Touring Vermont Wedding Venues? You're Going to Want This.

Photo by Love Is Rad

So you’ve booked a venue tour.

You’re excited. You’re picturing the dress. The florals. The dance floor moment when everyone is scream singing Mr. Brightside.

And then you walk into the sales office at a stunning Vermont venue. Maybe it's Spruce Peak, Woodstock Inn & Resort, Riverside Farm, The Equinox Resort, or a private estate tucked into the Green Mountains, and suddenly, your brain goes blank.

You nod. You smile. You forget every question you had. You leave. You think of 37 things in the car.

Let’s not do that.

This is your slightly aggressive, wildly thorough, borderline-crazy Vermont wedding venue tour checklist. It’s long. It’s detailed. It might make someone sweat. I promise t's worth it.

Because this is a huge investment, and there's no gatekeeping here, babe! But my thoughts and prayers are with your sales manager.

1. Big Picture: How Does This Actually Flow?

Before we get into the weeds, zoom out.

• What does a typical wedding day timeline look like here?

• Where does the ceremony usually happen?

• Where does cocktail hour move?

• What’s the natural reception layout?

• Where does the band or DJ typically set up?

• What’s the rain plan and is it equally beautiful?

• What's the rain call deadline?

At Vermont venues especially — think open fields, mountain backdrops, historic barns — flow matters. A 200-person guest list wandering across a gravel driveway in heels is… definitely a choice!

You want to understand the guest experience from arrival to the farewell brunch you'll actually secretly wish you didn't have. (hi, hangover!)

Photo by Love is Rad

2. Capacity & Layout (AKA: “Will This Actually Fit My Vision?”)

Just because a venue says it holds 200 doesn’t mean it holds 200 comfortably. Every scenario and vision is different and that plays a major role into how many people will actually fit into the space.

Ask:

• What’s the max capacity for a plated dinner?

• What’s the max for a band + dance floor?

• Can we do long tables? Mixed layouts? Sweetheart table?

• Where would a 16x16 or 20x20 dance floor go?

• Where does the bar(s) go?

• If we’re adding a tent (hi, Vermont weather), where does it sit?

• If you reception space is your rain plan, is an alternative floor plan required?

  
  

At tented estate properties especially, like Riverside Farm or private Vermont homes, layout flexibility is everything. A pretty field does not always equal a functional wedding space!

3. Catering & Bar: The Hidden Budget Zone

This is where budgets quietly explode.

If the venue has in-house catering:

• Is it exclusive?

• What’s the food & beverage minimum?

• Is service charge included?

• Is gratuity included?

• Are rentals included (plates, flatware, glassware)?

• Number of servers per guest?

• Number of bar tenders per guest?

  
  

If outside catering is allowed:

• Is there a required prep kitchen?

• Is there power for a catering tent?

• Is there a designated cook tent location?

  
  

And for Vermont specifically — if you're at a venue with a scenic outdoor ceremony site — ask:

• Where does bar service happen during cocktail hour?

• Is there a backup bar location for rain?

  
  

You don’t want your guests lining up for Aperol Spritzes in a hallway.

4. Rentals, Tents & “What’s Actually Included?”

Photo by Lovely Valentine

Some venues include:

• Tables

• Chairs

• Basic linens

  
  

Others include… vibes and grass.

Ask:

• What exactly is included in the rental fee?

• Are there restrictions on rental companies?

• Where do rental trucks load in?

• Is there power for lighting installations?

• Can we hang draping? Disco balls? (Asking for a friend.)

• Are flame candles permitted? (Don't let this be your crash out 2 weeks before the wedding)

  
  

At Vermont inns and boutique properties (looking at you, Hill Farm Inn and Reading Farms), design flexibility can vary. Always confirm what’s allowed on ceilings, beams, walls, etc.

Your floral chandelier needs clearance approval.

5. Power, Lighting & Production

This is the unsexy but very expensive part.

Ask:

• Is there sufficient power for a live band?

• Is there sufficient power at the ceremony location? (if it's outdoors far from buildings)

• Do we need a generator?

• Is there existing outdoor lighting?

• What happens after dark at the ceremony site?

• Are there sound ordinances?

  
  

Vermont wedding venues are magical at golden hour (literally every single one). They are also pitch black at 7:00 pm in October.

Let’s plan accordingly!

6. Getting Ready Spaces

Photo by Samantha M Photo

Where are you getting ready?And is it actually comfortable?

Ask:

• How many people can realistically get ready here? (including your hair & makeup stylists!)

• Is there natural light?

• Is there air conditioning?

• Is early access included?

  
  

At Vermont resorts like The Equinox or Mountain Top, accommodations are often built in — which is amazing — but you still want to know timing and access.

No one wants to steam dresses in a bathroom at 6am. And if you do..well, no comment.

7. Guest Experience & Logistics

Your guests matter.

Ask:

• Where do guests park?

• Is there shuttle access?

• Is it ADA accessible?

• Are there nearby hotels?

• Are there noise curfews?

• 
  

If you're hosting at a more rural Vermont venue (which… most are), transportation planning is huge.

Your guests from Boston or NYC will thank you.

8. Vendor Access & Breakdown

Planners care about this. You should too.

Ask:

• When can vendors load in?

• Can we leave décor overnight?

• What time does music have to end?

• What time must everything be fully cleared?

  
  

That “midnight hard stop” can become very real, very fast.

9. Policies & The Fine Print

Here’s where the grown-up questions come in.

• What’s the payment schedule?

• Is there a damage deposit?

• What’s the cancellation policy?

• What happens in severe weather?

• Is event insurance required?

• Do you require exclusive vendors?

• Is there a fee to use a vendor not on a preferred list?

  
  

And my personal favorite: “Are there any fees couples are typically surprised by?”

You'd be surprised how many "open bars" don't even include your signature cocktail.

10. The Slightly Spicy Questions

Now we level up.

• Can you show us photos from real weddings here — not just styled shoots?

• What does the rain plan actually look like set?

• How many weddings do you host in a weekend? (this question is extremely important for venues with accommodations, are you competing with another wedding?)

• Who is our direct contact on event day?

  
  

Because yes, the sales manager is lovely. But you want to know who’s running the show when your band arrives asking where the power source is. That's if for some weird reason you didn't hire us.

A Note on Annoying the Sales Manager

Look. This is a long list.

They may blink. They may say, “We’ve never been asked that before.” They may suddenly become very aware of their clipboard.

But this is a once-in-a-lifetime investment. And if you're getting married in Vermont, where tenting, weather, terrain, power, and guest logistics truly matter (like really), these questions can save you thousands of dollars and a lot of stress.

Photo by Love is Rad

Your job is to fall in love.

Your job is not to miss the insurance requirement.

Want the Short Version?

If you’re feeling overwhelmed already (fair), this is exactly why couples bring in a planner early, even before booking a venue.

At RVE, we walk tours with our couples, ask the “awkward” questions, compare venues side-by-side, and translate mountain charm into actual logistics.

Because weddings aren’t just pretty. They’re production. But it doesn't have to feel that way!

And the dream venue? It should feel magical, make sense, and not put you into debt. That's not girl math.

If you’re touring Vermont wedding venues and want backup, this is your sign to click here and reach out!