| Whether you are still shopping for that perfect | | | | guests' enjoyment of the reception. Adequate staff |
| wedding venue or have already committed to one, | | | | ensures that there will be plenty of waiters circulating |
| there are plenty of important questions to ask. After all, | | | | with trays of passed appetizers, that the meals will be |
| the last thing that you want is to have any unexpected | | | | served quickly, and that drinks will be kept full. Too few |
| issues arise on your wedding day. To get you off to a | | | | servers on staff will mean the exact opposite |
| great start, here is a list of all of the little things that you | | | | experience for your guests, which is something that no |
| should ask at your reception site. | | | | couple wants. |
| Obviously, the first thing that you should discuss with a | | | | Your own comfort and convenience on the wedding |
| prospective venue is cost. There is more to this topic | | | | day are also important, of course. One thing that can |
| than first meets the eye, however, and this is where | | | | make life much easier for the bride is a nice place to |
| some couples can end up with nasty surprises. | | | | change her clothes. If you are one of those brides |
| Beyond the price per guest cost, many venues have | | | | who is enjoying the trend of changing into a second |
| additional fees that may crop up. It is important to | | | | dress and more party-worthy set of crystal bridal |
| know about them in advance so that you are able to | | | | jewelry after the ceremony, you will need a better |
| assess the true cost of a venue when you are | | | | place to do it than a stall in a public restroom. More |
| evaluating it. | | | | traditional brides will be glad to have a pleasant place |
| Something that can add considerably to the true price | | | | to change into a going away outfit at the end of the |
| of a reception site is gratuities. At some places, the tips | | | | evening. Ideally, this changing place will also be a |
| for the staff are already included in the package, but | | | | secure location where you can store the bridal outfit |
| at other venues, you will be expected to add another | | | | and crystal jewelry before or after changing. If you are |
| 20% to the food and drink bill for gratuities. This | | | | having your wedding reception at a country club, for |
| certainly makes a big difference! Other hidden | | | | instance, most have very nice locker rooms that can |
| expenses to be aware of would include charges for | | | | work for this purpose. |
| set up and breakdown, overtime fees, and parking | | | | One final and critical question to ask your wedding |
| fees. | | | | venue is how many events or activities they will be |
| Speaking of overtime, the best way to avoid getting hit | | | | hosting at the same time as your wedding. Too much |
| with a costly surcharge at the end of your reception is | | | | traffic, both foot traffic and in the parking lot, can |
| to ask how many hours are included in the venue's | | | | detract from the pleasantness of your reception. In |
| quote. Many couples are finding these days that it is | | | | addition, if the site has one coordinator overseeing |
| sometimes possible to negotiate with a site to throw in | | | | multiple events at the same time, you may not be able |
| an extra hour at no additional charge. However, this is | | | | to get her attention quickly, should you have a concern |
| something that you would need to do in the beginning, | | | | during the party. On the other hand, large hotels will |
| and to be careful to have in writing in your contract | | | | typically host multiple functions at the same time very |
| with the venue. | | | | smoothly, so it is not necessarily a deal breaker. |
| You will also want to find out how many employees | | | | With these key questions answered, it will be much |
| the reception site would plan to have on hand for a | | | | easier to make an informed choice about which |
| wedding of your size. A good server to guest ratio is | | | | wedding venue is right for you. |
| important, because it will have a major impact on your | | | | |