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BANQUETS, RECEPTIONS, SHOWERS & PARTIES
4 | SPRING 2018
CHICAGO WEDDING & PARTY RESOURCE
CHICAGOWEDDINGRESOURCE.COMTime and Place
Makes Perfect
Here comes you,
the bride, down
the aisle.
But where?
Your hometown church? Amuseum or raw
loft space, perhaps? A botanic garden? The
family farm?
Couples getting married today have more
options than ever for deciding where to get
married. Church or synagogue weddings
followed by hotel ballroom receptions remain
the classic go-to, but the morphing wedding
landscape is opening the door to more
alternative venues – many of which double as
both ceremony and reception location.
The number of same-location indoor
weddings has been increasing, with more
than 45 percent taking place in an all-in-
one spot. Is this to say you must have your
ceremony and reception in one spot? No,
of course not. But your venue – or venues
– help set the tone for your wedding day,
complementing your theme in everything
from the décor to cuisine.
GET STARTED – EARLY!
Why? Well, popular venues can get booked
well in advance. And though you may be
engaged for a while – the average engagement
period is 14 months – the sooner you start
checking out venues, the better chance you
have of landing the one you want. If you have
your heart set on a specific location, let that
dictate your date. If you’re more open on your
venues, keep time in mind when deciding
on a date; busy periods at work, high-traffic
events in your area and nearby holidays are
just a few things to consider when deciding if
a date is doable, especially if you have a large
number of traveling guests that will require
accommodations.
If you’re getting married in one location, say
a house of worship, and having
your reception in another, get a
list of all available dates for both
spots and see which dates align.
STYLE & SIMPLICITY
Throughout all the venue-
picking, keep your wedding’s
theme and style in mind. You obviously don’t
want a large, open space if you’re having an
intimate wedding with only a few guests, and
vice versa.
If you’re going to have a lot of out-of-town
guests who aren’t familiar with your area, it
may be wise to go with a hotel location or a
venue with one nearby, so that the overall
logistics of the weekend remain simple.
Obviously, budget is a big thing when picking
out your venue; overall, anticipate your
reception (the space, dinner, drinks) to eat
up half your budget. Many venues will have a
“wedding package,” which includes obvious
things like food and drinks but also some
other items that may be less obvious. To get a
handle on costs, keep these points in mind:
COST
Most places will require that you spend a
certain amount of money. Obviously, you’d
like to be committed to the lowest possible
tab, especially if your guest list isn’t large.
Gratuity and/or service charges often are
built in. If you’re spending thousands of
dollars, a 1- to 2-percent difference between
venues will make a big difference. And if
you’re looking at spots in different townships,
again, the slight difference in local tax can
make a difference on your total bill.
FOOD
Your per-entrée price is going to cover
pretty much everything that’s included in
your package. So, yes, you don’t want to pay
more for the same entrée you could get at
a different location, but you need to look a
bit further. Are you paying a per-item price
or at the rate of the highest menu item? Are
appetizers included in your per-plate price
or are they a separate, per-guest expense? Is
there a dessert course in addition to cake?
DRINKS
Howmany hours of open bar are included
in your package? Howmany bartenders will
you have? Howmany beer selections do
you get? Howmuch is a package upgrade or
additional hours of service? Is there wine
service during dinner (when the bar typically
is closed)? Is it unlimited or is there a limited
per-table quantity? Is there a champagne
toast and after-dinner coffee service? Are you
able to bring in your own alcohol?
CAKE & FLOWERS
Some venues may partner with local vendors
to include your cake and centerpieces as
part of your package, or they may have an
in-house expert on staff. You pick out or
design your creation, and they make sure it’s
set to go for your big day. Does your venue
do this?
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