Hotel Banquet

The sourcing of the hotel actually started way back in Jan after JC has proposed. Reason behind why we started to research so early is bcos we understand that it will be difficult to find hotel banquet esp for 2011 as some couples actually waited for 2011 to avoid the TIGER yr.

The 1st thing that we did is to estimate the no. of tables required by the 2 families. Can you imagine, we actually need min of 35 tables for both families, relatives, friends and colleagues.. meaning 350 guests.... omg..

To narrow down our search, I have actually set some criteria for the hotel banquet
1. Pillar less
2. Must be able to accommodate to my large no. of guests
3. Accessible
4. Within Budget

In the end I narrowed to only
1. Novotel Clark Quay
2. Orchard Hotel
3. Swissotel Merchant Court
4. Concorde Hotel

We have to make time to visit each hotel, to view their ballroom, banquet packages etc and me as usual always self prep myself some qns b4 I meet the coordinators.. Belows are some qns which I will ask to get a better idea of wat the hotel can offer..

HOTEL CHECKLIST

1. Any available baby chairs?

2. Trial complimentary dinner
v Will it be a full / partial menu?
v Food tasting on wkend / wkday?
v When can we start to do our food tasting?

3. Decoration
v Will there be any decoration on the tables (VIP / Normal) and stage?
v Any theme to choose from?
v Available flower type?
v Will table deco be removed when the banquet is served?
v Will there be any chair covers for all chairs?
v Wat colour will the VIP tables be?

4. Reception Area
v Area size?
v Any seats for elderly
v ? Reception area to be shared with other ballrooms??

5. Food
v Any additional charges for Muslim / Vegetarian food?
v No. Of tables a waiter will be serving?

6. Drinks
v ? Free Beer
v ? Free complimentary 1 bottle of wine per confirm table ( not to be served during reception)
v ? Waiver of corkage charges (Hard Liquor, wine etc)

7. Wedding Favour
v Any complimentary wedding favour?

8. Carpark
v Any complimentary carpark coupons?
v If addition is required on that day, to look for who and will there be any addition charge if only 2-3 more is needed?

9. Invitation Card
v ? Available designs
v No. of complimentary cards and if required more. Any charges?
v What are the printing rates? Free?

10. Bridal Suite
v Complimentary stay can extend from 1 day to 2 days?
v Complimentary Day Use for Helpers?
v Any discount for rooms if requires?
v Any welcome meal for couple b4 the banquet?
v Will the rest of the food be served to the couple after the banquet to the room? (For those dishes that were missed)

11. Location
v Will there be any shutter service?

12. Ballroom
v Shape of the ballroom?
v Long March in? Straight? Curvy?
v Any many Ballrooms in that hotel?
v If more than 1 ballroom, how are there going to make sure that your guests go to the correct ballroom? Any ushers? Notice ?
v Any Free projectors? Free DVD player? Have to bring personal laptop? AV tech required?

13. Solemnisation Ceremony
v If to be done on the same day, any free usage of any function room for that day?


After viewing the 4 hotels, it is just too bad that my 1st choice, Swissotel, was already prebooked by another couple...Can you imagine that 1.5 yrs to prebook a hotel is not even sufficient! So my next choice is Concorde Hotel.