One event at a time....does it even matter?

Original post by JeanineP2B

Jul 25, 2006 11:02 AM

Greetings fellow wedding planners, newlyweds and past brides :)

I've just begun the hall search for my '09 wedding and am trying to narrow down my list, but many of the halls I'm considering hold up to 2 or 3 weddings at a time.

I don't know whether or not to be concerned about this.

How do you all feel? Have any of you past brides had any complications with your hall because of this...as far as sharing the space for pictures, noise, etc?

Thanks in advance

Audreygirl Posted: Jul 25, 2006 01:39 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

it was very important to us. we only looked at places with one event at a time. except for chateu la mer - that was two events, but it wasn't really what we were looking for.

i want to have the whole place to myself and feel like everything being done is only for me!! i know it sounds so selfish and self-centered . . . but i'm always doing everything for everyone else and for once i wanted to have everything focused on me and fh.

most of the weddings i've been to have been at a multiple reception place. i know that receptions and all wedding related stuff is a business, but when i was a places with more than one event at a time it really felt like these places were just going through the motions for your event - it's a huge day for you, but just another event for them.

JCam695 Posted: Jul 25, 2006 01:54 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

Like some of the other brides, that was also very important to DH and I and we only looked at places that held one event at a time.

I've been to weddings at all kinds of places and some places you really would never know another wedding was going on and at others you see the other wedding guests around.

It may also be a budget factor, some places that have multiple events will be less expensive.

Good luck!

thelastresort Posted: Jul 25, 2006 02:16 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

That was our deciding factor, actually. We narrowed it down to 2 places and the 1 event at a time place won for that reason. You have the whole place to yourself and the staff's attention is solely focused on your party. I think that's important.

LaurenluvsTJ Posted: Jul 25, 2006 02:35 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

Posted by Audreygirl

places with more than one event at a time it really felt like these places were just going through the motions for your event - it's a huge day for you, but just another event for them.

Its just another event for the places that do one at a time also.
We all want to think that we are the most important wedding ever, but in reality, these halls -one at a time or not, do hundreds of weddings a year.

Its up to the staff of the place to make you feel special - like you ARE the most wonderful bride ever! I think for the most part, catering halls are very good at doing this - no matter how many events they host at time.

Audreygirl Posted: Jul 25, 2006 02:49 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

Posted by LaurenluvsTJ

Posted by Audreygirl

places with more than one event at a time it really felt like these places were just going through the motions for your event - it's a huge day for you, but just another event for them.

Its just another event for the places that do one at a time also.
We all want to think that we are the most important wedding ever, but in reality, these halls -one at a time or not, do hundreds of weddings a year.

Its up to the staff of the place to make you feel special - like you ARE the most wonderful bride ever! I think for the most part, catering halls are very good at doing this - no matter how many events they host at time.

i know . . . but i commented based on past experiences and my own perceptions of other weddings. i've been to fabulous weddings that were in mega catering halls, but in the end, it's just not what i am looking for. it really is a personal preference.

JeanineP2B Posted: Jul 25, 2006 03:25 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

All good points.

Thanks again.

HearzBellz Posted: Jul 25, 2006 04:00 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

Posted by JeanineP2B

Wow! Those were some quick responses! This place is great! Thank you all so much

I guess you're right, it does depend on the facility... right now, I'm most interested in Chateau La Mer and the Westbury Manor... and a couple of others that I haven't yet visited.

I'm glad to know that those of you who had weddings at these kinds of halls didn't encounter any problems! I guess I'll keep them on the top of my list for now

My sister is currently planning her wedding & booked the Westbury Manor and she was also concerned about 2 weddings, but they time things very well and everyone gets their own Bridal Suite, so no worries about people bumping into each other. Also, the 2nd floor (where hers will be b/c she has a small wedding) has their own outdoor balconies, so the smokers
do not even have to go downstairs where the other wedding might be.

MrsD06 Posted: Jul 25, 2006 04:02 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

The night of our wedding there was another wedding at the WM. I didn't see the bride or any of their guests until we got back to the hotel and they had their after-party at the same bar.
One of her guests commented that we looked alot alike. Gee, thanks....so much for feeling special!!

The only time I heard their music (or anything) was when we went outside to take pictures after dinner. We were right outside their room.

Karen62794 Posted: Jul 26, 2006 12:00 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

It depends on the facility. Some of the nicest facilities have multiple events going on at once.

My reception hall (The Woodbury Country Club) had 2 weddings and tiered them, so that we wouldn't run into one another (or our guests). We got there first and had the run of the place for over an hour. I'm not even sure when the 2nd wedding arrived, all I know is that when we out at the end of the night to take pictures (around 11), I looked up and saw the 2nd wedding going on upstairs.

The Woodbury has 3 levels and the 2nd level acts as a buffer, so you can't hear the other party going on. Plus, we had our own bathrooms, suites, etc.

If a place has multiple events going on, just check the facilities and make sure you would have your own space.

Jen2999 Posted: Jul 26, 2006 12:05 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

At chateau la mer they have two wedding but never starting at the same time. I thin the other wedding there started like 2 hours before mine and I never once even saw other people from the other wedding. Im sure if some of my guests went outside to smoke they might have but other than that I had no contact of knowledge of their presence at all.

777Bride Posted: Jul 26, 2006 12:26 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

I was at a retirement party at the Westbury Manor a couple of months ago. This party was in the room closest to Jericho Turnpike. There was another function in the larger room. Although we saw lots of people milling around or moving from cocktail room to main dining room, we didn't notice them much at first. However, when the speeches were being made at the retirement party, I could clearly hear the bass beat from the DJ in the next room, and I was at the far side of the room from that wall. It detracted from the poignancy of the speeches.

This was on a weeknight, so perhaps they didn't have as many valets on as they would for a wedding, but parking was extremely disorganized. I left the party a few minutes before the scheduled ending, and the other (larger) party must have gotten out shortly before then. I had to wait about 10 minutes for my turn at the valet, and then THEY LOST MY CAR!! They had me look through all the keychains on the board, as well as on the ground around the board. After about 5 minutes of searching, up comes a valet with my car, saying they 'had to move it to get to someone else's.' I was not too happy about this, because if they did just have to move it, why was it MIA for that long?

Therefore, if you are looking at a venue that holds more than one event at a time, ask about the start and end times of all the potential events (just because there's nothing else booked the day you book doesn't mean there won't be a bar mitzvah crowd running around the lobby the day of your wedding), and ask about the number of valets on for the time frame your guests will be arriving and departing.

MattandTricia07 Posted: Jul 26, 2006 12:31 PM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

We choose the Estate at East Wind for our reception, but East Wind has 2 other places someone can get married at that day, just not in the same building. I thought that was really nice because I would barely know there is another wedding going on. I personally wouldn't want to be in the same building- just a personal preference.

JeanineP2B Posted: Jul 27, 2006 10:43 AM

Re: One event at a time....does it even matter?

Posted by 777Bride

I was at a retirement party at the Westbury Manor a couple of months ago. This party was in the room closest to Jericho Turnpike. There was another function in the larger room. Although we saw lots of people milling around or moving from cocktail room to main dining room, we didn't notice them much at first. However, when the speeches were being made at the retirement party, I could clearly hear the bass beat from the DJ in the next room, and I was at the far side of the room from that wall. It detracted from the poignancy of the speeches.

This was on a weeknight, so perhaps they didn't have as many valets on as they would for a wedding, but parking was extremely disorganized. I left the party a few minutes before the scheduled ending, and the other (larger) party must have gotten out shortly before then. I had to wait about 10 minutes for my turn at the valet, and then THEY LOST MY CAR!! They had me look through all the keychains on the board, as well as on the ground around the board. After about 5 minutes of searching, up comes a valet with my car, saying they 'had to move it to get to someone else's.' I was not too happy about this, because if they did just have to move it, why was it MIA for that long?

Therefore, if you are looking at a venue that holds more than one event at a time, ask about the start and end times of all the potential events (just because there's nothing else booked the day you book doesn't mean there won't be a bar mitzvah crowd running around the lobby the day of your wedding), and ask about the number of valets on for the time frame your guests will be arriving and departing.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I haven't heard much negative about the WB so this is a surprise. Sorry to hear that

After reading all of your comments, I will DEFINITELY be sure to question how they plan to stagger event start times to avoid things like this from happening.

Thanks all!!!