Wedding Is it normal for venues which provide the food to insist that everyone has the same menu?

[Halo]

Every wedding I''ve been to allows the guests to choose between at least 2 entrees. However all of the venues I''ve looked at for my wedding (golf courses, country clubs, university mansions etc.) insist that guests must have the same menu, unless they have special dietary requirements or are vegetarian.

Is this normal these days? This policy makes me quite angry and is making me reconsider venues that I really, really want. But I would never make all of my guests have the same thing; it just wouldn''t work.

Has anyone else had this experience? Maybe it''s just a crazy Vancouver thing

 

[Sabine]

That seems really odd to me.

 

[Morgie44]

I did encounter one venue like this. A few charged extra (like $1 pp) to offer 2 entrees. Are you really attached to having a plated dinner? Maybe you could do family style instead to offer guests more choices?

 

[lliang_chi]

Halo, my reception will be in country club too (in FL), we have an option for our menu. That seems very odd that they''re only providing one choice of menu

 

[Shoopy]

Date: 10/9/2008 4:22:55 PM
Author:Halo
Every wedding I''ve been to allows the guests to choose between at least 2 entrees. However all of the venues I''ve looked at for my wedding (golf courses, country clubs, university mansions etc.) insist that guests must have the same menu, unless they have special dietary requirements or are vegetarian.

Is this normal these days? This policy makes me quite angry and is making me reconsider venues that I really, really want. But I would never make all of my guests have the same thing; it just wouldn''t work.

Has anyone else had this experience? Maybe it''s just a crazy Vancouver thing

Actually...its the other way around in my experience. I have never been to a wedding where you were allowed to choose between dishes. It was the same for everyone. The venues here offer (for $5 to $10 more per person) a duet plate where you can serve both chicken/beef, or beef/shrimpe, etc. Some venues, very few, will set up a menu with 3 different options BUT you pay for the most expensive option per person regardelss of whether they get it or not.

 

[Halo]

Date: 10/9/2008 4:24:23 PM
Author: Sabine
That seems really odd to me.

Me too

I was very surprised when I started researching vendors and this seemed to be the norm. I mean "whose wedding is this anyway", you know?

 

[Halo]

Morgie44: Yes, we need to have a plated dinner. Everyone expects it and it just wouldn''t suit the locations or style of the wedding to have a buffet unfortunately

 

[Halo]

Date: 10/9/2008 4:27:43 PM
Author: lliang_chi
Halo, my reception will be in country club too (in FL), we have an option for our menu. That seems very odd that they''re only providing one choice of menu

Well the locations all offer a large menu, but they tell FFI and I that we must choose one appetizer, soup, salad, entree etc that everyone "must" have. To me this is unacceptable.

 

[Halo]

Date: 10/9/2008 4:28:52 PM
Author: fieryred33143

Date: 10/9/2008 4:22:55 PM

Author:Halo

Every wedding I''ve been to allows the guests to choose between at least 2 entrees. However all of the venues I''ve looked at for my wedding (golf courses, country clubs, university mansions etc.) insist that guests must have the same menu, unless they have special dietary requirements or are vegetarian.


Is this normal these days? This policy makes me quite angry and is making me reconsider venues that I really, really want. But I would never make all of my guests have the same thing; it just wouldn''t work.


Has anyone else had this experience? Maybe it''s just a crazy Vancouver thing

Actually...its the other way around in my experience. I have never been to a wedding where you were allowed to choose between dishes. It was the same for everyone. The venues here offer (for $5 to $10 more per person) a duet plate where you can serve both chicken/beef, or beef/shrimpe, etc. Some venues, very few, will set up a menu with 3 different options BUT you pay for the most expensive option per person regardelss of whether they get it or not.

Hmm, good to know. I''ve only ever been to weddings where we are given a choice (we make our choice when we RSVP) and I''ve never seen combo entrees. I only eat chicken and turkey and so I couldn''t offer a combo plate as I wouldn''t eat it myself, hehe

I really would just like the option to offer chicken and beef as separate entrees for my guests, but it looks like it will be hard if not impossible to be able to. I wonder if I could just pay more.

 

[Smurfysmiles]

ive only been to weddings where we all had the same thing. at my location they have about 20 different styles of buffets you can have (all seafood to bbq to southern food to basic mom comfort food) it seems that none of the places around here offer plated service either.

 

[Halo]

Date: 10/9/2008 5:18:51 PM
Author: Smurfysmiles
ive only been to weddings where we all had the same thing. at my location they have about 20 different styles of buffets you can have (all seafood to bbq to southern food to basic mom comfort food) it seems that none of the places around here offer plated service either.

Really? Wow. It seems like the total opposite of things here. The only buffet wedding I''ve been to was an Indian wedding where buffets are very common. But I know my guests and family will expect a plated service and nothing but that would suit the style of the wedding or the venues I''m considering. Bla, I just hope I can find a vendor who will allow me to offer plated options.

 

[Morgie44]

I can definitely understand you wanting to have the formality of a plated dinner. Are there any venues where you can rent the space but bring in your own caterer that wouldn''t be so strict? In our area, (Chicago) it seems that most of the old historic venues offer just the rental with the option to bring in outside catering... THis is what we are doing with a beautiful old theatre.

 

[neatfreak]

I think it depends on the venue. I''ve seen both. That being said, just make sure it''s the first question you ask when talking to a venue if it''s a dealbreaker for you. Every venue will have it''s quirks unfortunately...

 

[pjean]

The banquet facilities I''ve been looking at (in Las Vegas) have generally had only one entree, but you can usually pay an exorbitant fee to be able to "split". It''s one reason I''m having my reception at a restaurant actually - we''ll be able to offer a choice of 3 entrees, no extra cost.

I''d be negotiating this one if I were you. Tell them it''s a deal breaker, and that you''re willing to discuss any reasonable solution. (fees, advance notice, limited choice of 2nd entree, whatever is acceptable to you)

I think one of the few advantages to this economic climate is that businesses are slightly more willing to negotiate to get your business.

 

[Halo]

Morgie44: I think 2 of the vendors require us to use their caterers and the third doesn''t. I don''t remember anymore, I''ve looked at so many venues, hehe.

pjean: Unfortunately my 3 top venues are all 3 of the most sought-after wedding locations and it can be hard to reserve a date because so many people are clamoring for a spot

I''m not sure if I''ll be able to negotiate anything, but I''ll definitely try

!

 

[Gwyn]

Most weddings give options, atleast the ones I have attended. Though I have been to some places that only offer one and a veggie meal unless the couple pays extra for an additional option. However, that did not seem to be the norm at the places I looked at.

 

[allycat0303]

My venue is one option too. One appatizer, entree everything. We don`t mind that much though because they also allowed us to bring in vietnamese entrees, which will have a large mix, so I hope everyone will be happy. The other 2 venues I went to also had one option only. But then I live in Canada so maybe things are done differently here.

 

[bee*]

We have a couple of different options but if you want people to have more than one thing,we have to pay extra per person. Some weddings that I''ve been to have had choice and others we had to have the same thing so I think it depends on the venue.

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. No. That wouldn't fly with me. Automatic disqualifier. It's one thing if I CHOOSE a duet meal for my guests, but to be forced to choose just one meal for everyone? But, then I think you always need a vegetarian option when you are offering meat.