Of all the costs associated with your wedding, your reception can be one of the biggest costs of all, especially if you are renting space or using in house caterers. Discuss what your ideal reception venue would be and then research potential spots in your area, by phoning the venues and asking for prices, availability and included items.
When using caterers that are provided by the venue, you can expect to pay 35% more than if you hire an outside caterer, however there are many venues that require you use their in-house vendors so be sure to ask about this when calling each location.
One great way to begin your research is by using the Internet and scouring through different areas in your location. Quite often, reception halls will post details regarding caterers, availability and pricing and in the event this information isn’t available, you can choose to contact the management by email prior to calling, to see if it’s feasible for your wedding based on your allocated budget.
Create a listing of potential reception spots paying attention to the following:Schedule And Availability
Are these locations available for your wedding day? Cost: Determine whether the price is a flat fee or on a per person basis (flat fees are usually cheaper depending on how many guests are included)
Decorations & Inclusions: Determine whether decorations, including centerpieces, table clothes, flowers, candles and other décorare included in the price.
Capacity: Ask how many guests the venue can accommodate, as well as the various seating arrangements that may be available. Certain venues can hold moreguestsdepending on whether they include longer tables versusround.
Restrictions: Find out whether there are any specific requirements or restrictions in order to reserve and use the hall. For example, certain venues will not allow candles due to fire hazards and insurance costs, while others will not allow certain seating arrangements for the same reasons.
Catering: Determine whether you are able to bring your own catering service to the venue or if you are required to use their on-site staff. If so, determine the overall costs for your reception. If you must use their staff or recommended caterers, request a full list of available caterers and contact each one individually with your questions. Parking: Make sure that there is sufficient parking based on the number of guests attending your reception as well as ensuring that there is wheelchair access if required.
Time Frame: You will want to determine how long the venue is available for and more importantly, whether there is another wedding taking place on the same day. This can have a huge impact on how well your reception goes, especially if you are under a time crunch or the venue needs to prepare for an additional reception after yours. If another wedding is taking place on the same day, make sure that it ends or begins two hours after yours, to ensure that you, your partner and your guests have plenty of time to enjoy your event.
If possible, try to choose a venue that hosts only one wedding a day.Once you have explored your options and have a list of potential venues, it’s time to get in touch with each one directly. You can choose to do this yourself or delegate it to a close friend or family member.
Write down the list of questions that youhaveand make sure you cover it all before agreeing to book your reception at any venue.The list should include:
1) How many staff members are allocated to your wedding?
2) Does the venue provide all seating arrangements including tables and chairs or do you need to rent them?
3) Does the venue contain a dance floor, bar and where will the DJ or band be located?
4) Does the venue contain a bridal room or area where you can change from your wedding gown into your reception outfit after dinner?
5) Is there a minimal hour restriction on your reception? Certain venues will require a 4-5 hour minimum where you pay per hour.Regardless of the type of venue that you choose make sure that you visit it in person before agreeing to book it! A venue can look significantly different in person than in photos and you really need to get a feel for the location, ensuring that it is spacious enough (or intimate enough based on the number of guests), as well as whether it looks clean, is well maintained,