Your venue is probably what you will spend the most on for your wedding day and a huge part of what will make your day special. Knowing what to ask and what to expect will ensure your big day is a big success. The majority of Irish couples are still chosing to get married in a wedding hotel, however more people are looking into unusual wedding venues and there may be more planning and organisation to do on your behalf if you aren’t going down the traditional Hotel route.
1. Do you have a wedding coordinator, or who will be the person I will be dealing with in the lead up to the wedding? If so, will he/she be there on my wedding day?
A wedding coordinator is like the man behind the curtain at the reception. Because they often works for the venue, they are your go-to person in the lead up to the big day and if (God forbid) anything goes wrong while you’re enjoying your celebration. Be sure to get a list of his/her responsibilities and confirm their attendance at your wedding before you sign the contract. If your venue doesn’t have a wedding coordinator, consider hiring a wedding planner even just for the day itself as you won’t want to deal with any mishaps on your wedding day and its not really fair to expect one of your bridesmaids or parents to do it!
2. What’s the corkage fee if I bring my own wine?
Supplying your own wine (no matter where you have your wedding) could save you money, depending on the corkage fee. Standard fees, which vary from place to place, can be between €10 to €20 a bottle. Some hotels have eradicated corkage altogether in these tough times as a way to attract more wedding business. Make sure to ask – and don’t be afraid to haggle!
3. Is there a shuttle or any transportation required between the ceremony location and the wedding venue?
Making wedding-day transportation a no-brainer for your guests will ensure that things run on time. Some hotels are now including a wedding car or use of their shuttle for weddings. If there isn’t one provided, consider renting your own.
4. At what time will my guests have to leave the venue?
Understanding the timeline of the day will help you plan more efficiently. Ask the reception hall to write the time in the contract. Some sites charge for bar extensions, some don’t.
5. Do you have to use the Venues Suppliers?
Some private hire venues will expect you to use their caterers and florists. Know that you can sometimes avoid this, but you may still have to pay the house caterer, in addition to paying your own caterer.
6. Do you allow alcohol and open flames?
Many museums or galleries have restrictions about the types of alcohol that can be brought in. Red wine might be a no-no, as might mixers with serious staining potential. Also ask about having candles. Flames are not always a welcome element in places containing storied art.
7. Will there be a hosted bar, a cash bar, or a combo?
This is a personal decision that you and your fiancé should make based on your budget, not one that should be dictated to you. The best answer you can hope for is that there will be a combination. Maybe first round free and then everyone pays for their own after, or the wine on the tables is free but guests pay for extra drinks at the bar. Make sure this is communicated clearly to then venue in advance of the day, particularly if your open bar is due to close at a certain point!
8. Who is responsible for setting up and dismantling the decor, and when will it be completed?
No matter where your wedding is, find out if you need to hire an extra person to take care of constructing and deconstructing the wedding set. Hotels will normally cover this as part of your package, however if you are getting married in a more alternative unusual venue, then you may have additional décor to consider.
9. What is the situation with parking?
Most likely there will be a car park, but for city centre venues you may have to pay extra for it. Make sure to ask about parking arrangements for your guests.
10. What’s the backup plan?
Make sure the venue has a contingency plan when it comes to bad weather or other unforeseeable circumstances, particularly if you are having a marquee wedding.
11. How early can I get into the site to set up?
Reception halls generally allow you ample time for this. But with museums, galleries, theaters, and stadiums, you need to find out how much time you have. Occasionally they won’t permit a setup until the public hours of operation are over. For instance, if a gallery closes at 5p.m. on a Saturday and your reception begins at 7 p.m., that will pose a severe time crunch.
12. Are there restrictions for the photographer?
If you’ve booked the reception at your favorite art museum, only to be told that flashing camera lights are prohibited near the painting where your fiancé first kissed you, you might want to rethink that location.
13. Are there any additional costs?
Are you expected to pay for Security, Cleaning fees, insurance-fee waivers, etc.? Get it all in writing so there are no surprises.
14. How many weddings will be booked on my day?
Most venues in Ireland have a “One Wedding Per Day” policy, but some of the larger venues have multiple function rooms and will book more than one wedding, particularly if one of them is a smaller group. You don’t want to bump into another bride in the bathroom – so make sure to ask!
