6 Questions to Ask on a Wedding Venue Tour

Tours are an essential part of finding your perfect wedding venue. Typically, couples screen venues online first and then narrow their list down to 4-6 venues which they then tour in person. If you're planning a wedding from out of town, you might do phone calls before deciding which venues to tour.
 
Here at the Barn at Bradstreet Farm, tours typically last about an hour. We walk through the property as a guest would, beginning with parking, and take couples through the flow of the day - ceremony, dinner and reception - and end at our dressing suites. We also highlight all the best photo spots, including our gardens, pond and vineyard. Rather than a lecture, tours should be a two-way conversation and are a great chance to get all your questioned answered in person.
 
Most couples who tour here are getting married for the first time, and frequently they'll say, "What questions haven't I asked?" With that in mind, here are six questions every couple should ask on a wedding tour:
 
- How many events do you do per day here? This is important because there are so many venues that are wedding factories, with multiple event spaces and multiple events happening at the same time. While many couples don't mind this at all, others do. It's fair to ask if your wedding will be the sole focus of the venue's attention that day.
 
- Where do my guests park? Often venues have limited parking, and this can limit the number of guests you can invite, or mean you need to budget for a bus or trolley to get your guests to and from the venue. Make sure there is convenient and affordable guest (and vendor) parking.
 
- Where do my guests stay? You don't want to discover after you book your venue  that the closest hotels are an hour away. Ask where couples generally book their hotel room blocks and make sure the locations are convenient.
 
- Do you have a service fee? This is a big gotcha in the wedding industry. Many venues have a service fee that adds another 18-24 percent to your venue cost. Sometimes this is not apparent until you see the contract. Ask about service fees up front, because they can make a big impact on your budget! (We solved this problem at the Barn at Bradstreet Farm by not having a service fee.)
 
- Is there a catering minimum? Many venues have a catering minimum. It's typically a dollar amount, but can also be a headcount minimum. If your wedding is on the smaller side (125 guests or fewer), you might be negatively impacted by a minimum and have to pay for more guests than you have or more food than you need. Best to know this up front!
 
- What's your rain plan? Unless your ceremony, dinner and reception will all be completely inside, you need to have a rain plan. The venue should take care of this for you - ask for the details on your tour. If you are planning for an outdoor ceremony, cocktail hour or even dinner, you need a rain plan. It's also smart to ask who does the work if tables and chairs need to be moved inside - does the venue handle that, or will the wedding party be expected to pitch in?
 
We hope this advice helps as you embark on your wedding venue tours!