7 Questions You Should Ask A Wedding Venue Before You Book

Selecting the perfect wedding venue for your big day can be a very exciting time.

But along with that excitement comes a whole host of other emotions – it truly is a rollercoaster! In order to avoid too many dips and unexpected turns preparation is crucial throughout the planning process. 

This means knowing what to ask your potential wedding suppliers when you meet them. From your florist to your caterer; having a list of questions gives you a better chance of finding the perfect suppliers for your big day.

With this in mind, here are the top 7 questions to ask your wedding venue when you’re looking around.

Are You Available On My Preferred Date?

Let’s start with the obvious. If you have a date in mind, you need to check that your venue can accommodate you. Also, don’t forget that popular venues can be booked anywhere up to three years in advance. Because of this, it’s important to be flexible, espeicially if your heart is set on a particular wedding venue. 

It’s better to have a few dates in mind or even just a time of year. That way, you’ll have more options to work with when it comes to securing your booking. 

Choosing your wedding date can be a tricky task. However, asking your venue for photos of weddings throughout the year will give you a good idea of how the landscape will look.

Undoubtedly, the most important thing is not to delay choosing a venue. You might think that 1-2 years is a long time to plan, but the best venues book up fast, especially those that offer exclusive use. 

What’s Your Capacity?

This is an important point if you have large families, lots of friends or are planning a big celebration. Your venue will have a maximum capacity for dining and for reception. Make sure you find out how many people can be seated, as it will determine your guest list numbers. Venues like us here at Baddow Park House can host both intimate and large weddings. This is because we have a variety of beautiful spaces available for ceremonies and wedding breakfasts.

The capacity of the House is an impressive 150. The Orangery holding 120 guests dining at round tables or 150 banquet style..

What’s Included In My Wedding Venue Booking?

To help you know what details are taken care of, it’s important to know what’s included. Some venues provide just the space to hold your wedding. This means you need to source all the furnishings, decor, food and drink yourself, whereas others include some – or all – of that. 

Your hire fee includes the exclusive hire of the venue at Baddow Park House. Furthermore, the Salon is yours from 7.30am on the day of your wedding, and the rest of the house from 11am. Additionally, you have access to the house until 10am the day after. This makes packing up a more leisurely experience! If you require longer the follow day, this can be arranged for an additional fee. All furnishings (tables and chairs), linen, crockery, cutlery and glassware are included. Also, you have the use of our 11 stunning bedrooms for overnight accommodation. 

Importantly, one of the most significant inclusions is the support of our dedicated personal wedding consultant. With the experience of our professionals, planning your wedding day is made so much easier. They can quickly and easily manage your requests and questions. Indeed, it’s with their expertise that we create the most unique and memorable weddings for our couples.

If you’d like to learn more about what’s included at Baddow Park House read our blog post here… 

Does Your Wedding Venue Offer Exclusive Use?

Different venues offer different usage terms. Some venues are open to the public, so you may have to manage onlookers during your celebration, and others offer private use. It might not be a problem for you to share your space with other diners, visitors or even other weddings, but if you want the privacy that exclusive use provides, it’s best to check that it’s an option.

Do You Have Recommended Suppliers?

Most venues will have a list of preferred or recommended wedding suppliers. Baddow Park has a cultivated list of award-winning wedding businesses that we have worked with before. These suppliers are invited to join our recommended list. They don’t pay to be on it, nor do we take a commission on their bookings. 

Our suppliers are on our list on merit alone.  Each has an extensive portfolio of work that demonstrates just why we hand-picked them to work alongside us in bringing your wedding vision to reality.

Can I Pick My Menu?

Food often plays a key role in your wedding day, and selecting the menu can be a long process.  Check to see what kitchen facilities your venue has before you start dreaming of gorgeous fillets or scrumptious starters. Venues differ in what they can provide on the day; some have full catering kitchens, while others require you to bring one with you (well, your caterer). 

This often has a bearing on what food you can serve since you have to factor in setting up time and available facilities.

Our resident caterers share our passion for delivering you the wedding of your dreams. They’ll be happy to talk about whatever culinary desire you have, giving you a world of possibilities!

What Time Will My Wedding Reception Finish?

Like Cinderella, knowing when you have to leave helps you plan your carriages. Working backwards from an end time can also help you arrange your evening entertainment, as you’ll know how long to allocate to certain aspects, like a band or DJ.

Venues are usually beholden to the local authority when it comes to setting a finish time, and it’s therefore not negotiable. Some venues are located in residential areas and have to avoid too much late-night noise, while others have to be mindful of the environment around them.

Typically wedding venues ask that your reception finishes between 11 pm and 12 am. At Baddow Park, you and your guests can continue the party right through until midnight. Any guests staying with us are welcome to continue chatting and enjoying the evening.

It’s helpful to include a list of taxi companies with your invitation so your guests can pre-book a car to take them home.

Wedding Venue Selection: The Next Step

So, that’s the first 7 questions to ask your wedding venue when you look around. This should help you get a better idea of which will give you the unique, beautiful day you want. If you are looking for a luxury wedding venue where your wedding is truly a memorable experience, we’d love to welcome you to a viewing at Baddow Park House. 

Please email [email protected] to book your private viewing.