Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore

iamsteph · February 2010

I'm really stressing about picking a venue, and it's been difficult to find a place to have both the ceremony and reception at the same place for a winter wedding. We've looked at the Radisson Plaza Lord Baltimore, and it's the place we've liked the best, but I haven't been able to find any recent reviews, soooo...

Has anyone gotten married here? Gone to a wedding here? Thoughts? Likes and dislikes?

SweetCFly · February 2010

I've been in it before, and it's beautiful! The online pictures for a wedding are really pretty too. But I've never ben to a wedding there, sorry!

BAJA819 · February 2010

Hi, I'm actually getting married there in September. So far the planning process has been good.

[Deleted User] · February 2010

BAJA819 when are you getting married there, I am too. In September!

iamsteph · February 2010

Even the bit of information about planning going well is good to know! What has been your favorite thing about it so far?

chausers · February 2010

Hi, I'm also getting married there in September (9/5/2010)! I've never posted to the boards before, but I thought I could provide my knowledge since I know I went through the same thing when deciding on a venue. Hopefully it helps!

The planning process for us has been going very good as well. What we liked most, other than the beautiful venue (not your typical hotel w/ removable walls) is that they are very flexible and up front. We really love Jay, the wedding coordinator/catering manager - he is very honest, helpful and not pushy at all.

We originally asked if we could bring in our own caterer (for authentic Vietnamese cuisine) and they were willing to work with us, even though they typically don't allow that. However, they did ask that we give their chef a chance and offered to give us a free tasting (before any contract was signed and we brought 5 people) with a customized menu created by the chef and coordinator. To our pleasant surprise, the food was wonderful. It was not authentic Vietnamese cuisine, but more Asian fusion with the chef's own flair. We had a plenty of leftovers that they let us bring home. And we still have another tasting to finalize the menu.

Of the number of venues I contacted/visited, the Radisson's pricing seemed the best value for the money because it included a lot of items: a beautiful ceremony and reception venue (they don't charge a separate rental fee nor additional fees if you go over your time), standard linens, chair covers + sashes, customized menu, cake (from a baker that has received good reviews), tax, gratuity, bar, and valet parking for guests. Oh, and you also get a bridal suite for one night!

Sorry this is a bit long, but hopefully it is helpful! Good luck!

BAJA819 · February 2010

pkrpooch3 I am getting married there on 9/19/10. And I agree with chausers, Jay Day is wonderful.He was upfront from our 1st meeting with him when we were trying to decide on a venue. He was personable and kept it real and that is what helped me decide to go with them. You do get quite a bit included in the packages. Especially the wedding cake, which comes from a very popular bakery.

And you dont have to go with their baker if you have something else in mind. Everything can be tailored to your needs, please remember that! I too was able to have a tasting before we signed a contract, I wanted to make sure that the food was good. And the food they presented was indeed very good. They basically told us that the chef can make just about anything. We havent finalized our menu yet, but I was wondering if we would get to do a 2nd tasting once we picked the food we wanted. But from what chausers said, I am thinking this will be possible.

BAJA819 · February 2010

Oh and you can remove things from the packages if you dont want it, ie. valet parking, full bar, wine with dinner, etc...

chausers · February 2010

BAJA819, I'm pretty sure you get another tasting once you've signed the contract to finalize things. I think I asked something to this extent and the response was basically that at the 1st tasting, we weren't even clients yet, so we would have a 2nd tasting as clients as part of the contract.

[Deleted User] · February 2010

Our wedding is Sept 18!
We have not finalized the menu yet either, but we will be soon.

We customized our package as well. Jay is great. I absolutley fell in LOVE with the ceremony room.

BAJA819 · February 2010

chausers, yes we are already under the contract. i will check with Jay on this...

omg prkrpooch that is too funny!! did you do a tasting? or will you be doing another one? you, chausers and i will have to keep in contact with each other!
yes the ceremony room is what drew me to the Radission. Are either of you doing any additional decor in there for your weddings?

chausers · February 2010

Yes, the ceremony room is beautiful and one of our main reasons for choosing the Radisson as well.! I am doing various sized arrangements of orchid sprays and curly willow on the stage (2 on each side) and along the aisle. These will all be reused at the reception (yay for multi-purposing). I didn't want to cover up any of the decor already in the room and didn't want to spend much on decor since the room is already so beautiful. Only thing I am concerned about is having the mirror in the backdrop, which I will have to talk to my photographer about.

Definitely! We should keep in touch!

[Deleted User] · February 2010

I am not doing too much in the ceremony room becuz it speaks for itself. We are having an evening wedding...so an arbor in front draped with satin drapes and cream hydrangea pomanders hanging on the chairs closet to the asile..so basically lining the aisle.

We are also doing many decorations in the reception area....color wash lighting with gobo, flower centerpieces, highs and lows (all cream roses, hygrangeas, few orchids), tons of candles. We will also have a very small lounge area in the section in the back. Just a small sofa, chair, and table.

We have not done a tasting...we will be after we finalize our menu.

Did he mention to either of you about renovations on the rooms? I havent heard much on it and I asked him last month about it and he said no, it still have not happened yet. Hope its done before Sept.
Are you doing OOT bags? Whats your guest count.

BAJA819 · February 2010

chausers is the stage included or was that an additional cost?? who are you ladies using for your decor? your designs sound lovely!
pkrpooch, i am not doing OOT bags...our guest count as of now is 180, but it may go to 200. i am hoping not though! lol...

he never mentioned anything about renovations. i didnt know they were doing that...oh and my photog told me that the mirrors werent going to be a problem for him...but they can always be covered with draping...

[Deleted User] · February 2010

I am not sure if the renovations are still taking place if they havent started by now.

I am not sure, but I think the stage is separate because I didnt see a stage when we visited.

My florist and wedding planner, Michele work well togehter. They are designing the rooms. Cort event furniture is will be setting up lounge area ( I am still playing with the idea). My planner suggested it, after everything elseis paid for , of course. I think it is a great idea because most of our guest are young and would love that area to mingle and catch up with one another.

OUr count thus far is 140...but we are reserving for 150. MAybe 135 will actually show up. My planner said count on about 5-8% of ppl will not show up. Usually OOT guest change their mind at the last minute....many of my married friiends agreed that was true for their weddings as well.

BAJA819 · February 2010

I wanted a lounge area too, but I thought it may be too expensive...I think I have seen Cort event furniture. Are they in Catonsville???

chausers · February 2010

prkrpooch3, he did mention that the suites were supposed to be renovated and should be done by Sept, but I haven't asked him recently. I hope they are done too! But with this economy....

BAJA819, the stage is included, but the covering is not. My florist is doing all of the decor and setup. I am using Bella Fiori. prkrpooch3, I think you mentioned in another thread that you met with her but decided to not go with her b/c of experience. I hope things work out for me! I read many good reviews about her on WeddingWire and really liked her when we met with her.

My decor will probably just be orchid floral centerpieces with a mix of highs w/ and lows (mostly lows) with lots of candles and possibly some uplighting. The lounge area sounds awesome, but I don't think we have the room or money for that. Our guest count is closer to 300 - 400 people, and we are hoping to get it down to 250...haha, we'll see how that goes. I have a HUGE family. No OOT bags for us.

[Deleted User] · February 2010

I loved Roberta! She was great! Given my anal personality and the fact that I stress wayyyy too much, I wanted someone that I could physically see the work of and read reviews for. Someone that had a reputation in the industry. I am sure she will do a great job! She is very creative with creative ideas. I was just too nervous to follow through. HEr price was great also but my current florist's price is about the same for more flowers and designs!
But nonetheless, I cant wait to see your pics because I am sure she will pull it through just as you like.

iamsteph · February 2010

Thank you for the feedback

Hopefully we'll make a decision in the next couple of days!!

BAJA819 · March 2010

Hey chausers, I checked and I was told that they would have to charge us for a 2nd tasting! I am not too happy about it.

chausers · March 2010

Hey BAJA819, sorry to hear that =( Maybe we have different packages or negotiated different things in the contract? How much did they say they would have to charge?

katzjulie · April 2010

Wish this string had popped up back in the fall! I am also getting married at the Radisson Lord Baltimore in September...9/25! I was a bit nervous because I too had trouble finding feedback from others on this site, but we fell in love with the Lord Baltimore as soon as we visited and have had a wonderful time planning so far!

BAJA819 · April 2010

Congrats katzjulie! Its so funny how all of us have weddings around the same time!

BAJA819 · April 2010

Oh and chausers, I just booked Bella Fiore to do my flowers as well!!

chausers · April 2010

Congrats katzjulie! Wow, it is funny that we are all September 2010 Radisson brides. And September is right around the corner, yikes!

BAJA819, that's great! I can't wait for my trial day to see her beautiful work.

iamsteph · April 2010

We did end up picking this venue for both ceremony and reception. We'll be getting married in December!

BAJA819 · April 2010

Wonderful iamsteph!! I know you are happy!

chausers, when we met she did a mini mockup for me. She seems really nice.

BAJA819 · May 2010

So how are you girls feeling about Jay leaving?

chausers · May 2010

I was a bit freaked out at first, but after I talked to Jay I felt a bit better. Still very sad.I don't think I'll be completely ok until I talk with/meet the new person, Brian, though. Jay said that Brian has worked by his side at many of the weddings, so he is not new to the hotel or to weddings. I just can't imagine being one of the brides who have their weddings much sooner than ours and finding out this news weeks before their wedding.

BAJA819 · May 2010

chausers, I was freaked out too and very sad. I still am . At the time I spoke to him he didnt give me the name of the new person. I wonder when he will start contacting brides??? And yes I feel for the brides who have wedding this month and in June.....

iamsteph · May 2010

I too was a little freaked out. We haven't heard from the new person (I guess his name is Brian?) yet.

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