40 Questions to Ask When Viewing a Wedding Venue

The most important questions to ask a wedding venue are whether your date is free, exactly what the price includes, how many guests it holds for each part of the day, whether it is licensed for your ceremony, which suppliers you must use, and what happens to your deposit if plans change. Get those answered in writing and you can compare venues fairly.

Below are 40 questions to ask when viewing a wedding venue, grouped by topic so you can print them, take them along and tick them off as you go.

How to run a venue viewing

A viewing is part tour and part interview. Go in with a plan and you will leave with answers rather than just a good feeling.

• Do your homework first. Check the price guide, capacity and available dates online before you book a viewing. Savills, citing Bridebook research, reports that 72% of couples won't contact a venue unless its pricing is clear online, so most venues now publish at least a starting price.
• Bring your numbers. Know your rough day and evening guest count, your budget and two or three possible dates.
• Visit at the right time. If you can, view at the same time of day and year as your wedding, so you see the light, the parking and the noise levels as they will be.
• Take photos and notes. After three viewings, rooms blur together. Photograph the ceremony space, the dining room, the bar and the toilets.
• Ask for everything in writing. Request a written quote and the full terms and conditions before you pay anything.

Shortlist a handful of wedding venues first, save them to your shortlist, and send one enquiry to all of them to check availability before you travel anywhere.

Availability, price and capacity

Availability and price

1. Is our date available, and can you hold it for us while we decide? For how long?
2. What is included in the venue hire fee, and what costs extra?
3. Do you offer packages, and can they be adapted?
4. How do prices change for Fridays, Sundays, midweek or off-peak months?
5. Will the price rise between now and the wedding if we book a year or more ahead?
6. Are VAT, service charges and staffing included in the quote?

For context, Bridebook's 2026 UK Wedding Report puts average venue hire at £6,040 before catering, or £9,695 including catering. Prices vary widely by venue type, region and date.

Capacity and layout

1. What are the maximum numbers for the ceremony, the wedding breakfast and the evening?
2. Is there a minimum number of guests or a minimum spend?
3. Where would the ceremony, drinks reception, meal and dancing take place, and how long does it take to turn a room around?
4. Where would the band or DJ set up, and is there enough power for them?
5. Is there a quiet space for older guests or children, and somewhere for us to take a few minutes alone?

Ceremony and the legal licence

In England and Wales, civil ceremonies must take place at an approved (licensed) venue, conducted by a registrar from the local council. Since 6 April 2022, licensed venues have been allowed to hold civil ceremonies fully outdoors within their grounds, according to the government announcement. In Scotland, authorised religious or belief celebrants as well as registrars can marry you legally, so the rules work differently.

1. Are you licensed for civil ceremonies, and in which rooms or outdoor spaces?
2. Can we hold the ceremony outside, and what happens if the weather turns?
3. Do we book the registrar ourselves, and are there ceremony times you recommend?
4. If we want a celebrant-led or religious ceremony, can it take place here?

Catering, drink and corkage

1. Is catering in-house, or can we bring in our own wedding caterers?
2. What is the price per head, and can we have a tasting before we confirm the menu?
3. How do you handle allergies, vegan and other dietary needs?
4. Can we bring our own drink, and what is the corkage charge per bottle?
5. Can we set up a mobile bar, or must we use the venue bar?
6. Do you offer drinks packages, and can we set a bar tab limit?
7. Is evening food included, and what are the options?

Suppliers, timings and noise curfews

Suppliers and restrictions

1. Do you have a list of recommended or approved suppliers, and are we required to use it?
2. Are there any rules about confetti, candles, sparklers, smoke machines or fireworks?
3. Can we decorate, hang things from beams or walls, and bring our own furniture?
4. When can suppliers arrive to set up, and when must everything be taken away?
5. Do our suppliers need public liability insurance, and do you need copies?

Timings and noise curfews

1. What time can we and our guests arrive, and what time must everyone leave?
2. When does the bar close and the music stop, and is there a noise limiter?
3. Are there any other weddings or events on the same day?
4. Who will be our coordinator on the day, and will we meet them beforehand?

Accommodation, access and wet-weather plans

1. How many bedrooms do you have, is there a bridal or couple's suite, and must we book exclusive use of the rooms?
2. How much parking is there, and can guests leave cars overnight?
3. Is the venue step-free throughout, with accessible toilets?
4. Are there taxis and public transport nearby, and how late do they run?
5. What is the wet-weather plan for an outdoor ceremony, drinks reception or photographs, and how late can we decide?

Deposits, cancellation and insurance

1. How much is the deposit, is any of it refundable, and when are the remaining payments due?
2. What happens if we need to postpone or cancel, and what happens if you have to cancel?
3. Do you hold a security or damage deposit, and when is it returned?
4. Do you require us to have wedding insurance or public liability cover?

Bridebook suggests security deposits of around £500 to £2,000 are typical. Take out wedding insurance as soon as you pay your first deposit; Bridebook says most policies cost about £50 to £150 for an average wedding, though cover for bad weather is usually limited to extreme conditions. Which? also points out that paying for something costing between £100 and £30,000 at least partly by credit card can give you extra protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

After the viewing

Within a day or two, compare your notes while they are fresh. Look past the décor at the practical answers: total cost for your guest numbers, any supplier restrictions, and the cancellation terms. If two venues are close, ask each for a written quote for the same date and guest count.

The free Wedding UK planner includes a budget planner, so you can drop each venue's quote in and see how it affects the rest of your spending.

Questions couples ask

How many wedding venues should we view?

Most couples find three to five viewings is enough to compare properly without losing track. Narrow your list online first by checking price, capacity and availability, then only travel to see venues that tick the essentials.

What should we bring to a venue viewing?

Bring your rough guest numbers, budget, a few possible dates and a printed list of questions. A phone for photos and a notebook help, and it is useful to bring whoever is helping pay or plan so everyone hears the same answers.

Can we get married outdoors at any venue?

No. In England and Wales a civil ceremony outdoors must still take place within the grounds of an approved venue, and since April 2022 many licensed venues offer it. Religious ceremonies have separate rules, so check with your venue and officiant.

Are wedding venue deposits refundable?

It depends on the contract. Many venue deposits are non-refundable or only partly refundable, so read the terms before signing and ask what happens if either side cancels. Wedding insurance taken out at booking can cover some losses, such as the venue going out of business.

What is corkage?

Corkage is a fee a venue charges for each bottle of drink you bring in yourself, to cover serving, glassware and clearing up. Ask for the exact charge per bottle of wine, spirits and fizz, and work out whether it beats the venue's own drinks package.