Reception Entertainment

The DJ has some trivia games set up (like 'who really knows the bride/groom') to decide which table will get to eat first or win the centerpiece to take home.

I like what you are doing.It made me laugh.I am imagining them racking there brains for the answer so that they table can go 1st.

I like your ideas of "who really knows the bride and groom". Sounds fun.

OK LADIES SEE THIS IS WHY I LOVE YOU GUYS.
I WANTED TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILIAR, YOU KNOW TO ENTERTAIN GUEST AT THE RECEPTION. AND SOMEONE SAID TO ME THAT IT WAS KIND OF, LET'S SAY GHETTO TO DO SO. THAT YOUR WEDDING IS NT SUPPOSED TO BE A BIRTHDAY PARTY OR A BABY SHOWER.IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE CLASSY. BUT WE HAVE OUR VENUE,THE ROBERT TREAT, FOR 8 HOURS. AND THAT IS A LONG TIME TO JUST PARTY. I MEAN WE ARE ACTUALLY LOSING TIME BCUZ WHO WANTS TO BE AT A FUNCTION FOR 4 HRS???!!!! SO WHILE WE CHOOSE THE 4 TO 12 SLOT, WE FIGURED WEDDING FRM 5 TO 6, OPEN BAR FRM 7 TO 11(LAST HOUR TO SOBER UP)LOL. SO WHAT FRM 6 TO 7 OR PERIODICALLY IN BTWN??? FH WANTS TO DO EVERYTHING IMMEDIATLY WHEN WE COME BCK AFTER PICTURES. I MEAN THROW THE BOUQUET, FOLLOWED BY GARTER. SO AS NOT TO INTERRUPT PARTYING, AND EATING. SO I THINK A FEW GAMES WLD BE NICE. MAYBE PASSING THE CENTERPIECE,OOPS MINE IS GLASS MAYBE NT, OR WHO KNOWS THE BRIDE AND GRROM BETTER SOUNDS REALLY GOOD. THANKS LADIES. IF U HAVE MORE GAME IDEAS PLEASE POST THEM!!!

[quote="TAJMOM"] AND SOMEONE SAID TO ME THAT IT WAS KIND OF, LET'S SAY GHETTO TO DO SO. THAT YOUR WEDDING IS NT SUPPOSED TO BE A BIRTHDAY PARTY OR A BABY SHOWER.IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE MORE CLASSY. [/quote]

Wow, thats... how do you say... a bit classist, don't cha think? Your WEDDING will be classy. Your reception can be as fun as you wish for it to be. People often get bored just sitting around waiting for cake, talking to people they haven't seen in years about nothing in particular, and listening to music. Games are a wonderful way to break the monotony. I think if you spread them out it keeps the guests from becoming bored. The games thing, I remember watching Bridge Jones: The Edge of Reason when I was in St. Louis for my cousins wedding & there is a scene in which she attends a black tie function with a sit down dinner. At this sit down dinner they had bells at each table and they played a trivia game Table vs. Table. The winning table wins a prize.

Here is a list I copied from another site that I can no longer find anywhere.

Reception Games:

Have any of you been to a wedding where they had reception games to keep the guests entertained between dances, etc.?

Here's some examples I found:

Tribute to the Best

Give a little something back to your guests at the wedding reception. This is a fun way to start the evening off and helps to warm up them up for the more interactive wedding games to come as the night progresses.
To celebrate the beginning of your new journey with your husband, why not celebrate the triumphs and 'bests' of your guests? Have your MC announce a "Tribute to the Best"! Give a lavish gift to the couple that has been married the longest (is that not inspiring?), the most loving couple, the most active couple, and any other couples you admire.

Fancy twist: During this segment of the night, why not also pay a special tribute to both sets of parents with a little video montage of their lives?

When is Your Birthday?

This is a simple wedding game aimed to help the bride and groom give away their beautiful centerpieces to the guests.

Have the MC announce that the person at each table with the birthday closest to the bride and groom's wedding day will become the proud owner of the centerpiece at his/her table. Jazz up this game by using birthdays to select your guests for a raffle draw!

Other ideas: Hide a trinket under one chair at each table; place a special sticker under one plate at each table; first person to sing at each table; first person that used the bathroom at each table...and the list goes on, but you get the idea.

Bride or Groom?

This wedding game really helps to liven up the atmosphere at the reception since it requires the participation of the entire wedding party. Guests are sure to love this game.

The women form one team and the men form another. Each receives two signs, one with "BRIDE" and one with "GROOM" written on them. Ensure the signs are large enough for your guests to see clearly. Or have the bride and groom sit with their backs to each other and raise a glass (signify bride) or shoe (signify the groom) and they try to get the same answers.

Have a list of "who" questions such as, "Who do you think will snore the loudest?" or "Who is the neatest?" or "Who will hog the bed?" The entire wedding party raises the applicable sign in answer to the question. Imagine the varying answers you may get!

Choose modest questions that will not embarrass the newly married couple too much in front of close family, co-workers, and young children (especially if they are relatively private people). You know them best!

Can't Touch This!

Inspired by the classic children's game of musical chairs, this wedding game requires guests with quick hands and a rhythm for juggling! You will need to create small bags of candy using cellophane and ribbon (or any other trinket) and an energetic song to mimic the up-tempo pace of this game (our title may give hints to a possible song choice).

Have all the participating guests stand in a circle. The objective: at the sound of the music, guests will have to quickly pass the candy around the circle. When the music stops, everyone stops moving. The person with the candy is eliminated and returns to their seat. Let him/her keep the candy as a sweet token for playing the game. This continues and the last person left receives a prize!

Modified version: if you want to see the game go faster, use a bag of ice!

Guess Who?
This is another wedding game for the reception that aims to place the bride and groom in the spotlight using one very simple prop: a blindfold.

To test how well the groom knows his new bride, have him blindfolded and seated in a chair facing all the reception guests. Now comes the fun part. Round up as many guests as possible, from the young to the old, men and women.

The objective: can the groom figure out which one in the line up is his new bride? In the tame version, the groom can shake each guest's hand to find his new wife. Remember to play some fun and upbeat music during this game!

Other possibilities: Have each guest kiss the groom on the cheek; the groom must feel each person's leg (particularly fun if there are a lot of men in the lineup!).

Garter the Gander

The saying goes, "What's good for the goose is good for the gander" and what better way to show this off than with a gender switch on this timeless ritual!

For this wedding game, pre-arrange to have the groom put on the garter (without anyone noticing, of course!). Sometime during the reception, gather all the single men and announce that the garter toss is about to begin.

Have the groom act as though he will be revealing the garter on the bride. Now, flip the switch! Play frisky music as the groom begins to pull up his pant leg and hear the guests roar with laughter! Let the bride slowly take the garter off the groom

I LOVE ALL YOUR IDEAS FUTURE MS LEE AND YOU ARE RIGHT IT WAS VERY CLASSIST, BUT SHE WILL BE ALRIGHT. BY THE WAY IT WAS MY MOH. LOVED HER SINCE CHILDHOOD BUT SHE SOMTIMES FORGETS WHERE WE BEGAN THIS LIFE. THANKS AGAIN

Hey ladies, tell me what yall think. Since I am having a outdoor wedding, I'm gonna have fans made with our engagement picture and wedding date on it (Sept. 1, 2007). Anyway, I thought about putting a real small black dot somewhere on the back of the fan. Maybe on the stick. Those 2 guests with the fans with a mark will receive a special gift. I also wanted to tape a number under 2 of the guests chairs, 2 numbers under the table where the guests will sit and they too will receive a special gift. I wanted for one person at each table to receive a gift in addition to the fans.

[quote="TAJMOM"] BUT WE HAVE OUR VENUE,THE ROBERT TREAT, FOR 8 HOURS. AND THAT IS A LONG TIME TO JUST PARTY. [/quote]

Taj, it's nice inside of there - that's where we have our banquets for Pop Warner. Where are you going to take pics?

Anywhoo, my venue is for 6 hours. From 5 - 6 will be the ceremony. From 6 - 7 will be the coctail hour. And from 7 - 11 (Banquet Manager said I can have it until 12) will be the reception.

For those of you having longer venues, how about a praise dancer? That would take a good 10 - 15 minutes, then just go into the games. If I decide to have the recption until 12, I will have games being played for about 30 minutes. But, I have glass centerpieces so I can't give them away. What else could be given away?

[quote="Leanne"] I thought about putting a real small black dot somewhere on the back of the fan. Maybe on the stick. Those 2 guests with the fans with a mark will receive a special gift. I also wanted to tape a number under 2 of the guests chairs, 2 numbers under the table where the guests will sit and they too will receive a special gift. I wanted for one person at each table to receive a gift in addition to the fans.
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When I was a little girl I was at this wedding reception (one of the very first in my young life) and I remember the bride & groom put a round yellow paper under 1 chair at each reception. The person sitting above the yellow sticker was able to take home the centerpiece.

Another good idea, keep them coming!

I think that if you have a lively DJ any of the games would work. You could also allow the guests to request a song.

FML, Have you gotten married before? (LOL) You have a lot of experienece with this wedding thang you go girl

Taj, it's nice inside of there - that's where we have our banquets for Pop Warner. Where are you going to take pics?

WELL WE ARE GOING TO BE INSIDE THE CRYSTAL BALROOM AND YOU WLD NT BELIEVE HOW FLEXIBLE THEY ARE. FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A ROOFTOP WHERE THEY GIVE FUNCTIONS. GIRL ITS BEAUTIFUL UP THERE AND YOU CAN SEE MOST OF NEWARK AND THE ENTIRE NY SKYLINE. WE THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING THE RECEPTION UP THERE BUT WE WERE AFRAID OF RAIN. HOWEVER MAURICE,THE MANAGER, SAID WE CAN TAKE PICTURES THERE AND USE IT FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER AT NO CHARGE AS LONG AS WE BRING OUR OWN FOOD. GURL I LOVE THAT MAN!!!! HE ALSO SAID THEY ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS RE PUTTING A GAZEBO ACROSS THE STREET, WHAT IS THAT MILITARY PARK?? SO WE CAN ALSO TAKE PICTURES THERE IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDINGLY.

But, I have glass centerpieces so I can't give them away. What else could be given away?

I ALSO HAVE GLASS CENTERPIECES WHICH IS WHY I CANNOT HAVE THEM PASSED AROUND BUT I AM DEFINITLY PUTTING A RIBBON UNDER A CHAIR AT EACH TABLE. WHOEVER SITS IN THAT SEAT WINS THE CENTERPIECE.

All those entertainment ideas songs great.We will have the usual bouquet throwing,taking off of garter,cake cutting ect.We will have a band playing as the guest are seated and during the cocktail hour.A well known singer will be singing as I walk down the aisle and while we sign,and we have a very good DJ for the rest of the night.All I want to do is party afterwards.

NikkiG sounds like a plan! however, don't leave us hanging, whose the well known singer?

[quote="TAJMOM"]

WELL WE ARE GOING TO BE INSIDE THE CRYSTAL BALROOM AND YOU WLD NT BELIEVE HOW FLEXIBLE THEY ARE. FEW PEOPLE ARE AWARE THAT THEY ALSO HAVE A ROOFTOP WHERE THEY GIVE FUNCTIONS. GIRL ITS BEAUTIFUL UP THERE AND YOU CAN SEE MOST OF NEWARK AND THE ENTIRE NY SKYLINE. WE THOUGHT ABOUT HAVING THE RECEPTION UP THERE BUT WE WERE AFRAID OF RAIN. HOWEVER MAURICE,THE MANAGER, SAID WE CAN TAKE PICTURES THERE AND USE IT FOR THE REHEARSAL DINNER AT NO CHARGE AS LONG AS WE BRING OUR OWN FOOD. GURL I LOVE THAT MAN!!!! HE ALSO SAID THEY ARE IN NEGOTIATIONS RE PUTTING A GAZEBO ACROSS THE STREET, WHAT IS THAT MILITARY PARK?? SO WE CAN ALSO TAKE PICTURES THERE IF EVERYTHING GOES ACCORDINGLY. [/quote]

No, I don't believe that's Military Park. I believe Military Park is further down Broad Street. But, I know exactly where you are talking about. Right by PSE&G and there's a parking garage there also. I like the pictures on top of the rooftop idea! It's wonderful when you are dealing with a great Mgr at a venue. My Mgr threw in my ceremony and my coctail hour for no additional charge (oh and also a fruit and cheese display). If you don't mind me asking, how much does the RT charge? If you don't want to post it here, send me a note. Thanks hun.

[quote="threjolyn"]FML, Have you gotten married before? (LOL) You have a lot of experienece with this wedding thang you go girl
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lawd no, LOL just obsessively planning for this one. I'm trying to be like Cinny and have me some downtime before this thing happens. No last minute stressing for me.

I am not having a formal reception. We are going to have the wedding ceremony and we are going to have a celebration of our love because we have been together for 13 years, but I will toss the bouquet, the garter and cut the wedding cake. Our families are just so happy that we finally dedcided to do it so we are going to have a real party

Sorry Purebliss I should have said well known to my country.Someone local who has won competitions ,has albums and lead singer in a band.His name is Adrian Clarke.He has a great voice.Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No problem, just being curious! I was just wondering who it was going to be. I'm sure that your guests will really be pleased with the live performance at your reception. I used to say that I would have Brian McNight sing at my wedding but oh well!

If I could have him sing OMG.I saw him once in concert with Boyz 2Men and needless to say they were great.

Tell me about it! And it doesn't help that he's fine, sexy and chocolate!

SEPTBRIDE, DID YOU GET MY NOTE? AND WHERE ARE YOU HAVING YOUR WEDDING AND RECEPTION

[quote="threjolyn"]I am not having a formal reception. We are going to have the wedding ceremony and we are going to have a celebration of our love because we have been together for 13 years, but I will toss the bouquet, the garter and cut the wedding cake. Our families are just so happy that we finally dedcided to do it so we are going to have a real party
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There is nothing wrong with that. I know this couple that had a wedding at the church and the reception in the fellowship hall. The did the cake cutting, bouquet toss and so forth. That lasted about an hour & a half. Then they went to granny's house who had a huge back yard and they partied. I mean fish fry and barbecue and they hired a DJ to play but they had a straight party.

[quote="TAJMOM"]SEPTBRIDE, DID YOU GET MY NOTE? AND WHERE ARE YOU HAVING YOUR WEDDING AND RECEPTION
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Yes honey, I sure did and I replied. My wedding is going to be at the Winfield Scott Ballroom in Elizabeth, NJ.

Thank you Rhony!

I recruited belly dancers from my university to perform after dinner. Well i am still wondering when I should have them perform...either during dinner or after the formal dances...I dont know, what do you guys think?

Oh and i love the idea of who knows bridegroom the best...its great!

Belly dancers... sounds like a fun time will be had by all! Please post pictures!

OMG SEPT BRIDE, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OURS THERE TOO!!!! BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL ROOM. I WANTED TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN COCKTAIL ROOM AND CEREMONY BY THE FOUNTAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AREA. THE ONLY REASON WE CHANGED IS BCUZ, WELL YOU KNOW PART OF IT, AND I WAS AFRAID WE WERE HAVING TOO MANY PEOPLE TO DO IT ALL RIGHT THERE. THE EMERALD ROOM, ID NOT GO WELL WITH OUR COLOR CHOICE FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR AND I AM A LITTLE QUIRKY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT COORDINATER. I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT HE WAS EXCELLENT AND SO FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. WILLING TO WORK W/YOU. HE TOLD US IF WE WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT IN THE COCKTAIL AREA THAT WAS FINE WITH HIM. ARE YOU HAVING YOUR PEOPLE ENTER GUYSCOMING UP 1 STAIRWELL AND LADIES ON THE OTHER? YOU KNOW THERE ARE 2 STAIRWELLS IN THAT AREA RIGHT? HAVING THEM MEET IN THE MIDDLE AT THE TOP. BEAUTIFUL. OR 1 COUPLE FROM EACH SIDE.

My co-worker just got married there. It is a beautiful location.

[quote="DaughterRhonda"]Hi Ladies, I was thinking of ways to entertain my guests at the reception. I want to get some games, but I don't know where to begin. What are you ladies doing?
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[quote="DaughterRhonda"]Hi Ladies, I was thinking of ways to entertain my guests at the reception. I want to get some games, but I don't know where to begin. What are you ladies doing?
[/quote] i am playing music at reception but i am using old school music i am playing a mix of 70's 80's 90's and current music so everyone can have a good time old and young

[quote="TAJMOM"]OMG SEPT BRIDE, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE OURS THERE TOO!!!! BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL ROOM. I WANTED TO HAVE EVERYTHING IN *bleep*TAIL ROOM AND CEREMONY BY THE FOUNTAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT AREA. THE ONLY REASON WE CHANGED IS BCUZ, WELL YOU KNOW PART OF IT, AND I WAS AFRAID WE WERE HAVING TOO MANY PEOPLE TO DO IT ALL RIGHT THERE. THE EMERALD ROOM, ID NOT GO WELL WITH OUR COLOR CHOICE FOR THAT TIME OF YEAR AND I AM A LITTLE QUIRKY WHEN IT COMES TO THINGS LIKE THAT. YOU GUYS HAVE A GREAT COORDINATER. I CAN'T REMEMBER HIS NAME OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD BUT HE WAS EXCELLENT AND SO FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL. WILLING TO WORK W/YOU. HE TOLD US IF WE WANTED TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT IN THE *bleep*TAIL AREA THAT WAS FINE WITH HIM. ARE YOU HAVING YOUR PEOPLE ENTER GUYSCOMING UP 1 STAIRWELL AND LADIES ON THE OTHER? YOU KNOW THERE ARE 2 STAIRWELLS IN THAT AREA RIGHT? HAVING THEM MEET IN THE MIDDLE AT THE TOP. BEAUTIFUL. OR 1 COUPLE FROM EACH SIDE.
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Taj, here's another post I never saw. I really hope you didn't think I was ignoring you. (You're going to have to start sending me a note to let me know you asked me a question in a post. lol) The guys name is Steven (I call him Steve)lol. Yes, he is a sweetheart. I'm not sure exactly how I'm going to have the BP walk yet. My ceremony is going to be in the Emerald Room, the coctail hour is going to be where the fountain is and around the balcony up top and the reception is going to be in the grand ballroom. I know what you meant about the amount of people. A lot would not fit comfortably in the Emerald room. That's why I had to go there for the Grand Ballroom. Did you see it?

Wow you all some very interesting ideas. Well at my church we do not dance at wedding receptions so most receptions just consist of eating and throwing of the garter and bouquet and going home. Well I figured that I did not want a long reception either but more of a fun and enjoyable one for my guest. So directly after the wedding while the wedding party and I are taking pictures, I decided that we would have an hour of ordeavors (I probably spelled it wrong sorry) buffet style outside in our courtyard area of my church. In the courtyard there is a building that has this balcony, that looks right over the courtyard, so I figured that I would have a band come and play a few songs and then have these girls praise dance....trying to make it really entertaining so the guests would not get restless waiting for us to finish our pictures, and I also did not want no one to go down and mess up the reception hall before the reception even started. So then for the reception I plan on hiring this company called Grins 2 Go and they will come and set up like a 24 hour studio and while my guests are eating and mingling during the reception they will be able to go to the little "studio" and take complimentary picture paid for by the bride and groom.....this is also our favor for the guests we decided to do something different instead of the regular candy favors. We also plan to show a slideshow of our pictures and I decided to use cinderella theme so while the slideshow is being played a the cinderella story will be told but using him and I as the main characters and going according to our story of how we met. So do you think that is not enough to keep my guests entertained or do you think I need to have a dj for the reception? Or something more?

Shannon all your ideas are great and original. Nothing more is needed

Sept bride I'm gonna kill you :)! It's ok sounds beautiful. So you have the whole place, did they charge extra? probably not they were really good. I went to Costa Del Sol in Union and they were awful. Not to our face but when I called bck to ask ?'s, The owner was very arrogant and rude. I vowed never will I go there or patronize them for anything.

Hi ladies, you guys have some great ideas. I know everyones wedding will be better than you could have expected. For my reception I used a two man DJ service. So I will have a mc he will get the party started by showing my guest the different kinds of slides and soul train lines etc. I want everyone to party and have a good time. I'm a christian so we don't go to clubs anymore. So this our chance to party and show other christians that they can still have a good time and it be can. The Dj service I'm using mix gospel songs with up beat beats and I will have some old school music as well. i'm having seen a lot of my family because I no longer live in NY so it is going to be a party.

Taj, shut up! You ain't never lied!!!! Costa Del Sol sucks!!!!!! Before I saw the Winfield Scott, I went there to check it out. Well, first I had to wait for like 20 minutes - which wouldn't have been bad if someone had said "someone will be with you soon". Anyway, after the mgr finally came to see me, he was not to my liking AT ALL. He was very arrogant. Then, he didn't have a professional price list. It was a blank so he could write in whatever he wanted to. Do you know he was like close to $100 pp????? I thought he had lost his mind while walking over to me. I know that was the price for me only since I was a young, black woman. In my head, I told him to kiss my azz and I left.

Yes, I have the entire place (Winfield Scott) and there wasn't an additional charge. I guess all of that is "hidden" in the price per person - lol. But, I really did get a great deal and I'm very happy I chose them. :-)

I went to Costa Del Sol in Union and they were awful. Not to our face but when I called bck to ask ?'s, The owner was very arrogant and rude. I vowed never will I go there or patronize them for anything.
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That was one of the location that we went too, I really liked the room with the window but it was too small.

We had our engagement party at Costa Del Sol and they were wonderful to us. We have had alot of events there though over the last couple of years. I wouldn't do it for the wedding but for birthdays, graduation parties and engagement parties it was fine.

Sept I'm glad. They are great at Winfield. Don't forget to ask about rehearsal dinner. At Costa they have 1 price for wedding and another for everything else even if you want an everything else package. I asked the man how much for a Anniversary party in the big room. He gave a per head price. I then asked how much pp for a wedding. Wedding was like $65 more pp. I asked the difference in what you get. He advsd there was no difference. I needed him to justify to me the huge gap if your getting the same thing. He did not feel he needed to. Same time allowed and everything. So i then asked about renting it for the Saturday in July for an anniversary party. He said we don't book saturdays in the summer for anything besides weddings. I knew this to be untrue so i then asked if the place was not booked a month or 2 b4 the date, cld I have it for the anniversary pricing and he cld cut down on some things. He replied NO. I asked why not and he said he may get a sweet 16 or something. Please keep in mind the sweet 16 price was less than the Anniversary pkg price!!! I then asked but I thought you didn't rent for anything but weddings on Saturdays in the summer. The man then proceeded to get super upset and says who do you think you are? You are trying to tell me how to run my business. I said wait a minute. I'm nt trying to tell you how to run your business, I am just trying to understand HOW you run your business. I was looking for a better price especially since this is a 2nd for both FH and myself. Well ladies the conversation got super ugly. I could not understand why if I was willing to wait until 2 months b4 and take the risk of them being booked, why wld he not see the sense in giving me the place for Anniversary pricing as opposed to a wedding, but still higher than a sweet 16 DUH???? On top of you charging a higher price for the same package based on what you are calling it. After that I called Robert Treat and was more than pleased at the customer service as well as the pkgs. They have like 7 pkgs besides the wedding pkg and when you rent the ballroom, you have it for 8 hrs at what ever pkg price you pick no matter what the affair. And they even did some items ala carte. To me that's what's up. Make that money!

Taj, you probably had that man scared! lol He's probably NEVER had anyone challenge him like that before. But, that's a good thing! I'm happy that you're happy with your venue. Too bad mine is getting on my nerves right about now.

Costa Del Sol was very nice to me as well. The room however was too small, and once I saw Berkeley Plaza I fell in love.