When it comes to wedding photography, there are definitely things you should consider as you’re choosing your venue and I’m here to help provide you with the questions to ask the wedding venue before you sign the dotted line! 

It doesn’t matter if you’re dreaming up a soirée big or small, the venue you choose will set the stage for your wedding day. Your venue will determine the overall aesthetic of your wedding, be the meeting location for all of your guests, and serve as the backdrop for all of the wedding portraits for the rest of your lives–not to be dramatic or anything! 

So, without further ado, let’s dig in to the things you absolutely need to consider when choosing the picture perfect wedding venue for your big day…

Overall Aesthetic 

First, let me start by saying–there are no right or wrong answers, but before you start jotting down a list of questions to ask the wedding venue on your tour you need to ask yourself, “What kind of aesthetic do I prefer?” 

If the answer is light, bright, and airy–you’re going to want to pay specific attention to the amount of windows each venue has and how naturally lit each of the important spaces are. 

Or, alternatively, if you’re looking for more dramatic and moody photos you’ll want to choose a venue that has spaces with contrasty shadows and less ample natural light. 

One of the things I’ll do to research venues before the wedding day is to head over to each venue’s website and get a feel for the photos they’re showcasing. I’ll consider what spaces they feature most and try to take a virtual tour of the venue before getting a list of questions to ask the wedding venue directly.

Immediately following, pop over to their Instagram page and look at the images they’re tagged in. With everything on social media, the feed is meticulously thought out and highly curated but you can get a more honest feel by looking through the venue’s tagged images to see which spaces are commonly used and what previous couples want to share most about the venue. 

Once you’ve done your initial visual research online, you’ll have a better idea as to whether the venue is a place you’d like to visit in person and what questions to ask the wedding venue during your tour. 

Let’s Talk About Size, Shall We? 

You’re obviously going to have questions to ask the wedding venue about regarding the maximum number of guests allowed, but you’re also going to want to factor in the size of the venue when it comes to your wedding photos as well. 

What do I mean by this?

If the venue is on the smaller side and you invite 250+ guests to your wedding, logistically it’s going to be very crowded. For guests, this can be quite uncomfortable and for photography purposes it’s going to be a challenge as well. It will be hard for your photo & video team to seamlessly float in between tables to capture those candid moments when guests are packed in tightly!

Think of it in dress shopping terms–just because it CAN fit, doesn’t mean it won’t look a bit more flattering when you give yourself a bit of wiggle room by going up one size. 

Alternatively, if you’re having a more intimate wedding with just your closest family & friends, you won’t want to choose a venue suited to accommodate massive royal weddings. Sure, it may be nice and spacious, but unless it’s staged *exactly* right it’s most likely not going to showcase your wedding in an ideal way. 

Not to mention there’s also the steep increase in budget when you have to fill the space with lots of lush floral arrangements and additional decor to prevent all the open space from looking empty.

Finding *The One*

While we’re on the subject of filling the space with fresh florals and decor, let’s take a moment to chat more about the “photogenicity” (totally not a word, but I’m making it one) of your potential wedding venue. 

As mentioned before, your wedding venue will serve as the stage for your entire wedding day. It will be the backdrop for each and every one of your wedding portraits that you, your children, and your grandchildren will cherish for years to come. 

You want to choose a wedding venue that you truly love and confidently envision as the space all your photos are taken in. 

Overall, you will spend a LOT LESS on florals and decor if the venue itself is a walking daydream. If you choose a venue that has well thought out landscaping, interior design, and general layout your photos will be great without much additional work on your part.

(Will I ever tell you to spend less on a florist for your wedding? Absolutely not. Their floral art will just be that much more incredible with a dreamy venue!)

If you select a venue that is quite barebones and doesn’t offer much overall photogenic charm, it’s still achievable but you’ll need to budget for additional florals, decor, and extra man hours.

Rainy Day Game Plan

Now that you’ve narrowed down your venue selections and you’ve done research on which specific questions to ask the wedding venue, it’s time to start scheduling those venue tours!

I tell all of my couples still undecided about their wedding venue to do the walk through envisioning everything as if it were going to be happening in pouring down rain. Of course we want every wedding day to be clear skies and sunny, but in reality you may encounter a rainy day and the best way to prepare for that is to choose a wedding venue that can handle both situations.

Questions to ask the wedding venue about when it comes to inclement weather would be: 

“Where options are available for the ceremony and reception spaces on rainy days?” 

“How long can we wait before making a decision on indoor versus outdoor setup?” 

“If we have to rent a tent, is one available on-site or would you have a recommendation for a rental company to use?” 

It can be overwhelming to see a large price tag attached to a wedding venue, but if the venue includes a plethora of amenities it is most likely justified. If it were to rain and the venue did not have ample indoor space for your wedding, you’d be looking at renting a massive tent which can be upwards of $5k depending on your location and guest count. 

Another question to ask the wedding venue would be how many restrooms are available for guests on-site and if they require you to rent additional portable restroom options depending on your guest count. There are definitely more upscale portable restroom options available nowadays, but it’s something you’re going to want to factor into the budget ahead of time! 

(From a photographer standpoint, there’s nothing worse than having to work around unappealing port-a-potties for cocktail hour photos!)

Getting Ready Locations That Don’t Suck

As you’re taking a tour, questions to ask the wedding venue would be regarding the available spaces to get ready in for both partners before the wedding. 

I’m going to be quite frank with you here, as a photographer it’s hard to make photo magic with those moments leading up to the wedding ceremony when the venue has you (or most likely the ‘gents) getting ready in a dimly lit broom closet. 

(And, before you say it, envision the rainy wedding day where getting ready outside isn’t an option!)

Most wedding venues are starting to include upscale suites to get ready in, but in the event that they don’t offer these spaces you’ll want to brainstorm options ahead of time before booking. Some couples do choose to get ready off site in a nearby hotel suite or an Airbnb, but that’s another cost you’ll want to plan budgeting for ahead of time. 

Pro Vendors = Pro Photos

There’s no true formula for choosing the right wedding venue and every couple has specific visions for their wedding days–it’s one of the things I’ve loved about being a wedding photographer for the past ten years! Yet, I do give the same advice to every couple I work with and it’s this: 

Go with your gut and choose vendors you feel a connection with.

An important question to ask the wedding venue before booking is whether or not they have a preferred vendor list you have to source from or whether outside vendors are allowed. Either option is completely doable, but before you find someone you adore who isn’t on the approved list you’ll want to know. 

But, without a doubt, the biggest factor in getting great wedding photos–regardless of the venue you choose–is going to be choosing the photographer you feel confident in. 

Your photographer is going to be there by your side all day long capturing moments as they unfold, providing guidance when it’s needed, standing back unseen when necessary, and celebrating with you as this incredible day comes to life.

I’m always so grateful to celebrate with each of my couples on their wedding day and it’s been my passion to capture imagery that showcases emotion and preserves each moment as it happens. It would be my honor to photograph your special day, so if you’d like to connect and chat more about your wedding–let’s get in touch!