6 Questions to Ask About Your Venue's Beauty Suite
So, you’ve fallen in love with your venue’s beauty suite. The decor is just your vibe, and you’re already imagining the adorable pictures you’ll take there with all of your best friends. But before you do, there are some practical matters to take into account. Here are the six questions you should ask your venue about their beauty suite to ensure that everything goes smoothly on the big day!
What time can we arrive?
Many New Jersey venues will allow you to arrive anywhere from two to four hours prior to your ceremony. However, that’s not nearly enough time for beauty services to occur there if you have an entire wedding party getting ready with you. And, if you’ve chosen to do a first look, that will dramatically push up the time that you have to be ready. This means that you will realistically need to arrive at your venue anywhere between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m., depending on the time of your first look/ceremony.
What is the cost?
Since the beauty suite is typically only included in the venue’s wedding package for two to four hours prior to the ceremony, many times there will be an additional fee if you’d like to get inside earlier. If you’re really in love with the suite, sometimes it’s more cost-effective to pay that fee than to get ready off-site. If you do the latter, you will have hotel room and transportation costs to contend with. So, it’s best to weigh your options and figure out which makes more sense for you!
How many people can fit comfortably?
Do you have a large wedding party? Will parents and other VIPS be getting ready with you? The number of people who will be joining you must be considered when determining where you will get ready. And, don’t forget to factor in not only those who will be receiving services but those who will be providing them. The artists you’ll have coming will likely require a certain amount of setup space, so make sure that your venue’s beauty suite is large enough to accommodate both their needs and yours.
Does it have lots of natural light?
You’ll spend hours in your venue’s beauty suite and have lots of pictures taken there. In fact, you may end up spending more time there than at your wedding reception. So make sure you love it! You also want to ensure it has lots of natural light. Not only is this optimal for your photographer, but it’s also better for your hair and makeup team. We also suggest ensuring the space has large mirrors and at least one full-length mirror so you can see your complete look from head to toe.
Is it handicapped accessible?
Many beauty suites are located on the top floors of venues. If someone in your party has limited mobility, ask if there is an elevator on-site that they can use. Make sure that you know how they can easily access the suite, if at all, before deciding on a getting-ready location.
Will there be food and beverages included? Can you bring your own?
You will likely need to budget for the cost of feeding everyone who will be getting ready. Typically this means providing breakfast or lunch, or both depending on the number of hours that you’ll be at the venue. Not every venue will allow you to bring in outside food/beverages, so be sure to clear everything with them in advance.
We hope that this list will help you to determine if your venue’s beauty suite will work for you! We love assisting our clients through every step of the wedding planning process and would love to do so for you. If you’d like to know more about our planning services, just contact us here. We’ll have a chat, figure out your needs, and then we’ll take care of the rest.
