Congratulations! You said “YES.”
Now comes the fun part – bringing the wedding of your dreams to life.
February is National Wedding Month, which conveniently culminates as National Wedding Planning Day on March 1. This makes late winter/early spring the perfect time to start designing your dream day, beginning with the all-important question: where should you have your wedding?
One of the first major decisions to check off your list is choosing a venue. Knowing where you’re hosting your wedding can help you determine other choices like your menu, décor, and entertainment.
Seeing your potential wedding venue in person is critical to making your decision. You’ll get a sense of the overall vibes of the space while also getting inspiration for your big day.
But there’s so much more to a wedding venue than appearance. To make sure you’re making the right decision for your unique occasion, here is a list of 8 questions to ask when choosing a wedding venue.
Considering hosting your wedding at Rosen Shingle Creek? Contact our wedding specialist to go over all of your important questions.
8 Questions to Ask when Choosing a Wedding Venue
1. What is the venue’s capacity?
Your wedding is one of the most memorable days of your life, in part because of the people surrounding you and your partner. It’s important to make sure there’s room for everyone to celebrate by your side.
Before starting to tour venues, draft your guest list. Determine if your wedding will be kid-friendly, and who will get a plus-one.
Once you’ve estimated your headcount, use it to identify venues that can comfortably accommodate your family and friends.
In addition to maximum capacities, wedding venues have minimum guest counts. If you’re planning an intimate wedding, confirm any minimums and see if you’re able to offset a smaller guest count by spending more on things like décor or an upgraded alcohol package.
2. How much is the base site fee? What does it include?
Besides the guest list, the budget is one of the first things you should consider when planning a wedding (and they often go hand-in-hand).
While many details of your wedding (like the menu and entertainment) can be adjusted according to budget, venues often charge a non-negotiable site fee.
When researching or touring a wedding venue, establish how much this fee is and what it includes.
If it includes food, alcohol, bartenders, service fees, and other wedding costs, a high site fee may save you money — and time —compared to piecing together a variety of á la carte services.
Additionally, find out if amenities like a rehearsal and getting-ready suite are included in the site fee. If not, are they available as add-ons?
3. Is the venue accessible to me, my partner, and my guests?
After putting time and thought into your guest list, ensure that as many invitees as possible can make it to your special day.
Depending on your guests and their individual needs, accessibility can mean different things. You may find yourself asking the following questions:
Can guests with physical disabilities navigate the venue? (Keep in mind that historic venues are sometimes exempt from ADA requirements.)
If the venue has in-house catering, can they accommodate allergies and dietary restrictions?
Is there space for children’s activities?
Can the venue accommodate a sensory-friendly A/V set-up or provide a quiet room?
If you’re planning a destination wedding or will invite out-of-town guests, accessibility can also mean ensuring your guests can easily get to your wedding venue.
Depending on how most guests will travel to your wedding, consider how close your prospective venue is to the nearest airport, train station, or interstate.
It’s also important to consider where out-of-town guests will stay while traveling for your event.
When you hold your reception at a hotel, you can often secure a discounted room rate for family and friends.
Your guests will love the convenience of a hotel wedding venue — they won’t need to worry about getting home after a long day of celebrating.
4. What dates are available?
Wedding venues often book up months — or years — in advance.
You and your spouse-to-be may want to get married on a specific, meaningful date. If not, it’s best to choose a time of year you’d like to get married while staying flexible on the exact day.
Either way, find out how far out any venues of interest are booking weddings.
Then, decide if their availability works with your timeframe.
5. What are the venue’s wedding vendor policies?
It’s common for wedding venues to have preferred vendor lists.
These lists can save you valuable time when finding and hiring professionals like officiants, DJs, and photographers.
When you receive this list, research the companies included to see if there are vendors who can carry out your wedding vision.
This step is especially important if cultural traditions will come into play when planning your ceremony, menu, or music.
If you want to hire a wedding professional who’s not on the list, be sure you understand the venue’s policy on outside vendors.
Keep in mind that they may be more flexible on some vendor types than others, or they may only make exceptions for cultural reasons.
6. How long will you have access to the space?
Your wedding day is much more than a ceremony and reception.
Your vendors need to set up, and you need to get ready for the big day.
You’ll also want to hold a ceremony rehearsal, typically the night before the wedding.
While touring a wedding location, determine how early your vendors can arrive and when the wedding planner or coordinator can begin decorating the space.
If you think you’ll need more time for set-up, ask if you can extend your rental and how much it would cost.
7. What happens if your plans change?
If you’ve ever attended a wedding on a rainy day or know anyone who got married in 2020, you know that even couples who’ve thought of everything sometimes need to pivot.
If your sights are set on an outdoor wedding, find out how your venue handles inclement weather. Will they provide a tent or backup space indoors? Avoid unwanted surprises by asking about your venue’s policy on rescheduling in the event of health concerns or a major storm.
8. What else is there to do at my wedding venue?
Planning a wedding takes a lot of work. While you want to be thorough when researching wedding venues, don’t let the daunting decision distract you from what a wedding truly is: a fun party with your closest family and friends.
More often, couples are looking beyond the ceremony and reception and planning whole wedding weekends, packed with mouthwatering meals and exciting excursions.
If you’re looking to host an unforgettable wedding weekend in Orlando, Rosen Shingle Creek is a wonderful venue option.
Our hotel features stunning views that will add an air of elegance to your event and make your wedding pictures sparkle.
But we’re so much more than a pretty backdrop.
Our skilled event planning and catering teams will help you make your dream wedding a reality.
Host your rehearsal dinner or farewell brunch in one of our award-winning restaurants.
Located near International Drive, it’s easy for guests to explore Orlando’s theme parks and attractions over a long weekend.
Rosen Shingle Creek’s onsite spa, championship golf course, and nature trail will help you, your partner, and your loved ones create memories you’ll always cherish.
Make sure your wedding is one to remember by hosting your special day at Rosen Shingle Creek.
