Working with trusted wedding vendors can be even more important when you’re hosting a wedding outside of your city. That way, you can take advantage of your venue’s pre-established connections, so you feel more comfortable trusting in the people who will come together to create your special day.
Can You Host the Ceremony and Reception at the Venue?
If your vision includes hosting both your reception and ceremony under one roof, you need to check in with your venue to see which spaces are available to you; how many people you can fit; and how you can work with a trusted officiant to perform the ceremony of your dreams.
Make sure you understand how easy it will be to transition between spaces or how the venue can support you to build up, tear down and rearrange areas of the venue to evolve from ceremony to reception.
Discover Gorgeous Wedding Venues in Niagara-on-the-Lake with Vintage Hotels
Now that you know which ten questions to start your wedding planning journey with, you can get started hunting for the ideal place to say I do to the one you love.
Consider hosting your wedding in Niagara-on-the-Lake at one of our Vintage Hotels, where you’ll be supported by an expert event planner and have access to customizable spaces that boast as much beauty as they do essential wedding planning amenities.