50 Questions to Ask a Wedding Venue (From a Venue Owner)

We own a wedding venue, so we sit on the other side of the tour table every weekend. We hear the questions couples ask, and we notice the ones they should ask but do not. Nobody hands you that list, so here it is: the 50 questions Josh and Meika would ask before signing any venue contract in North Carolina, including ours at Scarborough House.

Money and contract (the ones that prevent heartbreak)

1. What is the all-in price for my date and my guest count, in writing?
2. What exactly does that price include? Tables? Chairs? Setup? Cleanup?
3. What costs extra that most couples do not expect?
4. How much is the deposit and when is the balance due?
5. What happens to my money if I cancel? If you cancel?
6. Is there a service charge, admin fee, or tax added at the end?
7. Do prices change if my guest count changes?
8. Is insurance required, and who provides it?
9. Are there discounts for Sundays or weekdays? (Ours are real: see pricing.)
10. What is the payment schedule, and is any of it refundable?

The rain plan (ask this one twice)

1. Show me, standing here, exactly where my ceremony goes if it pours.
2. Is the backup space included or does the tent cost extra?
3. Who makes the weather call, and by what time?
4. Does the backup plan still fit all my guests seated?
5. What happens in extreme heat? (Our answer involves a 1,000 pound ice machine and a pool.)

Time, sound, and rules

1. What time can we get in, and what time must music stop? Every venue has a sound limit. Ours is 11 PM for amplified sound. If a venue says they have no limit, ask again.
2. Can we keep hanging out after the music ends? (Fire pits count.)
3. Are sparklers, candles, and fireworks allowed?
4. Can we bring our dog for the ceremony?
5. Are there decor rules? Nails, tape, hanging things from beams?

Vendors and food

1. Do we have to use your vendor list, or can we bring our own? (No exclusive list here. Your caterer is welcome. Browse local vendors we trust if you want a head start.)
2. Is there a kitchen or prep space for the caterer?
3. Can we bring our own alcohol? Do we need a bartender or a permit?
4. Are there corkage or cake-cutting fees?
5. When can vendors load in and out?

Guests and logistics

1. What is the real comfortable capacity, seated with a dance floor?
2. Where does everyone park, and is it lit at night?
3. Is the venue accessible for wheelchairs and grandparents?
4. How many restrooms are there?
5. Is there a getting-ready space for both sides of the wedding party?
6. Where do guests stay overnight, and how far is the drive back after the reception?
7. Is there space and power for a band and a DJ?
8. What about bugs in summer? (Eastern NC couples know to ask.)
9. Is there strong wifi and cell coverage on site?
10. Can guests leave cars overnight if they should not drive?

The lodging questions (most lists skip these)

1. Can anyone sleep on site? How many beds, in how many rooms?
2. Is lodging included in the wedding price or separate?
3. When is check-in and check-out? Is the whole weekend ours, or only Saturday?
4. Will another event share the property with us?
5. Can we host the rehearsal dinner and a Sunday breakfast there too? (This is the whole idea of the wedding weekend: 13 bedrooms, Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, nobody drives anywhere.)

The people questions

1. Who is my contact on the wedding day, by name?
2. Is that person on site the whole time?
3. How many weddings do you host per weekend? (The only right answer is one.)
4. How long have you been hosting weddings, and can I talk to a past couple? (Or read reviews.)
5. What is the worst thing that ever happened at a wedding here, and how did you handle it? (Every honest venue owner has a story. The answer tells you everything.)

The gut-check questions (ask yourselves, not the venue)

1. Did the owner or manager seem like someone we can call at 9 PM with a problem?
2. Can we picture our specific people here, from the flower girl to the great-uncle?
3. Does the price we were quoted match the price on their website? (If they hide prices, ask why.)
4. Are we choosing this venue, or is the deadline choosing it for us?
5. Did we leave excited?

Bring this list on a tour

Print this, bring it to every tour, and write the answers down while you stand on the property. If a venue gets cagey about any of it, that is an answer too. And if you want to test the list on us first, book a tour at Scarborough House. We will answer all 50, including number 45.