What to Check Before Booking a Wedding Venue

You’ll find that signing a venue contract is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when planning your wedding and therefore it is essential to ask plenty of questions before signing the contract to ensure you book the right wedding venue for you.

Check the Venue Is Legally Licensed

Not all venues are licensed to hold civil ceremonies. Before booking make sure your chosen venue holds an approved premises licence for civil marriages. This will confirm that a civil ceremony can take place at the venue and that a registrar will be present to conduct the ceremony. Newly opened or recently changed venues are more likely to have changed their license so it’s always best to check before booking.

Confirm the Real Capacity Numbers

Capacity figures quoted by wedding venues are often for receptions held with guests standing. So check how many guests will actually fit in the room for a seated dinner with a top table, round tables and a dance floor. There can be a big difference between a venue’s advertised capacity and the actual numbers that can be accommodated for a wedding reception.

Ask About Catering and Supplier Rules

Also check out what the policy is with regards to catering at the venue. Some wedding venues are tied to the venues’ in-house catering team, others may use an approved list of outside suppliers and others still allow you to bring in whoever you like. It is a good idea to check if there is an approved list of outside suppliers and ask for contact details for each of them so that you can have a chat with them prior to booking the venue.

Find Out About Noise and Finish Times

A lot of venues have a music curfew or rules on amplified sound due to a neighbour agreement or planning condition. Find out the time that the music has to stop for, whether this applies to inside and outside areas and what the penalty is for going over this time.

Read the Deposit and Cancellation Terms Carefully

Before signing a contract check what percentage is required for a deposit and what happens to it should you decide to cancel your wedding. What are the circumstances under which the venue can cancel your wedding and what are the penalties. For further guidance on wedding venues in Chester please see our guide to Wedding Venue Chester.

By taking the time to get all the details correct when you are selecting a few venues to visit, you will save a lot of stress in the long run.