Seven Questions to Ask on Every Venue Tour — Answered
You're engaged, the ring is on, and somewhere between the happy-crying and the phone calls, reality has started to set in: you need a date, and you need a place. Booking your venue is genuinely the most important box to check early, because once that date is locked, everything else — the dress, the flowers, the guest list — finally has something to build around. (The one thing that outranks it? Your temple sealing time. Get that on the calendar first, then let's find you the reception space to match.)
So take a breath, and let's do this the smart way. Before you fall in love with a room, there are a few questions that tell you whether a venue is truly on your side.
You'll see plenty of "questions to ask your wedding venue" checklists floating around Instagram right now, and honestly? They're good questions. The kind that separate a venue that's genuinely on your side from one that saves the fine print for after you've signed.
Be a venue touring pro, with the basic questions answered before you show up for your tour.
1. What exactly is included in the rental fee?
A lot — and it's built into the rate, not bolted on. With packages ranging from $2,300 to $5,300 for our premium weekend package, your rental includes:
Access to all our spaces — Bride's room, party room, prep kitchen, serving room, and ballroom - over 9k square feet of space to accommodate your party
Up to 18 rectangular tables and 180 chairs (more can be rented if you need more seating)
A bride & groom table with settee and a cake table
Plenty of easels, floral pillars and cocktailtable options.
A mantle feature
A large built-in bookshelves for styling
3 Frame TVs for your slideshows and media
Customizable dance floor lighting
Two large marble serving tables
A large prep kitchen with a big commerical fridge, ice maker and plenty of prep space.
Your on-site attendant
Initial setup and takedown of tables and chairs to one layout
Complimentary wedding planning and access to our preferred vendor discounts
In other words, we’ve already thought of the basics for a beautiful wedding. You get to bring your vision to our space, designed to layer on your vibe.
2. What optional enhancements can make your day easier?
If your budget allows, a few optional enhancements can make your day noticeably easier. These are never required — the base rental stands beautifully on its own — but they're there when you want to hand off more of the work:
Décor Package — $300 — our full inventory of vases, votives, LED candles, frames, centerpieces, serving plates, and much more. See it all here
DJ Booth — $300 — a newly upgraded, rolling booth with Bluetooth, dance lighting, and four big speakers. See it here
Media Booth — $200 — a rolling 65" multimedia station for slideshows and videos
Drink & Soda Bar — $100 — a rolling bar unit for refreshments of your choice
Mocktail Hour — $450 — a live pianist, a curated mocktail bar, and two hours of service (starting at 30 guests)
Full-Service Linens — $300+ — delivery, setup, and pickup all handled for you
Content Creation — $400 — four hours of coverage, 10–15 shareable stories, and up to 50 photos
Invitation Package — $300+ — custom announcement design, printing, inserts, and addressed envelopes
All-Day Setup & Takedown Assistance — $300 — décor setup, photo arrangement, and cleanup, with one transition included
Event Insurance — $300 — property, damage, and guest-injury coverage with zero deductible
Alcohol Service — $300 — option to serve alcohol following our rules.
Extra Time — $200/hour and Ballroom Transitions — $150/move — more time in the space, or a second layout for ceremony-to-reception
Most enhancements land between $100 and $450, so you can pick the handful that buy you the most peace of mind and leave the rest. Or go with our premium package and save hundreds over à la carte options. Learn more here
3. How many hours of access do we actually get, and what time does the clock start?
It depends on the package you choose, and we spell out the exact windows in the contract so there's no guessing:
Reception package: 4 PM – 10 PM
All-Day package: 12 PM – 10 PM
Luncheon package: 10 AM – 2 PM
Need more runway? Additional hours are $200/hour, and you can add them up to two days before the event.
The clock starts when your reservation window starts.
4. Are there any fees that show up after I sign?
We keep this transparent because nobody likes being nickeled and dimed. You choose your package, choose any enhancements, and you see the total. That's it. No fee ambushes, no "administrative" surprises after the ink dries.
5. Do we have to use vendors from an approved list?
No — and this is where we love to surprise people. You can bring in any vendors you like. No mandatory approved list holding your dream photographer or florist hostage.
We do keep a vetted preferred vendor list as a convenience, and booking through it comes with vendor discounts — but it's an option, never a requirement.
Even more exciting - we also offer in-house planning, coordination, floral, and even setup/takedown assistance if you'd rather keep things simple under one roof.
The only firm rule is around alcohol: it must be served by a licensed, insured bartender, and we require a security guard and event insurance whenever alcohol is on the menu. That's a safety line, not a sales tactic.
6. What's the max guest count for a seated dinner versus a standing reception?
Two very different numbers, and any venue worth touring should give you both.
For a seated dinner, La Fête comfortably hosts up to 180 guests on our standard setup of 18 tables — and we can add tables and chairs if your list runs longer. For a standing or cocktail-style reception where guests flow through the space, we hold around 250, and up to 300 with the parking to match.
So if you're deciding between a plated dinner and a mingling, grazing, dancing kind of night, the room scales with you either way.
7. Is a coordinator on-site on your day, and what exactly do they handle?
Yes. Every couple who books after touring with us gets complimentary wedding planning in the lead-up, plus a dedicated on-site attendant on your day who manages the building start to finish — so you're never left wondering who's in charge of the space.
To be clear about the line between "venue host" and "personal planner": our attendant runs the venue itself. Our attendant sets up your tables and chairs to your layout, keeps the space running, and is your point of contact on the property. Personal touches like clearing your décor, florals, food, and belongings at the end of the night are yours to handle (or something we can talk through with our in-house setup/takedown add-on).
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to answer these questions is to stand in the space and picture your day in it. We'd love to give you the tour.
La Fête · 120 N. University Ave, Provo, UT 84601 📞 (385) 585-1040 · ✉️ info@lafetevenue.com · 🌐 lafetevenue.com
