What to ask your Italian wedding venue
Choosing the right venue is a BIG decision! Not only do you have to pick the one you fall in love with aesthetically, but which also fits the bill on guest experience, functionality, accessibility, decent management and coordination. A top tip here…if it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t the one for you!
Do yourself a favour at the start of venue finding and download our Venue Ticklist - this is going to help you shortlist venues and also keep track of the key questions and answers you need to know before signing on the dotted line.
Your venue really will impact every element of your wedding, so it does need time, research and consideration before you’ve even set foot in Italy. From your list of venues you love, aim to narrow it down to 3-4 venues to physically visit. On a venue finding tour, you really won’t have time or energy to visit many more than this. And to make your trip worth-while, you need to put in your research before you meet with the owners/managers so you can ask those all important questions.
Venue: Masseria Potenti, Puglia
A picture might be worth a thousand words, but we all know that good lighting and a generous angle can make rooms look better than they actually are! This will be the first time you see for yourself where you and your guests might be staying.
Be sure to count beds and bedrooms and it is a great idea to draw a map of where each room is located and how many it sleeps. This will make life easier when you are working out where to house guests, especially ones who might need ground-floor access or be closer to shared facilities. Some website descriptions may state that the venue sleeps 22, but the reality is that the set-up is going to be a little close and friendly than perhaps you want for your guests!
This may well be the only time you are in Italy pre-wedding, so you must go and see what the nearby accommodation is like. Your guests will be trusting you to make good suggestions on where they can stay, if they're organising their own accommodation. So now is the time to put together a full list.
Remember at this point to also consider the roads and how these guests staying off-site will be transported to the venue for the wedding day and any pre and post parties.
Venue: Castello Il Palagio
Every venue has a different way of laying out their costs and what they consider as 'extras'. Sometimes these extras are not included on the website or even in the contract. This is the time to ask the venue questions and run through every cost and what exactly is included and excluded. You need to know all figures to enable you to compare venues from your shortlist.
Ahead of your visit, ask the venue for a draft contract so you can highlight any unclear clauses and prepare questions. Some venues have music restrictions and you will have to pay extra to have your music played past a certain hour. Some will charge a fee to allow your external guests to come and use the pool...crucial if you're planning a post-wedding pool party!
The easiest way to compare all costs and understand what gaps you need to find out on this visit, is to download our Venue Finding Ticklist.
Building a rapport with the management or owners at the venue is so important to how you will feel on your wedding day. Meeting the individuals who will be delivering on the day really will give you a good insight into how you and your guests will be treated and looked after on your wedding.
Be sure to ask if the team you are meeting on your tour are the people who will be there on the day itself.
Venue: Dimora delle Balze, Sicily
The La Lista must-ask questions
Are there restrictions on music? And cost implications on these restrictions?
Can you use all the spaces you have seen?
Can external guests come and use the pool? Is there a fee for this?
Are there any suppliers that the venue asks you to use?
What is the end time for the party and are there any fees to go this late?
Are all the lights/decorations you see in person/photos included in the price?
Can outside catering use the kitchen? Is there a fee for this?
Are there extra cleaning fees?
Are there tourist tax fees?
Can you host other events? Is there a fee?
Are there rules about erecting tents?
Who is going to be your key contact on the day? Have you met them?
Here at La Lista we know what makes a good wedding venue - head over to our Venue section to be inspired and start finding the one which will be in your heart forever. But first…you absolutely need our Venue Finding Ticklist - get your priorities in order with this download.
