Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

Hey girls,

Well, we MIGHT actually make a decision this weekend, maybe, possibly, perhaps, we think so... (we are both really really REALLY indecisive!)

We might book a reception hall... before I get to the infamous contract, is there anything I should know before signing my life away?

Is there anything they try to sneak in there, taking advantage of a poor, defenseless newly-engaged couple who knows nothing?

Is there anything that I should insist on? Refuse?

Thank you for your help!!! :)

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

what happens if you don't make your minimum?

what if you decide to postpone the wedding? what happens with the $ you put down?

if you want to extend the reception the day of the event, can you do so and how much is it?

i'll think of more----

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

Anything they said they would include should be on the contract:

The minimum guarantee
price per person
special prices for vendors & children
payment plan
receipt of deposit
the selection of dinner choices and other courses
over time rates
cancellation policies
upgrades available & the prices

are they including centerpieces, cake, valet parking, bathroom & coat room attendents?


Don't be shy make sure everything is in there it's the only way to ensure you get everything you expect and are paying for.

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

if they provide centerpieces, ask to see sample

if they provide votives

if you can have cake tasting

if you can taste food again if they switch chefs

if you are having guests that eat vegan/vegetarian/kosher can their meals be prepared there or ordered special and catered in (you have to pay extra if the meals need to be ordered and you have to talk to those guests about what they like to eat)

when does the bar close

if you want to go extra hour, can you?

do they have sound system in cocktail room in case you want to pipe in music from cd

what sort of disaster insurance do they have - if they go up in flames a week before your wedding are you going to be reimbursed?

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

You ladies are good, I will copy all this down for my meeting with the vatering hall on Friday. All the stuff I probably would have not thought of asking. Thanks

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

I know!!! They should become wedding planners !!!

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

something small but can be important-- do they allow candlelight - if that's what you would want. my florist was telling me this bride had candle everything- centerpieces and all- and the hall wouldn't let her light even one due to their policy.

i guess any other restrictions the hall may have. try to get everything in writing. are they making your cake? if so- what kind and how big, etc.

make sure you have at least 1 bridal suite. how many weddings (if any) will be going on at the same time (but you probably know this by now). upgrades to menu? when can you arrive at the hall (in case you want to take pictures there before your ceremony)?

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

The only thing I can think to add that I don't see up already is ask what they allow the DJs to do. Some places don't allow bubbles or confetti or anything that might cause a person to slip and fall, yet they'll do fake snow cause its gone so quickly. Also, I think they passed something that says no more fog machines in Suffolk county (just like they limit balloon launches--they take all the fun away!). If you're having your ceremony there, a lot of places are just as strict as churches with what you can and can't throw. You should just make sure what the decorations/effects rules are.
Even though I'm sure large halls do, I would just double check that they have business interruption insurance (ie: the place burns down, you get whatever money you've put down so far back). I heard a horror story of a couple who paid to have it at a restaurant and had that very thing happen to them and oops, no coverage.
Also, see what you can get out of them when you sit down to sign. Start talking about things you'd been considering and they might just throw it in. When we sat down to do our contract only 2 weeks ago, we started talking about our ideas in general, and bam! The manager started writing down things in our contract that we thought we'd have to pay for ourselves! (ie: extra chaffing dishes and carving boards, candles, chapel accessories...). It never hurts to ask!

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

Also find out how your guests arriving early will be accomodated. Will they be offered soft drinks? can they go in? is there someplace reasonably comfortable for them to wait?

Re: Might sign with Reception hall, any advice? Stuff you wish you knew before signing?

Defnitely get them to throw in anything they can while you're signing b/c they won't do it later. The only other thing I can think of is ask what kind of beer they serve (this was a concern for my FI's family, I never would have thought of it but catering halls do not serve too many different brands) and also ask them to clarify what their top shelf liquor brands are. You know, does top shelf vodka just mean Absolut or can you get the premium brands like Ketel One, Grey Goose, etc.