Visiting a wedding venue is the moment when your wedding plans begin to take shape. It is also the perfect opportunity to clarify everything that photographs and brochures don’t reveal: what is included in the price, how the catering works, where the ceremony will take place, when the celebrations must end and who will guide you through the planning process.
In this guide, we’ve gathered the most useful questions to ask during your visit, organised by topic, to help you compare venues, make informed decisions and plan your wedding with confidence.
Before Your Visit: What You Should Have in Mind
A venue visit is more productive when you arrive with a few key details already considered. You don’t need to have everything decided, but these points will help the venue team provide more specific information:
- Preferred date or period. Even if it’s simply a season or a range of months.
- Approximate number of guests. A realistic estimate is enough to determine whether the venue is suitable.
- Indicative budget. This helps focus the conversation on the right options.
- Type of ceremony. A civil ceremony at the venue, a religious ceremony elsewhere or just the reception.
- Wedding style. More traditional, relaxed, intimate or a larger celebration.
Bring a notebook or keep a checklist on your phone and, if possible, take photographs of the spaces. After visiting two or three venues, details can easily start to blur together.
Questions About Dates and Availability
The first thing to confirm is always the date. These questions will help avoid surprises later:
- Is our preferred date available? Are there any nearby alternative dates?
- How far in advance are the most popular dates usually booked?
- Is it possible to provisionally reserve a date while we make our decision? For how long?
- Do prices vary depending on the month or day of the week?
Weddings held during quieter months or on weekdays may benefit from different conditions, so it’s worth asking even if you haven’t settled on a date yet.
Winter Weddings at a Wedding Venue
Questions About Capacity and Spaces
A venue’s advertised capacity doesn’t always reflect the type of celebration you have in mind. A seated dinner requires more space than a standing cocktail reception, so it’s important to confirm capacity based on your preferred format.
- What is the maximum capacity for a seated reception? And for a cocktail-style reception or buffet?
- Where will each part of the day take place: welcome reception, ceremony, cocktail hour, dinner and party?
- Which outdoor spaces are available?
- What is the contingency plan in case of bad weather?
- Where is the dance floor located, and how does the transition from dinner to the party work?
- Is there a private space where the couple can get ready or take a break?
During your visit, ask to walk through the venue in the same order as your wedding day would unfold. This will help you understand distances, guest movement and the atmosphere of each space at different times.
Questions About the Ceremony
If you’re planning to hold your ceremony and reception at the same venue, there are a few specific details worth clarifying:
- Is it possible to hold a civil ceremony at the venue?
- Where does the ceremony take place, and how many guests can the space accommodate?
- Is the ceremony setup (chairs, altar and basic decoration) included?
- If the religious ceremony takes place elsewhere, how long does it take to travel to the venue?
Questions About Catering, Menus and Drinks
The wedding meal is one of the most memorable parts of the celebration for guests and represents a significant portion of the budget. Knowing whether the venue provides in-house catering or works with external suppliers can make a considerable difference to how the wedding is organised.
- Does the venue provide in-house catering or use an external catering company?
- What menu options are available? Can dishes be customised?
- Is a menu tasting available? How many people can attend, and is it included in the price?
- How are allergies, food intolerances and vegetarian or vegan dietary requirements accommodated?
- Are there separate menus for children and suppliers?
- What is included in the drinks package? Is there an open bar, and until what time?
- Can the wedding cake be made by the venue, or does it need to be ordered from an external supplier?
Questions About Timings and Exclusivity
These questions are often overlooked, yet they can have a major impact on the atmosphere of the day:
- What time can suppliers begin setting up, and when can guests start arriving?
- What time must the celebrations end? Is an extension possible, and what would it cost?
- Will there be any other events taking place at the property on the same day?
- Are there any noise restrictions or time limits for music?
Questions About Suppliers and Decoration
Every wedding venue has its own rules regarding the suppliers who can work on-site. It’s important to understand these before booking your photographer, entertainment or decoration services.
- Are we free to choose our own suppliers, or is there a mandatory list?
- Does the venue recommend suppliers it regularly works with?
- What decoration is included (table linens, tableware, centrepieces and lighting)?
- Are there any restrictions on decorations, such as candles, confetti or attaching items to walls?
- Is sound and lighting equipment available for a band or DJ?
Questions About Logistics, Access and Accommodation
Your guests’ comfort depends greatly on the practical arrangements. Consider particularly those travelling from further away, older guests and families with children.
- Does the venue have private parking? How many cars can it accommodate?
- How accessible is the venue from Lisbon or other cities?
- Are the spaces accessible to guests with reduced mobility?
- Is accommodation available on-site or nearby?
- Can transport be arranged for guests at the end of the celebrations?
Questions About Budget, Payments and Contracts
The price per person is only the starting point. To compare proposals fairly, you need to know exactly what each one includes.
- What is included in the quoted price? What is charged separately?
- Is there a minimum number of guests?
- How much is the deposit, and when are the remaining payments due?
- Until when can we make changes to the final guest count?
- What are the conditions for changing the date or cancelling the booking?
- Can we receive a detailed written proposal?
Always request the final proposal in writing and compare it with the notes you took during your visit.
Questions About Support from the Venue Team
A good team makes a difference long before the wedding day itself. Understanding how the planning support works will help you know what to expect throughout the preparations.
- Who will be our main point of contact throughout the process?
- How many planning meetings are included?
- Who will coordinate the wedding on the day itself?
- How does the venue team coordinate with our external suppliers?
Summary of the Essential Questions
| Topic | Key Questions |
|---|---|
| Dates | Availability, provisional reservations, seasonal price variations |
| Capacity | Guest numbers by reception format, indoor and outdoor spaces, bad-weather alternatives |
| Ceremony | On-site civil ceremony, ceremony space and setup |
| Catering | In-house or external catering, menu tasting, dietary requirements, drinks |
| Timings | Start and finish times, extensions, exclusivity |
| Suppliers | Freedom to choose suppliers, included decoration, sound and lighting |
| Logistics | Parking, access, reduced mobility, accommodation |
| Budget | What’s included, minimum requirements, payments, cancellation |
| Planning support | Dedicated contact, planning meetings, on-the-day coordination |
What You Can Already Know About the Casa de Reguengos Group Venues
Some of these questions can be answered even before your visit. All wedding venues within the Casa de Reguengos group offer in-house catering, backed by more than 25 years of experience in event organisation. The team supports couples from their first enquiry through to the end of their wedding celebration.
| Venue | Features |
|---|---|
| Casa de Reguengos | Up to 600 guests for a seated reception. Main reception hall overlooking the surrounding countryside, garden and terrace, integrated dance floor, dedicated civil ceremony space and private parking. |
| Quinta do Casal Novo | Up to 300 guests for a seated reception. Restored 18th-century building, spacious reception hall, terrace, swimming pool and reflecting pool, civil ceremony space and private parking. |
| Our Quinta | Up to 160 guests for a seated reception. Intimate atmosphere, civil ceremony space, 16 double rooms for overnight accommodation and private parking. |
| Herdade das Sesmarias | A 300-hectare estate in Ferreira do Alentejo, offering exclusive use of the venue and accommodation for up to 48 guests. The Monte space accommodates up to 160 guests, while the Barragem space accommodates up to 200 guests. |
Casa de Reguengos, Quinta do Casal Novo and Our Quinta are located in Vila Franca do Rosário, near Mafra, approximately 25 minutes from Lisbon.
After Your Visit: How to Compare Wedding Venues
Once you’ve gathered all the information, making your decision becomes easier. Here are a few suggestions for this stage:
- Review your notes on the same day. Do it while the details of your visit are still fresh in your mind.
- Compare like-for-like proposals. A lower price may not include drinks, decoration or extended celebration hours.
- Think about your guests. Accessibility, parking and accommodation are just as important as the setting.
- Trust your impressions. The way the team welcomes you can tell you a great deal about the support you’ll receive throughout the planning process.
If you haven’t yet scheduled a visit, you can contact the events team directly to arrange a personal tour of the venues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we visit the Casa de Reguengos group venues before making a booking?
Yes. Visits can be arranged by contacting the group on +351 261 780 004 or by email at contacto@casadereguengos.com.
Do the venues offer in-house catering?
Yes. Casa de Reguengos, Quinta do Casal Novo, Our Quinta and Herdade das Sesmarias all offer in-house catering.
What is the wedding guest capacity of each venue?
For seated receptions, Casa de Reguengos accommodates up to 600 guests, Quinta do Casal Novo up to 300 and Our Quinta up to 160. At Herdade das Sesmarias, the Monte space accommodates up to 160 guests, while the Barragem space accommodates up to 200 guests.
Is it possible to hold a civil wedding ceremony at the venue?
Yes. Casa de Reguengos, Quinta do Casal Novo, Our Quinta and Herdade das Sesmarias all offer spaces suitable for civil wedding ceremonies.
Do any of the venues provide guest accommodation?
Yes. Our Quinta offers 16 double rooms, while Herdade das Sesmarias provides exclusive accommodation for up to 48 guests.
Do the venues have parking facilities?
Yes. Casa de Reguengos, Quinta do Casal Novo, Our Quinta and Herdade das Sesmarias all provide private parking for guests.
Where are the venues located?
Casa de Reguengos, Quinta do Casal Novo and Our Quinta are located in Vila Franca do Rosário, near Mafra, approximately 25 minutes from Lisbon. Herdade das Sesmarias is located in Ferreira do Alentejo, around 20 minutes from Beja.
