If you’re planning your wedding, you know that choosing a venue is a big decision that can impact every other aspect of your special day. Hotel weddings are the perfect choice for many couples and have been one of the most popular choices for wedding venues worldwide. A hotel wedding is classic and comes with several benefits that help you create your dream wedding in the easiest way possible.
Let’s dig into the top hotel wedding pros and cons and all of the reasons to get married at a hotel.
The Top 7 Hotel Wedding Benefits
From being able to book rooms for everyone on-site to making a straightforward choice for catering, hotel wedding venues offer engaged couples many notable benefits. Here are some of the top pros of a hotel wedding.
1. Planning Assistance
A wedding involves factors beyond just the venue — there’s the catering, decorating, cake, music, dance floor, seating, linens and so much more. At other types of venues, you may have to plan for each of these factors separately.
One of the biggest benefits of a hotel wedding is having your choice of wedding packages to simplify planning. These packages usually include options for meals, decor and amenities all in one, making them incredibly convenient. They also frequently offer other add-ons to make your wedding extra magical.
You’ll want to make sure the hotel also includes an experienced on-site wedding planner who can guide you through every step of the planning process. A good planner has a finger on the pulse of the latest hotel wedding trends and can help you come up with ideas for creating an unforgettable day.
2. On-Site Catering
After choosing a venue, deciding on a catering team and menu are arguably the next most important decisions you’ll make for your wedding reception and overall budget. When you have your wedding at a hotel, you have the benefit of using on-site catering, which means less hassle for you. At the Hancock Hotel, our exclusive caterer is Mancy’s Steakhouse, our on-site restaurant. You can create your ideal wedding menu from our selection of world-class, fine-dining choices and avoid needing to find your own catering service.
3. Blocks and Discounts for Guest Rooms
When planning a wedding, you want your guests to be well cared for. One of the biggest advantages of having your wedding in a hotel is the ability to reserve room blocks and get discounts on overnight stays. Therefore, your guests won’t need to worry about finding their own accommodations and can enjoy the convenience of staying right at the wedding location.
Often, when you book a wedding at a hotel, you’ll get a complimentary night’s stay for you and your spouse, as well.
4. Transportation Savings
With most of your guests spending the night at the hotel, you won’t have the added expense of providing transportation for guests. Plus, you can rest assured your guests have a safe, convenient place to stay, whether they’re local or from across the country. When your guests don’t have to plan their own stay or way home on the night of your wedding, they can enjoy the day’s events more.
5. Environment Control
While outdoor weddings are beautiful, they come with added weather-related concerns. Adverse conditions like temperature extremes, rain and wind can put a damper on your special day and sometimes force you to go with a last-minute plan B that isn’t what you dreamed of. On the other hand, weddings at hotels are in a safe, climate-controlled environment, so you don’t have to worry about what the weather will be like on your wedding day.
6. Guest Amenities
In addition to everything included in the wedding package you choose, you and your guests will also have access to all the amenities and services the hotel offers. Some examples include but are not limited to:
- A 24-hour fitness center.
- Complimentary shuttle service.
- In-room entertainment.
- On-site lounges and restaurants.
- Discounts at nearby businesses.
These amenities can help you and your guests truly relax during your stay, making it easier to ensure everyone has a good time.
7. Overall Convenience
Hosting your wedding at a hotel is a convenient option for you and your guests. It gives you the option to have everything in one location — the ceremony, the reception, overnight stays and even additional events like rehearsal dinners. There are no worries about providing complicated directions or providing transportation between events.
3 Cons of Hotel Weddings
While there are many benefits to having your wedding at a hotel, some couples find they prefer another venue. Carefully consider the following before making your decision.
1. Less Flexibility
The flip side of hotel weddings being so easy and convenient is you may have less flexibility when it comes to certain options. For couples who are more creative, have certain specifics in mind or like to plan every detail themselves, hotel weddings can seem like more of a challenge. Some hotels may put limitations on using certain vendors or the available menu and decor choices.
However, remember that hotel wedding packages are designed for convenience, meaning planning your special day is meant to be as straightforward as possible. If you have any concerns about customizing your options, your on-site wedding planner can help you select options that fit your needs.
2. Possible Event Restrictions
Some hotels impose certain restrictions on weddings held on-site. This could include time limits on using the event spaces or requirements to utilize guest rooms and room blocks. While these restrictions are also designed for convenience, some may find that they clash with their desired plans. That said, you’ll find restrictions at every venue on your list, including hotels, outdoor spaces and churches, to name a few.
3. Privacy Issues
Unless you’ve reserved the entire hotel, it’ll remain open for other guests staying the night. Additionally, if there are multiple event rooms, there may be other weddings or events taking place simultaneously. For some people, this can mean a lack of privacy for their event. If you plan on events or photos in any common spaces on the property, you may run into hotel guests who aren’t your wedding guests. However, rest assured that your ceremony and reception spaces will be secure and private to your guests.
How to Choose Hotels for Weddings
Are you certain you want a hotel wedding but are having trouble deciding which one to choose? Deciding on a venue can be a difficult choice, especially when there are so many different hotels to get married in.
The following considerations can help you narrow down your list:
- Budget: Before evaluating different venues, set a rough budget that includes the estimated cost of everything you want at your wedding. You can then make sure the hotels you’re considering can fit into your anticipated expenses.
- Date: Do you have a flexible wedding date, or is your heart set on a specific day and time? If you already have a date in mind, make sure the space you want will be available.
- Available space: Does the hotel have enough room for everyone on your guest list? Many hotels offer multiple ballrooms you can choose from depending on the size of your wedding.
- Location: Is the hotel in a convenient location for your guests? While they won’t need to travel back and forth, they will want to be in an area where there are plenty of things to do if they have downtime before or after your big day.
If you have any questions about specific wedding packages, vendors or any other part of your big day, feel free to ask the hotel’s event coordinator or wedding planner. They can help you understand the hotel’s specific wedding offerings so you can have peace of mind knowing you made the right choice.
Book Your Wedding at the Hancock Hotel
If you’re planning a wedding in Findlay, Ohio, the Hancock Hotel is the premier destination for an elegant, sophisticated wedding with access to unparalleled services and amenities. We designed our wedding packages with convenience and luxury in mind so you can plan the hotel wedding of your dreams. Lori Vance, Hancock Hotel’s very own Head of Sales and Marketing states, “I like to communicate to all brides that Hanock Hotel can be the one location for your guestroom block, bridal suite, rehearsal dinner and reception. A truly elegant one stop shop!”
Get in touch with our on-site wedding coordinator today to start the planning process for your special day!
