Your wedding venue is the foundation of the entire celebration. It shapes your guest experience, dictates your event flow, and often carries the largest share of your wedding investment. For couples who want to curate a sophisticated wedding experience, booking a wedding venue is more than just choosing a beautiful setting. It’s about partnering with a property that is communicative and has a system in place to create a seamless event.
I put together a list of things to look out for when booking your wedding venue. Let’s dive into it.
Delayed Communication
If the wedding venue doesn’t follow up, consider it an early indicator. This shows how they will manage future details. An expert venue team should communicate with clarity, promptness, and professionalism from the very first inquiry.
Inconsistent Information
Consistency builds trust. Details shared during your site visit should align with what’s outlined in the proposal or contract.
Discrepancies around inclusions or policies can cause confusion down the line. Watch out for newly disclosed fees that were never mentioned. A trustworthy wedding venue is transparent from the beginning. They want you to fully understand all potential expenses so there are no unwelcome surprises later in the process.
Not Able to Provide a Detailed Estimate Before Contract Signing
Before you commit, you deserve clarity. A full, itemized estimate should be provided before signing any contract. Not just a broad “starting at” price. This estimate should include venue fees, taxes, and any related costs. If the wedding venue is also providing food and beverage, expect costs for food, bar, taxes, and service fees. These can easily increase the full estimate by 26%.
Without this transparency, you risk discovering unexpected costs after you’ve locked in the venue.
Negative Reviews
Take the time to read recent reviews about the wedding venue you’re considering. While every venue may have occasional less-than-perfect feedback, patterns matter. Consistent concerns about communication delays, billing surprises, or day-of execution issues should raise red flags.
Inexperienced Team
Pay close attention to the team’s experience. If coordinators lack event management expertise, they may jeopardize the quality of your event. They should seem familiar with complex logistics. They should demonstrate confidence answering detailed questions about the wedding venue operations.
Wedding Venues That Claim to “Include a Wedding Planner” (But Actually Don’t)
This is a subtle but critical point that many couples misunderstand. Some wedding venues advertise that a “wedding planner” is included with their package. In reality, they are offering a venue coordinator, not a true wedding planner.
A venue coordinator is employed by the venue. Their primary role is to oversee venue-specific logistics: ensuring the space is ready, managing the venue’s staff, and enforcing venue policies. Their first obligation is to the venue itself, not to you.
By contrast, a wedding planner is hired directly by the client. They serve as your advocate throughout the entire planning process. A professional planner works with you from the very beginning. They oversee budgets, curate vendor teams, manage timelines, and create the design. They ensure your vision is executed flawlessly across all aspects of the wedding, not just those tied to the venue.
If a wedding venue claims to “include a planner,” ask specific questions. What does their role entail? When does their involvement begin and end?
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue Before Signing a Contract
Here are some essential questions you want to ask:
- Can you provide a full estimate?
- Is there any specific rule or policy we need to be aware of that could potentially impact our event? This includes strict decor rules, pet policies, flow of event, end time of events, or sparkler use.
- Do you have a required vendors list? Some wedding venues have specific catering companies they work with.
- How many weddings do you have per day?
- What are the weather backup options? Not having a weather backup plan for an outdoor event can cost several thousands of dollars.
- Any additional fees we should be aware of? Think cleaning fees, furniture removal fees, or early access fees.
Choose Your Wedding Venue with Confidence
A truly exceptional property will pair the style you are looking for with transparent and clear communication. By keeping these red flags in mind, you can confidently select a wedding venue and avoid any unpleasant surprises down the road.
If you are looking for help in your venue selection, reach out to us by filling this short contact form. With over a decade of experience in venues, I can help you navigate the road to wedding venue selection without regrets.
