Venue Tours 101: What to Expect & Questions to Ask
It’s important to find a venue that accommodates all of your needs, so we put together this list of questions to ask during a tour to find the venue right for you!
Before we begin, let's start with this quick tip: always be ready to hold a date. Ask your venue ahead of time what the cost is and what payments they accept to put a soft hold on your date. So when you fall in love (sometimes unexpectedly) with a venue, you can rest assured nobody can steal your date while you're working out logistics and making a decision.
At Rock Island, we require a $250 refundable deposit in cash or check only! :)
Now, let's get into the important questions to ask. Feel free to take what applies to your situation and leave the rest behind.
General
How many events do you hold per day?
What is your max capacity & minimums?
Is your venue wheelchair accessible?
What are your steps to putting a date on hold?
Do you offer virtual planning options?
Do I need to hire a wedding planner, or do you offer in-house coordinating?
Do you offer valet parking?
What is your policy for overnight guest parking?
When can I come pick up my things after the wedding?
What is the latest time our wedding can end?
Do you have a backup generator for power outages?
Onsite Ceremonies
Do you charge a ceremony fee? What does that include?
Do you include ceremony chairs? If so, do you charge an additional setup fee?
Do you include an archway, podium, microphone & speakers?
Do you have multiple ceremony locations?
Do you offer onsite walkthrough rehearsals?
Is your ceremony area wheelchair accessible?
{For outdoor ceremonies} Do you offer an indoor ceremony space if it rains?
If our wedding date approaches with unpredictable weather and a planned outdoor ceremony, who decides if the ceremony will be moved indoors? How far in advance can the decision be made?
Music
Can someone play my Spotify playlist for ceremony?
Do you include a cocktail hour music playlist?
Do you have built-in speakers and/or lighting?
Are there any sound ordinances with the town?
Food
Do you have an in-house kitchen?
Do you allow outside food or alcohol?
How do you accommodate to allergies and dietary restrictions?
Do you offer gluten-free, vegan etc. menu options?
Do you require entrée counts on RSVPs, and can guests change their minds day-of?
Do you include a signature drink?
Vendors
Do you require us to book within your preferred vendors?
Are there any restrictions on what outside vendors can bring in (photo booth, sparklers, etc.)?
How early can my vendors come in to set up?
To what extent will your team setup our décor?