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Rita Neri gives her expert advice on finding a resort wedding venue

One of the nicer perks of being a professional event planner is getting to check out various resorts, clubs and hotels both here and abroad. Whether for a specific client or as possible locations for future referrals, I have checked out enough resorts and hotels to know that what you see may not be what you get.

Websites and brochures are great information providers and marketing tools but nothing can beat an actual visit to make sure that a venue does indeed keep its promise. Resorts in particular with its lure of  the sun, sea and sky or fresh cool mountain breeze can be hard to ignore and many a couple will opt to hold their wedding there. Unfortunately, I have seen enough dirty swimming pools, tasted lousy food, slept in lumpy beds and tolerated inept service to warn those planning a resort wedding to do their homework before plunking down any down payments.

If you are set on having your wedding in a resort, do remember that not all resorts are worthy of its title. Having a nice gate, swimming pool and a main dining hall that can fi t more than a family of ten does not   qualify as a resort, no matter how idyllic its location. Next, check out what kind of resort you are  considering. There are family-oriented resorts, sports and adventure venues, spas and wellness retreats and so on. Choose the resort according to the theme of your wedding as well as the kind of guests you are inviting. It’s always safer to go with a venue that has something for everyone. Always remember that  just like in life, you get what you pay for. Translation: don’t expect 5-star treatment from a 2-star resort. Most resorts, country  clubs, membership clubs, and destination hotels cater to tourists, vacationers and locals on vacation. For added revenue, these venues have opened up their facilities to weddings and other special social occasions. However, since its inception was not solely for this purpose, most have  not upgraded their space, equipment, furniture, tableware and general services to standards expected or a wedding. Examples range from stained table linens and napkins, lack of appropriate glassware, banquet chairs that fi t more a verandah than a dining table, service staff who are familiar with coffee shop menu and service, a shallow bar list containing more beers than hard liquor or good wine, and the list goes on. At times, food menus can be on the high side due to lack of proper purchasing and sourcing. To illustrate my point, one resort had a hard time confirming if roast beef could be served at the wedding since, being an island venue, they had to check if roast beef could be purchased from the mainland.

Well, they did eventually locate a meat supplier, but the cost was double the price. Again, the lack of  good chefs and trained service staff can also put a strain on the wedding reception. If your dream wedding means dining under the stars, eating off banana leaves, using bare utensils and glasses, then, perhaps all is not lost. But again, do consider some of the technical aspects also. Are you showing an AVP during the wedding? Will you have a band or special mood lighting? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then do make sure to check if the electricity or power from the hotel is adequate to  provide this. Otherwise, you may need to spend on a generator. Resort weddings should be romantic, fun, idyllic and memorable. To make sure that this happens, don’t decide on a resort or venue until you  see it in person. It’s worth the extra expense. That extra resort research will verify if you’ve found your  dream venue or if you should search some more.