So you’re getting married and looking at Brooklyn wedding venues. Congratulations! Nice choice! Brooklyn is a fabulous place for a wedding celebration! And, there are so many reasons why Brooklyn wedding venues are becoming more and more popular. The charming neighborhoods, unique warehouse venues, the quiet of traffic and noise from the city, and, still the best foods and services you could want to create unforgettable memories. While you’re considering so many things, here are 5 tips to consider when looking at Brooklyn wedding venues.
1. Cocktail Hour
More than 50% of people polled said “cocktail hour” is their favorite part of the wedding celebration. Who could disagree? It usually has great food and drinks and you’re visiting with so many of your friends and family you may not have seen for many years. It’s the beginning of the celebration. Friends and family want to sit to visit and catch up while they drink and dine. It’s important all your guests can sit and that means having enough seats for ALL your guests.
While everything may look great on paper when booking your venue, some Brooklyn wedding venues, or banquet halls, will tell you they can seat all your guest while cutting corners. What does that mean for you? They give you less seats with anticipation and hopes that a percentage of your guests will be standing during cocktail hour. Your 200 guests may be placed in a cramped space with seating for half as many people. This makes an embarrassing situation for you, your family and guests as they play musical chairs to find a seat.
Before you book your wedding venue, ask to see the space you’ll be having your cocktail hour. Inquire if every guest will have their own seat. Remember, if the food is great, which it should be, people will be sitting and eating the entire time.
2. Bar Service
Most wedding celebrations plan for an open bar with premium liquor. Great food and drink go hand in hand! Experience shows that as the evening progresses it’s natural for the guests to gravitate toward the open bar. If the bar is outside your room, you’ll find more and more guests disappearing throughout the evening and congregating near the premium beverages. This is a definite party stealer and not what you want. Drinks are a part of your celebration and not the celebration.
As you’re considering various venues keep this in mind. Ask the hard questions. Is the bar inside or outside your event space or ballroom? If it’s outside, beware! This could turn into a real problem!
3. Room Layout
Any wedding reception is filled with a host of activities scheduled thru out the celebration. Your guests, family and friends want to feel included. And, you want them to feel included. This is your special moment! Room layout is really important to helping those celebrating your special day connected on so many levels. Why? Here’s a few things to consider.
While seemingly unimportant, consider what kind of tables you’re seating your guests at for the evening. Are they oval or round? Yes, oval tables do seat more people in a smaller space but interestingly they detract from promoting the closeness and socialization you want. Round tables, conversely, promote the best socialization amongst your guests. It allows them to see and converse with each other much easier and see more people.
Where will your dias and band/entertainment be positioned in the room? Spatial constraints cause many catering halls, or wedding venues, to arrange the band/entertainment and you, the reason for the celebration, on very opposite sides of the room. As the night progresses guests will gravitate toward the entertainment leaving their backs to face the dias where you are seated.
It’s important to remember to find a Brooklyn wedding venue where the dias and entertainment are in the same area. This allows for a more intimate setting, your guests to feel more connected to you, all while enjoying the entertainment.
4. Facility Layout
Most Brooklyn wedding venues make money by hosting multiple events at the same time. It’s a wise use of their space. Some will host events on a second floor and adjoining rooms. If the wedding venue is not built correctly, noise and vibration from the other events can be disruptive to your family, guests, and most important your celebration. Yet, you’re booking a wedding venue to have an exclusive experience.
As you’re looking at various wedding banquet halls take a moment to consider how the facility is laid out. Is there a maximum capacity limit? Are other events removed far enough from your celebration not to disturb you and your guests?
5. On Premises Parking
Your guests will be traveling from a distance to celebrate with you. Yes, you may have a bus for some, but many will arrive in their own car. As a part of your celebration it’s important to consider this detail. Parking your guests takes time. Returning cars to your guests when they leave is just as important and time consuming.
Most wedding venues promote valet or on premise parking services. And, if you didn’t know, there is a big difference between the two. On premise parking, of course, means your car is parked on the event premises. Valet parking can mean a whole lot of things. It could include parking your guests’ cars close or blocks away. And, proper guest parking is critical to the timing of your event. Inefficient parking services can create lag time between your guest arrival and start time making for anxious and frustrated guests, not to mention how you’ll feel with the disruption. When reviewing Brooklyn wedding venues or catering halls inquire about their parking services, parking location and their plans to ensure your guests are taken care of and your celebration begins on time.
There are so many things to consider with wedding reception venues. You’ve waited a long time for this moment and you certainly want to get it right. Using these 5 tips when looking at Brooklyn wedding reception venues will save you anxiety, frustration and help ensure the flawless and exciting celebration you deserve.
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Author: El Caribe Caterers
“Creating Unforgettable Memories For Over 35 Years
www.elcaribecaterers.com
For generations, families, organizations and community groups have come to the El Caribe to celebrate life’s most important moments. With more than 35 years of experience in catering elegant banquets and three generations of family ownership, our team at the El Caribe continues to subscribe to the old-fashioned values that built our company from humble beginnings to our current success as industry leaders.
From an intimate gathering to a lavish gala of more than 1,000, the El Caribe will provide you and your guests a memorable experience. If you are considering a venue to host your once-in-a-lifetime event, we cordially invite you to our table, to eat, drink and enjoy all the comforts of being part of our family for the next 35 years.
