22 Questions to Ask a Restaurant Before Booking Your Wedding

GUEST POST BY AMANDA MICHI, SALVATORE'S RISTORANTE

The city of Chicago offers so many unique locations for couples to tie the knot. You have everything from wineries to breweries, restaurants to lofts, parks to zoos, hotels, gardens, museums, and much, much more. There are so many, in fact, we are a little surprised the CTA El stops haven’t jumped on the bandwagon of the wedding industry. Next stop…Marital Bliss!

What makes it difficult for couples is that every venue seems to have their own way of doing things. There is not an industry standard when it comes to the inclusiveness of a package. This leaves room for lots of questions, lots of check lists, and lots of confusion! Don’t worry we are here to help!

As beautiful and appealing as lofts, museums, gardens, and parks tend to be, they are not exclusively a wedding venue. So, all the tables, chairs, flatware, and glassware need to be coordinated and rented by an outside vendor. When looking to have a wedding at a venue like this, it is very helpful to have an experienced planner to help coordinate everything for you! They will be able to work with the multiple vendors to make sure everything is being delivered and set up properly on the day of the event! This will take a lot of stress away from you on the big day.

On the other hand, places like wineries, breweries, and restaurants have all of that on-site already. It is easier to plan your wedding on your own at these venues because there isn’t much more for you to worry about. Plus, most of these venues have on-site coordinators to help on the day of. These are the kinds of venues we want to focus on. Mainly because many brides and grooms are planning their wedding on their own and we want you to be as prepared on possible.


Below are the top 22 questions we think you should ask when you are looking to have your wedding at a restaurant-style venue:


1. How many people can you accommodate for dinner with a dance floor?

2. Do you have a per person or overall food and beverage minimum? Do those vary based on the day?

3. Do you offer plated dinners, family style, and/or stations? Is there a price difference?

4. Are we able to bring in our own liquor?

5. Is all food and beverage done on-site?

6. Are we able to come in and sample the menu items?

7. Is the wedding cake included in our package? If so, what bakery do you use?

8. Can we bring in outside food? Such as a sweet table or a late night snack?

9. What times do you host events in the evenings?

10. Do you host afternoon events, as well?

11. What is included in the rental fee of the space, and how long will we have the space?

12. Do you include all linens and napkins for the tables?

13. Is there a sound system my DJ can use?

14. What else do I have to take care of in terms of vendors -- outside of the venue?

15. Do you have a preferred vendor list? If so, do we have to use vendors off that list or can we use whoever we like?

16. Who is responsible for tear down and set up?

17. What time are outside vendors able to come in and begin set up?

18. What happens if on the day of more people show up than the final number we give?

19. Do we need to purchase any liability insurance?

20. Do we need security for the event?

21. Is there a wedding suite or a place for the wedding party to put their belongings?

22. Are there any additional or hidden fees we could be charged closer to the event date or on the night of the event?


We hope these questions help you while you begin your search for wedding venues. Keep in mind, what may appear more affordable may not be everything you dreamed of. Keep looking until you find the space that has everything you are looking for!

Good luck with all of your planning!

Thank you so much to Amanda and the crew at Salvatore's Ristorante for all their amazing tips on what to ask your potential restaurant-style venues! Speaking of, weddings at Salvatore's are absolutely gorgeous!! Call 773-528-1200 to schedule a walk-though today!

How to Make the Most of Your Site Visit

GUEST POST BY REBECCA STERN, HYATT REGENCY CHICAGO



The calls have been made, the packages have been read and the top finalists have been selected. Once you’ve narrowed down your top 5 – 15 venues for your wedding, the search really starts to heat up, as you begin the site visits. I’ve conducted more site visits in the last 11 years than I can honestly count -- ball parking it would be well over 1,000. In my experience, the majority of the questions tend to be fairly similar. I’ve collected the top 16 questions to ask when visiting a hotel as a prospective venue for your wedding.


Space Questions:

1. What dates do you have available? Are there any dates that you are looking to sell or that would be a better fit for you?
If you have flexibility with your date, try to use it to your advantage. Some venues will run promotions for weddings that are booking in a 9 month or less window. Ask your Catering Manager or Event Coordinator for further details.

2. Can I hold my ceremony here, too? Is there an ad­ditional charge?
Hyatt Regency Chicago does not charge anything additional for hosting your ceremony on-site, as long as we are able to keep the ceremony in the same event space as the dinner. Many venues do have a fee for your ceremony. Make sure you're aware of the venue's policy and everything is laid out in your contract.

3. What type of set-up time is available for my vendors?
Don’t assume that if you are booking your wedding at a venue, that you have all day to set-up. This information is extremely important when it comes to selecting your vendors, as it may have an impact on your budget and/or type of décor.

4. Is there a separate foyer space for the cocktail hour and/or outdoor availability?
At Hyatt Regency Chicago, all of our ballrooms have adjacent foyer space just outside of each area. Every venue is different and may have a flow that is a bit non-traditional.


Contract Questions:

5. What is the ballroom minimum?
Most venues are going to require a minimum that needs to be spent to utilize their space for an event. Minimums will vary based on the amount of ballroom space and time of year. Ask your Catering Manager for specific minimums.

6. What’s the cancellation policy?
While no one wants to discuss this very touchy subject, it sometimes is a reality. When you are getting ready to spend large amounts of money in any arena, it is always important to find out all of the “what-ifs” up front so you know what you are getting into.

7. What additional items are included as part of the package?
Most hotels are not just providing food and beverage, there are several other “accoutrements” that may be included. This can include, but is not limited to hotel owned items, such as staging, dance floor, chairs, tables, china, glassware, silver and linen to name a few.

8. Does the venue have liability insurance? Do I need any liability insurance?
Hyatt Regency Chicago does have our own liability insurance. Check with your Catering Manager to see if any auxiliary insurance is necessary.


Hotel Rooms:


9. Am I able to contract a block of rooms?
Flexibility with your date is also a plus when looking at hotel rooms rates. Even if the ballroom is available, hotel rooms may not be. Rates will fluctuate based on availability.

10. Do you provide a complimentary room or upgrade for the newlyweds?
Most hotels will provide some sort of upgrade for the bride and groom on their wedding night. Hyatt Regency Chicago offers a complimentary suite.

11. What is your overnight parking rate?
This is key information to pass along to your guests. This rate will typically vary from the special event rate that may be offered to your guests that are attending your wedding, but not staying overnight.

12. Is there attrition associated with your contract?
Attrition is a fancy word for guarantee. It’s always hard to make an educated guess on how many hotel rooms will be used in a year from now. Most hotels will make you guarantee a minimum number of guest rooms if you require more than 25 per night.


Food and Beverage/General Event:

13. Is your package flexible at all?
Every wedding is different because every couple is different. Most of my clients want to put their own unique stamp on their wedding. Many venues offer the opportunity to customize your food and beverage experience.

14. What is the service charge?
Service charge, which may also be listed as gratuity or administrative fee, can vary a few percentages from hotel to hotel.

15. Can we do a food tasting prior to finalizing our menu selection?
Most hotels will include a tasting as part of their package experience. It is always good to find out how many guests can be included in the tasting.

16. What type of parking is available at your hotel?
Even though the wedding really is all about you… You do have a responsibility to keep things simple for your guests. On-site valet parking or self-parking options that are within close walking distance are always nice to have. Some hotels, like ours, will offer a special discounted parking rate for your guests during the wedding reception.



Engagement Fun Fact:
Pope Innocent III (1160/1-1216) declared that a waiting period should be observed between betrothal and marriage, which led to separate engagement and wedding rings. The first recorded account of a diamond engagement ring was in 1477 when King Maximilian I of Germany (1459-1519) proposed to Mary of Burgundy (1457-1482) and offered her a diamond to seal his vow.


Thank you so much to Rebecca and our friends over at the Hyatt Regency Chicago for all their sage advice!