If you’re at the point in your wedding planning where you need to rent a venue for your wedding reception there’s no doubt that you’ve already had your share of “sneaky” contracts. Before approaching a venue and signing on the dotted line, it’s best to plan out what you expect to ask the site manager. Wedding couples often are either overly stressed or overly excited to focus on the small print of a rental agreement and sometimes leave the deal shorthanded. Here is everything you should be asking your wedding venue site manager to guarantee you get what you’re paying for.
Costs
Unfortunately, the total cost of renting a venue may not always be so obvious. All reception venues divide the total cost differently; which can sometimes be misleading if you don’t know how it all adds up. Your safest bet is to ask for an itemized list of all the fees associated with renting the venue. The list will avoid any confusion and give you a good starting point for negotiations!
Questions to Ask:
1.) What is the fee to rent the facility and does it vary upon anything?
2.) What is the cost for you to provide the reception food?
3.) Will this venue allow me to provide my own wedding catering?
4.) What is the cost for you to provide beverages? ( ask for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic cost estimates.)
5.) Is there an option to have my wedding reception here as well? If so, what is the fee for this?
6.) Do you have a set-up or break-down fee for this venue? (locations will charge per chair or a flat fee )
7.) What is your staffing fee and who does that include? (Some venues will charge differently for waiters and bartenders)
8.) How is the overtime fee calculated? (some sites will charge by different increments of time over your pre-determined schedule)
9.) Is there an additional cost to have security present at my reception?
10.) Is there an additional fee for guest parking or valets?
Amenities
The “nice-to-haves” that you’re expecting may not come free of charge. Ask these specific amenity questions to find out how much could be added to your bottom line.
11.) What is the fee to have changing rooms for my bridal Party?
12.) Does this venue provide guest accommodations? If not, do you know of any hotels near by and do they offer special rates if referred by your venue?
13.) What is the fee to setup a bar area?
14.) Is there a dance floor?
15.) What is the fee to have a bathroom attendant?
16.) Do you a provide coat room service?
Terms of the contract.
This part of the discussion is where you need to be your most attentive. There is no limitation to the Terms the venue can require you to agree on, so make sure you question every additional fee in detail!
17.) What portion of the venue am I renting out? (Be sure to see the actual location. Some venues can divide large rooms into 2 or 3 smaller rooms.)
18.) What is the deposit and when am I required to pay the rest.
19.) Are there any noise or music restrictions at this site?
20.) Are there any decoration restrictions at this site?
21.) What other events are scheduled at this venue on my wedding day? (Discuss how any other events occuring on the same day could affect your event.)
Ellanor Redfern is one of the talented writers for ForYourGuests.com, the best place to find cheap wedding favors.
Tweet This 
Stumble This
