Todays
Featured Wedding |
| *Invitations |
| *Bridal Shop stories |
| *A bride should ask |
| *Emergency kit |
| *Wedding Vows |
| *DJ for Weddings |
| *Wedding Dresses |
| *Floral Tips |
| *Wedding Planner |
| *Wedding Themes |
| *Destination Wed |
| *Announcements |
| *Wedding Rings |
| *Wedding favors |
| *Party Favors |
| *Gifts |
| *Flower Girls |
| *Testimonials 1 |
Beauty Beyond Compare {Our Wedding site was beyond any expectation we had } |
 We just love our site Our wedding website |
|
What the Media Says
"Wonderful wedding websites."
"...contemporary defined "Wedding
Pages Redefined ' gorgeous , attractive. and, most importantly, a
time saver."
|
Reception Celebration
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.
You should also look at what other events are scheduled for that day and how much time is allowed between bookings. If your guests are having a good time, you don't want them pushed out the door because another party has been scheduled right after yours. There should be, at the very least, an hour between bookings.
If the room is partitioned, find out what sort of group will be next door. The noise of their party may be an intrusion on your reception.
If you plan on bringing in some decorations, find out what limitations there may be, and when you or your supplier can come in to set up. How soon after the reception must the decorations be taken down?
Can't decide between a buffet and a served meal? Think about what type of reception you're going to have -- how formal it will be, how much mingling the guests will do, etc. If the guests will be mostly family, a buffet should be fine because they will be up and moving from table to table a lot anyway. If most of your guests will be from out of town, and they don't really know each other, you may be better off with a sit-down meal, because at that type of reception people generally stay at their seats more.
You'll want to taste the food as well, so find out what provisions are made for this. There may be a charge, but consider it well worthwhile. Nothing ruins a good reception like bad food. Don't end up paying for meals you and your guests don't want to eat! Nothing ruins a good reception like bad food... Another option that is becoming popular is to have food stations. They are a good way to get conversations started in a situation where most of the people don't know each other. Food stations can be either hors d'oeuvres or a full meal. Each station will be placed in a different part of the room and will carry food of a particular theme. For example, you may have a carving station, a pasta station, seafood, etc.
The bar is another area that requires some thought. You'll need to decide what kind of beverages will be available to your guests. If you choose to provide alcohol, will you use name brands or house brands? Some couples choose to save some money by offering only beer and wine instead of the more costly mixed drinks. Will you provide champagne for the entire reception, or only during the toast?
If you choose to have a full bar, try to be charged by the drink (or by consumption) rather than by the bottle. In this case, you are charged only for the liquor you use, rather than for the whole bottle.
Be sure to arrange for bar service that lasts as long as the reception itself (the average wedding reception lasts between 4 to 6 hours). You can save some money by requesting that the bar stop serving alcohol at a particular time, but you should make provisions for some sort of beverages to be supplied until the reception is over. Also find out how many bartenders will be on duty, whether there are any corkage fees, and whether the facility has liquor liability insurance as well as food insurance.
Make sure there is enough room and power for...your musicians Most couples choose to have a cake table and a gift table. These require more preparation than you might at first think. Don't place them in a dark or remote corner where no one will notice them. This is especially true for the gift table. Believe it or not, there are people who steal wedding gifts, and it's pretty easy to do if the gift table is right by the door. After all the guests have arrived, ask the person overseeing the reception to lock the card box in an office until the reception is over so you don't have to worry about it. Ask what provisions are available for your musicians. Make sure there is enough room and power for equipment and instruments. Is there any type of a bandstand or stage?
Check out the table linens as well. Look at the types of table skirting offered for the bridal table, cake tables, and so on. Are colored tablecloths or napkins available, and is there an extra charge for them? Also ask whether napkins for the cake are provided.
Some reception halls include a wedding cake in their package. Inquire as to whether you have to buy their cake, or if you can bring in your own. If they provide the cake be sure to get a sample, and find out how flexible they are on how the cake is decorated. How many choices do you have? Also determine whether cutting and serving the cake is included.
Is there a lot of empty time between your ceremony and the reception? Often the wedding is in the morning or early afternoon, but the reception doesn't start until the evening, and the guests are left for hours with nothing to do. The reception hall may be able to provide a separate room stocked with snacks and beverages where guests can mingle until the actual reception begins.
Besides the overall cost of the facility, other financial concerns are the deposit requirements, the site's policy regarding refunds, and when the balance is due. Also, find out if the price includes tax and gratuities.
Another business concern is to make certain that your agreement with the reception site is put into a legal contract. A contract is an absolute necessity to protect yourself, and it guarantee that your reception will go as scheduled. Make certain that you understand all of the provisions contained within the contract. If there is anything you don't understand or are confused about ask to have it explained, and don't sign anything until you are satisfied that you understand.
Don't be afraid to ask questions. That's the reason you went to visit the hall. If the staff isn't interested in answering your questions, chances are they won't be interested in helping you have the wedding reception you want. Look for caring professionals who realize that this is one of the most important days of your life, and who would find it an honor to be involved.
