Question from Mitch:
Hi Angela, I’m having some confusion on which reception venue to choose for my wedding next yr (March 2011). The top two that I have in my list are RIO HONDO COUNTRY CLUB in Downey, CA and PACIFIC PALM RESORT in City of Industry. I have received the quote and wedding packages from them. RIO Hondo has cheaper catering cost for brunch – $26/head.while Pacific Palm is $40/head (adult) and $20/kids(just 15 out of 150 guests). However, Pacific palm will provide free cake, complimentary room and dance floor rental. However, the reviews on the food for Pacific Palm is not soo good. I’m having some difficulties in choosing…hope you can help me..thank you!
ANSWER FROM WEDDING EXPERT ANGELA:
Hi Mitch. It can be fun to choose where to have your reception if you have the right perspective. First, find out what the cost the RIO has for the things that the PACIFIC PALM will throw in for free. Then at least you are comparing the same services.
Another thing to consider is that at a wedding it is the food and the music that guests remember the most. I suggest that you talk to couples who have had their wedding at the PACIFIC PALM in the last month or two, and find out how they found the food quality. Cooks change regularly, so it is best to check references from past couples. Having a ‘sample meal’ is not the same, as it is easy to cook a single meal as a sample, and a large meal is prepared differently.
Once you have done these things, the best price and food quality should become apparent. Good luck and feel free to write again.
Angela Fiebelkorn, Ask the Wedding Expert
Hi,
With so many people having asthma and various allergies, more and more places are being designated ‘scent-free’. Fragrances are lovely, but not everyone likes them. The key would be to have the fragrance subtle and not too overwhelming. I went into a church once that was burning incense, and I could not stop sneezing. I had to go outside. I have no known allergies, but something about that particular scent set me off. Then again, the incense was not burned previously, it was burning at that moment.
Scent is a very personal thing, and if you want your wedding space to have a certain scent, I suggest any incense is burned ahead of time, so it is not overwhelming to your guests. A wedding is a personal expression, and obviously scent is part of your personal expression. Etiquette demands the comfort of your guests at all times, so you must weigh those two factors when making this decision.
As for gifts given to the guests, otherwise known as wedding favours, that again is a personal expression of who you are. A couple who love playing cards, for example, might give wedding favours that have playing card suits on them. There is no right or wrong with wedding favours. It is a gift, and it comes from the giver.
Good luck and enjoy the process.
Hi,
Gifts to guests, otherwise known as wedding favors, are given to guests as a thank you for attending the wedding. What you give should be an expression of you, and if incense is a true expression of you, then that is what you should do.
When it comes to weddings, you are hosting a party, and the comfort of your guests is your #1 consideration. Will your guests appreciate incense? In some cultures, incense is a logical, natural gift. In other cultures, guests might not even know what to do with it! You know your guests best, and know what would be the right thing for them.
Having a scent lingering is very nice, but be aware that there are those who are allergic to perfume and other scents and may not appreciate an strong scent. So, as long as it is a lingering scent, it should be acceptable. Again, it is the comfort of your guests that come first.
Enjoy your wedding!
Angela Fiebelkorn, The Wedding Expert