What do i ask

types of questions you want to ask:

how many weddings they handle? can you use outside vendor vs inhouse vendor?

-How much pp with tax and gratuity
-Max. amount of ppl in a room
-Is wedding cake included
- can you eliminate things off the menu to reduce the price
- Ask if your obligated to use their In-house vendors
- how many hours can I have the room?
- Are there overtime charges?
- open bar?
-How much deposit you need to leave?
-Are there certain days of the week, or times of the day, when the price is discounted?

Thats all I can think off lol

Good Luck !!

This is my cumulative list which I've gotten off here and some other places. Think it covers just about everything.


Hall:
Date Visited:
Contact:
Phone #:
Dates Available:
Tasting Event? Showcase?
Capacity:
Outdoor Service:
Outdoor Cocktail Hour:
Minimum/Maximum for room:
Table Size (number):
Table shape:
Maximum Number of Tables for room:
Number of people at table:
Wait staff per table:
Dimensions of Dance Floor:
Dimensions of Room:
How many weddings or parties do they do at the same time?
Are table numbers, place cards, direction cards included?
What's included in the price per person? (cake, centerpieces, desserts etc.)
If not using centerpieces, etc., $ off per person?
Renovations Scheduled?
Of what?
Where?
When to be completed?
In-house Wedding Planner? Fee?
Gratuities:
Recommended Gratuity – above and beyond the included tax & tip

Time:
If there are multiple weddings, do they offset the times so that each bride comes in at a different time?
How much earlier can you get there before the wedding?
What is the earliest/latest you can start the wedding?
What do they do if guests arrive before the start time?
Welcome table? Included?
How early can bridal party arrive?
When can vendors arrive to set up?

Bridal Suite:
Size & location:
Door to outside:
Number of Concurrent Events:
Do you have access to a private bridal suite the whole time?
Will you be assigned a bridal attendant? Fee?
If more than one event: separate bathroom facilities?
Smoking area?
Look at suite
Ceremony
Outside area?
If bad weather?
Fee?
Flowers, runners, included?
Chairs?
Microphones?
Rose petal toss?
Rehearsal?

Cocktail Hour:
Outside? What if bad weather?
Extend to 1 ½ hours? Extra charge?
Number of bartenders for cocktail hour/reception?
What does the open bar include (champagne, wine, mixed/frozen drinks)?
Liquor – top shelf? (Names?)
No shot policy?
Beer in bottles?
Bartender/Guest Ratio:

Dinner:
Are candles allowed?
Is Champagne included throughout the reception?
Name brand sodas?
Wine with dinner?
How many servers per table?
Do waiters take drink orders or do guests have to go to bar?
Number of Entrée Options:
Linen colors?
Tasting?


When is final menu picked?
Ratio of Guests/Servers:
If we are under our minimum, instead of paying for wasted dinners, can we upgrade?? We ended up 38 people below our minimum. instead of wasting that money, we upgraded on of our main entrees to surf & turf and upgraded the cordials at the end of the evening. i would have HATED to have paid for 38 wasted dinners!!!! the hall still got all the money they were contracted to get, and i don't feel like anything was wasted
Is there an absolute end time for the reception?
Matre D? Fee?
Menus?
Place Cards? Table # Holders?
Overtime fee?
Vendors included in minimum?
Do you have to pay for the meals if you use their vendors?
Gratuity/service charge – is it a set fee? Is it distributed amongst all of the workers?
Grat/Service charge % (number):
Is grat/service charge taxed:
Venetian Hour/Cordials:
Where are they served???
At too many weddings they roll the cordials out into the middle of the dance floor - interrupts the entire flow of the party.

Cake:
Wedding Cake included?
Do they make the cake onsite or do you have to go to the bakery?
Any limitations on flavors/fillings?
If hall provides wedding cake, can you pick style of cake? Is there a cake tasting?
Cake cutting charge for outside cakes? If so ask that it be reduced or eliminated


Flowers/Decorations:
Any decorations included?
Flowers – included? For cocktail hour or reception? Both?
Do we get a credit if not using centerpieces? How much?


Payment:
Deposit amount:
Method of payment:
Installments/Payment Plans – do you send courtesy reminder?
Any tasting events or showcases before we book?


Timing for final head count:

Can we upgrade if under minimum (no wasted dinners) i.e., cordials or upgrade entrees?


Cancellation and refund policy:

Weather Questions:
Cancellation policy due to extreme weather?

Miscellaneous:
Look at out the bathrooms

Do they supply the bathroom basket?

Attendant?

Bathrooms – how do they look? Where are they located (near reception room?)

Bathroom attendants included? If so, is there option to not have...? (If you want to save money)

Coat Room and Rest Room Attendants?

Is cost included?

Valet – included or additional?

Hotel recommendations:
Direction cards provided? (Get a copy for file)
Photography/Florist –
Recommendations?
Are there place to take pictures inside/outside the hall?
Can you arrive early for photos?
Are candles allowed?

Vendors:
Vendor Dinner Price – 1/2 price of guests or set amount?
Can we use others vendors?
Any fee for outside vendors?


Insurance requirements for vendors?


Does hall need proof of insurance?