I Need Reception Advice Please!

keri1386

I have just started the whole process, haven't even visited any place yet just some online research..

I was wondering what you found to be the most irritating aspect of dealing with caterers/reception halls?

Were there things you are looking for that no one seems to be able to offer? Things I should be looking out for?

What you did or didn't like a lot about a certain banquet hall?

I would like to have these kind of things in my head for when i do go to visit so I know what kind of questions to ask,

My wedding is small, only about 85 people, and I feel like most of the places are too large for that number of people. I know that some places have smaller rooms, but I don't want my guests to get lost in all that space. Anyone know of a smaller venue?

Thanks so much!

viewfromheaven05

Well first, congrats on getting engaged and starting the process!  I'll try my best to answer your questions.  Sorry if it's long, but I wish I had this resource when I was looking at venues.  I didnt know this board existed then.

I was wondering what you found to be the most irritating aspect of dealing with caterers/reception halls?  Most irritating was honestly the ones who kept contacting you to see if you made your mind up.  I had that happen with the Carriage House and Harbor Pines.  I mostly had really nice managers of the catering halls and didnt have many problems.

Were there things you are looking for that no one seems to be able to offer?   We were looking to hold both the ceremony and reception in one place.  Most of the venues in our area (we're near AC, I don't know how far south you are), dont really accomodate that.  It was either outside or stuck in the entry way or some hideous room, which wasn't gonna fly with us!  Also, our wedding is a Jewish wedding so I needed to make sure they've dealt with that before and knew at least some of the customs.

Things I should be looking out for? Look out for those that might be trying to get money too quickly.  I only say this because Elite just closed and there are now 17 couples with no place for their weddings.

What you did or didn't like a lot about a certain banquet hall?   We went to about 10 venues before we went to our last one and it was the one we picked.

Carriage House:  Loved how pretty it was, how upscale, etc. but hated that our ceremony would be in the entryway, and that we wouldnt be able to have the large room.  Also wasnt fond of their food; it was some weird combinations of things.  Also didn't like how pushy they were; they didnt even have our date available and were still bugging us!

Greate Bay Country Club:  The place didnt seem handicap accessible and both of our grandparents are severely handicapped and could not have made it up those stairs.  We also did like that there was no place for an indoor ceremony and that the venue had one room broken up into sections.  Also the coordinator didnt seem to want to give us that much time.

Harbor Pines:  TOO SMALL for us.  perfect for the amount of people you're expecting.  Also, no indoor place for a reception, just this small deck that if it didnt fit all 125 of our guests, they would need to stand in the room where the reception was taking place.  Had to use their baker to not get charged a cake cutting fee, and their baker is one we checked out and her cake is terrible.  Also their food was outside of the room (we were originally looking at a buffet).

Clarion:  I only looked here cause it's where my bat-mitzvah was help 10 years ago and my parents begged me to do so.  Well that place is falling apart now.  Aboslute mess and in need of some major renovations to get back into catering the way it used to.

The Chelsea:  We knew we wouldnt have the wedding there, but my parents were married at this hotel when it was the International Hotel 27 years ago, so they begged me to see what it looked like now.  I would of had my reception in the same room as they did, which was beautiful!  the hotel is fabulous and very retro and cool.  They didn't have a location for a ceremony and they were so expensive ($140 before tax and gratuity was the starting price).  But it was a very nice place!

Considered:  Seview (expensive and weird food combos like the carriage house), AC Country club (expensive and I hear it's not all that pretty!), the flanders (sorta expensive considering it didnt include any alcohol), blue heron never returned our phone calls, The Aquarium in camden, and a few places in williamstown which is 30 minutes from us.

The Sheraton in AC:  I fell in love with the Sheraton and with Tara when we were there.  The sheraton is absolutely beautiful and Tara is around my age and we get along really well.  I was willing to compromise the menu, but then asked her about different menu options and she said no problem!  We changed our menu completely from what was in the original menu and it's more us, and more in our budget!  I'm so happy we picked there and loved the food and LOVE everyone there.  Super helpful and accomodating!

Questions to Ask:  About open bar, if you can lower or shorten it to save money, what are the kids meals, is there a bridal suite, do you have a list of preferred vendors, and the rest really depend on what type of wedding you want.

babynugget

I am also having a small reception (about 80 people).  I am having mine at Auletto's.  Their Terrace Room seats 65-125 and it has a nice view of the lake.  Not sure on what type of style you are looking for, but Auletto's is pretty nice.  Plus they have alot that is included in the price. 

Congrats and Happy Planning!

miguelhilary2010

We ended up with around 75 people.. check out The Mansion (my venue) as they have smaller  rooms and include open bar and cake, also Tomasello's Winery in Hammonton.  We checked out other venue's but those are my top two based on your headcount.

Ask what is included... bar, linens, cake, how many apps, entrees, cake cutting fees, etc.

Ask if there are any restrictions... candles, time limits, etc.

Ask if they do more than one wedding/event at a time, and if so how many.

Differentiate between cost plus tax and gratuity, and cost inclusive of tax and gratuity.  This will help when comparing pricing and determining budget.

campergrlsugar

Aulettos is really really pretty...and i like the terrace room soo much better than the ballroom....one of my good friends is getting married at Aulettos cant wait!

shannon1787

We are going to Lucien's Manor in Berlin.  They have 4 different rooms.  Their smallest room would be a good size for 85 people.  They have a ton of food (hor d'oeuvres, soup, salad, dinner, dessert table) and include the cake and an open bar in their price.  When we priced that room it would have been $70 pp. for a Friday night. 

The reception is taking up a lot of our budget, but that is because we are making a lot of things ourselves (invitations, excort cards, programs, centerpieces, veil) that would cost a lot more to buy.

This was the 2nd place I went. It is beautiful and the staff that I have met have all been really nice and helpful.

[Deleted User]

My advice is probably more philosophical than practical, but here it goes.  I have planned events for professional societies so this isn't a strange venture for me except now I'm planning my own wedding. 

My first piece of advice is "Planning your wedding should be FUN and you have to like the people you are dealing with."  Also one of my rules from event planning experience is if I contact someone who does not get back to me, I move on.  Especially in today's economy, you, the customer, are queen and should be treated accordingly.  Work only with people who want your business, are responsive and pleasant to work with.

Now the flip side of this advice.  Hotels, caterers, etc are also human and not fond of dealing with bridezillas.  Spend a little time just fantasizing about what you want but don't get so locked into specifics - color schemes, have-to-have floral arrangements, etc.  Know what you want but at the same time be flexible about what is possible.  Brides have a tendency to want things like out of season flowers at bargain basement prices.  You will irritate everyone you deal with if you go in this direction.  For example, I contacted the florist, showed her a picture of my dress and basically told her to make my bouquet pretty and unstructured with seasonal flowers.  Other than that I don't care.

Again in today's economy, I am finding most people are willing to do some serious negotiating.  For example, I am having my dress custom made of white velvet, which is a real pain to work on.  I have spoken with two dressmakers (two more to go) and the first one has cut his price by 30 percent.

Even more big sisterly advice.  Decide what elements of your wedding are really important and concentrate on those.  The rest is just fluff so don't spend a lot of time, energy or money on those items.  In my case I wanted a very small, intimate wedding (30 people).  We are having it at a bed and breakfast, but I am working with a pricey caterer becaue I wanted fabulous food and my dress will be custom made.  We want a nice portrait and candid pictures of our friends and family.  I have made it very clear to the photographer, I don't want to be standing around all evening having pictures taken.  Pick your priorities, focus on those, but above all enjoy the planning process; it is supposed to be fun, not stressul. 

Final bit of advice.  Enjoy being creative.  I personnally hate cookie cutter weddings with all o the wedding cliches, one wedding just like every other except change the people.  Really think about what would make your wedding special to you.  If you think creatively, you will have more fun and probably save a bundle of money in the process.

I also forgot one other bit of advice.  There is a "wedding industry" out there.  I have promised myself I would walk away without apology from anyone who refers to this as "my special day," because that is really going to cost me big bucks.