What questions should we ask?

NearlyMrsFord

Morning...

OH and I are going to visit our reception venue for the first time tonight. We've had it provisionally booked for about a month and tonight's the night we meet the owner (it's a private stately home) and pay up/sign the contract.

We will be having a marquee on her front lawn, and her assistant has told us our guests will be free to roam the grounds, we'll have electric hook-up for music, lights, etc, and we'll have access to the all-important toilet facilities

Ours is the first wedding reception they have hosted and they plan to host full weddings next year.

On their website, they have a page about weddings, but no photos having not hosted one yet. Would it be wrong to ask the owner if we can have a discount if we allow them to use our photos on their website?? Just an idea, not sure if I'd dare ask or not (especially as photographer will be with us - pre-wedding shoot there too tonight - although would be publicity for him too...)

Apart from that, what questions do we really need to ask?? What do we need to have in writing from the owner?

Thanks

hayleythedaisy

Definately go for the discount in return for the photos!
and these might help you out... http://www.confetti.co.uk/article/view/5470-8203-0-Wedding_venue_checklist_Wedding_Venues.do
http://www.hitched.co.uk/wedding-venues/venues/checklist.htm

NearlyMrsFord

Really helpful links, thanks Hayley :beer:

Sammy85_2

I would ask for a discount anyway, you are afterall their guinea pigs. Definately get a discount for letting them use your photos though.

NearlyMrsFord

I've never asked for a discount for anything before, I will try to be brave and just come out with it, lol Good point about us being their guinea pigs!

shellsuit

Ooh Yes, definitely ask for a discount for the use of your photos!

Good luck for tonight, hope it all goes well x

NearlyMrsFord

Thanks for the good luck! I'm especially looking forward to the pre-wedding shoot tonight, just no idea what to do with my hair! Hairdresser-phobia......so not been.... I'm someone who has no idea about hairstyles, I can literally do up in a ponytail or down and straightened (but it goes wavy after a while which I hate!)

Ugh....

Alyssa_C_2

I would prob 'tripadvisor' it as well. They may not have had weddings but it would be worth checking out to see what others think of it. We've heard a few horror stories and I don't want yours to be one of them!:D
Definately ask for discount, on everything! You are a 'test subject' to begin with and secondly, hell yeah if they're using your pics!

Horace

NearlyMrsFord wrote: »

Thanks for the good luck! I'm especially looking forward to the pre-wedding shoot tonight, just no idea what to do with my hair! Hairdresser-phobia......so not been.... I'm someone who has no idea about hairstyles, I can literally do up in a ponytail or down and straightened (but it goes wavy after a while which I hate!)

Ugh....

Be natural - the pre-wedding shoot is to get you used to the photographer, there is no need to dress up in your wedding finery and fiddle with your hair..just be yourself. Wear your hair up or down..if it goes wavy then let it as you may feel different after you have seen stunning pics.

NearlyMrsFord

Alyssa_C wrote: »

I would prob 'tripadvisor' it as well. They may not have had weddings but it would be worth checking out to see what others think of it. We've heard a few horror stories and I don't want yours to be one of them!:D

There's nothing on Tripadvisor, as it's a private house and this is the first reception they've hosted.

But the meeting went really well, the owner was so relaxed and friendly about everything! We were originally just going to have the Friday to set up and we had to have everything cleared off the grounds by 11am Sunday, but she has agreed to let the marquee go up on the Thursday and we can take our time on the Sunday and forget the 11am thing She was really very helpful and lovely about everything and I can't wait to have the reception it's going to be amazing!!

NearlyMrsFord

Horace wrote: »

Be natural - the pre-wedding shoot is to get you used to the photographer, there is no need to dress up in your wedding finery and fiddle with your hair..just be yourself. Wear your hair up or down..if it goes wavy then let it as you may feel different after you have seen stunning pics.

Well I wore it down, straightened it and hairsprayed it to within an inch of its life and it stayed straight - hurrah! Seen the photos already, and out of about 100, half are great and half not so great, just got to narrow it down to just one that we get for free now.