Venue Tours & Locking It In: What You Need to Know

So, you’ve found some venues that align with your budget, guest count, and vibe—now it’s time for the next step: venue tours and ultimately locking in your space! During this week’s episode of 52 ‘Til I Do, we are walking you through how to reach out to prospective venues, what to expect in their responses, and how to navigate your tours effectively. Let’s break it down.

Step 1: Sending the Initial Inquiry

Before you start booking tours, you need to reach out to venues for availability, pricing, and key details. Your inquiry email should include:

• Your full name & your partner’s full name
• Your wedding date, season, or general timeframe (Flexibility helps!)
• Your estimated guest count (Upper bound, just in case!)
• Any key preferences (e.g., indoor/outdoor, ADA accessibility, catering needs)

💌 Example inquiry email:
"Hi there! I'm Laura Panozzo and I’m marrying Amethyst Stucker. We’re looking for wedding availability Fridays/Saturdays/Sundays in Fall 2025 or Saturdays in May/June 2026. We plan to invite 175 guests and are looking for an indoor ceremony with access to an outdoor space. I'd love to check your availability and any pricing information you can share. Thank you!"

Step 2: Decoding Their Response

Venues will typically respond in one of three ways:

1. They answer all your questions and are super helpful! 
2. They answer some of your questions but leave you wondering. 
3. They answer none of your questions. (Hello, automated response…) 

At this point:

• If pricing is too high, let them know and move on. No need to drag it out!
• If pricing is unclear, ask them for a more specific quote based on your details.
• If everything looks great, it’s time to schedule a tour, using our venue tour free downloadable!

Booking Your Venue Tour

Venues are often booked on weekends, so midweek tours may be easier to schedule. You don’t need to see 20 venues—aim for the ones that check your major boxes!

Pro Tip: Keep track of venue details using our venue comparison free downloadable for easy comparison later. 

Step 3: Touring Venues Like a Pro

Before Your Tour:

• Eat before you go (a well-fed couple makes better decisions).
• Bring your partner (or take photos/videos if one of you can’t be there).
• Be ready to walk away if the venue doesn’t feel right—you don’t have to stay!

Who Should Come With You?

Like all things in wedding planning–there is no right or wrong answer to this question! If family members or VIPs are contributing financially, you might want to consider extending the invitation to them. Whatever you choose, be sure to decide ahead of time how much weight their opinions will carry in your decision.

What to Look for on Your Walkthrough:

Beyond the obvious things like space and layout, check for:

• Vendor restrictions (preferred vs. required vendors)
• Ceiling-mounted decor options (can you hang things?)
• Bathrooms (location, number of stalls & accessibility)
• Parking & coat check (especially for colder months)
• ADA accommodations & acoustics (even if no hearing impairments)
• Rain contingency plans (if part of your wedding is outdoors)

Debriefing After Your Tour

Right after your tour, sit down with your partner (in the car or maybe over lunch) and go through your thoughts. Even if you’re only seeing one venue that day, the debrief is just as important as the tour itself.

Use a 1–5 rating system based on your personal priorities and check out our venue tour free downloadable. If a venue is consistently hitting 4’s and 5’s, you might have a winner!

Step 4: Establishing Next Steps

If a venue is standing out to you, here’s how to move forward:

1. Ask for a formal quote before you commit. Some venues don’t provide full pricing until after a tour—now’s the time to get those numbers!
2. Debrief & finalize your rankings with your partner. If one venue is meeting or exceeding your must-haves, STOP LOOKING (yes, really!).
3. Put a complimentary hold on your date if the venue offers it.
4. Finish any remaining tours (only if needed).
5. Secure the venue! Once you’re confident, put down the deposit and lock it in. 🎉

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to tour an overwhelming number of venues—just enough to make an informed decision. Your venue sets the stage for your celebration, and while there’s no such thing as a “perfect” venue, there is one that will meet and exceed your most important needs.

Want to hear more venue-hunting wisdom? Check out the full episode of 52 ‘Til I Do for all the details, including real examples and extra pro tips on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 

Have more venue-related questions? Send us a message at hello@marryment.com or get in touch on our social media—we love helping couples navigate this part of wedding planning!

Photo Credit to JNA Visuals

‍Marryment proudly serves couples all across Chicago and the surrounding Chicago Suburbs including popular areas such as Schaumburg, Elmhurst, Naperville, Evanston, Joliet, Oak Park, Skokie, Barrington, Downers Grove and Northbrook, to name a few. We'd love to be a part of your wedding day! Schedule your free planning call with us today.

‍