Just Engaged? Here's The Top 10 Questions You Need To Be Asking When Searching For Your Venue...

1.      What is your availability like?

Although it might feel a little early on to be asking about availability – especially prior to a visit at a venue – it’s a really important question to be asking. It’s good to get an idea of availability, particularly if you aren’t flexible on your desired wedding date to avoid disappointment. Venues can often get booked up far in advance, and if you’re dedicating time to travel to venues, you want to make sure they have at least one date that could work for you!

Here at Priston Mill, we are lucky enough to have 2 beautiful venues, so double the availability! We host weddings every day of the week, and our team of dedicated Event Managers are here 7 days a week for private tours and to answer your questions.

Image by www.nataliejweddings.com

2. What is included The Venue Hire Price?

There are so many different kinds of venues out there, and it’s important to make sure you know what’s included so you aren’t doubling up and buying things you don’t need. Or worse, not buying the things you do need! This can be a big factor when choosing your wedding venue, so don’t be afraid to ask exactly what you’re getting for your venue hire cost.

At Priston Mill, we supply everything you will need to host your wedding with us, minus the decorations. Whether you book the Tythe Barn or the Watermill, the venue hire includes the use of cutlery, crockery, glassware, white table linen, white napkins, our beautiful Chiavari chairs and our round banqueting tables. You will also have the use of two easels, and cake stand and knife at no extra cost.

3. Is the venue licensed for a legal wedding ceremony?

4. Can we provisionally hold a date, and how long can we hold it for?

Holding a date provisionally is always advised if you like the look of a venue and you have a specific date in mind for your big day. This gives you time to discuss with friends and family about your decision to book, have time to think about any other logistics you may need to consider and of course, create that all important Pinterest board of your vision!

At Priston Mill, you can hold a date of your choosing for a period of 7 days, free of charge, no strings attached. In this time, we encourage you to come in for a second look around and ask any more questions that you might have.

5. What time can I have my ceremony, and when will the end of the night be?

Your order of the day will likely be one of the first things you will need to start planning once you’ve booked your venue, so ask your venue what their timeline guide is, and their recommendations for timings throughout the day.

Suppliers at Priston Mill can access the venue to decorate from 9am, our recommended ceremony time is 2pm, and our event finish time is 12 midnight. Our Events Team are here to help advise you on a timeline for the day, so don’t be afraid to ask what timings work well for each part of the day.

6. Do you have a preferred suppliers list?

You may already have an idea of the suppliers you’d like to use for your wedding day, make sure to ask your venue if they have a preferred suppliers list that you need to select from, or if you can bring who you want!

At Priston Mill, we have a recommended list of suppliers that we frequently work with and so know and trust, though you are of course welcome to bring whichever suppliers you wish to.

Image by Aga Hosking.

7. Do We Need To Book A Master Of Ceremonies?

Sticking to the timings of the day plays a huge part in how smoothly your wedding will run. Having a dedicated wedding coordinator will allow you to enjoy your day with your loved ones without having to ever check your watch!

At Priston Mill, our wonderful team of Event Managers are on hand to guide the guests to where they need to be and at the right time. Alternatively, if you would rather a groomsman or other member of the wedding party take on this role, we are happy to assist them. You can Meet the Team here

8. Do We Have To Set Up And Take Down All Our Decorations On The Day?

Setting up and taking down your decorations is important to think about when planning timings for day. Ask your venue how this works and if you need to consider asking a family member or two to help you do it!

At Priston Mill, where possible, if there is not a wedding or event taking place the day prior, you are welcome to come in and decorate between 11am and 3pm at no extra cost. Alternatively, where this is not an option, you can drop decorations to us the week of your wedding on a pre-arranged day with your Event Manager and we will get everything set up on the morning for you. We will then pack everything away for you at the end of your event and pop it in our collection store to be collected by 11am the following morning.

Image by Jodie Hurd.

9. Can we leave our cars overnight?

Your guests will inevitably all be asking you the same questions, so when sending your invites or creating your wedding website, consider the things your guests might want/need to know. This will hopefully also lessen the volume of questions your guests will be asking you directly, too! The main thing is directions to your venue and transport options.

You and your guests are welcome to park overnight at Priston Mill, the cars will simply need to be collected by 10.30am the following morning.

10. Do You Have A Sound System for background music, and a microphone?

You might choose to have live music all day for your wedding, but if not, there’s nothing like a well thought out Spotify playlist to set the mood for the day. A microphone can be handy for if you decide to book a Master of Ceremonies, and of course for speeches!

We have one wireless microphone at Priston Mill, and are happy to play your background music playlists throughout the day, prior to evening entertainment.

Image by Brad Wakefield.

Image by www.nataliejweddings.com

If you’re recently engaged, then Congratulations! We know it can be a little daunting navigating your wedding plans, with so much to consider… Hopefully we’ve answered some useful questions for you as you begin your wedding venue search but if you’ve any more questions for us, we are open 7 days a week between 9am and 5pm, so feel free to give us a call on 01225 423 894, or simply drop us a line on hello@pristonmill.co.uk.