Questions about Visiting Reception Halls

Soooo seeing as I have never planned any sort of Wedding before, I'm a little confused about what types of questions to ask reception halls when me and FH visit them. We're both in our early 20's, so I don't want us to seem 'naive' in addition to 'young.' I have some q's that I've thought of, but I wanted to ask you all what you thought are important q's to ask the potential reception hall.

Also, does anyone know what a typical deposit for a reception hall is? Is it a silly q to ask the reception hall if they accept credit cards or checks instead of just cash for such a thing?

In addition, how does the whole food tasting process work? When we're calling to book an appointment to look at the room, do we ask if we can sample the food when we're in? We want to make sure that the food is very good before we book a place, but we're not really sure when we're supposed to be asking to sample things.

Any other advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

I'm only 23 so I feel your pain.

-They are going to ask you who is paying for the wedding, even if your parents are giving you a princess wedding DONT LET THEM KNOW! The halls take advantage of people when they think there is an endless budget.
-Look thru the sample menus they give you while your there and ask about hidden food costs (like filet mignon or shrimp cocktail).
-If your flexible with when you get married ask about the price difference for day and night, and different days of the week. Also at one place i went to there was a different price almost each month.
-My hall has a payment plan that is an initial deposit of $1000 upon booking, 2 months later $2000, 3 months later $3000. Check is acceptable
-Food tastings vary, some will give you food the first visit, others want you to come back.
-Ask to see pictures from the season you are looking to get married in. Its hard to tell what the grounds look like in June if theres snow out when you visit.

Good luck!

Hey i'm 20 so i know what you are talking about and FH is 24. As far as food tasting, certain places don't allow this before booking so just call all of your choices and speak to them. Ask them when the date is, so maybe that way if you really like the place you can book it then.
I really didn't do much with the hall, i was unable to negotiate or anything, we asked for a couple of things like cookies (more like sweet stuff) but they said no so we were like ok. We have no negotiating skills whatsoever!!! As far as questions, ask about minimums, that's all i can tell you.

GOOD LUCK!!!

The first time you go you don't do a tasting. They will walk you around the hall and give you prices and just try to 'sell' the place.

-ask about minimums and ALWAYS finagle them on the #!
-ask how much per plate and again ALWAYS finagle them!
-DEF see what it includes like filet mignon or shrimp like the girl said they try to do hidden fees
-see if it includes the linens for the room (table clothes chair covers)
-does the price include the cake
-make sure its all top shelf liquor
-dont EVER tell them your budget and whose paying for it (I was not asked that though. And I'm shocked they asked anyone that!)
-if the grounds are nice make sure you can take pics B4 the cocktail hour
-find out how many parties or weddings they do at the same time! VERY IMPORTANT!

Good luck!!!

well first off--congrats!!

im young too (and i look reallly young) so i understand..

when we were visiting halls i told them a range of numbers (100-150), and they often showed me different size rooms, and i would then ask the min., price, and start time for each..

as for tastings, my hall actually asked during our 1st visit if we wanted any food, and i wish i would have asked for more, bc i didn't think of it at the time. other halls do tastings before you book, and others do them after..

deposits will range, but i know my hall doesn't allow credit cards for anything other than the initial deposit, but the deposit was 500, we have payments everyother month of 750 for 16 months, and then our final payment is due i think 2 weeks before our wedding--other places had different payment plans though, so make sure you ask

ask about linens, how early you can arive, hidden charges, if you have to use their vendors, what happens if you dont, what they charge for kids and vendors, how many waiters per table, if you can bring in things such as menus, etc., what happens if you don't make your min.

make sure you take lots of notes, and when you go to sign your contract, make sure everythingggggg is in your contract-its a legal document that you'll need if anything goes wrong

good luck!!

Here's a link for questions to ask at RH's:

Reception Hall Question List

Most places won't give you a food tasting until you give your deposit. Some say you can have a food tasting afterwards and if you don't like it they will give you your deposit back.

I would make a quick guest list just to get an idea of how many people you will be inviting. This doesn't have to include everyone but it can give you an idea of what minimum you can guarantee.

Have an idea of what you want to spend per plate before you go in. It doesn't have to be exact but a rough idea would help.

Think about what day of the week, time of day, and month you would ideally like to get married in. That could make your price per person go up or down.

Ask if children are full price or half
Ask if vendors are full or half. also as if house vendors eat free (at some places they do)

If you are in a place that has more then 1 wedding at a time ask to see where the other parties bridal suite would be. Cuz you might literally run into one another.

Look at the bathrooms (always a good sign)

Most places initial deposit was 1000. Mine was more but it wasn't a big deal cuz it had to be paid eventually.

HTH

Our initial deposit to hold the date was $1,000 and then we paid 25% of the total a month later. We won't be paying anything else until later this year.

I know what you mean about asking questions, we took our mom's with us so we wouldn't get ripped off and they could ask any questions we forgot about.

You can ask the hall when you will be able to get a taste test once you've booked it, but they won't give you one if you haven't booked.

my deposit was $5,000 day of contract. $5,000 6 months prior to wedding, balance 2 weeks before wedding.

my RH did not offer a tasing, but my mom asked for one & he said he would give us one after we left the deposit.

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Posted by Lsorrent

Here's a link for questions to ask at RH's:

Reception Hall Question List

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This is like the list I used and it was very helpful.

Just some advice- anything they 'promise' you- GET IT IN WRITING! or else they dont have to carry through with it.

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Posted by tboodhai

Our initial deposit to hold the date was $1,000 and then we paid 25% of the total a month later. We won't be paying anything else until later this year.

I know what you mean about asking questions, we took our mom's with us so we wouldn't get ripped off and they could ask any questions we forgot about.

You can ask the hall when you will be able to get a taste test once you've booked it, but they won't give you one if you haven't booked.

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every hall i looked at with the exception of one did a tasting before you booked--i refused to book somewhere unless i tried the food first

Welcome and Congrats!! I would set a budget and then make a mach guest list, so you can get an idea of how many people you want to invite (This will be one of the first questions many halls will ask you). Then I would make a list of halls that you like and call first to see if you can get quotes over the phone to see if you want to take it any further. If not then go visit in person to get the quote. Either way, you'll want to visit your faves to see if the hall is the right 'fit'. Once you start visiting hall, based on your budget, guest list, and the 'fit' you'll be able to narrow it down.

My RH gave me a food tasting right after the tour, without a deposit. I then contacted them three months later to book and it cost 400 to deposit.

Hope this helps as a starting board and good luck!!!

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Posted by 20mrsc10

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Posted by tboodhai

Our initial deposit to hold the date was $1,000 and then we paid 25% of the total a month later. We won't be paying anything else until later this year.

I know what you mean about asking questions, we took our mom's with us so we wouldn't get ripped off and they could ask any questions we forgot about.

You can ask the hall when you will be able to get a taste test once you've booked it, but they won't give you one if you haven't booked.

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every hall i looked at with the exception of one did a tasting before you booked--i refused to book somewhere unless i tried the food first

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i had the opposite. no halls that i looked out allowed a food tasting before i booked.

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Posted by JAAMS

Soooo seeing as I have never planned any sort of Wedding before, I'm a little confused about what types of questions to ask reception halls when me and FH visit them. We're both in our early 20's, so I don't want us to seem 'naive' in addition to 'young.' I have some q's that I've thought of, but I wanted to ask you all what you thought are important q's to ask the potential reception hall.

Also, does anyone know what a typical deposit for a reception hall is? Is it a silly q to ask the reception hall if they accept credit cards or checks instead of just cash for such a thing?

In addition, how does the whole food tasting process work? When we're calling to book an appointment to look at the room, do we ask if we can sample the food when we're in? We want to make sure that the food is very good before we book a place, but we're not really sure when we're supposed to be asking to sample things.

Any other advice on this topic would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

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ITA with the others... get your guest list together first, along with your budget and see how it fits together based on the date you want to get married. Then check out RH quotes on this site or start calling and visiting. Before you book, it is a good idea to taste the food. A lot of places have their Spring bridal showcase going on now. Look at all of the websites for the places you like and see if they have events posted or call / email them about them. Its a good way to taste the food when its prepared for a large amount ot people at once.

Best of Luck to you.

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Posted by MzDaniBaby

I am in the very same boat. Don't know where to begin in this whole search. Food is definitely important to me and my family as well. More than a low cost I want the most for my money!!!! GOing to look at CLM on Sunday I am wondering how many places I should see in total ? What is the possiblity of losing your ideal date if you don't book on the day you visit.

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Welcome and congrats to you too!

Okay...bring the list above with you or at least refer to it before heading out. I would suggest dressing nicely...business casual or otherwise. FH and I did this and went to see 3 RHs this Sunday. I didn't want to be an eye sore for someone's big day. Anyway... because there were events going on...and we arrived at our first place at 3pm...we got to see them in action. They offered us wine, coffee, espresso, fondue, a 3 tier tray of food / fruit, apps from someone's actual cocktail hour...we also left with parting gifts from all of these places.

In the quotes I received, I asked them to put a lot of things in it. I didn't want to miss anything. MAIN THING...I asked for a 2 week cancellation window for full refund on a deposit I made since they knew I was still shopping around and a full refund if I did not like the tasting...even though I already tasted the food in action and it was delish. You can ask for these things... EVERYTHING is negotiable. Also refer to the RH Quotes posting on here to see what others are paying for random halls. It will give you an idea of what's out there and you can shop around.

Good Luck! Sorry this was long....