Wedding Receptions in Community Halls

In most localities there is a church, school or local authority hall available for hire. Also, many pubs have private function rooms available for hire. It is usual to book halls 4 to 6 months in advance.

If you want to provide a bar and entertainment, you will need to arrange for an alcohol and entertainment licence at the local Magistrate's Court. For a small number of guests the catering may be done by family and friends although it is more convenient to have outside caterers for a larger gathering.

Overall, booking a hall is less expensive and has the advantage of giving you more control over what you actually end up with than a traditional hotel reception.

The suitability of halls for wedding receptions and the facilities they offer vary enormously so it is essential to see the hall and its surroundings and discuss what facilities they offer in detail before booking. Items to check include:

• General appearance. Is the hall in a suitable condition to hold a wedding reception and is it in a state of cleanliness suitable to serve food?
• Will the hall be heated? Some halls do not have heating or heating may not be turned on at certain times.
• Is the hall a suitable size for the number of guests? Are there enough general facilities such as toilets and parking?
• Will the hall provide tables, chairs, linen, crockery, cutlery and glasses etc? If hiring caterers they may provide these items.
• What cooking and cleaning facilities are available. Most halls will only have a basic cooker and a single sink. Are refrigerators, tea urns etc. available? It is probable that most of the food will be prepared by caterers or at home, away from the hall, but enough worktops will be needed to store food and to add finishing touches to food displays.
• Find out where everything is in the hall and how all the equipment operates in advance. Help may not be available on the day.
• Discuss when access can be gained to the hall to prepare for the reception. For example, it may not be possible to set up the tables the day before if the hall is booked for some other activity. When does the hall have to be vacated? Ensure that adequate time is left for clearing up.
• Will consumption of alcohol and smoking be allowed?

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