Before you sign a venue contract

Service charges, overtime, the cancellation clause, and what "exclusive" really means.

Read the agreement against your actual wedding plan. A friendly conversation is useful context; the signed terms and written amendments are what you need to understand before committing.

Trace the money and the work

• Identify deposits, installments, due dates, minimums, required charges, discretionary tips, tax, damage terms and overtime rates.
• List the rooms, inventory, staffing, setup and teardown windows, accessibility arrangements and approved vendors included in the price.
• Check how guest counts and scope changes are approved, and who can authorize an extra charge.

Read the change scenario

Ask what happens to each payment if you postpone, cancel, reduce the guest count or cannot use the booked space. Have the venue point to the relevant clause and clarify any difference in writing.

Confirm insurance requirements with the venue and the actual insurer. Coverage, exclusions and cancellation protection vary; do not assume an event policy covers every disruption.

Keep the signed proposal, agreement and amendments together and put each deadline in the shared calendar. Seek qualified local legal advice for language you cannot confidently interpret; this checklist does not interpret your contract.

A wedplan.ai guide on the Finding a venue board. More planning guides.