Questions to ask your vendors

• Is your venue available on the required date?

Tip: Some venues offer discounted prices for off season weddings.

• How much does it cost and what is in included in the price?
• How much is the deposit, is it refund able? When do we need to pay the remainder of the bill?
• How many people can your venue accommodate?
• Is your venue licensed to carry out civil weddings? If so, what authority do you come under and can you supply contact details for the registrar?
• What is your weather contingency for outdoor spaces?
• Will our wedding be the only wedding that day?
• What are the parking arrangements?
• Do you have an in-house caterer? What food will be provided, can you cater to our needs (breakfast, evening, buffet)? How much does it cost? Is the Tax Included?
• Do I have an option to use my own caterer? If so, will they have access to kitchen, power, and running water?

Caterers charge extra if they need to use their own.

• Can we do a food tasting session to choose our menu? Is there an additional charge for this?
• Are tables, linens, chairs, plates, silverware and glassware provided, or will I have to rent them myself or get them through my caterer?

Tip: There are places that offer a free glass hire service (just Google it), you pay small deposit, which you will get back when the glasses are returned. Companies charge small fee for any breakages.

• Can I bring in a cake from an outside cake maker or must I use a cake made on the premises? Is there a cake-cutting fee?
• If I use a cake made on site is the fee waived? Do you provide special cake-cutting utensils?
• Are you licensed to provide alcohol service? If so, how is it priced by consumption/per person? Are there additional charges for bar staff? Is there a bar minimum that must be met before the conclusion of the event?What is the average bar tab for the number of people attending my event?
• Can I bring my own wine, beer or champagne, and is there a corkage fee if I do? Can I bring in other alcohol?
• How many toilets are there?
• Does the venue have liability insurance?

If someone gets injured during the party, you don't want to be held responsible - if the site doesn't have insurance, you'll need to get your own.

• What overnight accommodation do you provide? Do you offer a discount for booking multiple rooms? Do you provide a complimentary room or upgrade for the newlyweds? What are the nearest hotels to the venue?

Tip: Some venues have partnerships with local hotels that offer a discount if you book a block of rooms.

• Can we see examples of your work?
• Can we sample different cakes to make our choice? if so is there a charge?
• Can you make the cake we want?
• Is there a minimal amount that we will need to spend?
• Can you do mixed flavour layers?
• Can you cater for allergies?
• How do we pay and when?
• Are you able to deliver and set the cake at the venue or is this our responsibility?

• Can we see examples of your work?
• How many other weddings will you be doing that day?
• Can you deliver to my venue? Is there an additional charge for this?
• How much notice do you need in order to confirm our order?
• How do we pay and when?
• How long do you need to set up?

• Can menus be mixed and matched? What type of food do you provide?
• Have you got a menu tasting service and is it free of charge?
• What do you provide as part of the service (waiters/table linen/cutlery/alcohol etc.)?
• What is your policy on cleanup?

Tip: Be very clear about what "cleanup" means and who's responsible for handling it - and be sure to get it in writing.

We've heard many tales about caterers that left dirty dishes, rubbish and uneaten food behind.

In most cases, when you rent a location it will be YOUR responsibility to leave the place in an acceptable condition.

You don't want to spend your wedding night picking up empty bottles from the lawn!

• How do we pay and when?

• What styles do you specialise in?

The answer should help you determine whether this is a photographer who blends into the background and shoots what unfolds naturally, or creates a more visible presence by taking charge and choreographing shots.

• Have you got a portfolio that we can see? Are all of the images yours and is the work recent?
• Will the photos be retouched and colour balanced?
• What exactly is included in your packages?
• How many hours of coverage do we get?
• What do you charge for extra time?
• Do you have backup photographers who will shoot the wedding if you are sick?
• How many weddings have you done so far and how many do you do in a year?
• Are you doing any other shots on the day of our wedding?
• Can we give you a list of specific shots we would like?
• Are our guests allowed to take photos as well?
• How long after the wedding do we get to see the photos?
• What will you wear?
• Do you require a deposit to be paid?
• How much, and when do we need to pay?

• Is there a fee for trying on dresses?
• Is there a maximum number of dressed I can try on?
• Will there be other girls trying on dresses as well?
• How long is my appointment?
• How many people can I bring with me?
• How long will the dress take to arrive?
• How much do you charge for the alterations?
• How many fittings will I have?
• Do I need to pay a deposit and when is the rest of the payment due?
• Do I need to collect the dress myself or can it be delivered?