Get EVERYTHING in writing. Be almost obnoxious about it. If they tell you that you can get there early the day of but dont give you a definite time, then make them write that bc one month out you'll hear how any time over 2 hrs early will now be a charge. Which bridal suite you have. I was shown the wrong suite by two diff ppl, then they swore up and down that I was wrong and they never showed it to me... NEVER seem too interested. They will go down in price a lot if you take a day or so and go back and forth. We even were gonna compromise with a lesser menu and as we go to sign, we got the fuller menu and he was even offering to throw something.... Its a rip-off.....
Check the bathrooms to make sure they are clean and some places don't allow you to use outside vendors so ask
Posted by Grasshopper
Here's a list someone sent me when I asked the same question.![]()
I found this to be such a help when we were looking!
Food:
Tasting Before you Book or After?
Pictures of Cake
How many beer choices and what are they?
How do they handle special food requests
Vegetarian Choice
Kids Meals – ages?
What is “top shelf”
What are venders served?
How long has your chef been with you?
Room:
Room Capacity?
Types of table – round, oval?
# of People Per Table?
Where the Band/DJ will be set up?
How many servers/bussers per table?
How many bar tenders?
Do they allow open flame for candles?
Price:
Seasonal Prices?
What is included in the price per head?
Is gratuity added on after the tax is added? And, does that include all gratuities (usually Banquet Manager and Bridal Attendant must be paid separately the day of)
If not, recommended gratuity?
Is cake included
Do you include direction cards, table cards or printed menus?
Are chair covers included?
Kids Meal Prices
Vender Meal Prices
Who counts towards minimum? Bride/Groom? Venders? Kids?
Payments?
Forms of Payment accepted?
Cancellation Policy?
What happens if minimum isn’t met?
Final count – when?
Reception:
Availability?
How early can bridal party arrive?
How early can guests arrive?
Who determines the order and the flow of the reception
“House venders”?
How many receptions at once?
Do your guests have access to the whole site throughout the affair or are they asked to stay in the required areas?
Can you check out the ball room when there is a wedding going on?
Is there a bridal attendant?
Who is the banquet manager?
Are there bathroom attendants?
In the event of a power outage...do you have a generator?
What are the closest hotels? Do they offer shuttle service to the RH (reception hall)
Will they put things together/out if I provide?
Available locations for photo?
Any décor for cocktail hour?
Any décor for reception hall?
Definitely walk into the bathrooms to check them out. Make sure they're clean. I went to one hall where there were paper towels everywhere and drink glasses from the reception that had just ended all over the vanities by the sink! This made me ask how often the rest rooms are maintained and if the attendants are in there for the entire event or sporadically check in on them.
Most importantly, have fun checking these places out! Good luck!!
thanks for the list, going out with my soon to be daughter tomorrow to look at RH's and I will give this to her.
Posted by Grasshopper
Here's a list someone sent me when I asked the same question.![]()
I found this to be such a help when we were looking!
Food:
Tasting Before you Book or After?
Pictures of Cake
How many beer choices and what are they?
How do they handle special food requests
Vegetarian Choice
Kids Meals – ages?
What is “top shelf”
What are venders served?
How long has your chef been with you?
Room:
Room Capacity?
Types of table – round, oval?
# of People Per Table?
Where the Band/DJ will be set up?
How many servers/bussers per table?
How many bar tenders?
Do they allow open flame for candles?
Price:
Seasonal Prices?
What is included in the price per head?
Is gratuity added on after the tax is added? And, does that include all gratuities (usually Banquet Manager and Bridal Attendant must be paid separately the day of)
If not, recommended gratuity?
Is cake included
Do you include direction cards, table cards or printed menus?
Are chair covers included?
Kids Meal Prices
Vender Meal Prices
Who counts towards minimum? Bride/Groom? Venders? Kids?
Payments?
Forms of Payment accepted?
Cancellation Policy?
What happens if minimum isn’t met?
Final count – when?
Reception:
Availability?
How early can bridal party arrive?
How early can guests arrive?
Who determines the order and the flow of the reception
“House venders”?
How many receptions at once?
Do your guests have access to the whole site throughout the affair or are they asked to stay in the required areas?
Can you check out the ball room when there is a wedding going on?
Is there a bridal attendant?
Who is the banquet manager?
Are there bathroom attendants?
In the event of a power outage...do you have a generator?
What are the closest hotels? Do they offer shuttle service to the RH (reception hall)
Will they put things together/out if I provide?
Available locations for photo?
Any décor for cocktail hour?
Any décor for reception hall?
Definitely walk into the bathrooms to check them out. Make sure they're clean. I went to one hall where there were paper towels everywhere and drink glasses from the reception that had just ended all over the vanities by the sink! This made me ask how often the rest rooms are maintained and if the attendants are in there for the entire event or sporadically check in on them.
Most importantly, have fun checking these places out! Good luck!!
