25 Questions to Ask Before Booking a Wedding Venue

Booking a wedding should always be a rewarding experience, but with all the excitement it can be easy to forget the important questions. So, next time you’re looking around to find your perfect venue, take this list with you to make sure you ask all the right things.

1. Is the venue available on our preferred date?

If not, are there nearby dates that offer a similar experience or price?

2. What’s included in the venue hire?

Don’t assume. Ask whether tables, chairs, glassware, staffing, setup and clearing down are all included.

3. Is the venue exclusive use?

Will you have the whole venue to yourselves, or could there be other weddings, hotel guests or members of the public on site?

4. Where will guests spend each part of the day?

Can they easily move from ceremony to drinks, meal and evening party without lots of travelling between spaces?

5. What’s Plan B if it rains?

If you’re dreaming of an outdoor ceremony or drinks reception, ask exactly what happens if the weather changes.

6. Can guests stay overnight?

Having accommodation on site, or nearby, can make a huge difference, especially if guests are travelling.

7. How easy is it for guests to get here?

Is there parking? Is there a train station nearby? How easy is it to book taxis at the end of the night?

8. Is the venue accessible?

Think about wheelchair users, older relatives and guests with mobility needs.

9. How many guests does the venue work well for?

Not just the maximum capacity. A venue might technically fit 150 guests but feel best with 90.

10. What’s included in the drinks package?

Can you choose the wines? Are welcome drinks included? Is corkage available? What beers do you offer? 

11. Can we use our own suppliers?

Some venues have preferred suppliers, while others give you complete freedom.

12. How much time do we get on the day?

Can you decorate in the morning? Do you need to clear everything away that night?

13. Can you get married anywhere?

Most venues will have designated and licensed areas in which a ceremony can take place, so if you have something particular in mind, find out the options.

14. Where are the best photo locations?

Every venue will show you the obvious spots. Ask if there are quieter places, sunset locations or seasonal highlights.

15. What does the venue look like throughout the year?

A vineyard in February feels very different from one in August. Likewise gardens, woodland and countryside change dramatically with the seasons.

16. Can we personalise the day?

Can you write your own ceremony? Bring your own décor? Add lawn games? Choose your own music?

17. What’s the food like?

Can you taste it before booking? Can dietary requirements be catered for?

18. What’s the evening like?

When does music finish? Are there sound limiters? Can guests gather outside later in the evening?

19. Who’ll actually look after us?

Will you have one wedding coordinator from start to finish, or will different people take over throughout the planning?

20. What makes this venue different?

This is probably the most important question. Every venue has nice gardens and every venue says it’s unique. Ask what genuinely sets it apart.

For example, a working vineyard offers:

• Wine grown, made and bottled on site.
• Vineyard views.
• A winery guests can actually see.
• Seasonal vines that change throughout the year.
• Estate accommodation.
• A wine bar for guests to enjoy before or after the wedding.

If the answer feels memorable, that’s usually a good sign.

21. Can we visit more than once?

Many couples like to come back with parents, bridesmaids or groomsmen before making a final decision.

22. What are previous couples saying?

Read reviews, but also ask what couples mention most after their wedding. Sometimes the best insights aren’t on a five-star review—they’re the stories people tell.

23. How flexible is the venue?

Life happens. Ask how the team handles changes to guest numbers, timings or unexpected circumstances.

24. Will it still feel special in ten years?

Trends come and go. Think about whether the venue has a timeless quality that you’ll still love when you look back at your photos years from now.

25. Can we imagine ourselves here?

After all the practical questions, this is the one that matters most.

Can you picture your friends laughing during the drinks reception? Your family gathered around the tables? Walking back down the aisle together?

If you can genuinely imagine your wedding happening there, you’ve probably found somewhere worth serious consideration.

To find an answer to all of these questions at Stanlake Park Wine Estate, talk to our team and book a free show round now. We think you’ll be very happy with the answers!