Isn't it suspicious...

Probably has a lot to do with everyone's points.....if I knew that just by evoking interest in a hall I could get say a free dinner or lunch, I might visit all the halls pretending to marry or have my child's bar/bat mitzvah and get tons of free meals with no intention of booking at all. I'm sure it's happened, people going around pretending to be engaged just to get freebies. A lot of halls do bridal shows and expos and their food is served then as well...so they KIND OF offset the 'no tastings' this way as well. After I've invested $1-3000 of non-refundable money, if I want a free meal, then they see I'm committed and I see their point in waiting.

This is also why many halls do not take credit cards and require certified checks or cash for final payments....cash and certified checks don't bounce, you can't 'cancel' them later or dispute the charge.

They are protecting themselves and trying to keep their profits up...after all, no matter how much they kiss our butts, they are just in it for the $$$$.

East Wind didnt have a tasting (they have showcases often that have an abundant amount of food) however, I dont think its fishy...there are so many weddings and it would be difficult and expensive to have a tasting for everyone -especially with people that might pretend to be having a party just for the free meal...

PS-the food at the east wind is outstanding!

We didn't have a tasting. I was fine with that. I went to a few showcases and got to taste food there. At the showcase they gave a gift certificate towards the restaurant they have so DH and I ate dinner there one night.
Unless it is a hall no one has ever heard of, you can be confident about their reputation.

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Posted by LaurenluvsTJ

We didn't have a tasting. I was fine with that. I went to a few showcases and got to taste food there.

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Same with us. We were happy!!!

i can understand that maybe the free tastings were being 'overused' (people who weren't really considering them, but agreed to the tasting anyway). but i don't understand why you wouldn't offer one. 1 - don't they have enough money to be able to afford providing a small tasting? you don't need to make entire meals. 2 - i don't know about you, but if i was debating between two places or even if the looks of the place weren't at the top of my list, if the food was better, i'd totally go for it.

i don't think i'd ever book w/o a tasting unless i was REALLY familiar with the place.

my hall gave us a small tasting before we signed...and we've eaten there before and we LOVE the food...we're really excited to get married there..