Wedding Forum - Questions to ask venue?...

So I'm all excited about going to see our potential venue on Monday, but then just thought I'm totally unprepared with what I should ask them? Aside from money and package related questions... Does anyone have advice on things they've learnt from as to what else to ask?
Also with having a smaller wedding and prob not really having that many if at all extra eve guests how do I stop the eve from fizzling out? Apart from having the ceremony later on in the day so as not to have so much time to kill, what's the best order to have things? As in the eve I would imagine older relatives would've gone off to get curtains drawn etc..! Some of the kids might've flaked out so if there's only say 20 people left when it gets to say 8pm how best to keep the momentum going without the disco looking a bit sad! :(

Hi I've just bumped the official thread for you hon, hope it helps! Xx

Our day will look a little something like this:

2pm - Getting married
2.30pm - drinks reception, photographs and magician
4pm - wedding breakfast with harpist playing and magician going round tables in between courses
6pm - speeches
6.30pm - retreat to another room for tea and coffee while the do sets up and staff change the room around for the evening reception. Chance to go up to their rooms to refresh if needed
7.30pm - evening guests to arrive and evening reception to begin
8.15pm - cutting of the cake
8.30pm - first dance
8.45pm - buffet food to be brought out

The venue should definitely be able to help you with timings. Our wedding coordinator gave us the above timings as a guide as I wasn't sure what would happen and when. I just dropped him an email as said I needed to know to discuss timings with our harpist.

If you are having a dj I think the key is just getting him to play the right songs. Have you thought about asking your guests to make music suggestions so that there will be something for everyone and a nice mix of music? For me, I would just focus on yourself having a good time and everyone else will follow suit :)

We are also doing a DIY photo booth for the evening so our evening guests will be able to get involved with that.

I'm not having a sweetie cart but if I was to have one I think I would just keep it in use all day. I would give all day guests a paper sweetie bag as part of their favours and just tell them to help themselves. Would probably put a couple a paper bags out in the evening as well so the evening guests can take some as well :) unless you want sweeties left over and don't want all your guests nicking them hehe ;)

You venue will be able to help with timings they have put a timeline together for us which has helped..

is your venue doing catering? as youll need to then ask questions on food, childrens prices...
ask what decorations they may have you can use (our has tea lights and vases which will be a huge help also out flowers are included) ask them about what times they set up your room incase you want to help or have a nosey before the wedding, make sure you get a list of all prices, do they charge for sweet buffets (as our venue wants £40 if we have sweet buffet) drinks price list. round or rectangle tables? can you hang bunting and garlands? do they do balloons or know local supliers that can help (our venue gave us a booklet of offers for local suppliers)