Wedding Day Checklist: What Makes a Great Wedding Hall?

Birchwoods Banquet FacilityChoosing a wedding hall is obviously a huge part of the wedding planning process. Unless you are certain where you want to hold your wedding and/or your reception, take time (and time is precious during the planning process) and research the best venue for your special day.

Exploring different wedding halls can be overwhelming yet fun at times.

Get a Head Count

One thing to do before you seriously look a venues is to have a rough headcount of wedding guests. An estimate on the number of people that will be attending the wedding will help determine if a wedding hall can accommodate your ceremony or reception. You may find a hall that seems perfect on the surface but if it is too small to handle your number of guests, your wedding day will not be as enjoyable as it could have been.

Stick to a Budget

Unless you are a Kardashian, almost all weddings operate on a budget. Review your budget and stick to it or you will likely regret it later. The reality of sticking to your budget means you may have to pass on a wedding hall you really like because it's out of your budget range. That's ok. You'll likely be able to find cheaper options that are comparable.

The Right Look

Make sure you are comfortable with the interior of the wedding. Determine if the hall is visually acceptable. If not, you need to decide if you want to spend time (and possibly money) decorating the room.

Good Taste

Another thing to consider is taste. As in food. Food is a very important part of the wedding reception. Some wedding and banquet facilities will hold monthly tastings for prospective clients. Take advantage. Sit down and have a meal at the place. Great food can really sell a wedding facility. If you are not sold on the food, but absolutely sold on the hall, check if there is the option of bringing in an outside caterer.

Also Check…

A good wedding hall will likely have a liquor license. Check over the different pricing options.

The hall should have enough coat and closet space and be wheelchair-accessible.

Good wedding halls will also have a bridal suite and a groom's suite that can comfortably handle the bridal party and the groom and groomsmen. Choosing a wedding hall with all these characteristics will allow for less stress and more enjoyment on your wedding day.