Not all weddings must be grand. Not all brides want the hassle of renting a big venue, a caterer, florist, stylists, etc. Not all couples have the budget for a grand hotel wedding. So, how do we find the balance between a nice-looking wedding reception that will not break the bank? Lakeland restaurants!
There are many picturesque restaurants in the area that can be transformed with a simple flower decoration here and there. And with a working kitchen? The food should be amazing (compared when a caterer has to bring trays of food all the way from their own kitchen to the reception venue).
But how do you choose a restaurant that’s right for your style and budget?
Do ocular and food tasting
We’re sure you have tried a couple or more restaurants in the Lakeland area and you might already have a place in mind. Still, try to test others and see if you can find a place that will work better for what you want to have at your wedding. Do ocular visits to see the place in person (don’t rely on Instagram) and order the food you want to serve to your guests.
Ask if the restaurants cater to wedding events
No matter how much you like the restaurant setting or the food they prepare, that won’t mean a thing if they do not like catering to big events. Remember that catering to diners and to a wedding is very different.
Some restaurants prefer to prepare their food in small batches for quality purposes. They do not like catering to big crowds because their food might get compromised.
Try to rent the whole restaurant for the period
If you are going to share the restaurant with other diners, that might be a problem. You are going to be a big group and of course, there’s going to be dancing and some drinking and some crying, etc.
The restaurant diners might get annoyed at how big your crowd is. At the same time, it’ll be harder for your guests to move around if they have to think about how comfortable or uncomfortable the other diners are.
Negotiate a fair contract
Finally, when all your questions have been answered and you have finalized your decision to rent the restaurant, cut a good deal with the management. Since you’re bringing in lots of people, you should not be paying full price for each dish. Negotiate a fair price for each of the dish that you will have served so you’ll get your money’s worth.