Restaurant reception 150+ guests

Hi Jessica! Welcome to the WeddingWire Community! Where are you looking to host your reception?

Idaho! Would have been useful if I included that in the post haha. Probably the Boise/Meridian or surrounding areas.

I'm not in Idaho but I have some secondhand experience looking for a restaurant to accommodate 50 people for a welcome dinner. Unfortunately there's no easy hack. Google, research, call. I think it was a good idea to post here in case someone from your area can be helpful but I'm not sure you'll have a ton of responses specific to your region in Idaho.

Ask everyone for recommendations. Check Yelp. Google "restaurants near me". Ask Ask Ask and eventually you'll find a place that fits your needs. It'll be grueling though, unless you're lucky.

Of course you should be realistic about prices, but the good thing about restaurants is that you can definitely find something at a decent price.

For example, decent professional wedding photographers can start having very similar prices in a specific area unless they're beginners or THE most sought after photographer. Whereas restaurants vary so much. Ask ask and call everyone. You may not know if they have big private room in the back. Perhaps their fee for closing down for a private event isn't as bad.

Good luck!

Yup, that was the point of posting here. That area is one of the top growing places in the country so much fingers are crossed that someone will have some ideas beyond "Google it" lol.

Open Table has a list of restaurants with private rooms for many cities. You can search by neighborhood, type of cuisine, budget etc.

Keep in mind that when you are talking 150 guests, you need a banquet hall, not just a private room.

You can also search the many wedding venue lists, including here on WW.

https://www.wedding-spot.com/wedding-venues/Idaho/

https://www.eventective.com/USA/Idaho/

View Quoted Comment I was also considering just buying out the restaurant haha.

Why is that funny? I have friends who bought out the restaurant for their wedding.

View Quoted Comment You might end up having to do that based on the restaurant you are looking at. If you are trying to get the restaurant on a Friday or Saturday expect to either pay more or have a higher food and beverage minimum. They are looking at they need to make a profit at some point so if you rent out the restaurant it has to be worth it because they could have just had their regular or new customers come into the restaurant and make a profit that way. I would say see if they can rent a a large room to you first to come out more cheaper than renting the whole thing.

View Quoted Comment People insert "lol" "haha" "😊" to add nuance their text comments, as it's easy to come across as overly harsh or serious with text based communications.

I would look into a VFW/Legion/Elks/KC Hall for that many people. They usually offer a buffet or a plated meal. Many include a licensed bartender in the fee. I love receptions at those places!!! The food is excellent!

Good luck!

View Quoted Comment Didn't even occur to me! Thank you for the suggestion.

I misread that you have 150 guests and thought you have 50 guests. I think my advice still stands but at that size a more traditional wedding venue with a big ballroom will likely have better prices.