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Whether you are still shopping for that perfect wedding venue or have already committed to one, there are plenty of important questions to ask. After all, the last thing that you want is to have any unexpected issues arise on your wedding day. To get you off to a great start, here is a list of all of the little things that you should ask at your reception site.
Obviously, the first thing that you should discuss with a prospective venue is cost. There is more to this topic than first meets the eye, however, and this is where some couples can end up with nasty surprises. Beyond the price per guest cost, many avenues have additional fees that may crop up. It is important to know about them in advance so that you are able to assess the true cost of a venue when you are evaluating it.
Something that can add considering to the true price of a reception site is gratuities. At some places, the tips for the staff are already included in the package, but at other venues, you will be expected to add another 20% to the food and drink bill for gratuities. This certainly makes a big difference! Other hidden expenses to be aware of would include charges for set up and breakdown, overtime fees, and parking fees.
Speaking of overtime, the best way to avoid getting hit with a cost surcharge at the end of your reception is to ask how many hours are included in the sentence's quote. Many couples are finding these days that it is sometimes possible to negotiate with a site to throw in an extra hour at no additional charge. However, this is something that you would need to do in the beginning, and to be careful to have in writing in your contract with the venue.
You will also want to find out how many employees the reception site would plan to have on hand for a wedding of your size. A good server to guest ratio is important, because it will have a major impact on your guests' enjoyment of the reception. Adequate staff ensures that there will be plenty of waiters circulating with trays of passed appetizers, that the meals will be served quickly, and that drinks will be kept full. Too few servers on staff will mean the exact opposite experience for your guests, which is something that no couple wants.
Your own comfort and convenience on the wedding day are also important, of course. One thing that can make life much easier for the bride is a nice place to change her clothes. If you are one of those brides who is enjoying the trend of changing into a second dress and more party-worthy set of crystal bridal jewelry after the ceremony, you will need a better place to do it than a stall in a public restroom. More traditional brides will be glad to have a pleasant place to change into a going away outfit at the end of the evening. Ideally, this changing place will also be a secure location where you can store the bridal outfit and crystal jewelry before or after changing. If you are having your wedding reception at a country club, for instance, most have very nice locker rooms that can work for this purpose.
One final and critical question to ask your wedding venue is how many events or activities that they will be hosting at the same time as your wedding. Too much traffic, both foot traffic and in the parking lot, can detract from the pleasantness of your reception. In addition, if the site has one coordinator overseeing multiple events at the same time, you may not be able to get her attention quickly, you should have a concern during the party. On the other hand, large hotels will typically host multiple functions at the same time very smoothly, so it is not necessarily a deal breaker.
With these key questions answered, it will be much easier to make an informed choice about which wedding venue is right for you.
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Source by Guy Antonelli
