Just Engaged? The 15 Questions to Ask Before You Book Your Wedding Venue
So, you’ve just said yes - congratulations!
In the glow of that newly-engaged feeling, it’s only natural to start dreaming about what your wedding day might look and feel like. And more often than not, choosing your venue is the very first step.
A venue sets the tone for everything that follows. It’s the backdrop to your vows, your celebrations, and those fleeting moments you’ll remember forever. With that in mind, we’ve gathered together the 15 key questions we believe every couple should ask when viewing a wedding venue.
Before we dive in, a gentle word of advice. While logistics matter, it’s the feeling of a place that should speak to you first. How does it make you feel when you arrive? Do you feel welcomed, supported, understood? You’ll likely be working closely with your venue team for many months, so having people around you who feel calm, warm and genuinely invested in your day is just as important as the bricks and mortar.
With that said, here are the questions we think are worth asking and how we do things here at Camel Studio.
1. How long can you hold the date?
Every venue approaches this differently. We like to offer couples at least five days to hold a provisional date, and sometimes more than a week depending on the time of year. It gives you breathing space to reflect, compare venues, and check registrar availability if you’re planning a legal ceremony onsite.
2. How many guests can you accommodate?
Camel Studio is designed for beautifully intimate celebrations. We can host up to 50 guests during the day, a number we’ve found creates a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere while still allowing everyone to enjoy the space fully. In the evening, you’re welcome to invite an additional 10 guests at no extra charge.
3. Is the venue licensed?
Yes and even better, recent changes in the law mean that legal ceremonies can now take place outdoors. Our licensed barn is also available should the weather decide to do its own thing.
4. Will we have exclusive use of the venue?
Absolutely. When you marry at Camel Studio, the entire place is yours. You’ll have exclusive use of the venue, grounds and boutique house from 12pm Friday to 12pm Sunday - a full 48 hours of calm, countryside bliss.
As we host a maximum of 10 weddings a year, there’s often flexibility to extend your stay. You might choose to arrive on Thursday for a leisurely start, or linger into Sunday night, perhaps rounding off your weekend with a beach walk and supper in Rock, just 20 minutes away.
5. Who will be our point of contact?
From the moment you book until the final goodbye, Helen, the owner of Camel Studio, will be your main point of contact. She works closely with our wonderful wedding coordinator, Jess, and a trusted team who together ensure everything runs smoothly.
After booking, Helen will arrange a Zoom call so that she and Jess can talk through your plans, budget and vision, and to guide you through our recommended suppliers. About a month before your wedding, you’ll have a detailed run-through of the weekend, and when you arrive on Friday, Helen will be there to welcome you and remain on hand throughout.
6. Do you have a recommended supplier list - and do we have to use it?
We do have a carefully curated list of trusted, tried-and-tested suppliers. That said, you’re very welcome to choose your own. Your wedding should reflect you, and we’re always happy to work with the people you’ve found you love and trust.
7. What accommodation is available?
Included in your wedding weekend is our beautiful boutique house, sleeping eight guests, as well as a secluded honeymoon cabin for the night of your wedding - meaning we can accommodate 10 guests onsite.
We’re just 10 minutes from Wadebridge, where you’ll find a wide range of hotels and B&Bs to suit every style and budget. We’re happy to share our full accommodation list.
8. Is there parking for guests?
We have parking for up to six cars for the wedding party. For guests, we work closely with a local taxi firm. Around three weeks before your wedding, we’ll collect guest accommodation details and help coordinate transport, ensuring everyone arrives safely and gets home with ease.
9. When can we access the venue?
You’re welcome to arrive from 12pm on Friday to settle in and add any personal touches. That evening, we’ll prepare a relaxed two-course supper for you and up to eight guests - the perfect way to ease into the weekend.
10. Where can we hold our ceremony — and what if it rains?
You’ll have three beautiful ceremony options to choose from:
Our light-filled studio, perfect for all-weather celebrations
Our beautiful grounds for a fully as fresco ceremony, surrounded by rolling Camel Valley views
Or you may choose to opt for a stylish Sperry tent in the garden, if you’d like guaranteed outdoor vows (please note that the hire of the Sperry Tent comes at an additional cost)
With our large barn doors open, even indoor ceremonies feel deeply connected to the landscape beyond.
11. What’s included in the wedding package?
Our package is designed to include everything you need from us =- with no hidden extras and no surprise VAT.
Included:
Exclusive use of the licensed barn, grounds and house for two nights
Luxury self-catering accommodation for eight
Honeymoon cabin for your wedding night
Up to 10 hours of planning support
On-the-day coordination
Converted pizza horse box for evening food
Luxury hamper of locally sourced produce
Trestle tables and cross-back chairs
Bar, bar staff and glassware
Fire pit with logs and marshmallows
Restroom facilities
Wedding party parking
You’ll simply need to arrange your other suppliers - catering, photography, hair and make-up, and entertainment etc.
12. What are the drinks options and bar prices?
Transparency matters to us. Our bar prices are in line with what you’d expect to pay at your local pub, no inflated costs here.
Bottled Peroni: £3.50
Spirits & mixer: from £5.75
Glass of house wine: £6.00
Bottles of house wine: from £19.00
We also offer drinks packages and allow you to supply your own wine and fizz for a corkage fee.
13. What about evening entertainment?
The choice is entirely yours. Live band, DJ, or your own carefully curated playlist through our surround sound system - all work beautifully in the space.
14. What time does the wedding finish?
Carriages at midnight — just in time to retreat to your honeymoon cabin, where a chilled bottle of champagne will be waiting for you.
15. What’s the deposit and payment schedule?
£2,000 deposit to secure your date
Final venue balance due 3 months before your wedding
Drinks and pizza balance due 2 months before
If you’d like to know more about celebrating at Camel Studio, we’d love to hear from you.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Helen at helencotton@mac.com to arrange a visit.
Photo Credits