Questions to ask your dream wedding venue 💒

Updated by The Wedding Hand – your Manchester & Cheshire Wedding Coordinator

Picture this: you’ve just walked into a venue that makes your heart do a little dance. The chandeliers sparkle, the gardens are glowing, and you can already picture your guests laughing over cocktails. It feels perfect… but before you hand over that deposit, there are a few important questions to ask first.

As a wedding coordinator working with couples across Manchester and Cheshire, I’ve been part of lots of venue visits — and trust me, the right questions now can save you stress (and money!) later.

So grab a notebook (or your phone), and let’s talk through what to ask your dream wedding venue.

The Venue Essentials ✨

Let’s start with the basics — these questions help you understand the when, how, and how much.

• Is our preferred date available? If not, ask what other dates are close. Some Manchester venues book up two years ahead, especially for summer weekends and bank holidays. Consider if you are flexible.

• How much is the deposit, and when are payments due? Make sure you understand cancellation and postponement policies. Life happens — and flexibility matters.

• How many guests can you accommodate for both the ceremony and reception? Some spaces feel roomy for the vows but suddenly tight for dinner or dancing, this will impact whether you can hold your wedding at this venue or not.

• Do you offer exclusive use of the venue? This one’s big! Some venues host multiple events in one day — if you want full privacy, confirm that yours will be the only wedding.

• What is the minimum number of guests that we can have attend? It is important for you to know the minimum number of wedding guests, you need to be confident that you’ll meet this minimum number, as you will need to pay the difference between those who attended and that minimum number.

• What is the charge for children? Do they count towards the minimum number? If you are having children at the wedding, check what the cost is for the kids. Also, if you have food included in your package, check what they get! Sometimes wedding venues will charge for children completely separately so even if you meet minimum with kids included, they may charge for the children on top of your minimum charge.

• Can you throw in any additional discounts? What’s the harm in asking the question? If your wedding venue has a spa… see if you can get access or at least a hefty discount! If they have given you a higher price, see if they can reduce it. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Bear in mind, if your wedding is mid-week in the off-season you definitely have a lot of bargaining power in price, but a bank holiday in May... much less so.

• What is the cancellation policy? It’s important to ask in case of an unforeseen circumstance such as Covid, or a need to amend the date out of your control.

• Are there any additional charges for the ceremony? If it is possible to have the wedding ceremony at the venue, it is wise to check that there are no additional charges for this.

• What’s the plan if there’s bad weather? The venue will always have a plan if there is bad weather, ask them what that is and check you’re happy with it!

The Practical Bits 🕰️

It’s not glamorous, but these details will make your day run smoothly.

• What time can we access the venue to set up? This affects when your suppliers (and coordinator!) can start transforming your space.

• Who cleans up at the end of the night — us or you?

• When does music have to finish, and what’s the latest we can stay? Manchester venues often have curfews due to nearby residents, while Cheshire barns tend to be more flexible.

• Are there any restrictions on décor — like confetti, candles, fireworks or sparklers? There are often restrictions on these things, so if you definitely require one of them and this venue says no, consider whether the venue or the confetti is more important.

• What happens if it rains? Especially for outdoor ceremonies — make sure there’s a beautiful backup space ready. This is something The Wedding Hand helps with on the day to help make the decision with you, and help venues make the set-up perfect no matter the weather.

• Will there be a wedding coordinator available on the day? The key to a stress-free wedding day really is to have a wedding coordinator being available on the day. They will support keeping things to time and making sure guests know where they are going. The Wedding Hand can support with coordinating your suppliers and helping make sure everything goes to plan should your venue not have a coordinator included, but also works alongside venues with a coordinator so that you have someone who knows every detail of your wedding there to support.

• What is included in the rental fee for the design of the venue? The venue may include some design for the venue, like flowers, candles, centre pieces and potentially drapes and design. Ask if they can support with the set-up on the day so you don’t need to worry about the design of the venue.

• Are there overtime fees if we run a little late?

• Do you have insurance and safety measures in place (e.g. power cuts or emergencies)?

Food, Drink & Fun 🍰

Because you’re not just planning a day for you — you’re creating an experience your guests

will talk about for years.

• Is catering in-house or can we bring our own caterers? If the venue has set menus, check if they cater for dietary needs and children.

• If they are providing the catering, some key questions include:

  • Is there a food and beverage minimum?

  • Is VAT included?

  • Is there a charge for bar staff?

• Can we provide our own drinks or is there a corkage fee? A little detail that can hugely affect your budget.

• Where will the band or DJ set up, and is there enough power for lighting and sound? Bonus: ask if they’ve worked with surprise singing waiters before — I’ve seen them at weddings recently and they’re always a massive hit!

• Do you have any sound restrictions or curfews? Some venues have decibel limits — especially city-centre ones.

  
  

Guest Comfort & Logistics 🛏️

Think about your guests’ experience too — especially if they’re travelling.

• Is there on-site accommodation or nearby hotels? Great for those staying over after dancing the night away, consider how many rooms and spaces they have available, and ask if there is anything nearby. Certainly ask if there is a discount available for your guests.

  Is parking available, and how many spaces are there? You don’t want people battling for spots on the big day.

• Is the venue easily accessible by public transport or taxi? Especially useful for Manchester-based weddings where guests might prefer not to drive.

• Is the venue accessible for elderly or disabled guests? Check ramps, lifts and accessible bathrooms early on.

• Are dogs allowed if you want your furry friend in the photos?

The Style & Setup 🌿

Every couple has a vision — so make sure your venue can bring yours to life.

• Can we visit at the same time of day as our wedding? Lighting changes everything — especially for photos!

• Are there areas for your photographer to capture great shots? Ask to tour gardens, staircases and hidden nooks — Cheshire venues are full of them.

• Can we add personal touches like signage, candles or hanging installations? A good coordinator (👋 that’s me!) can help you visualise how to make the space feel yours.

• Are tables, chairs and the linens provided? Are plates, cutlery and glasses provided? Are there options? This can be an unexpected cost, so ask the questions up front so you can bear them in mind for your budget.

• What is included in the rental fee for the design of the venue?

  The venue may include some design for the venue, like flowers, candles, centre pieces and potentially drapes and design. Ask if they can support with the set-up on the day so you don’t need to worry about the design of the venue.

• Is there a fee to take down items the next day? You want to be able to bask in your newly wedded bliss the next day, so arrange to have some family and friends support the clear up effort. The venue may even offer a charge or do this for free for you, just make sure you’re clear on what you want to keep.

• Do you provide printed seating plans? This is one of the best ways to save a lot of stress, last minute changes always occur with your seating plan, so save time, money and stress if your venue will do this on your behalf.

Why These Questions Matter

Over the years, I’ve seen couples fall in love with venues that looked perfect, only to find out later they couldn’t have live music, or they had to vacate by 10:30 pm. Asking the right questions helps you make an informed, confident decision — so your day runs smoothly, and you can focus on what really matters: celebrating with the people you love.

If you’d like support in preparing for venue visits, reviewing contracts or just having someone to ask “is this normal?”, I’d love to help. I work with couples across Manchester and Cheshire to make wedding planning relaxed, personal, and joyful.