What to Know About Planning a Wedding at a Restaurant
There is a special kind of romance found in upscale restaurants. Why not make it the setting for an intimate wedding? If an elevated cuisine is high up on your priority list, hosting your reception at a restaurant will surely satisfy that appetite ;) All puns aside, we love the electric atmosphere created by engaged guests in the restaurant setting. Most often indoors, the buzz of guests fills the room with excitement and makes a perfect canvas for memories, accompanied by excellent food.
Booking considerations
There are a couple important things to consider when booking a restaurant for your venue:
❤️ You will be confined to the menu and bar restrictions of the restaurant you choose. Make sure you are happy with the alcohol options and double check the venue's flexibility on guests' food restrictions before you sign your contract.
❤️ Usually you are restricted to the tables, chairs and dining-wares of the restaurant, though not always. Make sure you find out to see if their setup works with your vision.
❤️ Restaurant staff will usually do very light set-up. If you have a lot of decor, you will need to still consider a set-up team.
How restaurants score in our Venue Quiz
Traditional vs. Non-Traditional 👉 Most restaurants are not too accommodating to support major cultural traditions, you typically need more space than they can provide.
Guest count 👉 Intimate weddings only, typically no more than 75 guests.
Fancy vs. Casual 👉 Right in the middle, cocktail dresses for the win!
Urban vs. Nature 👉 Usually an urban option, but sometimes you can find a restaurant in a more natural setting.
Location 👉 Everywhere!
Elderly/Special Needs 👉 Restaurants are a great option if you have elderly and special needs guests. All are ADA compliant.
DIY vs. Turnkey 👉 Typically, restaurants are somewhat turnkey, but you'll still find yourself doing a lot of planning.
Outdoor vs. Indoor 👉 Best of both worlds here! Many restaurants have both indoor and outdoor sites.
Personal Style 👉 Restaurant wedding venues win the Modern with Eclectic Influence style in our Stylegram™. Learn more about personal style and how it relates to your wedding here.
Budget Range 👉 Restaurants are typically pretty pricey! The food is always at a premium (since it is always excellent!), and since you usually have to manage a lot of rentals, it can add up pretty quick.
