Our Venue doesn't do tastings

Re: Our Venue doesn't do tastings

• lyndausvi mod

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  Do they have a restaurant of any sort?

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  What differentiates an average host and a great host is anticipating unexpressed needs and wants of their guests.  Just because the want/need is not expressed, doesn't mean it wouldn't be appreciated. 
  

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• colourz member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  Our venue does not do individual tastings. They have an open house tasting once a year. We didn't want to wait to book, so we signed on without a tasting. The open house had an unbelievable amount and variety of food. Luckily, it worked out well. I would ask around and/or check online for reviews. Also, you can ask on your local board if anyone has eaten at this venue.

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• zeaky888 member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  thanks for the tips so far!

  
  

  They don't have a restaraunt. I think they have a few events throughout the year, like a mothers day brunch and things like that. So we may have to book before then go to one of those events.

  
  

  i'm headed over to my local board now!

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• NOLAbridealmost member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  It's normal to only offer group tastings several times a year.  It's not normal to just straight up not do a tasting. Ever. 

  
  

  Food was my biggest priority so that said, I would never book a place if I couldn't try the food before picking the menu.  Lots of places won't let you taste until you book.  That's fine with me.  You can rely on opinions of local brides on the local board and the reputation of the place.   But there is no way I am putting together a menu unless I've tried at least most of the things on it.  I'd rather eat the deposit if the food sucks than make my friends eat the sucky food and stay at the venue if the tasting was bad.

  
  

  Look into trying the mother's day brunch or other events you mentioned.  And make sure it's the same food that they do with the catering.  I got married at a golf club that does mostly salads, burgers, and sandwiches during the day. The special events caterers were an entirely separate part of their business and the food didn't overlap.  So make sure what you try is an option for your wedding.

  
  

  If they say no, I'd move on to a different venue. 

  
  Fatty Blog

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• kmmssg mod

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  Have you checked on your local board for any reviews?

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• melb2013 member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  My venue didn't do tastings, but they were ideal in every other respect.  We asked for a list of references and I spoke to many brides who had used them and they all said the food was amazing.  

  May 2013 February Siggy: Invitations

  

  

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• unplainjane member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  hmm if you love the venue and it's gotten good reviews for food i wouldn't not consider them because they don't do tastings. but it is tricky. is there any way you can track down someone that's been to a wedding there to get their opinion? we found the tasting to be very important even though the venue has great reviews but we were very particular. we didn't like some dishes that we thought we would and even ended up going back a second time for an addtional tasting.

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• zeaky888 member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  thanks again for the tips everyone!

  
  

  I visited the venue for the second time yesterday and met with the owner. He said that since our wedding is so large (guest list of 180-200), he would do a tasting, it just wouldn't be free. Which is fine, better than nothing! He's done a few tastings for weddings of this size before. 

  
  

  They're also emailing me some references of couples who got married there and had similar sized weddings.

  
  

  I've posted on my local board, and looked through previous posts, but there is very little about Twin Lakes Resort. There's actually even another post asking for reviews on this venue and nobody has responded... They are a smaller, seasonal venue that only has about 35 weddings a year, which compared to others is so few, so this might be why there is less chatter about it on the boards.

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• prettyfacegal

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  If you cannot have a tasting...do not choose the venue. My two cents.

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• LauraChristin member

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  I wouldn't choose the venue without being able to taste the food before booking. I also wouldn't rely on someone else's opinion of the food being that plenty of people like food that is really awful or so-so in my opinion. Good luck! I hope you enjoy the food!

  
  

  ETA: We did tastings before choosing our caterer. Some did them for free. One we did a free tasting with, we ended up not booking them even though the food was excellent. So I understand their concern about having to make money on the tasting. I'd have been fine paying for a tasting if then I decide to book that payment goes towards my total bill. I think it's silly that you're going to drop $20,000 on food and they aren't going to make you a few things to try for free first.

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• tdmaus

  

  November 2011 edited December 2011

  We didnt had a tasting prior to signing the contract either. Our venue does a bridal food tasting twice a year...and ours won't be til February. My coworker had his wedding there too - a few years ago and he spoke highly of their food and service, so we went ahead and signed with them. I can't wait til we get to go to this bridal food tasting though... they will serve the food as a big showcase event then, but i'm still excited about it...

  

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