Continued from Planning Your New Braunfels Wedding: Part 1

In our first article we gave you a list of venues and links to help you start looking for your New Braunfels wedding venue.  You may have even set up a few appointments and narrowed it down to a couple places, but before you put down the deposit and sign a contract there are few questions you should ask your venue.

Think saying “I do” is going to be the most emotional moment in your wedding? Probably so, but putting down a deposit on your wedding venue could be a close runner-up. Reception costs consume almost half the budget for the wedding, which means you, can expect to spend almost $25,000, including food and liquor. The venue you select can limit your choice of caterers, bakers or photographers on their approved vendor list and affect how much you spend to hide its unappealing areas or accent its highlights. Most stressful of all, the popular venues book far in advance, sometimes over 2 years, forcing brides to make the big decision almost as soon as they set their wedding date.

Are they available on your wedding date?
It might sound obvious but some many couples don’t ask first off and are then disappointed later on when their date is not available.

Are there any other weddings on the same day?
Worth asking if you don’t want to share the spotlight.

How many people can they accommodate?
Numbers are all important and if they cannot accommodate all your guests you may need to look elsewhere.  Also ask about car parking, if limited you need to let your guests know.

What packages do they offer?
Ask about packages and choose one to suit your wedding and budget. Some wedding venues offer huge discounts for Friday or Sunday rental and that might be a good option for you if your on a tight budget.

Can you get ready at the venue?
If you want to dress for the wedding at the venue ask if there is a dressing room you can use.

Can we decorate the day before?
If you have a lot of decorating & setup to do, ask your venue if you can gain access the day before.

Do they offer overnight accommodation?
How many rooms will be available for your guest, how much will the rooms be and what is the cutoff date they will hold your block of rooms before renting them out to other people?

When must the reception end?
Ask what time the evening party must end. Some venues can shut down earlier than you may want or charge higher prices for operating after certain hours.

Do you have a pre-set list of caterers and other vendors I can use, or can I choose my own?
Some venues, high-end ones with their own catering staff, or small-town ones with little competition, require you to use the in-house
caterers or choose from a small list of “approved” or becoming more common “paid to be on their list” vendors. If you’re stuck with such a list, search high and low for brides who have “been there, done that” and can give you their honest opinions of the vendors.

Does your Venue charge your vendors fees to work at their venue?
Some venues charge your vendors fees to work at your venue. It is usually a percentage of what you spent with the vendor or fee to use their kitchen or facilities to prepare food. Vendors usually recoup these fees by charging YOU the additional amount on top of what they would usually charge for the service.

Are there any restrictions on decorations?
Many venues have them, but rules vary widely from place to place. Common restrictions include: no open flame (candles, sparklers), no tape or tacks on the walls, or no confetti. When linens are provided, some halls will prohibit the use of pins. Ask if the hall can provide any decorations themselves, especially around holidays. Your venue may offer centerpiece items such as hurricane lamps or Eiffel vases or linens at no additional charge to you that will help you stay in your wedding budget.

Can we bring our own liquor, is there a “corkage” fee, and do we need a license?
If you decided to serve liquor and have an open bar at your wedding, you’ll save an immense amount of money by bringing your own. Some venues prohibit this and require you to buy from them our use a licensed outside vendor. If the venue allows you to bring your own alcohol, ask if there is corkage or any other fees involved.

Are all of the costs included in the per person price?
Be sure to get all the details on what is included in the package. Food, bar, insurance, facility rental fee, service fee, linen, staff, parking, cake cutting, etc. There can be several hidden fees that you aren’t aware of before you sign the contract.

Do they require you to buy wedding insurance or for your vendors to be licensed and insured?
It is becoming standard practice for venues to require proof of insurance from all your vendors including the photographer at your wedding. Some vendors even require their brides and grooms to purchase wedding insurance for the day of their wedding at the venue. It might seem kind of crazy, but if anything were to happen, I think you would be glad you spent the small fee of 30 or 40 dollars on wedding insurance to protect yourself.  In any case, if your vendor is a true “Professional” he or she should have insurance and should be able to provide proof of it. We will touch more on why you should get wedding insurance and what it covers in a later posting.

Who will I be working with on the details for my wedding?
Does the venue have a wedding planner or coordinator? You should have a venue that provides someone to work with you on all the details. Not only someone to help you work through your details but someone to be there the night or day of your wedding. Get names and titles and most importantly, how long have they been working for the venue!

Can I taste and see the food I will be choosing from?
You will want to taste and see the food from the menu so you can make a well-informed decision on what you want your food to be for your reception.

How much do I get?
Be sure food and beverage portions are large enough that no one goes home hungry or wanting more. Your hors d oeuvres during cocktail hour should be unlimited and served throughout the entire cocktail hour. Your open bar should be a true open bar. Ask how many bottles of each liquor the venue supplies. You certainly never want to run out of vodka or bacon wrapped scallops leaving your guests asking questions.

What does the venue do to make your wedding special and different from the others?
While all venues do several weddings a year you certainly do not want to feel like you are “just another wedding”. Ask questions that will help you understand if the people are truly passionate and dedicated to your wedding day. “How many weddings at one time do you do?” “Is there one manager per event scheduled?” Don’t be shy to ask for the managers of the venue for their resumes! This is your special day and you deserve for everything to go as planned and have competent professionals working at your wedding.

Lots more to come on the Griffin Blog! Look for these articles in the next couple of weeks.

These articles are ment to be informative and educational and we would love you to contribute your feedback and ideas!
Thank you, Griffin Photography