Wedding Venue Contract Checklist

What it should state. What's commonly not stated. What to ask before you sign.

You're about to sign a wedding venue contract. This page lists what a complete one states, the lines that are commonly not stated, and the questions worth asking before your name goes on it.

This is a reading checklist, not advice. Spend Defense doesn't tell you whether to sign — we make sure you've actually seen what's on the page, and what isn't.

What a complete venue contract states

Date and hours — the event date, start and end times, and setup and teardown time.
What is included — tables, chairs, linens, coordinator, and spaces — itemized rather than assumed.
Food and beverage minimum — the minimum spend, stated as a dollar figure, and what counts toward it.
Service charges and taxes — the service-charge percentage and whether it applies before or after tax.
Payment schedule — the deposit and each payment date.
Cancellation and postponement — refund amounts by date, ideally in a table.
Vendor rules — required or preferred vendor lists, and rules for outside cake, DJ, or alcohol.
Force majeure — what happens to your payments if the venue cannot host.
Guest count deadlines — when the final count is due and whether it can go down.

What's commonly not stated

Service charge vs. gratuity — a service charge may not go to staff; the contract often doesn't say.
Postponement terms — whether a deposit carries over to a new date, and at what price, is often vague.
Outside-vendor fees — fees for bringing your own vendors may appear only in a separate policy.
Overtime rates — what it costs if the event runs past the end time is rarely stated.
Cleanup and damage — what you are responsible for after the event may be undefined.

None of these gaps decide anything by themselves. They're the lines to ask about before you sign, not after.

Questions to ask before you sign

“What is the food and beverage minimum, and what counts toward it?”
“Does the service charge go to staff, and is it calculated before or after tax?”
“What do I get back if I cancel or postpone — by date?”
“Can I bring outside vendors, and are there fees for that?”
“What happens to my payments if the venue cannot host?”

Want a second set of eyes on the actual document?

Send us the paperwork before you sign. A Quick Check reads your document and shows you what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask — for $4.99 (up to 10 pages). Longer documents: Document Review $19, Premium Review $49.

Check my document →

We don't decide for you. We make sure nothing on the page — or missing from it — surprises you later.

FAQ

How much does a wedding venue usually cost?

We don't price other people's venues — cost depends on the date, the season, the guest count, and what's included. What you can check is whether your contract states its minimums, service charges, and cancellation terms as numbers and dates. If it doesn't, that's a question to ask before signing.

What if something on this checklist is missing from my venue contract?

Ask for it in writing before you sign. A missing cancellation table or vendor rule isn't a verdict on the venue; it's an unknown in a contract tied to one important date. Getting it stated costs nothing and settles it before the deposit is paid.

Can Spend Defense read my actual venue contract?

Yes. Short contracts fit the Quick Check ($4.99, up to 10 pages); venue contracts with policies and menus attached often go through the Document Review ($19, up to 25 pages). You'll get back what it says, what's not stated, and what to ask.

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Spend Defense — we read the paperwork before you sign. We don't decide for you.