40 Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue
40 Essential Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue Before You Book
It’s common to visit a selection of wedding venues until you find the right one. For some couples, it may be the first (and only) venue you tour, while for others it may be a cross-county exploration.
With many wedding venues in Kent, and wedding venues in Surrey, Essex and London there’s lots of choice in the South East! From barns to estates, castles and orangeries, in order to narrow it down, it's important to have some key questions to ask your potential wedding venues.
The 40 Most Important Questions to Ask A Wedding Venue
Hitched recommend you make sure you’ve got all the essential information you need before you put down a deposit (as do we!) It’s essential to ask as many questions as you need in the early stages of shortlisting your wedding venue/s.
The Old Kent Barn wedding tours usually take around an hour to explore the barns, grounds and facilities. We’ll aim during your tour to share with you all the services we provide as standard and listen to your ideas and plans. We’re renowned for our thorough and informative tours – our aim, to impart key details and how the journey might look for you. We want to help you make an informed decision if the barn made the shortlist!
Initial Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue
They’ll be plenty of questions to ask your wedding venue once you've booked, and in the lead-up to your day, but on your initial viewing, and to rule out (or in) whether a venue is right for you, these are some of the common questions you’ll want to know the answer to.
These questions often incorporate most of your non-negotiables as a couple, such as on-site accommodation, capacity, availability and more.
The Old Kent Barn wedding venue took on Hitched’s 40 wedding venue questions
How Long Can I Provisionally Hold a Date For?
Initially you can hold an available date optionally for 7 days. There’s no fees or further commitment at this stage, you can simply hold a preferred date. This is particularly helpful with popular dates as your preferred date could be booked by another couple.
You may find you need an extension after this time, while considering your venue options. Our friendly and helpful team can advise further.
2. How Many Guests Can You Accommodate in the Day and the Evening?
The Old Kent Barn can accommodate 150 guests during the day for ceremonies & dining. The total includes all guests of all ages.
The Old Kent Barn can accommodate up to 250 guests during the evening. This is combined total of day and evening guests.
3. What is the Availability for Our Desired Wedding Date?
If you have a preferred date in mind, it’s always a good idea to check in with your shortlisted venues and ask for their current date availability.
It’s common for large venues to have advance bookings, particularly peak months, and weekend dates. You may find a Saturday in the summer is booked 18 months – 2 years in advance.
Popular venue’s calendars can change frequently. If your shortlisted venue has your preferred date available, consider touring and holding your date provisionally while you consider your options.
4. Is the Venue Licensed for Civil Ceremonies?
Yes, we have two licensed areas, Garden Ceremonies and New Barn Ceremonies. You can view further imagery of each area below.
Click here to view the ceremony choices guide.
5. Is the Wedding Venue Available for Exclusive Hire?
Yes, the barn is exclusive to you from your guest’s arrival throughout your wedding day. We host one wedding per day, ensuring our full focus and renowned attention to detail is with you and your wedding.
6. Do You Have Accommodation On-Site?
From 2025 onwards we will have 5 rooms on-site.
1 suite for couples and 4 further double ensuite rooms you may choose to use for family or friends.
7. Who Will Be the Point of Contact in the Lead-Up to the Wedding?
You’ll be allocated one of our experienced coordinators in the lead-up to your wedding.
You’ll communicate from all Team TOKB during your planning, alongside opportunities to meet the team at exclusive events for booked couples and Tasting Experiences. We aim to respond to emails within 24 hours, 7 days a week*
*Except Christmas (24-27 December)
8. Do I Have to Use Your Recommended Suppliers?
No* they’re all brilliant of course. We love working with all wedding business, both new and familiar.
*The only exception to this at TOKB is chair styling and LED dancefloors. You can find further information in our terms guide below.
9. From What Time Can We Access the Venue?
The main dressing room and New Barn are accessible from 7.30am.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue About the Ceremony
10. Are There Areas For Both of Us to Get Ready in the Morning?
Yes. We have two dedicated spaces for your use. The main dressing room is accessible from 7.30am. The second dressing space from 12pm. Both spaces have the benefit of a dedicated coordinator and team member.
11. What is the Changeover Plan From Ceremony to Reception Room?
The New Barn has the benefit of space to pre-set your reception and screened to surprise your guests with your styling later in the day. This area is completed prior to your ceremony and does not require a changeover.
If you have an indoor ceremony, the ceremony area will be cleared quickly (15 minutes) post -ceremony and revert back to stage and dancefloor area.
The barn has a dedicated outdoor ceremony area. This area does not require a changeover plan. If you have requested any decorations to be moved post-ceremony to your reception space, the barn’s wedding team will do this for you while you enjoy your post-ceremony celebrations.
12. How Flexible are You With Timings of the Day?
We’re transparent from your first visit about timings and how you can make the most of the venue throughout the day. We can offer flexible times throughout the day. We include a draft timeline to help you plan your day and adapt to suit to your plans and ideas.
You can view the timeline guide here.
13. Can We Get Married Outside?
Yes. The barn is has a dedicated outdoor ceremony area.
We’re supportive for your wishes. Couples have wed outside in all weathers and all seasons.
If the weather is unkind, you can marry inside the New Barn.
If you’re considering a civil ceremony you’ll require prior permission from the ceremonies team if you wish to wed outside of British Summertime (late March – late October)
14. Are There Any Décor Restrictions?
We consider ourselves a flexible venue.
For Example we’re mindful of including wax candles and exposed heat/flame. If the wax is contained, you can have real candles. We’ll ask any unattended flames, or items such as lanterns that can get hot and pose a risk to guests has an alternative method such as led candle or fairy lights.
15. Are Fireworks and Confetti Allowed?
Fireworks are unfortunately not permitted due to the surrounding livestock and fire risk to the barns. Sparklers are permitted.
Confetti is welcomed. Bio-degradable or natural petals are permitted, this preserves the health of our gardens and surrounding farmland.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue About the Wedding Breakfast
16. Do You Offer a Complimentary Menu Tasting?
Yes! We include a complimentary Tasting Experience for you both. We love hosting the experiences.
17. What Menu Options and Packages Do You Have
We have formal to relaxed menus. Create menus of your choice throughout the day and evening. From canapés to street food, we welcome your choices.
We cater for vegetarians, vegans, cultural and dietaries. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive, supportive venue, and kitchen for all guests.
18. Do You Cater For Vegetarians?
We offer wide range of vegetarian and vegan dishes across our menus. We’re passionate all guests are catered for. We include a dietary choice in addition to your menu choices, not losing a choose for a dietary choice. We take great care with your menus and dietaries.
19. Do You Have Your Own In-House Catering Team?
Yes. The Old Kent Barn Kitchen are passionate about producing restaurant quality and standards for your wedding menus. Established in 2015, led by Head Chef James Crank.
20. Are Crockery and Linen Included in the Price?
Yes. We’re renowned for our triple-pressed linens. We also include a coloured napkin choice included (subject to availability) As standard we include all crockery and cutlery.
21. What Size Tables Do You Have?
We have 3 styles of tables.
Guest rounds (6ft) trestle (6ft) and small rounds (3ft). You can choose your preferred style of seating and additional tables. We’ll supply triple-pressed linens for all tables in the New Barn in a choice of white or ivory. We recently added a half-moon sweetheart table to our collection.
22. Is There a Cake-Cutting Fee? Do You Provide Cake-Cutting Utensils?
Cake cutting is a complimentary service from The Old Kent Barn kitchen.
We follow the grid method, as preferred by many professional cake makers.
We offer cake cutting utensils and choice of stands complimentary.
23. Can We Bring Our Own Alcohol? Do You Charge a Corkage Fee?
We have a fully licensed and stocked bar. While we do not permit your own alcohol, you’re not obligated to pre-purchase any drinks or packages.
We do not offer a corkage fee, however we’ll discuss your drinks options, listen to your ideas and share our advice.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue About the Evening Reception
24. What Evening Food Options Do You Offer?
You’ll have a choice of platters, street food and stations to choose from your guests love re-fuelling for the dance floor!
25. Can You Accommodate a Live Band or DJ? When Can They Set Up?
Yes! We have a dedicated space.
Romantic draping obscures their setting up and revealed later in evening. We suggest setting up after 4pm dependant on your wedding times.
26. What Are Your Bar Prices and is it Cash Only?
You can find our current drink prices here. We accept, cash, card and mobile payments. We cannot accept Amex or Foreign Currencies.
27. Could We Plug an iPhone into Your Sound System?
We can play your playlists on your behalf. We recommend this for the daytime and early evening only. The system is not designed for evenings.
28. What Time Will Our Evening Reception Need to Finish?
The bar and live music end at 11.30pm. You’ll have a wind down between 11.30pm and midnight before your guests depart and you’ll take a short stroll to your overnight accommodation.
29. What Are Taxis Like in the Area?
You have the choice of taxis from 2 towns and the Canterbury city depending on where you wish to travel to/staying. The barn is a familiar location to transport providers. They regularly drop and collect guests from the venue smoothly.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue About Their Facilities
30. Do You Have Disabled Access?
The barn has mobility accessible facilities and accessible pathways from the main car park and throughout the New Barn.
The main dressing room and first floor of the Old Barn are not mobility accessible; both have stair access.
31. How Many Toilets are There?
Male facilities include 2 toilets and 2 standing urinals. Female facilities include 3 toilets. Mobility Accessible and Baby Change has a single toilet.
32. Is There Somewhere We Can Securely Store Our Wedding Gifts?
We recommend you have a box, basket or post box and similar for guests to deposit cards and gifts. A supervisor is responsible for taking all cards to your overnight room, to be stored safely following your evening guest’s arrival.
33. Is There Enough Parking for All Our Guests?
The barn has the benefit of 30 parking spaces in the main car park, plus additional spaces in an overflow parking area. If required, we can also access additional parking space in front of the Old barn.
34. Are You Dog or Pet Friendly?
We’re a pet friendly venue. We recommend your pets arrive prior to ceremony and return home or are looked after before you’re seated for dinner.
You may also wish to read our Can Dogs Attend Weddings here.
Questions to Ask Your Wedding Venue About Pricing and Payment
35. How Much Will the Initial Deposit Be & When is the Final Payment Due?
Your first payment to secure your preferred date is £1,200. This is your first payment on account.
Stayed payments are due at 180 days prior and 90 days prior to your wedding.
We welcome interim payments and monthly payments.
Your final payment is due no later than 21 days prior to your wedding.
36. What's Included in the Hire Price & is VAT Included?
Yes, all prices are VAT inclusive.
We pride ourselves on including added value within your hire price.
37. Are There Any Extra Charges For Staff/Cleaning/Room Hire That Aren’t Included in the Prices Given to Us?
No. No extra charges. We’re passionate your pricing is clear and inclusive.
We include full set up, service, staff, full event management, clearing and cleaning, all included in your venue hire.
38. What’s the Cancellation Policy?
We’re an understanding and supportive company.
You’ll view and sign terms of business, before booking. Our terms openly disclose any commitments or clauses and cancellation policies.
39. Are There Any Venue Restrictions?
We consider ourselves flexible and limit restrictions.
40. Do You Have Public Liability Insurance?
Yes, we’re fully insured.
What’s our TOKB top questions to ask when considering a wedding venue?
Understanding the facilities and services that are available to you. Ask what is and is not included.
Who will be responsible for your wedding day from arrival to departure? It’s important to know in advance of the day and during your planning who will action each element of your wedding day.
How will your wedding day flow? Ask for a sample timeline for you to see how much can be included in the time and services available to you.
Finally, but importantly, what planning support is offered to you? Do you have any planning support from booking? What contact will you have during your booking?
Phew! How did we do?
Share your thoughts, email the team here.
Have a question? Challenge accepted! Book your visit here.
Thanks to