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At HomeFor many brides-to-be, choosing a date for your wedding day often depends on whether or not a banquet facility is available for the reception. The finer banquet houses sometimes book their facilities a year in advance -- even further in advance for the "peak" months of June, July, December and February (Valentine's Day.) Some brides-to-be will chooses to have their receptions (and often the ceremony) at their house or that of a friend or relative. Whether the reasons are to save money or perhaps to imitate the romance of a soap-opera wedding, at-home weddings have pros and cons which should be carefully considered. The first considerations for a wedding at a home are logistical. Is the home big enough for the intended number of guests? Are there enough bathrooms -- not only for the guests, but for the wedding party preparations? Where will the guests park? If it's planned for outside, what about the scorching sun, the wind, and the contingency plan in case of rain? Will the homeowner's insurance policy cover an injury or accident? And who will wash the dishes and clean up when it's over? At-home weddings can cost less than full-blown church and reception hall affairs under certain circumstances, according to Alice Goetchel of Alice Weddings & Festive Occasions, but they do require more time and effort. "You can save money with a reception at home, but only if you keep the number of guests at a manageable number, about thirty or less," says Alice. With more than thirty guests, you should consider hiring a wedding coordinator. A wedding coordinator can handle all the special needs associated with your home location, as well as contract out some of the help like bartenders, food servers, etc. Of course, these services are not free, but it will help make the reality of your wedding day closer to the way you imagine it should be. Banquet FacilityThe most popular choice for wedding receptions is a full-service banquet facility. There are often several fine banquet facilities in most large and mid-size cities, many part of a large hotel. The cost of a banquet house reception depends on many factors: the number of guests, the food choices, decorations, etc. According to Sally Hird, a Holiday Inn banquet sales administrator, the average cost for a banquet house reception for 150 guests will be at least $3,000. Various facilities may charge differently for food, table linens, decorations, dance floor rental and cake cutting, but the end prices will probably be similar in the same markets. What will a banquet house provide? Food, first of all. That's the trademark of each facility, but there's much more that goes into your reception. There are many things you don't see that help your reception, according to banquet salesperson Rene Zabrecky of the Essex House Hotel in Lancaster, California. "There is a crew that sets up the banquet room according to your specifications," says Rene. "This can take many hours to set the table arrangements, linen and tableware, dance floor and decorations." Additionally, a banquet facility will provide service. From waitresses and food servers to bartenders and the unseen kitchen staff, a banquet facility is designed to provide an attractive atmosphere and cordial service for you and your guests. Finally, when the party's over, the banquet staff does the cleaning up! For other services not provided directly by the banquet facility -- such as entertainment, photography, cakes and transportation -- the banquet house staff may be able to provide referrals to reputable professionals. This is a great service, because the banquet staff sees many wedding professionals and usually knows the good from the bad. How to Choose Then?Consider the location, whether home or banquet house. Is it close to the ceremony location? Is it large enough to accommodate your number of guests? Does the ambience reflect the type of wedding you desire, either formal or informal? Consider the staff. Do you feel comfortable with the banquet director or wedding coordinator? Will he/she help make your special day easier and memorable? (As with all your wedding professionals, ask for references.) Finally, whether you choose a backyard barbecue or a sit-down banquet, enjoy your day. It's a precious time that should be remembered as kisses, happy tears, laughter and smiles! Peter Bohush is a freelance writer/director who spent eleven years as a wedding entertainer, changing into tuxedos in bathrooms and eating at hundreds of scrumptious wedding buffets. |
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