Choosing Your Wisconsin Reception Venue

Thursday, 13. November 2008

You just got engaged. Great! Now comes the fun part, planning the big day. Finding your banquet/wedding facility will be among one of the first things you will need to book, before anything else. Here are some thoughts to ponder. What are you looking for in your reception location? Do you want upscale & elegance? Are you looking for banquet halls near water? Near a golf course? Do you need a cheap banquet hall in Wisconsin for your party? Do you want a water park? How many guests are you expecting to invite? Maybe you are looking for the perfect wedding banquet halls in Wisconsin? There are many Wisconsin banquet halls in Wisconsin. What do you want?

Outdoor Considerations

What season is your reception taking place in? If it’s going to be in the Spring, Summer, or Fall, are you looking for facilities with a patio, or an outdoor area for the ceremony or reception? Are there discounts available during certain parts of the year. Are you planning to have the reception or ceremony in a garden? Under a tent? In a Gazebo? at a park? What’s most important to you? These are all considerations to think about.

What Kind Of Layout Are You Looking For?

As you work your way down the list of considerations, the layout of the room is definitely something that should not be overlooked. Some facilities make it difficult for your guests to see the head table due its shape and layout, making it difficult for things like toasts. Where is the bar in relation to the dance floor? Is the bar even in the same room as the reception, or is it out in the hallway, or in another room? Ask questions of your vendors, what halls and facilities do they like? What halls do they dread? If you think there might be some problems, as your other vendors, or better yet, schedule a meeting at the facility to walk through the layout with them.

Is Price A Factor in Determining Your Reception Facility?

I’m sure in this economy and day and age, that pricing is also going to be a factor as well. Make sure you know what is included in the pricing of the facility and what is not. You would be surprised, the room may be decked out to the nines, but then realize that what you are actually paying for in the price, only includes the room. Does the facility have a “food” minimum. Some places no matter how small your guest list is, will charge you a minimum, which could tack on hundreds, if not thousands more to your bill. What season are you getting married, some facilities charge less in the off season, than they do during prime wedding season, typically between May and October. What day of the week are you getting married? Typically, some venues offer discounts on Fridays and Sundays.

How Many Guests Are You Expecting?

If you don’t ask any other question, make sure you ask this one. It will make or break the facility. How many guests can the facility hold? If your guest list is 300, but you are looking at venues that only hold 100, then there’s a real problem. I don’t recommend it, but on more than one occasion, I have performed at facilities where the bride had too many guests and they did three seating’s for dinner. I think it would make your guests feel somewhat uncomfortable. Please be sure your list of venue considerations will meet the needs of your guests.