Questions to ask Hotels when you are viewing them with a view to booking a wedding.

goonup

Hey Guys, my GF & myself are going looking at hotels for our wedding reception next year this weekend. Wat questions shoulg we be asking them? I was going to ask them about

1. Corkage
2. The Meal Costs
3. Bar Extension
4. Rooms for the bridal party.

Is there anything else I should be asking?

texanman

Some hotels include chair covers, make sure to ask them.
How many people the room can take, you dont want tables on top of eachother. If its a summer wedding, does the room have air con?

hunnymonster

There are a million and one questions unfortunately :-(

http://searchwarp.com/swa379288.htm
http://www.realweddings.ie/press/2010/06/questions-to-ask-your-wedding-venue/

Ginny

There are a scary amount of questions, I was sent this list, they're not all applicable but it should cover most things.
-When will we need to provide final guest numbers?
-What is the minimum number required for the Ballroom, and are children included in this number?

-How many staff will be provided on the day - waiting and bar?
-How many can each table seat - how many tables are there?
-What table layout do you recommend?
-What are the arrangements for greeting guests as they arrive?
-Can you play music during the meal - CD?
-Will a staff member handle this, or will we need to find someone?
-Can a member of staff act as 'toastmaster' - announcer for speeches, cake cutting etc?
-What is the payment schedule?
-Who will be supervising on the day of the wedding?
-What costs are incurred if the guest numbers change last minute?
-Is there a cost for a bar extension and how long is it for?
-Is there a limit to the number of day and evening guests?
-How can we ensure that rooms are reserved for VIP guests only - does this require a deposit?
-Is there a room we can safely store gifts etc during the day (other than a bedroom)?
-Will you inform us if there is another wedding on the same day as ours?

Food, Drink etc
-When do we need to decide on the menu?
-When does the bar open?
-What happens to un-used wine?
-How long will the evening buffet be out until it is cleared away?
- How much afters food do you advise
-What is the children's menu - how much is it?
-What is the vegetarian option, when do we need to let you know numbers of vegetarians?
-is there a charge for choice of main course?
- is it possible to have some other dish in case main dish is not liked (eg. Chicken dish if beef main silent choice?)
-Can you cater for anyone with a special diet i.e. gluten free etc?
-Is service charge included in the price?

Cake
▪ Does the hotel provide a cake stand and what type is it?
▪ When is it cut? How much is cut?
▪ Does hotel provide a cake knife?
-When should the wedding cake be delivered, and where will it be stored?
- Can we use wedding cake as dessert?



Decorations
-Who is responsible for decorating the venue - when is the room available?
-Who will decorate the tables?
-Can we have tea-lights/candles on the tables?
-What chair covers can be provided?
-Would someone be able to collect the decorations after the event, and we will arrange to have them taken them home the following day?
-What flowers/decorations etc are provided?
-Do you provide flowers for the top table?
-Will there be linen table cloths and napkins?
-Will someone be able to collect any decorations that we've brought so that we can collect them at some point after the reception?

Timings
-How long should we allow for reception drinks, meal etc?
-What is the best time that the evening guests should arrive?
-At what time should the wedding cake be served?
-What time will you serve the evening buffet?
-How long will the meal take to be served?
- What time should we book band?
- what time does DJ have to end?
- What time is residents bar open until? Is there residents bar?


Guest Information
-What is the check-in/out time for overnight guests?
-What time is breakfast served in the morning?

Payment
-How much of a deposit is required
-Percentage required before/after the day?
-If they numbers are slightly out on the day will it still cost
▪ Method (Credit card/cheque/cash)?
▪ When does the balance need to be paid?

ThePiedPiper

goonup wrote: »

Hey Guys, my GF & myself are going looking at hotels for our wedding reception next year this weekend. Wat questions shoulg we be asking them? I was going to ask them about

1. Corkage
2. The Meal Costs
3. Bar Extension
4. Rooms for the bridal party.

Is there anything else I should be asking?

I wouldn't so much as ask them, I'd be telling them that you don't be paying for corkage because it's free now in a lot of places, you won't be paying for bar extension becuase again, most places don't charge for it anymore. Other issues to ask them:

1. How many options can you have on the menu?

2. What sort of an all inclusive package do they offer (wine and toast included)?

3. Chair covers should be thrown in for free, don't pay for them.

4. What is the special rate for wedding guests for the night? Check out the normal rate you can get online and make sure you're not paying over this amount. Wedding rates are sometimes more expensive than normal rates, be careful about this.

5. How many rooms can you reserve for wedding guests?

6. When does the bill have to be settled? €1,000 might be necessary as deposit. For our wedding, we paid the balance a week before even though they'd wanted it prior to this. They ain't going to cancel on you so don't be bullied.

7. How close to the wedding day can you give final numbers for the meal? In our experience, people were still pulling out 2 days beforehand, but as we'd agreed a 24 hour deadline for final numbers, we only ended up paying for 2 meals that didn't get served.

8. Act completely dis-interested in the hotel. Point out repeatedly that it is 2010 and we are in recession. Whatever price they tell you they can do your wedding for, take off 20%.

Remember it's you that are going to be doing any hotel a favour by bringing your wedding there, not the other way around. Best of luck, hope you find a suitable venue.

Forest.

goonup

Thanks for all the replys guys. It has really helped me

Heineken Helen

Ginny wrote: »

There are a scary amount of questions, I was sent this list, they're not all applicable but it should cover most things.
-When will we need to provide final guest numbers?
-What is the minimum number required for the Ballroom, and are children included in this number?

-How many staff will be provided on the day - waiting and bar?
-How many can each table seat - how many tables are there?
-What table layout do you recommend?
-What are the arrangements for greeting guests as they arrive?
-Can you play music during the meal - CD?
-Will a staff member handle this, or will we need to find someone?
-Can a member of staff act as 'toastmaster' - announcer for speeches, cake cutting etc?
-What is the payment schedule?
-Who will be supervising on the day of the wedding?
-What costs are incurred if the guest numbers change last minute?
-Is there a cost for a bar extension and how long is it for?
-Is there a limit to the number of day and evening guests?
-How can we ensure that rooms are reserved for VIP guests only - does this require a deposit?
-Is there a room we can safely store gifts etc during the day (other than a bedroom)?
-Will you inform us if there is another wedding on the same day as ours?

Food, Drink etc
-When do we need to decide on the menu?
-When does the bar open?
-What happens to un-used wine?
-How long will the evening buffet be out until it is cleared away?
- How much afters food do you advise
-What is the children's menu - how much is it?
-What is the vegetarian option, when do we need to let you know numbers of vegetarians?
-is there a charge for choice of main course?
- is it possible to have some other dish in case main dish is not liked (eg. Chicken dish if beef main silent choice?)
-Can you cater for anyone with a special diet i.e. gluten free etc?
-Is service charge included in the price?

Cake
▪ Does the hotel provide a cake stand and what type is it?
▪ When is it cut? How much is cut?
▪ Does hotel provide a cake knife?
-When should the wedding cake be delivered, and where will it be stored?
- Can we use wedding cake as dessert?



Decorations
-Who is responsible for decorating the venue - when is the room available?
-Who will decorate the tables?
-Can we have tea-lights/candles on the tables?
-What chair covers can be provided?
-Would someone be able to collect the decorations after the event, and we will arrange to have them taken them home the following day?
-What flowers/decorations etc are provided?
-Do you provide flowers for the top table?
-Will there be linen table cloths and napkins?
-Will someone be able to collect any decorations that we've brought so that we can collect them at some point after the reception?

Timings
-How long should we allow for reception drinks, meal etc?
-What is the best time that the evening guests should arrive?
-At what time should the wedding cake be served?
-What time will you serve the evening buffet?
-How long will the meal take to be served?
- What time should we book band?
- what time does DJ have to end?
- What time is residents bar open until? Is there residents bar?


Guest Information
-What is the check-in/out time for overnight guests?
-What time is breakfast served in the morning?

Payment
-How much of a deposit is required
-Percentage required before/after the day?
-If they numbers are slightly out on the day will it still cost
▪ Method (Credit card/cheque/cash)?
▪ When does the balance need to be paid?

Some really good tips here... I still don't know the answer to many of these even though I have it booked months really need to get up off my arse.