Questions to ask your Wedding Venue (that affect your wedding photos!)

I’ve shared a lot of information about choosing an Edmonton wedding venue on my blog as an Edmonton wedding photographer, but today I wanted to talk about a few more questions to ask your wedding venue. The wedding industry is constantly changing, and that’s one of the reasons I love it so much. Even after several years in the industry, I still love showing up to each wedding day aiming to love the heck out of my couples and take my best wedding photos yet. It never gets old. If you value capturing your beautiful memories as much as I do, here are a few extra questions you should ask your wedding venue (that affect your wedding photos!).

Just engaged and ready to start wedding planning? Here are a few places to start:

• If you are looking for a wedding photographer, you can learn more about working with me here!
• Don’t have a wedding venue booked yet? Here are my favorite Edmonton wedding venues. 
• Haven’t booked engagement photos yet? Get inspired here.

Are there any rules my wedding photographer must follow?

This is a BIG one (and to be honest – inspired this entire post). Church wedding venues have always been notorious for this, but more and more wedding venues are adding additional rules that wedding photographers must follow. At one of the weddings I shot this summer, the list was lengthy. I couldn’t stand behind the preacher, I wasn’t allowed to walk halfway up the aisle, and I couldn’t stand on the stage. I will ALWAYS get the shot, but if your wedding venue places limitations on wedding photographers, this is something we want to know in advance. On a wedding day, I’m always thinking on my feet. But it’s always better when I don’t have to!

Do I have to hire from your preferred wedding vendor list?

Preferred vendor lists are great in theory, but they can get a little messy. Did you know that some vendors require vendors to pay to be on that list? Don’t get me wrong, there are a LOT of wedding photographers out there. It doesn’t hurt to have a second opinion or do your due diligence to make sure you are hiring the right person for your wedding day. But paying the venue? Does not mean they are more qualified to document your wedding day.

You DO want to make sure you are hiring the right Edmonton wedding photographer for YOU, but I believe the best way to do that is often by having a conversation, asking questions, and ultimately trusting your instincts. Part of what makes a  photographer right for you is their ability to connect and make you feel comfortable on your wedding day. That will come through on your wedding day, almost more than anything else. If you do need a little extra reassurance, don’t forget to book engagement photos!

What is the lighting like and do you recommend bringing in additional lighting?

In a perfect world, every minute of your wedding day would be filled with that dreamy golden hour lighting. In reality, we aren’t so lucky. Natural lighting is almost always best, but even then we have to prepare for harsh sunlight or dramatic shadows. If you aren’t having an outdoor wedding, it doesn’t hurt to ask your wedding venue about the lighting during the time of day of your wedding, or if additional lighting options are available/recommended. Often, couples will rent dreamy string lighting for the aesthetic, but don’t forget lighting can serve a practical purpose too! Yes, we can always use flash or other photography techniques to capture your wedding photos no matter WHAT the lighting is like on your wedding day. But being prepared is never a bad idea!

Edmonton Wedding Venues

I hope these three extra questions help you choose your dream wedding venue, or at the very least, help you prepare for anything that may come up on your wedding day. The reason you hired a professional wedding photographer is for their experience so no matter what the answers are, I’ve got this. If you are still looking for an Edmonton wedding photographer, you can learn more about working together here. Or, if you are venue shopping, read more tips about choosing your wedding venue here!