Choosing a Banquet Hall for Your Wedding

Before you pick the wedding party, the dress, the invitations, and all the fun little details of your wedding, you'll need to decide on a banquet hall. You can't set a date until you know there's a space available, and you won't know how many guests you can handle until you've made your selection. That's why the banquet hall is the very first thing you should choose -- second thing, if you count your bride or groom.

When shopping for a banquet hall, start by thinking about the size of your wedding reception. You want a room that's big enough to seat everyone comfortably, but not so large that it feels empty even when all your guests are there. For most weddings, you can expect about a 60% turnout -- that is, 60% of the people you invite will show up. If your banquet hall seats 100, you can get away with inviting a few more than that. Not everyone will be able to make it, so you have some wiggle room here.

When you ask about prices, you need to think about more than just the cost of renting the space. What's the banquet hall's catering policy? Do they provide their own staff, and what kind of fees are there? Some banquet halls allow no outside food or drink, so you'd have to order all beverages, meals, and wedding cakes from their catering service. Do you get the space all night, or do you have to evacuate by a certain time? Is parking convenient? Is it easy to find? Is there a good dance floor? What kind of lighting will the banquet hall provide? Will you be able to fit in one of their bathroom stalls with your wedding dress on? All these little details should factor into your decision.

Hotel ballrooms are usually a first consideration for wedding banquet halls, but there are lots of other options worth exploring. Check out schools, theaters, your local Elk and Moose lodges, churches, gardens, restaurants, and bed & breakfasts. It may take some digging, but do your research and you'll surely find the perfect banquet hall for the perfect wedding.