You've found a wonderful man and the perfect place to be married. Now what you need is a great place to celebrate the beginning of your new life together. The site you choose for your reception can make or break this most important day.
The key to finding the right reception hall is time and flexibility. If you don't have one, you'll need plenty of the other! Since most weddings take place between May and October, many of the most popular sites are booked even two years in advance. If you plan to marry during these peak times, you'll need to keep an open mind about the date and the time of day, since your first choice may have already been taken. Consider a Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, or Sunday instead of the usual Saturday evening reception.
Consider a Friday evening, Saturday afternoon, or Sunday instead of the usual Saturday evening reception. Friday evening receptions are becoming more popular, and they can be as successful as those held on Saturday if you take the time to plan ahead. You may have to send out the invitations a little earlier, but the important people in your lives will set aside the time to spend with you. Friday receptions also give you all of Saturday to relax with out-of-town guests and to pack for your honeymoon. If you opt for an off-season month, such as January, February, or March, you'll not only have more choices about times, you may get a discounted rate as well as the ideal time. Besides, what better time to go someplace warm on your honeymoon?
Before you begin looking for the ideal reception site, you should have some idea of what type of reception you want to have. For example, if you're planning a small reception with only cake and punch, you'll be looking for something quite different than a bride planning a sit-down dinner with dancing.
One of your first considerations should be the location of the halls you are considering. Most brides like to keep their ceremony and reception sites fairly close, so that their guests don't have to spend a lot of time driving.
Calling around for prices tells you nothing about what you're getting. What sounds like the best price over the phone could turn out to be an over-priced hole in the wall.
Instead of focusing on the price, you need to consider the value of what you're getting from the hall. One hall may seem to have a higher price per meal, but it may include all sorts of services that a lower-priced hall does not. For example, be sure to find out whether the price includes table linens (there may be an extra charge for colored tablecloths or napkins), glass barware (some facilities use plastic cups to save money), china, table centerpieces, etc.
Whether or not you're getting a good value depends largely on what is important to you. Think about such things as decor, landscaping, whether you prefer glass dishes and barware to paper products, whether you want colored table linens, etc. before you begin to visit sites.
One of the first things to consider when you visit a site is how you are treated by the staff. You should feel that they are truly interested in earning your business, and that they will be both responsible and reliable. If you're going to entrust them with this once-in-a-lifetime event, you need to feel safe that they will do what they say they will do. When you tour the facility, take a good look around. Check out the kitchen and bathrooms for cleanliness. Is the parking lot in good shape, and is it big enough? Find out how your waiters and waitresses will be dressed. See if there is a coat room or valet service offered. Is it accessible to handicapped guests? Are you comfortable with the staff and management of the site? Make sure the hall you're looking at is the right size for your reception. Make sure the hall you're looking at is the right size for your reception. Don't book a hall that is too big. The hall shouldn't be overcrowded, of course, but if people are closer together there will be a more festive air.
Ask if the office is staffed during the reception in case there are any problems. Find out about security and whether there is an extra charge for it, and also ask about liability insurance and how much it costs.
article found here
