Essential Wedding Venue Questions

Between your photographer and wedding venue, you’ll spend a small fortune and want to get the most out of your money. Planning for your wedding day with your photographer in mind, there are 13 essential wedding venue questions to ask during your venue walk through! Around here we’re awesome at rolling with the punches, but a few details will help get us off on the right foot. (Walk through? Right foot? Get it.)

Preparation & Detail Photos

When you choose to get ready at your wedding venue, you cut out any need for travel time which maximizes your photography time. However, venues doe not always have the prettiest of preparation suites, so there are a few things to keep in mind while walking through your dream wedding venue.

Lighting is the key to dreamy detail and prep photos. However, I’ve run into less than ideal preparation suites when it comes to lighting. The awesome part about my job is, I only need a single window to create beautiful preparation photos. Ideally there will be a large window with sheer curtains, and movable furniture. These two things will give us the ultimate space to create beautiful detail shots and photos of you getting into your attire. (Don’t fret, I’ll put all furniture back!)

Consider the size and location of the preparation suites as well. If all your attendants will be getting ready with you, having adequate room for everyone will keep the space from getting stuffy. And the last thing you want is guests stopping you for hugs and conversations when you’re just trying to have a quick pee break before walking down the aisle!

Will you be getting ready at the venue? If yes, where are the preparation suites located on the property?
Are there windows or natural lighting sources in the preparation suites?
Will both partners be able to enter and exit preparation suites without seeing each other or being seen by the guests?
Where will the attendants be getting ready? Is there adequate room for everyone?

Before the Ceremony

On my list of “must have shots” I always try to include the ceremony space without any guests in it. In order to get those beautiful shots, you’ll want to give me a general idea of when and how they’ll show up. If they’re coming into a designated space, that lets me know we can wait a bit longer to head out to the ceremony spot and take those photos. If your guests will file directly into the ceremony space, I’ll want to get those images early as possible.

In addition, you’ll want to consider how late your ceremony is scheduled. During the summer, we’re lucky and get some 9:00 pm sunsets meaning lighting of paths and ceremony spaces doesn’t come into play until much later. Fall, winter and early spring weddings may want to have the paths lit before the ceremony, especially if the day is a bit dark.

During the ceremony, I love to move around. However, it’s important to make sure you ask for any specific ceremony requirements so I’m not breaking any rules when photographing! Some venues (like Catholic churches) require that photographers do not move during the ceremony. This tends to mean your photography team needs to arrange to get all the views without moving.

Lastly, be sure to ask about backup plans. This is Washington after all and it rains in the middle of summer and snows in June (or randomly in September). Having a backup plan is essential, whether its a canopy, indoor ceremony space or other option to stay out of the weather.

Is there a backup plan for less than ideal weather? What is the backup plan?
When will your guests arrive? Where will they park? How will they know where to go next?
How will paths be marked? When sun sets, will paths and outdoor spaces be lit? How?
Will the photographer be restricted to a specific area during the ceremony? If so, where are the limitations?

Cocktail Hour & Reception

The last group of essential wedding venue questions revolves around your cocktail hour and reception. From where guests will retreat to after the ceremony, to the options for beautiful sunset portraits, there’s a lot to consider during your cocktail hour and reception.

Your couples and formal portraits are usually the most requested photos from the day, and the ones that take up the most time. Having a designated area (whether its the reception space or another spot for cocktail hour) for your guests to go will help to keep them corralled and move your formal portraits along. If you’ll need to leave the venue for couples and formal portraits, be sure to consider where you’ll want to get these shots done.

When it comes to vendor setups, I highly suggest placing your photographers and vendors at a table near you & your new life partner. This allows you to be able to quickly grab them when Great Aunt Sue comes over for a photo in the middle of dinner.

Knowing where the DJ/Band is setup and what lighting they will bring helps your photographers to know how much extra lighting we might need. DJ lights can be a ton of fun during receptions and I always like to know if there is any uplighting or if I’ll need to set up additional lighting equipment.

Lastly, consider where you’ll want to put a photobooth. You want to make sure it will be somewhere people can easily access it, but it isn’t directly in the line of sight to the dance floor. No one wants to trip over it, but you don’t want guests missing out on the fun either!

Where will your cocktail hour take place? How long will it be?
Will the ceremony be in the same space as the reception?
Where will guests go after the ceremony if the space needs to be flipped?
Are there options for couples portraits away from the wedding reception and guests, or will we need to leave the venue for couples and formal portraits?
Where will your vendors be seated for dinner? Specifically your photographers.
Where will the DJ/Band be setup? What lighting will they be providing?
Are you having a photobooth? Where will it be set up?
Is there a beautiful location where the sunset will be viewable or will sunset portraits need to take place elsewhere?