When it comes to planning your dream estate wedding, there's no doubt that it's going to be one of the most memorable days of your life. After all, this is the day when you can finally tie the knot with the love of your life and start a new chapter together.

When you're trying to plan a wedding, there are so many things to keep track of: the dress, the invitations, the guest list, the catering, the flowers, the music. It's enough to make your head spin!

You might be thinking you finally found the most romantic venue, and you're ready to book. Well, let’s press pause before you sign on the dotted line to make sure you are stepping into a venue that can handle your vision. So, we outlined the top questions to ask before booking your estate wedding venue, especially in Atlanta, Georgia.

What is your max capacity?

First things first - know the maximum capacity of the venue. This could be because the estate wedding venue is not large enough to fit all your guests comfortably.

However, a better question to ask, "what is your max capacity" is to ask about "the total under roof square footage." By this, you can request to see sample floor plans to ensure you have enough room for catering, dancing, cake, gift tables, bar and your max guest count without feeling overwhelmed with the lack of personal space.

To avoid potential issues, you must know the max capacity of your wedding venue. This would result in your guests having a more comfortable experience.

Do you have an indoor reception space?

One of the most important questions you can ask when booking an estate wedding venue is if it has an indoor reception space. This is because if the place of the event has one, you will be able to cross out the worry in your mind about the chance of potential weather changes or keep up with the traffic noise.

Also, many estate venues only offer tented outdoor options for receptions which can break the theme and the ambiance. Any delays would be inconvenient to your guests and the event schedule itself.

To avoid this issue, you should always look for indoor reception space venues. These spaces can be ballrooms, banquet halls, or other large areas which can be used for your wedding ceremony and reception. This is especially important if you're having your wedding outdoors.

Do you have get-ready suites?

Get-ready suites are a handy retreat with potential traffic delays from your house to the venue and the time commitment of all photography, clothing, makeup, and hair-styling required before the ceremony. Having one can also save a lot of money on booking a separate hotel room for everything necessary. Let’s be honest your emotions will be all over that day. Let’s keep them positive and not add stress with you putting together a creative way to get ready.

Make sure there are well-stocked suites accessible for you to begin getting ready early in the day. And when deciding on a wedding venue, it is essential to evaluate whether or not the suites also have a restroom.

Do you have an indoor ceremony space?

Another one of the top questions to ask before booking your estate wedding venue is whether or not the estate area has indoor ceremony space. It can be extremely inconvenient to hold your ceremony outside as there may be uncontrollable external factors, so placing the wedding itself indoors would avoid all these negative possibilities that can make you jittery even during your big day itself,

We all love a gorgeous outdoor ceremony, but a rainy day can be a source of stress. Ensure your venue has covered and air-conditioned/heated ceremony space IDEALLY space that is separate from the indoor ballroom so that tables are not interrupted as set up is happening.

How long will I have the property?

Will the wedding party and vendors be able to come in early and do the setup? Is there a time limit on how long you can stay? The whole experience at an estate is different from a hotel or banquet hall, and it's important to know how much time you'll have to enjoy it! But it's always good to know exactly what your timeline is.

You'll need time to prepare for your ceremony and reception, so make sure you know how long you'll be able to use the space—and if you need to pay extra to have it longer.

If a property only allows you to use it for a few hours, you may have to rush through your ceremony and reception. Make sure you have enough time to set up, party, and clean up!

Will the place allow non-wedding guests to enter the vicinity?

This is a big one! If you want your wedding to be private and intimate, then it's important to make sure that your venue won't open its doors to strangers or other events when you're having yours. You'll want to feel like your wedding is exclusive and special, so double-check these details before committing to a venue.

Many estate venues allow non-wedding guests onto their property. For the best experience, make sure the place is available only to you and your guests on your wedding day to make sure the strangers are not walking around. Makes it hard to stay in the moment celebrating your love story, when strangers are walking around.

If it cannot be negotiated, be clear with the areas to be closed to the public and ensure that this won't be an issue so that you don't run into any uninvited guests during your ceremony or reception.

Will there be tours happening during our day?

Even if the venue is closed for non-guests, there might be tours happening anyway. Ensure that people you don't know won't be showing up in the middle of your ceremony (or worse—your first dance!). This is especially important if you're getting married at a really popular estate.

You'll want to know if the venue is closed to other guests who aren't attending your wedding. You don't want tours peeking into the suites while you are trying to get ready. If they're open to the public, you'll need to consider how that might impact your event.

Are there adequate bathrooms?

Let's be honest: bathrooms are not the most glamorous part of weddings, but they are absolutely essential. If your venue doesn't have enough bathrooms to accommodate your guests, you're going to want to start looking elsewhere.

You're going to need a lot of bathrooms on hand to make sure that your guests don't have far to go when they need to use the restroom. It's not just a matter of having enough toilets; it's also important that you have enough sinks so that people can wash their hands after using them. You'll also need plenty of soap and paper towels so that people will feel comfortable using them.

Do you have backup plans for a rainy day?

This isn't just an issue unique to estate and garden weddings - it can happen anywhere. Depending on where you live and how quickly the weather changes in your area like Atlanta, Georgia, the fact that the ceremony is outdoors can make it more likely to need some sort of backup plan.

You can't control the weather. But, you can still make sure that your beautiful outdoor ceremony isn't rained out by asking about what options there are for bad weather days. Most estates will have backup plans just in case, but it's good to know this in advance, so you aren't scrambling at the last minute.

Ask if there is any contingency plan for unplanned rainy days. The last thing you want is to call off your wedding because the weather just isn't cooperating.

Are there heaters or air conditioners available?

Lastly, you'll want to make sure that the venue has adequate heating and cooling for the time of year when your ceremony will be held. You don't want your guests shivering in the cold or sweating through their suits and makeup!

Also, most weddings don't last all day, but if yours does, and it's an outdoor venue, you'll want heaters for those chilly nights. If it's indoors, make sure there are fans and AC units or coolers if it gets too hot. Not only will these keep everyone comfortable, but they also could help save money on renting additional equipment.

Conclusion

Now, there's no doubt that booking an estate wedding venue can be a little overwhelming. This is because not all of them offer the same amenities. This can make it hard to choose which venue to book.

Now that you know the top questions to ask before booking your estate wedding venue, it's now time to start looking for your fairy tale venue.

If you want to make sure that you're getting the kind of venue your wedding deserves, consider taking a trip to the Wildflower 301 Wedding Estate & Gardens in Atlanta. We are a one of a kind estate wedding venue that fuses history with romantic elegance with a touch of southern charm.

Our venue checks all the boxes and our team is world class. We would love to show you first hand how good it feels to fully experience that “this is it” feeling that every couple has experienced as soon as they see the grounds.

Let’s start by getting you our price sheet and making sure we have your date available, as dates fill up fast.

Click here to receive our all inclusive price sheet! (It will take you to the home page, just scroll down to the form)

Your love story starts here,

The Wildflower Team