Reception Venue

tammym1001 · July 2013

I met with the coordinator at our reception venue for the first time on Friday. I was all prepared for them to tell me about extra charges or things that weren't included. Instead they said everything that was in their informational packet was included and they even threw in a free champagne toast for all the guests and an ice sculpture. I don't know what I was so worried about. I guess I"ve heard too many horror stories.

There really isn't a question here. Just sharing my relief. Anyone else want to brag about their venues?

elizabetheleven · July 2013

That's a relief!

When we traveled to Florida to meet with our venue they gaveus a bottle of wine to bring back to the resort that evening. So they're doing well so far in my book

NYCBruin · July 2013

Yay!

We have a similar situation. Our venue is pricy, but they also don't charge any sort of extra charges and include a ton of stuff that wasn't listed in their package online, including a day of coordinator. When we met with them and I asked about certain charges (like a set-up/break-down fee) the man we met with actually laughed and said "Of course not. The price is the price."

They have also been super accommodating to all of our requests and haven't charged us extra for anything. For example, their package lists that we can select 4 types of beers (two domestic, two imports), but they are letting us have all of their beers (7-8) included for no extra charge.

After hearing your story, I think that may be the standard when it comes to more "luxury" venues. You pay more upfront, but they don't nickel and dime you. That was one of the biggest "pluses" for our venue. FI and I are both really busy people and had no desire to have to coordinate/negotiate on every little detail. Having the venue handle everything for us has eliminated a lot of things on our "to-do" list. Anyone else have thoughts on this?

tammym1001 · July 2013

That's funny that he laughed. The guy I met with actually was like seriously everything that's in there is what you get. We don't play games like that. Then I asked him if the bartender would put out a tip jar and he laughed at me then and said we would never allow that.

Jells2dot0 · July 2013

Yay for no hidden charges! My first wedding reception site was completely a la carte- everything I added on was a separate charge. It was quite amazing how quickly things added up. My second wedding site, which was a resort, included everything because they are an all inclusive resort because of their remote location.

NYCBruin · July 2013

tammym1001 said:

That's funny that he laughed. The guy I met with actually was like seriously everything that's in there is what you get. We don't play games like that. Then I asked him if the bartender would put out a tip jar and he laughed at me then and said we would never allow that.

That's funny. We didn't ask about tip jars b/c we've been to several events there and we have never seen one. I'm pretty sure our venue would give us the same answer yours did if we asked.

KDM323 · July 2013

One thing about NJ...most of the venues I visited were amazing "all inclusive" type of places.

It is pricier, but you get just about everything you can imagine included. Sure makes planning a lot easier.

I'd probably be crying if I was trying to work out coordinating different day of coordinators, DIY projects, etc. Basically all we have to do is show up with a DJ, officiant, photographer and our guests! The venue is handling setting everything up...including flowers (from our florist), etc.

16maybeless · July 2013

Our venue is a little bit wacky. We're getting married in a historical mansion outside of DC and every single vendor needs to be brought in: caterers, photogs, florist, officiant, even alcohol. It gets pricey fast, and there are so many details I didn't even think of. We just realized that we have to rent two separate types of chairs, one set for indoors and one for outside! Having a coordinator helps, but I can certainly see the appeal of using the all-inclusive wedding venues!

tammym1001 · July 2013

@16maybeless - that sounds like a ton of work, but it's nice that you will get exactly what you want. Our venue will actually let us bring other stuff in if we want to, but their stuff is really nice so I figured why give myself the extra hassle

dcbride86 · July 2013

16maybeless said:

Our venue is a little bit wacky. We're getting married in a historical mansion outside of DC and every single vendor needs to be brought in: caterers, photogs, florist, officiant, even alcohol. It gets pricey fast, and there are so many details I didn't even think of. We just realized that we have to rent two separate types of chairs, one set for indoors and one for outside! Having a coordinator helps, but I can certainly see the appeal of using the all-inclusive wedding venues!

This is why I'm doing everything at 1 hotel: ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. I'm getting married in DC, and I realized how pricey it would get to do it at a museum or something, so I just opted for a hotel. I'm really glad I did - although the price looks really high, it's only ONE price. The only extra expenses we will have are for the flowers, the favors and the band. Everything else is included.

dcbride86 · July 2013

16maybeless · July 2013

ssautter said:
This is why I'm doing everything at 1 hotel: ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. I'm getting married in DC, and I realized how pricey it would get to do it at a museum or something, so I just opted for a hotel. I'm really glad I did - although the price looks really high, it's only ONE price. The only extra expenses we will have are for the flowers, the favors and the band. Everything else is included.

We looked at some hotels downtown! They're all gorgeous. I was briefly obsessed with The Hay Adams.

CrazyCatLady3 · July 2013

We are narrowing between 2 venues right now. One of the venues is all-inclusive--no rentals, no ceremony fee, all food, drink, cake, furniture, linens etc included EXCEPT they have 2 tack on fees--$200 bartender fee per 75 people (so we would need 2) and $400 coat check fee. I just feel that, for the price per person we would be paying, that should be included. Would it be tacky, if we decide to go with this venue, to see if I can get them to waive one of those fees? I would be inclined to just say we don't need a coat check since we are looking at May/June, but what if it's raining that day and people have raincoats/umbrellas? I'd almost rather they just made the catering fee $10 more pp than have these tack-ons.

Jells2dot0 · July 2013

16maybeless said:

ssautter said:

This is why I'm doing everything at 1 hotel: ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. I'm getting married in DC, and I realized how pricey it would get to do it at a museum or something, so I just opted for a hotel. I'm really glad I did - although the price looks really high, it's only ONE price. The only extra expenses we will have are for the flowers, the favors and the band. Everything else is included.
We looked at some hotels downtown! They're all gorgeous. I was briefly obsessed with The Hay Adams.

I considered that for my first wedding! We couldn't decide on DC or Baltimore (since we lived in Columbia, but I worked closer to DC) and we ended up in Baltimore.

KatWAG · July 2013

I have a venue horror story. To start, we picked a venue like the OP, where everything was included. We could use their tables, chair, stage etc if we wanted or they allowed us to bring in whatever we wanted. I was so excited.

As I have mentioned, I got married the weekend NATO/ G8 Summit was in Chicago last year. (the summit hadnt been announced when I picked my venue/ date)

My venue sent me an email about 2 months before our wedding date, strongly incouraging us to change our wedding date. Our venue was a city owned/ public building and within the "Red Zone" and they were worried that the building would be stormed by protestors. The "Red Zone" was where the city expected all of the protestors to gather. They wanted us to move the wedding to 4th of July weekend. I had already put down deposits on everything and invites were supposed to go out later that week. I did not want to change everything and risk loosing so much money.

We had to fight to keep the building open thus allowing us to keep our original date. Luckily it all worked out. We had police and private security there, but there wasnt a protestor insight. I was so relieved.

dcbride86 · July 2013

16maybeless said:

ssautter said:
This is why I'm doing everything at 1 hotel: ceremony, reception and cocktail hour. I'm getting married in DC, and I realized how pricey it would get to do it at a museum or something, so I just opted for a hotel. I'm really glad I did - although the price looks really high, it's only ONE price. The only extra expenses we will have are for the flowers, the favors and the band. Everything else is included.

We looked at some hotels downtown! They're all gorgeous. I was briefly obsessed with The Hay Adams.

OMG that's where I'm getting married!!!!! I LOVE it! It's so beautiful and the view is insane. I actually teared up during one of the viewings

16maybeless · July 2013

@ssautter I am in love with your venue. In. Love. We are going to stay there our wedding night in May! What's your date?

dcbride86 · July 2013

@16maybeless my wedding isn’t until May 2, 2015. I have the Bar Exam summer of 2014, so we’re waiting a bit. But it’s totally worth it to get a dream venue in May, especially since I won’t have to stress about a wedding while studying for the Bar!

dcbride86 · July 2013

@16maybeless my wedding isn’t until May 2, 2015. I have the Bar Exam summer of 2014, so we’re waiting a bit. But it’s totally worth it to get a dream venue in May, especially since I won’t have to stress about a wedding while studying for the Bar!

SewInLoveWithDMB · July 2013

CrazyCatLady3 said:

We are narrowing between 2 venues right now. One of the venues is all-inclusive--no rentals, no ceremony fee, all food, drink, cake, furniture, linens etc included EXCEPT they have 2 tack on fees--$200 bartender fee per 75 people (so we would need 2) and $400 coat check fee. I just feel that, for the price per person we would be paying, that should be included. Would it be tacky, if we decide to go with this venue, to see if I can get them to waive one of those fees? I would be inclined to just say we don't need a coat check since we are looking at May/June, but what if it's raining that day and people have raincoats/umbrellas? I'd almost rather they just made the catering fee $10 more pp than have these tack-ons.

Have you met with a person from the venue yet? Our venue had a $175 bartender fee, coat check fee and a fairly high minimum. During our first chat, he removed all 3, way before we even were really thinking of booking. (We are getting married in October, so the coat check fee was easy to remove)

I don't know if that is just something they "do" or not - and it didn't save allll that much money, but I still appreciated it.

CrazyCatLady3 · July 2013

SewInLoveWithDMB said:

CrazyCatLady3 said:

We are narrowing between 2 venues right now. One of the venues is all-inclusive--no rentals, no ceremony fee, all food, drink, cake, furniture, linens etc included EXCEPT they have 2 tack on fees--$200 bartender fee per 75 people (so we would need 2) and $400 coat check fee. I just feel that, for the price per person we would be paying, that should be included. Would it be tacky, if we decide to go with this venue, to see if I can get them to waive one of those fees? I would be inclined to just say we don't need a coat check since we are looking at May/June, but what if it's raining that day and people have raincoats/umbrellas? I'd almost rather they just made the catering fee $10 more pp than have these tack-ons.

Have you met with a person from the venue yet? Our venue had a $175 bartender fee, coat check fee and a fairly high minimum. During our first chat, he removed all 3, way before we even were really thinking of booking. (We are getting married in October, so the coat check fee was easy to remove)

I don't know if that is just something they "do" or not - and it didn't save allll that much money, but I still appreciated it.

That's really nice of your venue. I met with the catering manager for the initial viewing of the venue, but haven't gotten into any negotiations yet. However from my attempted negotiations with our other potential venue I think my market is pretty inflexible and people just pay what they quote. We'll probably end up eating it, I just hate "tack-ons."

mmm4763 · July 2013

We are *this close* to signing our contract with The Biltmore Estate (Champagne Cellar for the ceremony and reception)--in the middle of negotiations now. That being said, we are also negotiating a few of the costs that seem "set" but we don't find necessary given the size and flow of the event (and while small on their own, can certainly add up).

I was very up front to say that I am not trying to nickel and dime the event and they have in turn been extremely accommodating. In my opinion, it never hurts to ask and the worst they can say is "no" and then you are no worse off than you were before.

tammym1001 · July 2013

@mmm4763 - I just googled your venue. It is absolutely stunning!

dcbride86 · July 2013

@mmm4763 I just Googled it as well, and I totally agree with @tammym1001 – STUNNING! Good luck with negotiations! Let us know how it goes

mmm4763 · July 2013

Thank you! We are only having 20 guests but still wanted to do something meaningful and memorable.

16maybeless · July 2013

@mmm4763 I love the Biltmore! Have you been? We had a company retreat there, and I haven't been in the Champagne Cellar, but the entire property is beautiful.

This is ours, Glenview. It's a city-owned property on the Historical Register and is perfectly sized for our wedding (which is itty-bitty to most, about 60 people). The only issue is, again, all this vendor coordinating!

mmm4763 · July 2013

@16maybeless--We just went and visited/had a meeting with their manager/coordinator last weekend--got me even more excited for the prospect.

I was just reading more about your wedding and while stressful, coordinating all the details can be very gratifying--knowing that you put it all together!! Great venue--love places with history and meaning.

zizibet · July 2013

That venue is gorgeous! My ticker is wrong, so, but our current top choice venue is a lovely golf club that is super accommodating as far as F&B goes-if we want they'll get it. No nickel and diming, no we only serve beverages x,y,z. etc.
I may get some additional linens, but really I need so little that it's awesome.

racheogle · July 2013

@ssautter I take the bar in 3 days!! Where are you taking it?? Freaking out a little but I'm so glad I don't have wedding planning stuff to worry about right now on top of it- we are getting married next summer :-) 7/7/14

NYCBruin · July 2013

@racheogle I'm taking the bar in 3 days, too! And also freaking out. And we're getting married Sept. 2014!

@ssautter it sounds like you're doing the smart thing (waiting until after the bar exam). I couldn't imagine having to do lots of wedding stuff right now.

dcbride86 · July 2013

@rachelogle good luck!!!! You're going to rock it! I'm taking it in Maryland.

Reception Venue

Re: Reception Venue

Choose Another Board

Search Boards