Most people shopping for a Lancaster County wedding reception venue know enough to ask the obvious questions, like “How many weddings have you hosted?” If you stick to those, though, you’ll be in for some surprises! As somebody who both plans weddings and owns a wedding reception venue, I try to make sure I inform my brides of everything they need to know. There is plenty you can do to meet me halfway, especially if you have a comprehensive list of interview questions to ask each vendor. Here are some to ask venues, which you may not have thought of:
1. What additional expenses will I need to consider?
You’ll need to break this question down into specifics. At Perfect Settings, we offer packages that include tables, chairs, linens, dishes, and silverware. Others do not, and you’ll need to rent them.
You should also ask if the venue provides cake-cutting services, clean-up services, parking, decorations, and alcohol. Depending on the answer, any of these things could cost you extra!
2. Does this venue have a list of required vendors?
Some venues only allow you to use vendors and services they provide. Ask if this is the case, and if not, whether they have a list of preferred or recommended vendors. This can help you if you don’t know where to start looking.
3. Are there any restrictions I should know about?
You’ll need to ask about things like noise restrictions, decorating restrictions, and fire hazards. If the venue is in a residential area, you may need to close down the party early, depending on community rules.
I posted recently about sparkler exits, but if the venue says they’re a fire hazard, you may not be able to use them. It would be such a shame to plan your big exit, only to have to cancel it because of your venue’s rules! That’s why it’s important to compile a list of interview questions to ask each wedding reception venue.
Images courtesy of A.M. Kuchling and Udey Ismail.