Wedding Reception in a restaurant?

I did this !!!

1) the restaurant didn't have a sound system so regardless I needed my own AV equipment. They allowed dj, I had one.

2) ours had other patrons in the restaurant but it was pretty much 2/3 our wedding aha. They just sectioned it off where we had a big private room basically.

There were some restaurants I saw that you could have the whole place if you had a minimum amount of people. Otherwise they just give you a private area or section it off. Having it at a restaurant is cheaper in the sense that you don't have to worry about additional costs of delivery or linens and rentals of chairs and utensils/China and whatever else.

Yes! That’s what we’re doing. We are allowed a DJ and the place has two levels so we get the lower level to ourselves and our own bartender and servers. We also get to decorate it earlier that day! It’s only costing us food and drink and gratuity.

We will have a private room that has a separate entrance from the restaurant. There is an audio system but the connection is in a staff space. We’ve been told that we can bring music to hook up but that we will have very limited access to control it during the dinner. We are able to have a plated dinner with dedicated servers for about the same cost as a “standard” caterers buffet, don’t have to pay for rentals, and will have very limited setup/breakdown. Downside, the alcohol is more expensive.

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Hey Melle,

That is so cool! Yeah I'm starting to lean towards a restaurant reception. It just seems like less stress for us.

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Hey Sakinna,

Super awesome, I love the secluded idea that your reception is going to feature. So good!!

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Hey Emily,

Wow, your private room will even have a separate entrance?! Talk about convenience!! Yeah, I can definitely imagine where the alcohol is more expensive, but it sounds like your reception is going to be fantastic!!

Not me but we considered it, the cost was just too high to have a completely private room.
My SiL had her wedding in a restaurant, “semi-private”, we had long tables in the middle of the room and patrons were staring at us. Also no music. We absolutely wanted more privacy for our wedding because we’re shy.

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Hey Yam,

I totally hear you. The restaurants we're considering have multiple rooms but it wouldn't be fully private. And also at these locations music would probably not be an option! However, if we do go the restaurant route, maybe we can have an "after party" somewhere else to liven up the mood and drinks and stuff.

View Quoted Comment Multiple rooms sounds like a great option! You would take a lot of stress out of planning having a restaurant reception. I absolutely wanted this cute european restaurant with multiple rooms, antique lanterns and tall windows but it was 3 hours away. None of the restaurants nearby have cool options like yours so we had to make a wedding space from scratch. You’ll save SO much money on decor and rentals, you could absolutely splurge on a boozey afterparty and still come out ahead!

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Yeah, exactly!!! We just wouldn't really be able to "let loose" at the restaurants but a boozey after party sounds good to me!! And from what I'm seeing, it will definitely be saving some big bucks!!

Hi there.

My wedding is is in three weeks and it will be at a restaurant. The restaurant will be closed during the wedding and cocktail hour, but will open by the time the reception starts. We have a semi private room and plan on a DJ. There is a food and beverage minimum. We can bring in our own cake, but we can coordinate with the bakery that they use. I don't mind not having total privacy. I am hoping the DJ will have the whole place rocking. :-)

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Hey Kathleen,

Wow, that sounds like a really good set up! I love it. LOL imagine the other patrons in the restaurant dancing along with your DJ, I can totally imagine that!!

Hi! I am having my ceremony & reception at a restaurant. We get the entire restaurant for the whole morning/ afternoon (complete privacy and full access to all areas)... the only downside is it’s a daytime wedding as the restaurant opens to public at 6pm... and while we dont have to leave but it’s open to patrons afterwards. And they just recently got a contract w a DJ company so we are using them, but before that we would’ve just found our own DJ.

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Hey Janarda,

Wow, you're having the ceremony in the restaurant too?? That is so convenient and beautiful. A DJ is going to be so awesome! Congrats, your wedding is SO SOON!!

Our lunch reception was in a private dining room at our favorite restaurant. We were allowed to bring in a solo musician with his own speakers, he was not blaring the music nor was there a dance.

We had doors that closed and no one bothered us, there were stained glass windows between us and the big dining room so no one could see in!

We did not care about a Grand Entrance, we just wanted to get there first to greet our guests!!!

Best wishes!

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Hey Florida,

Wow, that sounds like it was really lovely and intimate. I love that. I hope everything is going well with you

View Quoted Comment Thank you!❤️...yea I am really happy we went this route. Good luck to you and whatever you decide on 👍🏽... I’m sure it will be the perfect choice for you!

We are having our wedding at a hotel with a restaurant in it, so for convenience we are having the reception at the hotel restaurant. The restaurant and adjoining bar will be closed off to the public. They are also allowing a dj

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Hi Chrysta,

Wow, it seems like most restaurants are willing to accommodate DJs! That is super cool. Wow so they're shutting the restaurant down for your guys, essentially. That is too cool!

Hi, we had a 2nd floor of a seafood restaurant in a marina. Everyone had to go thru the same entrance but then we had a private floor upstairs. We had their sound system and my DIL had put together a spotify playlist. it was great, but we weren't going for much of a "dance party" vibe.