Wedding Reception Halls - Questions to Ask
Ask about the size and particulars of the facility
- Can the wedding reception hall comfortably accommodate the size wedding and number of guests you are planning?
- Does it have handicap access?
- Does it have air conditioning?
- Is there a room available for the bride to use during the reception to change clothes and freshen up?
- Can you have your wedding ceremony in the wedding reception hall?
- What is the cost for setting up the wedding ceremony seating?
- Ask for references and call them.
Ask about your wedding date
- Is it available?
- Ask if there are any other events or weddings booked for that day.
Ask about the decor of the facility
- If you haven’t seen it already, ask to see pictures of the facility as it would be set up for a wedding.
- Make sure that if there are certain decorations that you see and like, that they will still be available on your wedding date.
- Ask if they are doing any remodelling or redecorating from now until your wedding day. You don't want construction going on during your reception.
Ask about the number of hours
- Most receptions last between 5-7 hours.
- Ask how many hours you will have for your reception. Some wedding reception halls will give you four hours and charge you for every additional hour.
Ask about Money
- How much is the total rental fee?
- And specifically, what does the price include?
- Ask about the deposit, how much and when is the balance due?
Ask about any extra charges
- What about linens and glassware are they included?
- Is there a cake cutting fee?
Ask about the food
- If the wedding reception facility is a hotel or restaurant and will provide the food for the wedding, make sure that you’ve had an opportunity to sample the food, talk about menu choices, and also how they present their food.
- Ask to see samples of their dinnerware. Most caterers include all the dinnerware in their price, yet they may have special dinnerware at an additional cost.
- Service is important when choosing your caterer. Be sure to ask about the ratio of servers to guests. A good rule of thumb is to have one server for every 8-10 guests.
-
You should include a meal for your DJ or Band, photographer or Wedding Day Coordinator When determining a final head count. You can most likely separate them from your total guest head count because your caterer will usually charge you less for "vendor" meals.
-
Be sure to ask your caterer to arrange a special place for your vendors to eat "away" from your guests.
-
You might want to request a "leftover basket" it makes for a great late night snack.
-
Ask your caterer about whether or not they have quotas or not. See if they charge more or less depending on your final head count.
- If you choose a location that requires an outside caterer, ask if you’re required to choose from their approved list or can you choose any caterer?
Ask about alcohol and bar service
- Does the facility provide the alcohol and bar service or do you bring your own alcohol?
- Do they supply the bartenders or do you hire them?
- Are there any restrictions about the type or quantity of alcohol to be served?
- Do they require a cash bar or is an open bar an option?
Ask about entertainment
- Make sure the dance floor is big enough to accommodate your guests.
- Ask the facility manager to show you where the band or DJ would set up their equipment.
- Make sure the wedding reception hall can accommodate them adequately.
Ask about parking
- Is it readily available?
- Do you need to hire a parking attendant or valet? Are there any events that will make parking difficult for your guests?
Ask about overnight accommodations
- Ask if the facility has overnight accommodations for your out-of-town guests.
- If it is a hotel, can you reserve a block of rooms at a discount?
Ask about a wedding coordinator
- Some wedding reception halls have a Wedding Day Coordinator on staff and at no extra charge. The role of the Wedding Day Coordinator is to make sure that everything runs smoothly for your wedding day!
Looking for a New Jersey Wedding Reception Hall? Come take a look at our favorites by clicking here New Jersey Wedding Reception Halls
