Wedding Guide

There are no shortage of excellent wedding venues in the Dallas area. Whatever you have in mind or whatever your vision is in terms of your ceremony or reception, we can almost assure you that your perfect location exists in the area. The challenge is to find that perfect site and to know how to talk to the people connected to the venue so that you know as much as you can in order to make an informed decision about which location to book. Here we have provided you with some questions to ask when you make a site visit. You will want to gather as much information as you can on each venue, trust us when we say you will be very happy that you did.

Do some quick research on wedding venues in the Dallas area. You can look online, ask people you know, or look in local wedding catalogs. Make a list of any that jump out at you. Call each one and see which have your wedding date open on their calendar. For those that do, setup a time you can sit down with the venue manager and have a site tour at the same time.

When you arrive at a venue, make sure you have a list of questions that you want to ask. Depending on your budget, find out how much it is to rent the site. Ask for specific details like what kind of deposit is required and when the balance would be due. Ask if there is any way you could possibly save on the fee. For example, what if you had your wedding on what is considered an off time like a weekday. Also, find out about hidden fees. It is never very pleasant to see these pop up when you didn't expect it or didn't know about it. This is also a good time to ask about their cancellation policy.

Hopefully, the venue you visit has package deals they can offer you. Read each one over carefully and make sure the one you like includes everything that you would like. If it doesn't, this is the time to find out how willing the venue is to work with you. Ask about what might be lacking or what you are seeking. See if they are willing to include it in a package for no additional cost. This could be a deal breaker or maker for you. Things that people don't usually think to ask about is whether there is ample parking, does the venue supply security, and are there adequate electrical hookups for a live band? Also, in terms of what the venue provides, ask about tables, chairs, coat check, linens and tableware.

You definitely want to find out who will be representing the venue on the day you will be there. Just in case anything goes wrong or you need questions answered, you want to make sure there will be someone there. Here is another little asked question, does the venue carry insurance? This may seem like it could be taken for granted, but you might as well make sure. You do not want to be liable for anything.

Go over your wedding day schedule with them and talk about the times your vendors can arrive at the location to start setting up. In a related matter, what time do you have to be out of the location. Can you bring in your own caterer? And if you do, is there an extra fee for that? Go to your meeting prepared and then make your decision based on knowledge. You can't ask for more than that.