The Best questions to ask your wedding vendors

Planning your wedding should be fun, and with our lists of questions to ask potential vendors, it will be a lot easier, too!

Use these worksheets as guides to get to know prospective:

Venues
Caterers
Event Planners
Photographers
Officiants
Florists
Music providers

QUESTIONS TO ASK A VENUE

How many people can your facility accommodate?
What kinds of packages do you offer?
Do you have onsite catering? Are we required to use it?
Do you have a liquor license?
Is there a surcharge for bringing in alcohol? Corkage fees?
Are you able to provide lighting setups?
Do you provide linens, tables, chairs, dinnerware, etc.?
Is there an extra fee for those services?
When will we have access to the room for setup? How long will we have it?
Can we hold our rehearsal dinner here?
Will any other events be scheduled on the same day as ours?
What are your policies if we need to cancel our event?
For outdoor venues: Is there a backup plan in case of inclement weather?
Who is responsible for acquiring licenses and coordinating any facility rentals?
Are there any restrictions on entertainment, decorations, dress code or alcohol?

QUESTIONS TO ASK
‹A WEDDING PLANNER

How long have you been in business, and do you have a business license?
How many meetings do you expect we’ll have?
Will you come with us to meetings with other vendors?
How many other clients do you expect to have during the month of
our wedding?
What happens if for some reason you cannot be at our wedding?
Do you have a minimum budget that you work with?
Are there any additional expenses on top of your base fee?
Have you ever worked with our chosen venue?
What parts of the planning will we be responsible for?
Can you provide a list of the items included in your fee?

QUESTIONS TO ASK A CATERER
​
Do you have a business license?
Is there anything you specialize in? What are your favorite menu items?
What was your favorite meal to cater? Why?
Do you provide samples for tasting?
Can you provide references?
Who will be setting up food service/serving food? What about clean up?
Are extra charges or deposits required for cake stands and/or serving dishes?
How much is the deposit?
When is the final head count due?
Is your quote inclusive or are there any additional charges (i.e. travel,
service, etc.)?
Are you insured?
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
Do you bake wedding cakes?

QUESTIONS TO ASK A DJ/BAND

How many weddings have you performed at or provided services for?
Do you take requests from guests?
When and where can we see you perform live?
Will you also emcee the reception?
How much time will you need to set up?
Will you bring your own equipment? What about backup equipment?
Do you provide a microphone for toasts?
What is your cancellation/refund policy?

QUESTIONS TO
​ASK AN OFFICIANT

What is your background/experience in conducting a wedding?
Are you licensed to perform a wedding in the state of Washington?
Will you travel to our location?
Is there any reason you wouldn’t marry a couple (faith, sexual orientation, relationship history or other concerns)?
Will you allow us to customize the ceremony? Can we write our own vows?
Do you require any premarital counseling?
Will you attend the rehearsal dinner, reception or other wedding-related events?
What is your cancellation/refund policy?
How much do you charge for your services?

QUESTIONS TO ASK A FLORIST
​
Can I see examples of your past work?
Will you work in coordination with the overall style of my wedding?
Have you worked at my venue before?
Can you help me determine what flowers would be most suitable for my wedding, and/or in season?
Do you rent items such as arches, aisle runners, vases and/or pedestals?
How much time do you need for setup and take down?
What is your delivery policy?
Can floral pieces from the ceremony be reused at the reception?
What is your cancellation/refund policy?

QUESTIONS TO ASK
​A PHOTOGRAPHER
​
​How many weddings do you shoot each year?
Do you have a business license?
How many weddings have you photographed independently?
What’s your style? Traditional, photojournalistic, portraiture?
How independent or collaborative are you with your couples?
Will you provide us with prints, digital copies or an album?
What’s your turnaround time for delivering the photos or video?
What rights do you retain to the photos or video from our wedding?
How comfortable are you with shooting in low light?
How many hours will you be onsite on the wedding day?
Will you attend any other wedding-related events?
Do you have an assistant or second photographer?
Do you carry backup equipment?
What is your cancellation/refund policy?

If you have any other questions concerns you may feel free to contact us or please see our faq’s section.