10 Questions to Ask When Touring a Wedding Venue (And How Ramble Creek Answers Them)

Congratulations — you're engaged! And if you're reading this, you're probably somewhere in the exciting, slightly overwhelming early stages of venue research. The feelings are real: thrilled, hopeful, maybe a little anxious about where to even start.

We're here to help. Touring wedding venues is one of the most important steps in the planning process, and going in with the right questions makes all the difference. Here are the ten questions we hear most often on tours at Ramble Creek — and exactly how we answer them.

1. What does a wedding package cost?

The honest answer: it depends. Your date, the time of year, your guest count, and the services you choose all play a significant role in the total. At Ramble Creek, all-inclusive weekend wedding packages generally start around $15,000 and go up from there based on those variables.

What sets us apart from most venues is that we don't make you guess. When you come for a tour, we sit down with you and walk through your vision in detail. By the time you leave, you have a real, itemized estimate — not a vague starting price with a dozen asterisks. Fill out our Pre-Tour Questionnaire before you come and we can often give you a ballpark even before you set foot on the property.

Imagine if an all-inclusive venue and an a la carte venue had a baby… we would name it Ramble Creek! We CAN do everything in-house, but we put together packages based on the needs of our couples.

2. Is my date available?

We'll let you know right away whether your date is open. If you have your heart set on a specific date, it's worth having a backup or two ready. Spring and fall in East Tennessee are our most popular seasons, and popular dates fill up fast. The only way to hold a date is with a signed rental agreement and a booking deposit.

3. What is the venue's capacity?

The Grand Hall at Ramble Creek can seat up to 300 guests for an indoor ceremony and reception. Our outdoor ceremony sites — the Upper Lawn, the Vine Arbor, the Wooded Lawn along the creekside — offer beautiful options for smaller or larger gatherings, but can also seat up to 300 guests. And if the weather decides not to cooperate on your day, the Grand Hall is always ready as a backup.

4. Do you allow outside catering?

No — and here's why that's actually a good thing. Our culinary team is full-time and on-site, which means your food is prepared fresh in our commercial kitchen the day of your wedding. No reheated trays delivered from across town. We offer multiple menus to choose from and can customize to accommodate allergies, dietary preferences, and specific culinary visions. Our wedding cuisine prices also include real glassware, quality flatware, and linen tablecloths and napkins in an assortment of colors. Presentation matters as much as flavor.

5. Can I bring in my own decorations?

Yes, with a few simple guidelines. Outside decorations are welcome as long as they follow our rental agreement — nothing applied to walls or surfaces that could cause damage, no glitter, no confetti. If you choose to use candles, they must be dripless and in containers or on stands. Anything sourced through Ramble Creek is handled entirely by our team from delivery through teardown, which is why most of our couples find it much easier to use our in-house options.

6. What are the getting-ready spaces like?

Come see them in person — that's really the only way to do them justice. Our Bridal Suite is available to you starting at 9:00 AM on your wedding day, and our Groomsmen Quarters is equipped with a large flat screen TV, dartboard, poker table, foosball table, and corn-hole set. Both spaces are designed so that getting ready feels like part of the celebration, not a logistics exercise.

7. What does the payment schedule look like?

A $2,000 booking deposit is due at contract signing to hold your date — this becomes non-refundable after 7 days. The remainder of your base package fee is due either at your Selections meeting or 60 days before your event, whichever comes first. Your final food, beverage, and services total is calculated and due 14 days before the wedding, once your final guest count is confirmed.

8. Do you have on-site accommodations?

Yes — and this is one of our couples' favorite things about Ramble Creek. We have three separate accommodations on the property that together sleep up to 42 guests.

The Manor sleeps up to 22 guests and features mountain views, a resort-style pool with a cascading waterfall and swim-in grotto, a hot tub, gas grill, fire pit, and foosball table.

The Villa accommodates up to 12 guests with three bedrooms, two full baths, a spacious private yard, a large hot tub, outdoor firepit, and gas grill.

The Cottage sleeps up to 8 guests and offers a cozy, contemporary retreat with ten-foot ceilings, a modern gas fireplace, and its own hot tub.

Accommodations book alongside venue dates and fill up quickly, so ask about availability early.

9. Do I need to enlist family and friends to help set up and clean up?

Absolutely not. Our team handles everything — setup, management throughout the day, and full cleanup after your guests leave. Parking attendants greet your guests on arrival. Event staff are on hand throughout the evening for anything that might come up. The goal is for you, your family, and your wedding party to be fully present on your wedding day, not managing logistics.

10. Can I use my own vendors?

For most services, yes. We provide every couple with our preferred list of photographers, videographers, and officiants who know our property well and have a proven track record with us. The one exception is catering, which is exclusively handled in-house. We do not allow outside catering. For entertainment, florals, hair and makeup, and shuttle services, you're welcome to use our in-house team or source your own.

One More Thing

The best questions are the ones you haven't thought to ask yet — and that's exactly what a tour is for. Our planning team has hosted hundreds of weddings and genuinely loves walking couples through every detail until there is nothing left to wonder about.

Ready to come see it for yourself? Schedule your tour at Ramble Creek →