7 Questions Every Couple Should Ask Before Booking A Wedding Venue
Choosing your wedding venue is one of the biggest decisions you will make during the planning process. Your venue sets the tone for your entire wedding day. From the way your guests experience cocktail hour to how smoothly your timeline flows.
With so many beautiful wedding venues to choose from, it can be easy to get caught up in the aesthetics. While the look and feel of a space are important, the best venue is one that supports your vision, makes planning easier, and helps your wedding day feel effortless.
Before you sign a contract, here are seven important questions every couple should ask when touring wedding venues.
1. What does Cocktail hour normally look like here?
Cocktail hour is one of the favorite parts of a wedding day. It is the moment when guests transition from the ceremony into celebration mode, enjoy a drink, grab appetizers, and take in all the beautiful details you planned.
If you are dreaming of an outdoor cocktail hour, ask your venue how they handle bar logistics. Is there an outdoor bar option? Where will guests be served? How will bartenders move throughout the space? Will guests have an easy transition from ceremony to cocktails?
At Hawthorne House, we love creating a seamless cocktail hour experience where guests can relax and enjoy the property. Our team helps guide you through the details of your bar setup, including where everything will be placed and how your guests will naturally move throughout the space. For this beautiful June event, Brancato’s team passed appetizers to guests during cocktail hour on the lawn. Guests were served Classic Tomato-Basil Bruschetta, Bacon Wrapped Dates, and Fried 4 Cheese Mac 'n' Cheese Bites.
We can do an outdoor bar set up on the lawn or on the porch. We love to see signature cocktails and welcome drinks for guests to grab immediately following the ceremony! Josie and Sam chose to have a Moscow Mule as a signature cocktail at their outdoor bar for their guests to enjoy, too!
Whether you envision signature cocktails, champagne, or a classic bar setup, planning these details ahead of time helps your cocktail hour feel effortless and enjoyable.
2. How much access time do you get on your wedding day?
Your wedding day goes by quickly, so having enough time to get ready, enjoy your morning, and take photos without feeling rushed is incredibly important.
Ask your venue:
When can you arrive?
How much time do you have before guests arrive?
Is the event time separate from your getting-ready time?
At Hawthorne House, couples receive 14 hours of access time on their wedding day. Access begins at 10:00 AM, giving you plenty of time to get ready with your wedding party, relax, and enjoy those special moments before the celebration begins. Josie and her girls enjoyed getting ready in The Magnolia room, one of our onsite dressing suites, before her ceremony with hair done by Posh KC, and makeup done by Maria Morris.
Josie, Sam and their wedding party got to take photos together at Hawthorne House by the talented, Kristen Pulido.
3. Why does the venue require preferred caterers?
At Hawthorne House, our preferred caterers are full-service professionals who are familiar with our property, our flow, and the details that make a wedding day run smoothly. They know the space, understand the timeline, and have experience creating a seamless experience for couples and their guests. Josie and Sam’s guests enjoyed a plated meal from Brancato’s which began with a pre-set salad and bread with dipping oil. Guests had the choice of Boneless Braised Short Rib, Sundried Tomato Chicken, or Butternut Squash Ravioli.
We want you to have an incredible meal and a stress-free experience, with a great guest experience, which is why we recommend caterers who know what it takes to make your wedding day feel effortless.
4. do you have any decor inclusions?
Wedding details are what make your celebration feel personal, but those details can add up quickly. Before booking a venue, ask what is included and what you will need to bring in yourself.
At Hawthorne House, couples have access to a collection of décor items to help bring their vision to life. Some of those items include:
Yard games
Easels
Cocktail tables
Reserved signs
Wooden cross
Floral stands
Table numbers
3 tiered shelf
These thoughtful touches can help you personalize your wedding while making your planning process a little easier. If you are looking to personalize your day even more, we do in-house design consultations where we can help your signage dreams come to life just like Josie’s! The welcome sign, place cards, bar menu, seating chart and table numbers were all designed by us!
5. Are there any other fees I should know about?
No couple wants unexpected surprises during the planning process. Before booking, ask your venue about additional fees and what is included in your investment.
At Hawthorne House, we believe in transparency from the beginning. Some things couples appreciate include:
No hired security required
Overnight parking spots
No sales tax on the facility fee
In-house bartenders included, meaning you do not need to hire outside bartending staff
We take care of the important details so you can focus on enjoying your engagement and planning the celebration you have always imagined.
6. Are there other required vendors I have to use?
Every venue has different vendor policies, so this is an important question to ask before booking.
At Hawthorne House, you are not required to use specific vendors. We want you to choose professionals who fit your style, budget, and vision.
Josie and Sam had an amazing vendor team that helped their vision for the day come to life! Libby Rules, the live painter, was a HUGE hit not only as a special keepsake for the couple, but perfect entertainment for their guests!
After booking, we are happy to share a list of some of our favorite vendors who we know and trust. These recommendations are simply there to make your planning process easier and connect you with talented professionals who have experience creating beautiful weddings.
A few popular vendors we work with at Hawthorne House is Good Earth Floral who knocked this garden wedding inspiration out of the park with her stunning blue and white hydrangea and rose center pieces for the perfect timeless look! The floral center pieces complimented the blue and white floral linens from BBJ La Tavola.
Another guest favorite is McLain’s Bakery- yes please!! They created the most delicious cake for Josie and Sam with adorable pearls and a perfectly tied bow to incorporate their blue color palette.
Josie and Sam kept the celebration going with Lost Wax band and sang + danced the night away!
7. What makes this venue unique?
Your wedding venue should be more than just a pretty space (although we think Hawthorne House is pretty stunning!!). Think about how the venue will impact your experience, your photos, your guests, and the overall flow of your day.
At Hawthorne House, couples choose us because of the thoughtful details that make every wedding feel effortless. Josie told us that she chose Hawthorne because “I love the outdoor areas, the wrap-around porch, and how white/bright the entire venue is! It really aligns with my vision of a southern inspired garden wedding!” Other compliments we've heard from our Hawthorne House couples are:
A timeless chapel for ceremonies
No reception room flip, allowing you and your guests to enjoy the celebration without interruption
11 acres of property with countless photo opportunities
Multiple outdoor ceremony locations
A seamless indoor chapel backup plan if weather changes your plans
The Emerson Room reception hall with an open layout and no pillars, allowing endless table layout possibilities
Every detail at Hawthorne House was thoughtfully designed to create a wedding experience that feels seamless, timeless, and completely personalized to each couple.
The Right Wedding Venue Should Make Planning Feel Easier
Your wedding venue is where so many of your favorite memories will happen. Beyond the beauty of the space, look for a venue that understands your vision, communicates clearly, and helps your wedding day flow naturally.
As you tour venues, ask the questions that matter most to you. The right venue will not only look beautiful in photos, but it will feel like the perfect place to celebrate your story.
At Hawthorne House, we love helping couples create timeless Kansas City weddings filled with thoughtful details, meaningful moments, and a celebration that feels completely their own.
The Allstar Vendor Team
Coordinator: Hawthorne House
Photographer: Kristin Pulido
Videographer: Cody Isern
Band: Lost Wax
Caterer: Brancato’s Catering
Dessert: McClains Bakery
Linen Rental: BBJ La Tavola
Signage: Hawthorne House
Hair: Posh KC
Makeup: Maria Morris
Florist: Good Earth Floral
Transportation: Showtime Transportation
Live Painter: Libby Rules