Your wedding requires a lot of details, but your venues are among the most important. You’d never book a location without seeing it first, right? Yet when you do tour locations, you need to make the most of your visit. Planning ahead can help you properly evaluate each space, so take a look at this smart advice when shopping for wedding venues.

Types

As an engaged couple, you’ll probably attend two to three different types of venue walkthroughs. The first, as wedding coordinator Elizabeth Kramer explains, is an initial tour of each prospective location. The second is a final walkthrough, which takes place a few weeks before the big day. Martha Stewart Weddings’ Jenn Sinrich describes a third type of walkthrough with your photographer. If you’re not able to schedule a joint visit to your venue, Sinrich suggests using Skype or video chat to show the location to your photographer.

Scheduling

An impromptu venue visit may sound tempting, especially if you live or work close by. But Martha Stewart Weddings’ Blythe Copeland points out that you may not see the location at its best. Because the management and staff aren’t expecting your arrival, they won’t be as prepared to help you. You could also get in their way if they’re getting ready for a major event that day, for instance, another wedding or a corporate banquet. If it’s on private property or limits access to the public, you may not even get to tour the location. For best results, Copeland suggests scheduling your visit in advance. Wedding Wire contributor Jaimie Mackey adds that you’ll need to know some important information before booking a venue visit:

• Preferred date range
• Approximate guest count
• Ideal budget
• Your vision for the event

This information will help you appraise each location’s suitability and eliminate ones that don’t meet your needs. Prospective sites can also inform you if they’re capable of handling your event.

What To Expect During Your Visit

In her Wedding Wire piece, Mackey describes the basics of a venue walkthrough. You’ll get a tour of the location, but it’s also an opportunity to ask questions and meet the staff. You can also verify that the venue meets your basic expectations. The physical space should closely match the photos from the venue’s website, advertisement, or directory listing. It’s also a good idea to confirm that the venue offers its advertised amenities.

During your initial tour, the management will show you the property as well as its key features. You’ll also get vital information about site hours, permitted uses, accessibility for setup and breakdown, pricing, and other policies. Meanwhile, you can also find out about the surrounding area. It’s a good idea to pay attention to details like parking, traffic, and nearby lodging options.

More Tips for Your Walkthrough

Your venue walkthrough can offer vital information, but you can take additional steps to get more out of your tour. Mackey suggests bringing only key decision-makers with you, such as your partner, parents, or honor attendants. Meanwhile, The Knot’s Ivy Jacobson mentions several questions to ask venue management before the tour, during your visit, and about financial matters. Prior to your walkthrough, confirm whether the location meets your budget, date, and style guidelines. During the tour, get specific details such as recommended occupancy, services offered, the number of hours covered by your rental, and ADA-compliant facilities. You’ll also want to know the venue’s deposit, cancellation, and refund policies.

Venue walkthroughs can be incredibly useful, but it’s important to prepare for each visit. A prescheduled walkthrough gives you a better look than an unscheduled visit. You should also set clear objectives and ask useful questions during each tour. With these great practices, you can effectively evaluate each location and choose your venue wisely when shopping for wedding venues.