My daughter is getting married, which is more affordable caterer and hall vs hotel package?

Any suggestions for places in massachusetts?My daughter is getting married, which is more affordable caterer and hall vs hotel package?
There is no doubt that it is normally more affordable to go with renting your own facility and arranging for your own catering over using a hotel or wedding site package.



The reason for this is that you are in more control of what you get for your money. Choosing a hall or site on your own gives you the ability to look at venues which can be very low cost, such as public parks which often have some kind of shelter or buildings used for such events or even art galleries or other buildings which are not used for their normal functions on the weekends and so are available for wedding events, like state buildings or museums or even some office buildings that have great foyers or conference rooms.



Choosing your own caterer also allows you to set a menu of things your daughter may love which are not normally available at hotel or wedding site catering. You can make choices that are relatively inexpensive and still make a lovely presentation. You are also free to look for caterers who are relatively new in the business which can be a benefit financially as well as giving you more for the money since new businesses are often willing to go the extra mile in order to please customers and build business.



The draw backs to going with your own site and caterer include that fact that it will be a great deal more work for you to go this way. If you have a wedding planner, then no problem, but if not, you seriously ought to think of hiring someone who can help you to navigate all the contracts and pitfalls of this kind of planning.



Using hotels or weddings sites take a great deal of the work out of the planning stages and can offer a number of advantages such as convenient locations, guest rooms at the same site, and normally the hotel will have a wedding planning consultant who will work with your planner to make everything come off without a hitch.



A word to the wise, don't confuse the wedding planner at a site with having your own private wedding planner. They are there on behalf of the establishment, to make sure their facilities are properly used and cared for more than to accomodate you and your wedding party. They will be very helpful and can do many things to assure the success of your event, but they will not be able to do anything about such emergancies as the florist sending their deliver driver with your flowers and forgetting the cake topper or the brides maid tearing her gown, or the best man forgetting the rings. Those are things your own wedding planner is hired to know how to take care of.



As for great places in massachusetts for weddings, here are some suggestions. I chose several from various areas since you didn't say where in the state you are looking.



Indian Pond Country Club in Kingston.....an award winner and truly beautiful facility which can handle everything from romantic to chic and modern.



Myriad Ballroom at Lakeview Park in Mendon....lovely place where you can have an indoor or outdoor event overlooking the lake.



John Carver Inn in Plymouth.....very romantic and beautiful setting.



Daniel Webster Inn at Cape Cod.....also a romantic spot which requires very little decorating.



Primavera in Mills.....a wedding specialty house where they do many weddings a day.



Crestview or The State Room both in Boston....good food and locations.
That's hard to say since you have to determine if the hall compares favorably with the hotel venue. In other words, are we talking comparable properties? It's important to do a little research and create comparisons so you can tell which is the better deal. Hotel packages often throw in "amenities" or extras which may or may not be something you would normally book without a package. If you are considering a la carte compared to a package at the same location, you'll probably do better with the package. Sorry, I can't help you with Massachusetts venues since I'm in the midwest.My daughter is getting married, which is more affordable caterer and hall vs hotel package?
What is more important to you? The crystal chandeliers and the classy look of a hotel? Or the price of vegetables and dip in a banquet hall? Both the hotel wedding menu and the caterer in a banquet hall will have several types of chicken dinners (which is the lowest price entree that you can serve your guests) available so your decision should be based on what type of image you want to protray.



And if you have a choice between buffet and sit-down meal ALWAYS select a sit-down meal. There is no class in leaving your dinner table to get another helping of mashed potatoes and gravy or looking for the butter.



Answered by: A Certified wedding specialist / A Professional bridal consultant / A Wedding ceremony officiant
well, depending on where you live the prices may be dramatically different from somewhere else.

if you'd to know whats more affordable, make some phone calls %26amp; get quotes over the phone. there's no harm in doing that.
I'm getting married April 2011, and chose a hotel wedding! We looked at so many halls and hotels, and they were very comparable in price, but having a permanent chef on site, and a wedding planner that usually comes with the hotel, it was an easy decision, and has been completely stress free. The hotel we chose is beautiful and has a long list of menu options, and lots of "freebies" that they throw in if you choose their all inclusive packages. Further more, rooms are just steps away, and your guests never have to step foot outside!
There's a huge difference in scale, so you'll just have to call around, meet with coordinators, and get pricing. And taste the food, too.



One bonus with a caterer is that you can pick the food you want based on your personal taste. A hotel kitchen's food might not give you as many choices, nor might you like what they have. But an upside to having the reception in a hotel is that it's very convenient for your guests, and hotels usually give group discounts for wedding guests.



Just keep in mind that wedding costs add up fast. Don't choose something within your budget, choose something BELOW your budget. That way, if there are add-ons that the bride and groom want, you have wiggle room without breaking the bank.



PS... buffets at weddings are FINE. I've had more than one delicious buffet. Plus it's nice to be able to get up during the meal, chat with others, etc, while at a sit-down dinner you're just staring at people you don't really know for an hour-plus. I think the food stays warmer with a good buffet, too.