Questions to ask before contract is signed....

[beautifuldisaster]

I looked at some more ceremony/reception sites over the long weekend. I looked at dresses too (will post on that later). I think I have narrowed it down more. I looked at two more hotels in Hilton Head and wasn''t as impressed as I was with the first place I looked. No joke this one place had plastic deck chairs at $100 a person...Are you serious? The deck chairs were all dirty and yucky too and there were cobwebs in the ceiling. This was a five star hotel so I was very surprised. At any rate, not paying $100 for dirty plastic chairs and cobwebs no matter what sort of yumy cusine they serve, thank you very much.

I plan on calling/emailing the bridal coordinator at the hotel back today or tomorrow and wondered what questions I should ask her. I have a few basic questions but I also wondered if some of you could share with me good questions to get ironed out before the contract is signed?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nicrez]

My suggestions to you are as follows:

1) If you have not organized yourself a little notebook of binder in sections of Reception, flowers, cakes, hair, dresses, etc... then do so. Make your own, don''t spend the $100 on some silly pink fuzzy one they try to sell all brides. Mine was a bindr and a notebook. The binder held all contracts and pictures of items I liked from magazines. My notebook have every phone number, style, price quote, etc and was carried to every vendor meeting.

2) Got to www.theknot.com or www.weddingchannel.com which are useful resources for ideas, support, as well as timelines and guidelines that can really help a new bride out. That was my first stop after getting engaged...

3) Plan a budget. A hard and fast budget that does NOT change. We made this mistake. Our budget was A LOT smaller, then we saw this place and let it fly...same in every area. DON''T LET THEM SUCKER YOU. Also, if it''s close BARGAIN IT DOWN. We got our cake for free, and lots of other things including almost $20 LESS per person just for being persistant.

4) Keep a record and take pictures of each place you visit. It helps you remember what you saw when you can''t anymore. I did a lot of searching on my own, so my fiance was clueless until I created a slideshow of all the places and then gave him all the financials and details as the pictures ran. I was the pinnacle of wedding planning... but then our budget...

5) ENJOY! You will never have as muc stress as now, so ask as many questions as you can think of, what included and what prices would be like without the "extras", how much to tip, if you need to provide linens or chairs, if you have choices of food BEFORE the wedding or during, how much is customary tip, etc...

Here this may help out in the starting (I stole it from the Knot):



What should you look for in your reception site, aside from that sense of rightness you know you''ll have the moment you see the perfect spot? Shopping for a site is a lot like finding a mate, a test you''ve obviously aced. You should be looking for the same sorts of things -- charm, personality, depth, more than just a pretty face (although looks do count!). Take along this list of what to look for -- in your head or on paper -- when you''re ready to go scouting.
Roomy Fit
First, make sure the room is large enough to accommodate the number of people on your guest list. The space may look enormous when it''s empty, but wedding essentials -- tables, chairs, a buffet, a bar, the band or DJ setup, the dance floor -- can take up a lot of space. Not to mention your guests, who''ll need some elbow room. Even if you choose an outdoor site, you''ll need ample room on the lawn, in the arboretum, or poolside. The best way to assess the size of a site? Ask to check out the place when another wedding is being set up. Of course, if you decide you must have your wedding at your favorite bar (the one with one bathroom, two booths, and three feet of floor space), you can always work backward and tailor your guest list to match.
Eating, Drinking & Partying Areas
There should be logical places within the space where guests can eat, drink, talk, and dance. See if you can envision where each activity would happen (especially if your ceremony will be there, too). If a room is too small to separate into sections accordingly, you may feel cramped. If it''s shaped like an S or some other oddball figure, that could compromise your party''s flow, as well. Also, note the locations of columns or other obstructions in the room -- will they block people''s views?
Privacy, Please!
Privacy varies widely from place to place, as does the importance couples place on it. If you''re having a daytime event in a public spot, such as a park or botanical garden, be prepared for strangers to trek past your party. They may even smile, wave, and come by to offer their good wishes. If this is okay with you (the more the merrier!), go for the park. If not, opt for a lovely lawn on a private estate. Or hold the reception at a restaurant or gallery that will post a CLOSED FOR PRIVATE PARTY sign. Be sure to inquire about available security at your site to keep gate-crashers at bay.

In addition, don''t think that just because you''re indoors, you''re safe from uninvited guests. Banquet halls and hotels often hold more than one affair at a time. If there''ll be other events going on simultaneously in rooms close to yours, you may hear karaoke-loving guests singing their hearts out to the sounds of Madonna through the walls or meet them over the hot-air dryers in the bathroom. If this bothers you, try to schedule your wedding when there won''t be another one next door. If this is impossible, visit the site on a dual-party night and see how the sound carries and whether there really are any major people problems -- before you make a decision.

Seeing the Light
Light can make -- or break -- the mood. If you''re marrying during the day, make sure your hall has plenty of windows. Who wants to spend six hours in a dark room when the sun is shining? If it''s an evening affair, make sure the room''s not too dim -- or that the lighting can be controlled for the big entrance, dinner, and dancing. If you''re marrying outdoors, say, at dusk, will you be able to set up candles if necessary?

Try to visit the site at the same time of day that you''ve chosen for your wedding. Even if the space looks swell by candlelight, you may be surprised by the sight of that 20-year-old carpet during the day. You''ll also miss a chance to see how sunlight streaming through floor-to-ceiling windows completely transforms the room, if you check it out only in the evening.

A Great View
What will your guests look at (when they''re not gazing at you or smiling for the videographer)? Whether it''s your city skyline, a stunning vista of rolling mountains beyond the windows, or the crashing sea on the sand behind you, exceptional locations are always a feast for the eyes. If there''s no view per se, look to a place''s decor or architectural details: Picasso prints on the walls, fine Persian rugs on the floors, period furniture in the corners, or an amazing crystal chandelier as the room''s centerpiece all give your reception site that something extra.
The Right Color
If you''re considering a certain theme and color palette for your party -- say, a Victorian tea done in pink, green, and gold -- that brown shag carpet is really going to wreck the effect. The site doesn''t have to be done in the exact colors as your planned decorations, but the walls, carpets, chairs, and curtains shouldn''t clash or conflict with your party''s mood or theme. If you want a spring wedding brunch, look for a space that''s done in light (perhaps pastel) colors or florals; black walls and red leather booths just don''t say "spring." But they''ll look great if you''re going medieval (or 1980s, for that matter). For classic elegance, consider a room done in neutrals or black and white.
Ample Outlets
Be sure to take a thorough cruise around the room to see if it has lots of places to plug things in -- especially if you''re partying in a place that''s not a regular spot for hosting weddings. Your main user of outlets will be the entertainment crew. Take note of where the outlets are; if their location will force your DJ to spin records in the bathroom, make sure she or he has plenty of extension cords.
Good Vibrations
If the place is too echoey, it could give some weird reverb to the band, not to mention make it difficult for guests to hear one another talking. A tile or wood floor, for example, will amplify sounds, while a thick carpet will tend to muffle them. Check out the room''s sound quality during an event. And tailor your music to the acoustic conditions. A jazz combo will sound better at an intimate art gallery than a 14-piece orchestra would (not to mention the fact that it takes up less floor space).
A Place to Park
Make sure the site is near a good parking lot, garage, or big, empty (safe) street where it''s legal to park. If parking is a problem, look for other ways to get everyone to the party. Can a shuttle bus or vans take guests from the ceremony to the reception? Inadequate parking isn''t necessarily a deal breaker, but it may mean spending more time and money to figure out a viable vehicular alternative.


GOOD LUCK!!!!

 

[flopkins]

Hm... I swear I have a list of questions somewhere, but dont'' know where! Just off the top of my head:

What is specifically included in the rental price? (Exact items, like chairs, tables, etc... most places will tack on ''extra'' for everything!) Make sure all these things are written in the contract, and you understand what extras you might have to pay for.
What is the cancellation policy? (for you and for them - can they cancel the event on you?)
What space/rooms would be included?
Would there be more than one event that day?
Restroom access/availability?
Since you mentioned hotels - do they offer complimentary bridal suite?
Who is the coordinator that will be in charge of your event?
Will they be present the entire day?
Can we have complimentary tasting of food? (if they have inhouse catering)
What is the policy on outside vendors? (some places only work with preferred vendors)
What is the policy on candles/rose petals/sparklers/bubbles? (if you want those things)

I would ask for a sample contract and read it over carefully. Ask yourself if you feel comfortable with the coordinator - you''re entrusting them with your day!

Good luck! Keep us updated on your search!

Hope this helps...