- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee boards
I've been perusing the wonderful Bee and I can't help but notice, I feel like one of the underlying opinions is that hotel weddings are "boring" and "cookie cutter".
I know that doing a unique wedding venue is really special and personal to a couple, but I've always liked the look of hotel weddings. I love the chandeliers, especially, haha.
It also seems like hotel ceremony/reception packages are a good value for the money, and ease a lot of frustrations about coordinating with vendors. Technically, besides band, photographer and flowers, you could coordinate your day in a way that you didn't need a limo, an outside AV team, or to book hotel rooms for you and your bridesmaids before the big day. You are usually provided with all the catering, the cake, linens, chairs, etc. as well as a free bridal suite for after. In addition, you often get an event coordinator who pretty much acts like your wedding planner, and since they know the lay of the land, you get the inside scoop better than you would from even an experienced coordinator from outside. To me, that seems like quite a value.
I just wanted to know if everyone actually likes hotel weddings, what their experiences were with hosting hotel weddings and if they have any suggestions or afterthoughts.
Thanks, bees :).
I think they are awesome and make things a million times easier! I wound up choosing a unique venue, but alas the only hotels nearby are inns that only have about 14 rooms and require 2 night minimums (which nobody would want)...sigh.... a hotel would be soooo much more convenient!
And hotel ballrooms are usually gorgeous! As long as the carpet aren't crazy colors =)
There is NOTHING wrong with a hotel wedding/reception. Some may have a negative opinion of this, but others dislike DWs. It's merely a matter of opinion. If YOU want to have a hotel wedding, have one! It sounds like its what you want and with the amenities you know a hotel offers why wouldn't you, if that's what you want?
Well, I've earned my living for the better part of a decade by coordinating and selling hotel weddings :)
We have a very limited budget for our wedding and decided to use where I work since there is SO much included - and so much I wouldn't need to worry about.
You still have the option to personalize your wedding in tons of ways and it really is just easier in so many ways.
Hotel weddings are great - they can be as casual or as formal as you want!
I think hotel weddings are a fabulous idea. Not only do hotels often have the best facilities, but guests can stumble up to their rooms after the party and avoid safety hazards!
I chose a hotel wedding because it was so much more convenient for out of town guests, and most of our family is from out of town. Plus, my friends party pretty hard and I like that everyone will just stagger upstairs instead of getting behind the wheel ;) Many hotels have really unique reception rooms, gardens, courtyars, etc. Mine is in a glass conservatory of a hotel and its a lot more unique than anything else I looked at. It all depends on what you need.
I personally am not a fan of ballroom or hall feel, but I have always wanted something more intimate. That being said, I 100% agree that the coordination of a hotel wedding would be so welcome!! I stress alot about having one ceremony venue, a different reception venue, and still have a need for a hotel for OOT guests and wedding party... I am doing all the footwork, and using an all inclusive would have made things easier. Also, we just couldn't afford a hotel venue... I have seem some gorgeous things done in them though.
I wanted a hotel wedding but the two hotels I liked are out of our price range for what we want. I'm crushed. But I think the choice Im leaning towards will be great, and much cheaper.
Ok, I am starting to feel like maybe it was a few particular threads that gave me the impression you guys were totally against hotel weddings. I feel slightly better :).
JerseyGirl, which hotel is this? I am pretty sure I know the one you speak of and I thought it was a stunning location for a wedding. Sadly, it's a little too far from Philly so I didn't bother looking at it much further. You are so lucky!
I have been to some amazing hotel weddings. I also like the fact that you can just go up to your rooms with no issues. It all depends on your personal tastes and how you add your own personalities into your wedding/reception. A zero personality reception is going to be blan no matter what the setting.
I think the location doesn't make the wedding boring or cookie cutter...you can make it so unique with the way you personalize all the details. Hotels are pretty great for all the reasons you mentioned.
im having a hotel wedding. technically its a resort but its not like timeshare summer resort its confrence center/business resort. i think its beautiful and a heck of a deal since i only pay for the food not anything else. i dont think its tacky or boring you just have to find the right place. my cousin was married at the madonna in in cali (look it up and you'll see what i mean) but it was ugly. to each there own but the carpet, ceilings and light fixtures were PINK omg i almost threw up it was so tacky but they loved it so i stayed lol
@LuckyJuls: It's the Madison Hotel in Morristown. I love it, I hope everything goes well with it!
I got married at Caesar's in Vegas. Although it's not a typical hotel, and we got married in a garden by the pools, the ballroom was pretty typical of hotel ballrooms. Everyone loved it. And, I think after it was all over, everyone loved being able to roll upstairs and go to sleep. Zero need for designated drivers too.
You should pick a venue that YOU like! you can do other things to make your wedding unique besides choose a unique venue!!
i'm doing a club wedding that has an inclusive deal with a nearby hotel. Still get the bridal room, catering, linens, chairs, etc and the convenience. I provide the cake and get the added bonus of a nicer venue and food. I'd suggest looking at other venues as well! Ask if their wedding packages have hotel rooms or preferred rates included.
I didn't want a hotel wedding because it wasn't the style I wanted, not because there's anything inherently wrong with them. I also didn't want a rustic barn wedding, and those are uber popular these days! You should always go with what will make you feel the best that day and what fits in your price range!
As a guest, I really enjoy hotel weddings--I don't have to worry about driving or getting a designated driver, and everything is in one place! Particularly when I'm out of town, it's just so much easier.
I'm having a hotel/ballroom wedding - our guest list was too big for any other venue and I didn't want the reception to be outside. That being said - I can see how some people would think they are cookie cutter because ballrooms are pretty standard, square in size, neutral walls, maybe a chandelier or two....but I am taking this as a chance to bring out my creative DIY side!! What an opportunity it has been! I'm doing SOOOOOO much to decorate the ballroom, making it feel more homey and have personal touches!
I have been to both hotel/ballroom weddings and unique venues (such as country clubs, museums, etc.) and I look back and don't think one is 'better' than the other b/c of the venue - it had more to do with food, music and the other guests attending.
Go with what works with your personal taste, style and budget! Every hotel and/or venue is different; and some offer a more elegant ambiance than others. I personally chose to have my wedding at a historic home/club since I wanted a more private space and not run into other parties as your typical hotel or banquet hall will usually have multiple events going on.
yesterday we booked our hotel ceremony /reception and i couldnt be happier. its a small wedding, and the hotel has a room just the right size so we dont look lost .
I was so thankful to have my ceremony, cocktail hour and then reception at a Hilton Resort.
- They had multiple rooms to host each different event. They also had extra rooms in case bad weather meant I had to move to ceremony indoors... which we did as it was too cold and windy plus the grass was damp. It was no hassle changing the set-up from outside to an extra ballroom. I feel we did not have to hire a coordinator or planner as the Hilton had their own coordinator who worked well with my florist.
- I didn't have to worry about hiring chairs, chaffers, dishes and cutlery, napkins and table cloths (I lie, I opted to have colorful linens so did not use their standard ivory or white linens), dancefloor, etc. I was also very glad that their cakes tasted great because that was one less thing to worry about.
- The food was fantastic, might be partially due to the fact that the hotel's head chef was attending our wedding! lol
- With around 50 out-of-country guest, the resort was a great place to stay and play!
- Did not have to hire a planner or coordinator as the Hilton provided their own. I could have had another to have helped and attended with Indian cultural aspects but oh well!
- "Complimentary" honeymoon suite for us on our wedding night
There are probably more good reasons to have a wedding at a resort but these were my top reasons.
I LOVE hotel weddings! We're having our reception for 300 guests at the Four Seasons. I feel good hotels are far superior in their service, ambiance and food. But that's just me.
I'm actually not a fan of golf courses, beaches, gardens, barns or halls for weddings. Not that there's anything wrong with those venues, it's just not my personal style or taste.
I read an article that basically said, 1/3 of your guests will love everything you did, 1/3 will hate it while the other third will not care either way. So with that said, I say go and do whatever will make you and your fiance happy and not worry about whether or not it will appear "cookie cutter" because basically, you won't be able to appease the majority of your guests anyways. Do what makes you happy :)
I really enjoy hotel weddings as a guest. It's so easy to be able to crawl back up to your room after dancing late into the night. No stress about transportation. :) That said, my FI didn't want a hotel wedding, so we chose a loft space instead for the blank slate. All the conveniences you mentioned? Yeah...we don't have them. LOL. It's a bit more stressful but we're making it work.
Don't worry about anyone thinking it'll be cookie cutter. It'll be unique because you'll have your personal touches. Have fun with the space and do something unexpected. :) I really love the contrast with super opulent ballrooms and modern decor.
I soo want a hotel wedding. I just love how the catering, drinks, linen, plates, and venue is just taken care of in one swoop. Plus its so elegant. Still deciding, but if we could afford it, that's exactly what we're doing.
The only thing that has ever bothered me about hotel weddings/receptions isthe ugly colors in the chairs, carpets, curtains, etc. Obviously, not all hotels are like this, but it can be hard to match a purple and silver color scheme with maroon and gold carpets :)
@vtbride2011: I agree. When we first got engaged I made a list of the things that I loved loved loved from all the weddings in the past. Not one thing listed had to do with the venue. It all had to do with the food and dancing. That is the part people will remember. Oh and if your MOH gave a 20 minute speech that made everyone want to gouge their eyes out. haha
@mmbar: I originally did not want a hotel wedding because I can't stand the carpet. Than they all have the ugly banquet chairs that most people put an even uglier chair cover over. Ugh. After looking at several stand alone unique places we decided on the Hard Rock Hotel because it does not look like any other hotel out there yet we get all the service any other hotel would give. No ugly chairs! No ugly carpets! Still a unique venue! And so totally us. Pick what you like, not what you think others will like.
@LuckyJuls: I wanted so bad to do a hotel wedding but ended up falling deep in love withour venue instead! I don't think hotel weddings are boring whatsoever!!! Plus you are guaranteed a great afterparty! WOOWEE!! Your wedding is going to be amazing!
I was hoping for a hotel wedding just because it makes life so much easier for everyone involved. However, when I called hotels and said I wanted date in 8 months they basically laughed at me. I ended up with a private hall, but was adamant about having transportation for the guests to and from the hotel.
We're having a hotel wedding and I never once thought that it was boring or "bad". Frankly, being able to have everything in one location is nothing short of awesome. There are no rentals to worry about, no outside caterers to deal with & no DIY bar to sort out. We pay one p/person fee and that includes everything from the table linens to the dinner to the open bar. It definitely makes wedding planning easy. As an added bonus, most hotels offer the bride and groom free wedding night accomidations. The resort that we're getting married at is one of the most popular in the area and the rooms are well over $200 p/night. Thats extra money in our pockets.
You make your wedding as unique as you want it to be. The venue is just a structure, what you do with it is what really makes the difference.
ETA: It also doesn't hurt to have all of your guests accomidations in the same place either. No-one has to worry about drinking and driving. They can get as hammered as they want and crawl back to their room, lol. As a guest, I've had much better times at weddings where I didn't have to worry about driving home.
I had a hotel wedding but I booked an offbeat room (the tonga room at Fairmont Hotel, san francisco). I think it's fantastic booking at a hotel venue b/c they can help with a lot of things..of course, it can cost a pretty penny but certain places can help with a budget & the couple needs to work out a budget in the first place.
i saved so much by booking my wedding ceremony and reception at the hotel.
me and my bridesmaids are getting ready there in our bridal suite.......the suite's more spacious than my house us, so this means no car rental as i wont be 'arriving', i'll already be there. this alone saved us £150. not too shabby...
the hotel has private free parking, the hotel is really secluded and not on the main road, and i think people prefer to turn up, park their car and leave it til they go home, rather than go to 2-3 different venues.
I am also getting married in a hotel, I want my guests to have a great time, all other venues had no parking so guests would have to pay for parking and walk forever, also I have quite a bit of out of town guests so this way they do not have to worry about transportation, and the hotel I chose is brand new witha very modern banquet hall and its only cookie cutter if you you let it, you can add lighting or creative centerpeices to break to mold !
very true.......it IS only cookie cutter if you allow it to be.
i have made differences here and there to make it unique to us, my wedding is for 22 people, and of all their weddings i have been to.....(all of my guests weddings) none of them have had anything like my wedding. I have purposely not added anything to my wedding that was in any way similar to theirs......for fear they might say i copied! LOL
I'm not bragging and saying its going to be better, just different.
all those weddings were very cookie cutter, white strapless dress, limo, ballon arch, disposable cameras, chinese lanterns, cupcake tower in place of wedding cake...... you name it, everyone of them had at least one of those things. i am not having any of those things. but i am still having everything that makes a wedding, and its everything i want . and i am hoping that people will leave my wedding thinking, that was so different to any other wedding i have been to.
Yes Bad news... Having a wedding party, on the 2nd floor, of a hotel,, is very dangerous..
Especailly, if there is no cameras, on the hotel, and security.. the last wedding, I was at, my freind, got left on the Varanda, of the hotel, and at two climb, down 2 storys,because, she was locked out..
Oh crazy, ok yes she had a drink, so did every one else.. Also the food was awrful.. The drinks very expensive..
So If you havent got much money.. Dont embarras youirself, by having a bad wedding.. Best to have a private.. wedding..
If anyone ever invites me to a wedding in a hotel... I will not go....
Especailly, on the 2nd floor... Also They moved the wedding,party in to another room.. alot smaller, at the end of the night..
Mistake..
Strangesrs squashed in a room drunk... Not a good Idea...
Hotel weddings.. are Crap ... I would rather have it in the Garden... x Good Luck guys
@The Sea: It's unfortunate that you and your married friend had a bad experience with hotel weddings. I always say, it's better to really research your venue and make sure it is the right one for you and your guests, with the necessary amenities. People will always drink and get a little tipsy at weddings. If you are the bride and have friends who take too much of a liking to the bottle and don't want that to happen, have someone you trust try to keep the lushes in check. Good bartenders should know when is "when," as well. Saying all hotel weddings are "crap" really doesn't do justice to those hotel weddings that are beautiful, affordable, and easy on traveling family/friends.
That being said, I would have preferred to have our wedding at a hotel because more than 80% of our guests are coming from out of state and even out of the country, and the logistical thing would be to have them stay in a place that is comfortable for them, especially on the night of the wedding. It definitely minimizes travel to and from a venue, and if any of your local guests need a room because they don't want to drive home, chances are they can find a room for the night a few flights up. Right now we are having some logistial issues with finding lodging for our guests, since we will be having our wedding at my place of work (we were fortunate enough to get a generous discount). Our intial option was definitely a hotel venue. There are many beautiful, affordable, and historic options in our downtown area.
I don't think I've ever been to a hotel wedding. But I don't know what the big problem is. I would love to go to a hotel wedding. They have amazing ballrooms! I think any venue is going to have something "cookie cutter" in it. Especially venues made for weddings. They do the same thing at least once a week... no way of getting around that. I think a hotel wedding would be fabulous! The trend is old houses now, or farms. And those are fabulous as well, but think about it--they're still producing the same wedding over and over again. The only personal touch is what the bride and groom bring IMO.
They are not bad, I think ppl hit the nail on the head when they say most of them are not really unique...but that does not mean they are not elegant and fun affairs. And you are much more likely to have people dancing until dawn and really cutting loose because they don't have to drive home.
We are not doing a hotel wedding because I don't like ballrooms but I can see if you are going for a very glam event how it would be perfect.
@JerseyGirlLaur: I'm having my reception in the conservatory at the Madison Hotel, too. I think it's a great example of a hotel venue that is unique, has value, and takes care of many details. I'm very excited about it. Hope your planning has been going well. Feel free to message me if you want to talk more!
Sorry this post is so long!
I have actually never been to a hotel wedding, so I'm not sure. I have been to either church weddings or beach weddings (and have shot one of each as the photographer) and find that with the church weddings, where the fellowship hall or another hall close-by works just as well, since there is almost always someone who will do the cooking or works for a restaurant/company that will do it for a reduced price because of being from the same parish. I do think that having a set hall, whether at a church or reception hall is easier because they do have their own cooks or a company they work with that will cater and may even have other things to help create a package.
The one wedding I shot on a beach, the ceremony was on the beach and the reception at a small hall a 2 minute walk away. I suppose the idea was fine but the bride went way super cheap (total budget for the wedding was I think in the $700-900 range and that came with problems of being limited for decoration options and a horrid dj, which meant a very unhappy bride). Her checks even bounced - that may be a rare thing in the wedding world but I think all of her problems were money related - having the hall that was right there and not having to rent a space for the ceremony was a wonderful idea! And the hotel they were staying at for the honeymoon was maybe a 10 minute drive from there. It was a beautiful wedding and it all turned out lovely but I would say the problem was her choice to be VERY cheap on everything.
You must log in to post.
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Create the honeymoon of your dreams.
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| ellisrobertson | 24 |
| fishbone | 21 |
| MsPanda | 14 |
| ladyartichoke | 14 |
| aduarte3201 | 14 |
| mypinkshoes | 12 |
| pengoala | 11 |
 sylvia.riggle |
11 |
| Brielle | 10 |
| likelimeade | 10 |
| User | Posts Today |
|---|---|
| Samo12 | 5 |
| les105 | 3 |
| nerdysarah | 3 |
| fishbone | 3 |
| pengoala | 2 |
| vorpalette |
2 |
| bakerella | 1 |
| PinkPinstripes | 1 |
| Summer82 | 1 |
| karmalkween | 1 |
