10 Essential Questions to Ask on your Wedding Venue Tour
10 Essential Questions to Ask During your Alexandria MN Wedding Venue Tour
Planning a wedding can be both exciting and overwhelming, and one of the most significant decisions you’ll make is choosing the right venue. Touring potential venues helps you get a feel for the space, but it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure the venue fits your needs and expectations. Today Adler Ranch is sharing a list of 10 essential questions to ask when touring a wedding venue.
1. Is the Venue Locally Owned or Corporate-Owned?
One of the first questions you should ask is whether the venue is locally owned and operated or part of a corporate chain. Locally owned venues, like Adler Ranch Alexandria MN Wedding Venue, offer a more personalized experience. You'll work directly with the owners, ensuring better service and more attention to detail. Plus, supporting a local business often means contributing to the community, which can add extra meaning to your wedding day. A corporate venue typically has higher employee turnover, which can create additional stress during the wedding planning process.
The Banquet Hall at Adler Ranch
The Adler Ranch Banquet Barn, with its vintage Viking Bar neon, lighting the ceiling for your wedding dance!
2. What Is the Venue’s Availability and Booking Process?
Before you get too attached to a venue, check its availability. Does the venue have your preferred wedding date open, or are there alternative dates available? Inquire about the booking process and how long they can hold your date before requiring a deposit. Sometimes, if you love the venue, you may need to consider a different date as dates do fill so quickly. Another options is to consider an alternative day of the week in order to access the venue you love!
3. How Many Guests Can the Venue Accommodate?
Ensure that the venue can comfortably hold your guest list. Ask about the maximum capacity for both the ceremony and reception spaces, and check if the layout is flexible enough to accommodate different setups. Is there room for additional guests? Is there a cost for additional guests? Are children allowed and how many children can be in attendance? Are there any safety concerns for children if parents fail to supervise their children?
Raapers Catering Company at Adler Ranch Wedding Venue near Alexandria MN
4. What Are the Catering Options?
Catering is a critical aspect of your wedding day, and it can significantly impact your guests' experience. Many venues, including Adler Ranch, have a preferred catering list for a good reason—this list isn't just about restricting your choices; it's about protecting your event from potentially negative experiences. Venues often create these lists after witnessing poor performance from other caterers—such as food arriving cold, unsafe food handling practices, or subpar service. By vetting local caterers in advance, venues ensure that only the best and most reliable are on the list, so you don't have to worry about these issues on your big day.
At Adler Ranch, we only allow full-service catering for a standard-sized wedding. This means the caterer will handle setup, food service, cleanup, and table clearing, with enough staff to ensure everything runs like clockwork! You can trust that the caterers we recommend are experienced at working at our venue and are committed to making your wedding meal a seamless and memorable experience. Ask Adler Ranch about our locally-owned catering recommendations!
The handcrafted, live oak edge 32ft long table in the Banquet Barn at Adler Ranch
5. What Are the Venue’s Policies and Restrictions
At Adler Ranch, like most venues, we have specific policies in place to ensure everyone's safety, enjoyment, and the smooth running of your event. These policies aren't just there for formality—they exist based on real experiences and are designed to protect you, your guests, and our venue.
The Gas Station
Enjoy two suites for the wedding party, the Gas Station and the Cabin, both included in your rental and available until your reception begins
For example we provide a designated smoking area to ensure that smoking doesn't disrupt the event or cause any accidents, such as unintentional fires. Smoking is only permitted in this area to maintain safety and protect the venue's atmosphere. For safety reasons, we have a no firearms policy. We want to create a relaxed, celebratory atmosphere where everyone can feel safe.
As like most wedding venues, we all want children to be safe and we remind that parents are also responsible for their children at all times. Children must be supervised and are not allowed outside of the building without an adult. This policy ensures their safety and prevents any accidents, especially around our rustic elements and irreplaceable décor.
Adler Ranch Lighted Sign Collection
A vast collection of valuable, hard-to-replace gas and oil signage, along with beer and vintage neon signs. All lighted at night to create a magical environment!
At Adler Ranch, we’re all about fun, but we kindly ask that footballs, soccer balls, and other sports equipment stay packed away during the wedding. While tossing a football might seem like a great time, it can lead to broken signs, damaged décor, or even accidental injuries. Keeping things 'ball-free' protects the beautiful setting you’ve chosen, the decorations you’ve invested in, and the wedding couple’s deposit. Feel free to bring along yard games like Bags or Jenga instead – they’re always welcome and add just the right touch of fun!
We encourage you to take the time to ask about policies, procedures and venue rules and to take the time to read and understand the contract that you will be asked to sign when booking a wedding venue.
The Adler Ranch Cabin
One of two wedding party suites, used on wedding day until your reception begins
6. What Amenities and Services Are Included?
Understanding what’s included in the rental fee can help you budget more effectively. Ask if the venue provides essentials like tables, chairs, linens, and audiovisual equipment. At Adler Ranch, for instance, wedding parties enjoy unique amenities, such two buildings to get ready in, the Cabin and the Gas Station, also outdoor equipment such as a vintage luggage cart-turned-bar, a Silo bar, a Grain Bin Bar, and other irreplaceable vintage items. Adler Ranch also allows access to our Something Borrowed Collection, which is a collection of items that can be used at no additional cost to the wedding couple. We can include things like: whiskey barrels, small tables, lanterns, dessert trays, candles, centerpiece options, all at no additional cost to you!
7. Can You Choose Your Own Vendors?
Many venues have a list of preferred vendors, but it’s important to know if you’re allowed to bring your own caterer, DJ or band, photographer, or florist. Ask about any additional fees and insurance requirements for vendors. At Adler Ranch, we require professional, insured wedding vendors for the best service possible and for everyone’s safety and we have great suggestions for other vendors that have already done great work at Adler Ranch!
The S’more bar at Adler Ranch Wedding Venue near Alexandria MN. Yes, it’s a gas fired S’more bar mounted on the side of vintage Studebaker Gas Truck!! Max Craven Photography
8. What Are the Parking and Transportation Arrangements?
Make sure your guests will have an easy time arriving. Ask if the venue provides on-site parking, the number of available spaces, and whether there is room for shuttle busses, should you wish to hire them. Adler Ranch has acres of parking, always allows cars to stay overnight in the parking lot and we encourage shuttles to assist with safe transportation. Adler Ranch is not approved for overnight camping.
9. What Are the Venue’s Cancellation and Refund Policies?
Life happens, and sometimes plans change. Understanding the venue’s cancellation policy and whether they offer refunds is important to be aware of. Wedding liability and cancellation insurance is always recommended to protect your investment.
The Banquet Barn at Adler Ranch
When you arrive in the morning, all tables and chairs are already set up exactly as planned, so you can step right into your day without lifting a finger!
At the end of the night, we handle all the table clearing, garbage services, and cleanup! All that’s left for you is to gather your gifts, cards, and any decor you brought along!
10. What Is the Venue’s Setup and Teardown Process?
Ask about how early you can access the venue on your wedding day for setup and how late you can stay for cleanup. Knowing these time limits will help you plan your day smoothly and avoid any last-minute stress. Ask the venue if it possible to purchase additional time for set up either the day prior or earlier in the morning if needed.
Adler Ranch provides full set up of your ceremony and reception space, (tables and chairs) we also do all the tear down and clearing of tables! At the end of the evening all the couple is responsible for is collecting tablecloths, the decor you’ve brought, and your gifts and cards! If you use our vintage mailbox for your card box, we even have a bag for the cards to be placed in!
Vintage Mailbox at Adler Ranch
Vintage mailbox, used as a card box at Adler Ranch. Your wedding cards are locked and safe inside this vintage mailbox. At the end of the night, we even have a bag for your cards!
By asking these 10 essential questions, you'll be well-prepared to choose the perfect venue for your big day. Remember, the right venue will not only fit your aesthetic but also provide excellent service and flexibility, just like Adler Ranch Alexandria MN Farm Wedding Venue, which prides itself on being locally owned and focused on making every couple’s day special.
Contact us to learn more about this most charming and unconventional wedding venue. We can’t wait to meet you!
Vintage Lighting at Adler Ranch
Part of the vintage lighting at Adler Ranch Wedding Venue near Alexandria, creating a magical environment for your wedding reception!
Adler Ranch is your dream destination for a truly unique wedding experience. As an independently owned and family-operated ranch wedding venue nestled in the heart of the Alexandria, MN lakes area; we pride ourselves on offering a limited number of weddings each season to ensure every couple receives the personalized attention they deserve. Embracing our roots, we support local businesses and create an inclusive, unconventional wedding venue that stands out from the rest. When you choose Adler Ranch, you're not just booking a venue; you're becoming part of our family and the vibrant Alexandria community. A Thank you and a shout out to these locally owned, Independent wedding venue owners who show their support each day: Mayberry Meadows, All 4 One Farms, CHÂTEAU JOLI, Catawba Falls Events, Love Grove Estate, Within Sodo, Legacy Lakes Venue, Laurel Haven Estate, The Bougainvilleas, New Park Event Venue, Barn at Bradstreet, Evermore Ridge, Black River Lodge, Legacy at Serenity Farm, Amelia Grove
