How can I convince the banquet hall we have chosen to let a family friend make the food for our wedding?

They have a policy that you have to choose a caterer from a list of preferrred caterers. We have a close friend of the family that is an excellent cook and really wants to make the food! The hall doesnt normally allow this because of liability reasons: if someone gets sick, they could get sued! But we are pretty sure that wont happen!



And we can save ALOT of money if this friend can make the food!! Please help!!How can I convince the banquet hall we have chosen to let a family friend make the food for our wedding?
If your dead set on having your friend make the food then you need to find a new venue. The chances of the venue breaking their policies for your wedding is very slim. You need to understand that they are running a business. While you may think everyone should have to appease you on your special day, they wont and they shouldnt have to. Either choose a caterer that they back or find a new place to have your wedding.
Most banquet halls have preferred vendors because they:

1) trust those people will take care of their place and clean up after themselves

2) receive a kickback or percentage of the profit

3) know that these businesses have health cards and licenses



I can't imagine that your friend will be able to cater unless he calls and tries to get on their preferred list.How can I convince the banquet hall we have chosen to let a family friend make the food for our wedding?
There's more reasons for the hall to force you to use their list- and it's called kick-backs!



I am almost positive that the hall gets a certain amount of money for every reception they have that has to use their "preferred caterers." The caterers pay the hall money to be on the list.



I can almost guarantee it, although I can also almost guarantee they won't tell you this.



I work at a hotel and we have a "preferred list" and those caterers have to give the hotel a percentage of the cost of the catering per event.

It's kind of like commission.





I seriously DOUBT you will be able to get the hall to bend the rules for you. Only thing I could think of is to say you have a very specific diet and only your friend knows what you can and cannot eat... due to religion or something.



That'd be lying though... and I am not sure how you feel about that, but I wouldn't do it.



You may just have to pick a place that lets you choose the caterer... something you should have looked into before signing onto this hall.
yeah pick a different venue like outside park, amercn legion, fire halls they should let you have ur own cater
Well there are a couple of things that you could propose to the venue to perhaps help persuade them. The first thing that you can do is tell them that you will sign a liability release form. Which you can get for free online, but be careful of where you get one make sure it pertains to your state etc. You can also get one from a lawyer as well but that's going to cost more to go that route. Anyhow signing this form would release the venue from any responsibility for anything that could occur from the food being served. However the liability would then fall on your or whoever would be making the food and that person might not be willing to take on that responsibility, so you'd have to check with that as well.



The other thing that you could offer is that the person you want to cater would have a catering service agreement that they would present and sign with the venue. Again a legal document that would state all of the necessary requirements for your state and something that would protect the caterer and the venue. You can get both of these documents from Law Depot. I've bought quite a few legal documents from there, they are around $12 and you just fill in all the questions they ask you for each type of legal document that you need and they fill in everything that is necessary for your state etc. They are very accurate and it's a great resource to use for not a lot of money. Even our lawyer couldn't find anything wrong with the contracts that we've gotten from Law Depot.



However, neither of those options may be enough to convince the venue to allow an independent caterer but I think it's your best shot. I think with both documents, the venue could be assured that someone other then them will assume responsibility and that everything like set up, clean up and use of equipment would be done properly and if not there's a contract that says the caterer is responsible. Good Luck!!!
Change the hall. They are also getting a kickback from the caterers.

Lots of halls require liability insurance to be paid for by the renting party.
You CAN'T convince them to change their policy. It's there for a reason - sometimes there are health codes involved. If it is because of liability then that's the way it is - that may even be a requirement of their liability insurance company. You'll need to find another facilty.



Sorry.
Go back and read your contract that you signed with the banquet hall. In fine print it will explain their reason for their preferred list of caterers. It usually is an insurance clause as all venues and most caterers are responsible if someone gets sick. You may have a close family friend who is a good cook but this is not the time or place for them to furnish the food.



I suggest if you are trying to cut back on expenses then you need to go back to your guest list and only invite those closest to you for the ceremony and reception.



As far as your friend goes, why not have him make brunch for you the following day when you open your wedding gifts. It would be a more intimate setting and would still be a part of your wedding.
If you really want your friend to make the food, then you need to choose a different venue. A banquet hall isn't going to change their policy just for you.