Restaurant Weddings: What You Need to Know
There are many pros to having your entire wedding (ceremony and reception) in a restaurant. If you searched for “restaurant weddings” and still felt like you were sorting through lots of noise, let me help clear things up for you.
Even though a restaurant has a private space, it does not mean they are equipped to handle a wedding, or that they have experience with them. On the other hand, just because it hasn’t happened before, doesn’t mean it’s out of the question. It just might mean you need someone who knows what they’re doing (aka a wedding planner!). A banquet manager or sales manager is not going to do the job of a wedding planner.
Without further ado, let’s dive into restaurant weddings.
The Food
If you’re a couple who puts food at the top of the importance list, a restaurant wedding may be for you, especially if it’s a place you frequent. Restaurants have built-in kitchens, which can make service easier and faster. Sometimes in raw spaces where a caterer has to build a pseudo kitchen prep area, it ends up quite far away from the party.
When deciding on a restaurant, think about the types of meals that will work for a larger group. You and your S.O. may love a specific tapas place, but that type of service may mean you’re having more of an hors d’oeuvres party than a full meal.
Just keep in mind you may have less flexibility with customization and often times, can’t bring in outside food. This even goes for dessert if there is an in-house pastry chef. Just ask the sales manager you’re working with before you sign the contract. It could just mean there is a cake cutting fee, or that they can actually bake what you want.
The Set Up
Some restaurants have private spaces dedicated for events and others rent out their entire restaurant. This is important when deciding whether what you’re envisioning will work. If it’s a private space, generally the set up is a little more flexible. It’s likely that the standard is for the room to be empty and then the staff sets it up based on the configuration that will work best for you. If you’re buying out a restaurant, you’ll have to work with the layout of the space. That means playing around with: built-in bars, funky banquette seating and custom built tables and chairs.
Always look closely at the capacity and what the number they advertise is taking into account. A restaurant may seat 100 people on a regular night, but what does that look like when tables are removed and a dance floor is placed in the middle?
Lots of times, a restaurant wedding makes everything feel more intimate by default, as seating is usually closer together. That could be a bonus for you!
Design & Decor
Most restaurants have a design aesthetic in place. This could be a great thing for the decor line item of your budget. Accentuate the style that’s already there and let stand-out pieces shine on their own!
Pricing
While restaurant weddings can save you some money, it’s not something you should expect off the bat. A restaurant might not charge a rental fee, but it might make up for it with the food and beverage minimum. However, you’re likely saving on rentals (tables, chairs, glassware, china) as those are all in-house. Costs you will see from a restaurant are:
Food and Beverage Minimum - The minimum amount you have to spend on food and beverage. This might be broken down into one price per person for food, and a separate beverage package. Or, it could be a set price per person for food, and the rest made up on beverages charged on consumption.
Banquet Fee or Service Charge - This is not to be confused with gratuity. A service charge can be explained has the cost of doing business. Every restaurant is different and the percentages may vary. It’s covering the cost to run the space.
Gratuity - This amount goes directly to the staff working your event. The amount in your contract may be less than 20% , so if you feel the service was excellent, you can always add extra at the end of the night.
Tax - Varies depending on state.
Photos
Something overlooked when considering a restaurant as your venue is the photo situation. If you plan to take formal group photos, it’s a good idea to do a walkthrough with your photographer ahead of time. It might make more sense to do these either outside, or at a different location. Aside from the actual space issue, the lighting in a restaurant or private room may be really dark.
Timing
Make sure you consider timing before inquiring about a restaurant buy-out. If you’re tied to a Saturday evening wedding, it’s going to be a lot more expensive as that’s likely a restaurant’s busiest night. Maybe the restaurant never opens to the public until 5pm. You may be able to get a better deal for a brunch wedding then, as they wouldn’t have been doing business during that time anyway.
Want to start planning your restaurant wedding in NYC? I’d love to help! Here are some restaurant ideas to get you started:
Food: Italian
Capacity: 60 people
Food: Mexican
Capacity: 65 people (outside), 72 (inside) people
Food: American
Capacity: 100 people
Food: American
Capacity: 200 people
Food: Vietnamese
Capacity: 130 people
Food: Jewish
Capacity: 60 people