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Your wedding venue - 10 questions to ask when planning

Wednesday, 07 October 2009 10:19

Choosing a venue is one of the most important parts of planning a wedding, and getting it right can mean the difference between having a dream day or nightmare. Here are our top 10 questions to ask…

What about the drink? - Drinks are an important part of the day and you need to make sure your venue is ready for your evening party! As if they can order in a guest ale if they don't supply the groom's favourite tipple as standard. And ask if you can set up a bar tab so that you don't have to worry about carrying cash with you.
Can we have music outside? - Most venues will have noise restrictions which means that music is not permitted outside or in various parts of the building after a certain time. You need to know about this before booking any entertainment.
Lawn games? - Ideal for a spring or summer wedding. Does your location provide these, can they source them for you and where would they suggest that the games are set up? From croquet to giant Jenga, games are a great idea for guests of all ages.
What about live music? - Your venue should be able to provide you with a list of recommended bands, and a good venue will be able to put you in touch with the best in the business! You can also get some great music and entertainment ideas for your wedding in our planning section.
When do we cut the cake? - If you have evening guests, you may decide to leave the wedding cake cutting until just before your first dance, as it provides a great photo opportunity of you and your husband.
What about evening buffets? - We suggest a range of evening buffets including barbecues in the summer and hog roasts in the winter. Ask your wedding venue what they would recommend.
Do you have a house DJ? - Most places offer an in-house disco and DJ, which means you don't have to worry about your evening guests turning up at the same time as the DJ and all his equipment, as it's already in place!
Are fireworks allowed? - Not everyone puts fireworks at the top of their list when planning a wedding, but if you can't imagine your big day without them then you should know that most venues will have a time limit for these and some do not permit fireworks at all, so ask before you book anything!
After hours drinking? - It's nice for friends and family to sit around and chat about the day after the party ends - ask your venue if they are happy for you to drink after the music has stopped.
What about my ideas? - Make sure during your planning that you find a wedding venue that listens to your ideas and works with you to create your dream day.