Congratulations on your engagement! As you begin planning your special day, one of the most exciting (and important) steps is touring potential venues. If this is your first time touring a venue, or you’re looking for a refresh, here is a checklist made by our wedding tour guide to help you get the most out of your venue tours to come.
Start with a Virtual Venue Tour
Before scheduling an in-person visit, we recommend taking a virtual venue tour if it is available on the venue’s website. This allows you to get a feel for the different spaces from the comfort of your home and helps you determine if the venue aligns with your wedding vision. A virtual walkthrough saves time and ensures you're only scheduling in-person tours at venues that truly resonate with you. You can view our virtual venue tour on our website!
Prepare Expectations and Needs Pre-Tour
To make your tour as efficient as possible, gather these key details before arriving.
Wedding Dates
Have at least two or three potential dates in mind. Flexibility with your wedding date selection can open up more availability, especially during peak wedding season. Share these dates with our team when you book your tour so we can check availability in advance.
Guest Count
Knowing your approximate guest count is crucial. Let our tour manager know your expected number of guests before your visit. This information helps us recommend the most suitable spaces within our mansion and ensures we discuss layouts that accommodate your party size. Your wedding venue capacity needs will influence everything from ceremony setup to reception configurations.
Optional: Aesthetic Goals
If you have photos or a Pinterest board with your wedding vision, bring them along or email them ahead of time. Whether you're dreaming of a romantic outdoor ceremony or an elegant indoor reception, seeing your inspiration helps our team provide personalized recommendations during your tour.
What to Bring to Your Wedding Venue Tour
Now that you know what to expect at a wedding venue tour, here's your wedding venue tour checklist of items to bring.
Your List of Questions
Prepare a comprehensive list of questions before your visit. Don't rely on memory in the excitement of the moment. Consider asking about catering options, décor restrictions, parking, backup plans for weather, vendor requirements, and what's included in your rental package.
The Right People
Bring only your decision makers to the tour. This typically includes your partner and perhaps one parent from each side if they're contributing to wedding planning. Smaller tour groups allow for a more organized and productive wedding venue tour. Having too many opinions can make decision-making more complicated and extend the tour unnecessarily.
Appropriate Footwear
Since Oaks Manor is a historic mansion wedding venue, we ask that you bring a change of shoes for touring inside during winter months. You may want to wear comfortable walking shoes for exploring our outdoor spaces and three floors. This helps us preserve our beautiful historic floors for future couples.
Your Phone or Camera
Take photos and videos during your tour (with permission) to help you remember details later. When you're touring multiple venues, spaces can blur together, so visual reminders are invaluable!
Plan for the Right Amount of Time
When you prepare for your wedding venue tour at Oaks Manor, plan for 30 to 45 minutes. This gives us enough time to show you all our spaces, answer your questions thoroughly, and discuss your specific needs without feeling rushed. Arriving a few minutes early is helpful, but avoid scheduling tours back-to-back at different venues, as they often run longer than expected if you are having a good conversation!
How to Balance Multiple Rochester NY Wedding Venue Tours
If you're exploring multiple venues in the Rochester NY area, consider these tips. Schedule no more than two to three tours in one day to avoid exhaustion and information overload. Take notes immediately after each tour while details are fresh. Most importantly, trust your instincts. The right venue should feel special from the moment you arrive!
What to Expect at a Wedding Venue Tour
During your wedding venue walkthrough at Oaks Manor, our experienced tour manager will guide you through our ceremony and reception spaces, discuss our preferred vendor list and any venue-specific policies, show you behind-the-scenes areas like bridal suites and catering prep spaces, and talk through typical timelines for wedding day setup and breakdown. We encourage questions throughout the tour and are happy to show you past examples and setups. We want you to leave feeling informed and confident about whether Oaks Manor is the right fit for your celebration.
Ready to Schedule Your Tour?
Now that you're prepared, we'd love to show you why Oaks Manor Events is one of the premier wedding venues in Churchville, NY. Our historic mansion provides an elegant, timeless backdrop for your special day, with both indoor and outdoor ceremony options and a dedicated team committed to bringing your vision to life.
Visit our virtual tour page and contact us to schedule your in-person visit. We can't wait to meet you and be part of your wedding journey!
Oaks Manor Events: Celebrate in Style
At Oaks Manor, we specialize in creating unforgettable experiences for weddings, receptions, and special events. With elegant spaces and personalized service, our team is here to bring your vision to life. Call or contact us today, and let’s start planning the celebration you’ve always dreamed of.
