Make Sure Your Venue is Legit

Photo by Chris Murphy

Unfortunate news has hit the local wedding market. The Historic Stowe building, operating out of downtown Kansas City was operating illegally and has decided to shut down. This leaves many brides frantically looking for a new venue to host their reception. If the event was to be held in 2012, there is still time to find another venue; however, for those brides whose event was taking place in 2011, they are in trouble.

I spoke with a mother of the bride today who is frantically looking for a venue for her daughters July 2011 wedding day (previously booked at The Stowe). Invitations have already been sent out, vendors booked, and flights arranged. The date can no longer be changed, so the unfortunate alternative is to find an available venue.


This is a great example that you should quiz your venue as hard as your caterer and photographer. Here are a few key non-decor related questions to get answers to before you book your venue:

• How long have you been operating as a business?
• The longer the business has been opened, the better.

• How far in advance do you book weddings? 
• This will illustrate how solid their business is operating, venues should be booking at least a year in advance. If less, there is a reason why.

• Do you have a liquor license? 
• If the venue is providing your alcohol, make sure they have a liquor license. You may even request a copy of the license to put yourself at ease (some event insurance providers require a copy). If the facility does not have a liquor license take note that you are exposed to any insurance claims associated with the alcohol served at your event.

• What is your maximum capacity?
• Most venues will round this number off to a whole number; however, when a city approves the building, they provide the maximum number of guests. Example: venue says 300, city says 326. This is an additional sign that the venue has been in contact with the city.

• What time does the event need to end? 
• When alcohol is being served at an event, the city does not allow and endless party. A venue should require you to end at a specific time which has been instructed by the city. 

One additional item, when entering or taking a tour of the space, look for city documentation. This could include a business license, liquor license, catering license; all of these documents are required to be hung in a visible space. Check the door for fire department, chamber of commerce, or other city stickers.

If your venue of choice is operating properly, they will have no reservations to answer your questions or provide you any documentation.