We know there are a million questions that come up when planning a wedding. No matter where you’re at in the process, there will always be more questions that pop up when you meet with a new vendor, a relative gives advice, or sometimes even your guests will have a question. Here at Lesner Inn, we try to answer them throughout the planning process, but we’ve also come up with a list of our most frequently asked questions! Happy reading!

Can I have a tasting of my menu before my event?

Absolutely! Tastings are included for the couple but, cost $30 per person for any additional persons. Tastings include your choice of 4 appetizers & 3 entrees. Our chef requests two weeks’ notice for tastings & we typically host them Wednesday – Friday. Weekend tastings are based on our event schedule & our chef’s availability.

Do I need to get a planner or a day of coordinator? Is that what my venue manager does?

Your venue manager’s main focus on the wedding day is the food, beverage, & venue. She will make sure that everything is running smoothly on the catering side as well as making sure everything in the building is stocked & prepared correctly for your event. We recommend hiring a planner or day of coordinator to help you with the details of the day as well as making sure your ceremony runs smoothly. Lesner Inn has an in house day of coordination service that can be added to your contract as late as your 90 day meeting. Trust us, you won’t regret having someone to assist you on the big day!

_{Above:Jason Jarvis Photography}

Do I need a wedding hashtag?

No, it is not necessary. We love when couples create their own personal hashtag so that they can see photos that guests take at their event but Lesner Inn also has a hashtag. Follow #lesnerinnweddings for lots of wedding inspiration! Also make sure to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest.

Why can’t I schedule my rehearsal until 2 weeks before my wedding?

Lesner Inn hosts nearly 150 events a year & we try our best to make sure each couple gets the time frame that they want for their rehearsal. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee a time until two weeks prior to your wedding. We do accept last minute events, so we must keep our schedule open until two weeks before your event in order to best fit the needs of all of our clients. Fear not though! Rehearsals are very easy in our ceremony spaces & can be replicated in another space if we cannot accommodate your ideal time frame.

What do I do if I have a last minute guest addition?

Let your event manager know ASAP. We need your final guest count two weeks prior to your event & any additions after your final meeting will incur a $50 late fee.

Something has come up & we need to move or cancel our event. What do we do?

Let your event manager know ASAP. We understand that things happen & sometimes everything doesn’t go as planned. However, there is a cancellation fee & a date change fee since your event was blocking us from booking that space & time. Please see your catering agreement for more information regarding these fees.

_{Right: Jenn Marie Photography}

Do I need to tip the staff who will be working my event? What is the 20% service fee?

The service fee pays for the hourly wage of ALL staff working your event – dishwashers, prep cooks, chefs, bussers, food attendants, parking attendants, managers, etc. Tipping is entirely optional, but it is a nice way to acknowledge & thank the staff who worked your event. Either way, we will divide the money left at the bar & distribute it to the bartenders, food attendants & bussers.

Do I need to do anything after my event?

Relax! Weddings are a lot of work & you deserve a break. Once you are ready to tackle your to-do list, the first thing you need to do is send thank you notes & write reviews. Thank you notes should go to anyone who gave you a gift, helped with wedding preparations & to your vendors. You should also hop on The Knot, Wedding Wire, Facebook or Google & leave a review for your vendors! Think back to when you were booking your own wedding & all of the reviews that you read to help you make your decisions. Leave one about your experience too!

Why do I have to make place cards for a plated meal?

For a multi-entrée plated meal, we will need you to provide place cards for each guest so that our staff knows who will be getting which meal based on the signifier (Ex. “F” for fish or “C” for chicken in the bottom corner of the place card). We request that all meal signifiers be on the front of the place card so it is easier for our event staff to read. We will also a need a breakdown of which meals go to each table to help expedite service in the kitchen. (Ex. 4 chicken & 5 fish at Table 1, 6 chicken and 4 fish at Table 2, etc.).

Am I limited to two meetings after my booking?

No, you are more than welcome to call or email us with questions you may have about your event at Lesner Inn. The two meetings are based around your payment schedule to make your life easier during the planning process! Our office does operate by appointment, so if you know that you will be in town and would like to come by, please make sure to call ahead.

Can I have a sparkler exit?

Yes! We love sparkler exits but request that they only occur outside of the building & not on the docks. Many of our couples use the parking lot on the side or in the front of the building for their sparkler exits. Please make sure to bring a bucket of sand or water to extinguish the sparklers.

_{Above: Kirstyn Marie Photography}

Do I have to use the vendors on your list?

In short, no. We only require you to use Lesner Inn for all of your food & beverage – with the exclusion of your dessert. We understand that is a specialty creation! We do like to provide you with a list of preferred vendors because these are trusted professionals that we truly enjoy working with & know you will too! There are lots of other great vendors out there though & we are always excited to work with someone new.

There’s probably a few that we’re missing but we hope this helps answer any questions you may have while planning your big day! If you have a question that we didn’t cover, feel free to email us at info@lesnerinn.com and we would be more than happy to help!