Booking a venue that has catering--taste before you book?

MeredithmarriesNick

Hi Ladies! 

I'm very recently engaged and I'm the first of my best friends to get married so I have a lot of questions! My fiance and I want to get married in June 2013, so while that seems like a long ways away, I'm seeing that the venues I'm interested in are starting to book up already! So, I'd like to secure one ASAP and then put everything else off for a few months. I found a venue that I love that has catering included, and it has decent reviews on this website. What is the protocol for tastings in this event? Do you book the venue and THEN ask for a tasting or do you ask for that before you book? I mean, I TRUST that they have good food, buts its a lot of $$ to shell out without knowing for sure. Any tips you have would be much appreciated! 

Thanks,

Meredith

venelson2012

For me tasting went after we booked. We liked the place and it was a great price, so we trust the testimonials. We just did the tasting and the food is decent, in my opinion. But you should ask the venue and they might work something out for you, I just dont think they would go through a tastng without knowing that you would book for sure.

ujocdeelovely

Before settling on my venue, i was looking into a few catering halls in Long Island. When speaking with them, I always asked if they allowed you to taste the food BEFORE booking. Many places tell you you can taste the food but you need to put a deposit down first. Since me an my FH already attended a wedding at our hall, we knew how the food was. 

I would def. ask the hall if they can allow you to try the food before booking.  What hall are you looking into?

StarIzInkd

Itr varies from place to place but I'm with you- it's a LOT of money. I'm pulling pennies even from wherever I can to save for our wedding so there's no way I am booking without tasting the food!