How do I set up wedding venue tours?

Short answer

Contact your shortlisted venues by phone or email, ask for their available tour dates, and book two or three visits on separate days. Plan a route, allow travel time, and prepare a list of questions so every tour covers the same points.

Start by narrowing your list to no more than five venues that fit your guest count, budget and style. Contact each one directly and ask when tours are offered. Many venues run tours on set days, often at weekends, so book early. Try to see venues at the time of day your wedding would take place, so you can judge the light and the atmosphere.

Before you visit, write down the questions that matter to you. Ask about exclusive use, capacity, curfews, catering rules, corkage, parking, accessibility, toilets, backup plans for bad weather, and whether the venue has a licence for civil ceremonies. Take photos and notes after each tour, but avoid making a decision on the spot.

Aim to visit two or three venues, not more. Seeing too many makes it harder to compare. Leave a gap between tours so you can talk honestly about each one. If you are planning a religious ceremony, check whether the venue is registered for marriages or whether you will need a separate ceremony venue. If you are considering a humanist or belief ceremony, remember the rules differ across the UK, so check with the venue and GOV.UK.