Questions to Ask A Church

When it comes to weddings, the most traditional option for your ceremony and venue is a church. But before you can booka church as your venue, there are questions that should be asked about things you can do, and more importantly, a few questions about what you cannot do. Here are a few:

1. Are there any restrictions regarding flowers or candles?

2. May petals be thrown?

3. May a fire be present during the ceremony?

4. Are there restrictions regarding ceremony attire?

5. Can we decorate the church the way we want?

6. What are your photography/videography restrictions?

7. Do we have to use the church music?

It is important to get all of the information before you make a final decision, so always make sure to coverall your bases.

Questions to Ask a Wedding Planner

Congratulations, you’re engaged! It is time to start planning your big day. Although family members are very helpful during this time, you may want services from a professional. Interviewing wedding planners can be a bit overwhelming. Here are some questions you should ask when looking for your perfect wedding planner, especially one with Indian/South Asian experience.

1. How long have you been a wedding planner? How many Indian/South Asian weddings have you done?

2. What professional organization do you belong to and do you have a diploma? What is your education and professional background?

3. Can we have at least 10 references for you and can we call them? We prefer non friends and non family members to call.

4. Are you a registered business?

5. How do you charge (hourly, flat fee, percentage)?

6. How much will you charge for us for the services we need?

7. Do you collect commission from vendors, what is your policy on this?

8. Are you computer literate? How do you communicate with your brides?

9. Do you have a backup in case of an emergency and can’t make our wedding? Who are they?

10. How will you and your team be dressed?

11. Can you help plan a wedding within our budget?

12. How many brides do you work with within a year? Will you have more than my wedding on the same day?

13. Have you worked at our venue before?

14. What is included with your services and are there any extra fees, i.e. phone calls, emails, taxi receipts, car rental charges?

15. Do you have a preferred vendor list? What is the criterion for someone being on that list?

16. Are you involved with our rehearsal, directing and organizing? Is this included?

17. Can you handle any last minute changes or emergencies?

18. How many meetings will we have and how long will they last?

19. What is the deposit requirement? What is your cancellation policy, will we get any portion or all of the deposit returned if we cancel?

20. Will you meet our vendors and review their contracts?

21. What time to you arrive and leave the day of the wedding?

22. Will there be someone with me, the bride, exclusively? How many other staff members will you bring on the day of?

23. What is your policy on vendor and budget confidentiality? Can you put this in writing?

What to Ask Your Videographer

Just like your photographer, your videographer will play a big part in helping capture all those great memories from your wedding day. And just like photos, video lasts a lifetime. You will one day share these memories with your children and even your grandchildren so it’s important that you choose the right videographer for you.

As always, we are here to help so we have put together a list of 5 questions you must ask every videographer you interview.

1. What is the videographer's style -- cinematic, documentary, or a mix of both?
Some videographers only offer one format while others will give you the option to choose. It is important that you understand the different video styles and choose the one that will not only capture your day but also your personality as a couple.

2. How do they coordinate with a wedding photographer? Has the videographer worked with your photographer before?
Photo and video go hand in hand and it is very important that your two vendors communicate well so that they both get the shots they need without getting in each other’s way. If they have not worked together before, make sure to introduce them beforehand so they can go through the day’s timeline and be on the same page.

3. Will the videographer you have been speaking with be the one who will be shooting your wedding?
If not, make sure you speak to whoever will actually be shooting your event. The last thing you want is to be in communication with one person and then have a different person show up on the day of your event. Make sure you are aware of who will cover your event and how many people will be with the team.

4. Have they handled events of your size and your culture?
If your wedding will be full of cultural traditions, ask your videographer if they have worked this type of wedding. If they have, ask for references. When your wedding includes cultural traditions, there are lots of details that can be missed if you are not aware of what is happening next. If the videographer has not done your type of wedding before, make sure you give them a list of all rituals and when they will be happening so nothing is missed.

5. Ask how long it will take to get your video.
Make sure you ask how long it will take to edit your video. The last thing you want is to have to wait over a year to receive your final product. Once you discuss a post production timeline, make sure to include it in your contract so that there is no confusion later.

Tactfully answering wedding questions

I, as a planner, so often get asked by wedding guests how much the couple spend on this or that. My standard answer is, "I am really not sure" or "I am very sorry, but I am not at liberty to discuss". I have over the years learned to be comfortable answerng such uncomfortable questions.

Recently, when speaking with a bride, she asked me the same thing and wanted to know how to tactfully avoid or answer questions about her photographer, or the cost of her dress or how much did she pay for the venue.

I feel, as a professional , that your wedding information is not to be shared. It is all very very personal and involves only you, your fiance and your family. It is really tacky to ask the questions in the first place but here are some suggestions on what to say to answer that age old question, HOW MUCH DID YOU PAY FOR THAT??:

1. Tell them you really don't remember
2. Tell them your parent's took care of it and you don't know what the final price was
3. Tell them what matters to you is that you got a great ____ and the price was not that important
4. Tell them your planner worked out all the details and was able to get you a great deal.
5. Tell them you have so many things on your mind you will need to get back to them.


Remember, you don't want your wedding to be labeled with a dollar amount. Eventually, if people know right from left, they will figure it out. It is really something you don't want others to focus on. You want them to come to the events and have a wonderful time. Ultimately, you want your guests at the dinner table to talk about how great the food is and not how much the centerpieces cost.