A lot of things factor into a wedding that you don’t even realize until you’re planning your own. Being the type A person I am, the first thing I did was make a list. I realized I had so many logistical questions when visiting wedding venues before I even got into the fun decor questions. My wedding venue checklist was the perfect tool to bring with me on wedding venue appointments.
What Should Be On My Wedding Venue Checklist?
Think about your must-haves and list them out, not even in question form.
- Do you have a pet that you want involved?
- Are you planning on a late night snack?
- Does your fiance want an ice sculpture (cough…Kev)?
- If your ceremony is outdoors, what is your backup?
- What does the venue include? Sometimes they provide unexpected extras.
- If they have a bridal suite on-site be sure it’s 100% yours for the day.
- Do you want outdoor space at your reception site?
The list goes on and on, and you’ll probably add more to it as you start looking at venues. Always bring a notepad or have a note app designated to write down questions as they come up because the information overload will cause you to forget details.
Seek Expert Advice from Recently Married Couples
Talk to friends and family who have gotten married in the last few years. Ask them questions about what issues or unknowns came up while they planned their wedding. Since they’ve gone through this experience recently they’ll have the freshest perspective on what the wedding planning market is like right now.
Turn Your List into a Checklist
Turn your requirements into questions and add them to your master questionnaire.
Must-have: My dog will be in the wedding.
Ask: “Are dogs allowed on the premises? If it rains, are they allowed inside the rain location?”
Take each detail you listed and ask all of the questions about that detail. Imagine all scenarios playing out with each required detail you listed. Don’t just ask if something is allowed or provided when you visit the venue. Ask the staff what happens if there’s bad weather, someone has an allergy, etc. You have to think about the worst case scenario and get down to the bare bones of what your contingency plan will be.
Review Your Wedding Venue Checklist with Your Fiance
Get each and every one of your requirements into question form and leave yourself some space to write in the answers at your appointments.
Having the same information about each venue after all of your appointments will help you compare the venues directly with the same important criteria.
Download My Free Wedding Venue Checklist
Start with the same Wedding Venue Checklist I brought venue shopping. It’s got all your basic need-to-asks and is print-ready. However, I left it in .docx format so you can add, delete and/or edit to customize to your needs! The back side is blank for you to take extra notes. You can also print a few of these out to start and add your additional questions to the back.
More Wedding Planning
- Creating Your Wedding Registry
- My Purple Bridesmaid Proposal Boxes
- Post Bridal Shower Organization Tips
- Gorgeous Wedding Flowers on a Budget
