Today we have a guest with hotel expert, Lauren Randolph. She runs the wedding blog, My Hotel Wedding, for those looking to plan hotel weddings!
We thought it would be great to ask an expert such as herself to fill us in a few hints to know about booking your hotel venue. She has been a wedding planner for the past 10 years and worked for a hotel planning weddings for the past 3 years. So all the information below has been taken from her real life experiences.
Thanks so much for sharing Lauren!
Congratulations on your engagement and upcoming nuptials! I’m very excited to be guest posting on The Big Fat Indian Wedding and even more excited to share with you 5 easy to remember tips for planning your hotel wedding.
1. Never pay to hold a date. Hotels should never charge you for holding a wedding date. Normally hotels will hold a date for 1-2 weeks without asking for more commitment. After that, don’t be surprised if you receive a call asking you for a deposit or to release the date. A good hotel will let you know before they release your reserved date or if someone else is also interested in that same date.
2. Ask about outside catering right away. Many Indian weddings are very particular about the food served and prefer traditional Indian cuisine. If this if your preference, be clear with your Catering Manager right away and ask if they will allow an outside caterer. Be prepared for outside catering to only be available on specific days during the week and not include the bar.
3. Arrange a room block. If you have guests coming in from out of town, be sure to set up a room block for them at your hotel. This will make things much easier (and often times less expensive) for your guests. If
you’re hosting your wedding at a luxury or high-end property, it’s nice to also reserve a room block at a nearby hotel that’s more affordable.
4. Know when your event cut off time is. Many hotels have restrictions on how late events can go. So, before you book, make sure you know what your cut-off time is and potential costs for overtime.
5. Beware of hotel photography restrictions. If you fall in love with your hotel wedding venue because of its interior design, make sure that you’re allowed to capture it in your wedding photos. Also, if your plan is to take photos at a public beach or park near your hotel, be sure to have the proper permits. You don’t want get kicked out on your wedding day!
If you ever have any questions or concerns about your wedding, don’t hesitate to ask your Catering Manager. They’re there to support you and help make your wedding dreams come true. And if you’re looking for more tips, tools, and total inspiration for planning your big day, pay us a visit at MyHotelWedding.com.
Happy planning!
{Photographer Credits}
Brandon Wong Photography
Blue Martini Photography
Whitmeyer Photography
Cory Ryan Photography