Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Our experiences
Bingemans has got to be one of the most recognized names in Kitchener-Waterloo's wedding and events industry. This name easily and repeatedly makes it onto the 'short list' of reception halls for most local brides and is on a list of exclusive and preferred catering companies at many other wedding locations throughout the area as well.
So whether you’ve been dreaming of an outdoor reception beneath a large gazebo, a multitude of photo shoot options (none of which you have to drive to), or an elegant ballroom that will fit all of your 150 or 1000+ guests, we love that Bingemans has the flexibility, experience, and space options – all in one location – to suit just about any bride. Let us explain.....
Your personal wedding specialist
To help you with everything from your menu selection to choosing the ideal room for your reception, Erin Thomson is your own personal Wedding Specialist (and your primary contact) at Bingemans.
With five years of experience in the wedding industry, Erin helps brides plan their perfect wedding day, whether the venue of choice is Bingeman's, Steckley Heritage farm, Roseville Estates or La Hacienda Sarria. And it’s Erin’s job to help with your options and planning throughout the many months leading up to your wedding.
Last year alone, she helped roughly fifty brides plan their Bingemans’ weddings. And with so many off-site options - Bingemans is the preferred and/or exclusive catering company at many of the area’s most popular wedding sites, aside from theirs of course - Erin and the Bingeman’s team are expecting to do over 150 weddings this year.
Erin is the first to credit Bingemans’ popularity with weddings to the entire team at Bingeman’s for offering brides the highest level of professionalism and years of experience. “From the Banquet Captain to the bus boy” Erin says it’s the whole team that attracts couples to Bingemans.
Patti from Enchanted Décor agrees. She often works with the Bingeman’s team and told The Ring, “The staff is extremely organized, pleasant and exceptionally accommodating… When they tell me that a room will be set up by a certain time I know it will be. Working with them is a pleasure. I can’t say enough about how organized and helpful they are.”
From the Ballroom to the Berkley…
At Bingemans there’s no shortage of possibilities, which is a big reason why these event specialists are a favourite with local brides. Maybe you decide to exchange vows amidst the lush greenery of the Pavilion, or follow your indoor ceremony with photos throughout the nearby forested areas. Or instead, you might opt for some funky shots at Bingemans’ waterpark or the outdoor mini golf course before hosting a cocktail hour and elegant reception in the Bingemans ballroom.
We love that Bingemans offers an all in one location. With six banquet rooms on the Bingemans property, you can invite twenty-five guests or one thousand guests to a wedding here. Each room has a different capacity and décor, giving you the option of an English pub or grand gala ballroom atmosphere. Erin says Bingemans is also a popular option for same sex weddings because couples don’t have to follow traditions. Pretty much anything you can dream up is possible!
With all of the available options, details, colours, prices, etc. We've taken a good look around, and are going to tell you what we thought was cool or important about these rooms. Let's break it down...
Marshall Hall | This room is really a 'hall' because of its gigantic size. It could hold the biggest of wedding or corporate events. For two days every October, this one room holds an entire bridal show with hundreds of exhibits and brides, and of course it’s regularly used for major conferences and Oktoberfest events. Most popularly used for large ethnic weddings, this hall has 13 foot ceilings.
Capacity: 1,800
Colour Scheme: Mix of browns and yellows
Size: 20,000 square feet of open space
Rental fee: $600 to $1500
The Ballroom | We loved this room because The Ballroom has the décor and atmosphere you'd want for an elegant wedding. It is tasteful, elegant, and up-to-date. Guests get to pass through the newly redecorated foyer entrance for their 'grand entrance' or cocktail hour. We were told that some couples use the foyer as a separate area for a bar and/or cocktail hour. The Ballroom has a nice, big area for a dance floor. One thing that is cool about this room is that there is no stage to focus on. Brides can organize their space in whichever way they like, putting their head table wherever their hearts desire! The Ballroom is also very large but can be altered in size with moveable walls, to make the large space more intimate, if needed.
Capacity: customizable
Décor: Elegant, tasteful, pale walls with pastel splashes that wouldn't interfere with wedding colours or decorations
Size: 15,000 square feet (if using entire space), 14 foot ceilings
Rental fee: $600 to $1500
Embassy Room | The Ring visited this room when it was empty and then when it was set up for a wedding. We also hosted the Kitchener-Waterloo Brides’ Ball in this space. It’s one of our very favourite of all the halls on the property. Crystal chandeliers, wall-to-wall windows for lots of light, two marble fireplaces, large dance floor, pot lights, crystal wall sconces, a great price, and it's only ten steps from Pavilion ceremony spot for an outdoor wedding... Need we say more?
Capacity: up to 240 - 280 comfortably
Décor: Pale yellow and cream colours
Size: 7200 square feet
Rental Fee: $900
Berkley Room | This is the smaller, English pub or tavern style banquet room, most often used for weddings of 50 to 100 people (including the wedding party). There is plenty of dark wood in this room and in its built-in bar. Additional accents are either in black wrought iron or bronze, from wall sconces to chandeliers - rich, dark colours. "We most often decorate the Berkley with trees and twinkle lights, and it looks quite nice. The room gets an intimate, romantic feel to it."
Capacity: up to 100 people
Rental Fee: $250
The Phillip Room | The Phillip Room is most often used for small weddings (40 people or less), anniversaries or birthday parties. Here, you seat all of your guests around one very large table, together. This is for a casual, small get-together.
Capacity: 40 people
Rental Fee: $150
The Heritage Room | this room is found beside Marshall Hall, and is the newest room to be added to Bingemans list of event options (it has always been considered a part of Marshall Hall). It can hold approximately 100 people and has great pot lights and off-white globe lights. Décor is neutral except for the blue carpet that you wouldn't really notice once tables and chairs are set up.
Capacity: approximately 100
Rental Fee: $250
Catering – on-site and off
Bingemans has been in business for over 70 years - the last 50+ years of which has involved catering weddings. So when it comes to wedding menus, you’d be hard-pressed to find a request or situation they haven’t undertaken in the past. “We cater to any bride,” says Erin. “On-site or off-site, traditional bride or outside the box, big budget or budget conscious, big wedding or intimate wedding, there’s something for everyone”
Erin says that flexibility is a big part of keeping today’s brides happy. Whether you fall in love with one of their menu packages or you’re looking for something totally unique, she says your meal will be exactly what you want it to be.
The Bingemans catering team can cater up to 1000 guests on site and 3000 guests off site (whew!). And if you want to book them specifically for catering, they can bring the team to any venue for your perfect wedding day meal.
Bingemans is proud to say they’re the exclusive off-site caterers for Hacienda, Steckle Heritage Farm and the Tannery, and a preferred caterer for both the Waterloo Children’s Museum and the Regional Museum.
They also say they work closely with Peter Martin’s 20 King. This means that when you book Bingemans for your off-site catering, you can often choose either Bingemans or Peter Martin’s 20 King for your meal. You’ll get the same great Bingemans wait staff and bartenders, but you’ll have the Peter Martin team in the kitchen.
Our favourite things
* Options, options, options!
* No cake cutting fee
* Bring in your own homemade wine in customized bottles (with a $10 corkage fee and a special occasion permit)
Trends for 2013/2014
Erin says that many couples are paying for most of, or all of their wedding themselves. And it’s probably why many brides are leaning towards DIY for everything from invitations to flower arrangements.
And Erin has also noticed that more and more families have a specific of dietary needs, “which Bingeman’s can always accommodate.”
Booking a wedding at Bingemans...
Email or phone works best to get in touch with Erin. That way, she can give you her complete attention during your consultation.
If you’re interested in booking Bingemans for your wedding, you’ll start with an initial consultation and a tour of the facility. You’ll go over different room options, prices and packages and Erin will create a proposal based on your budget, numbers, potential menu and your wish list. You’re more than welcome to come back with your parents or a best friend to have another look after the first consultation.
Once you’re ready to book, your contract can be emailed, mailed or you can come in to put your deposit down. Once you’ve made sure that all of your details are covered in your contract, you’ll sign on the dotted line and begin planning!
During your planning process you will have lots of access to Erin. If you want to talk about anything from colours, to your menu, to the wedding day schedule, she says she’s available to answer all of your questions – striving to get back to couples right away, typically within twenty-four hours. Although Erin’s regular hours are Monday to Friday from nine to five, and one Saturday per month, she can also be available after hours if you book your appointment in advance.
Four to six weeks before your wedding day, you will meet with Erin to go over all the details; your wedding day schedule and timing, colours, final menu, room set up, and any details you might want to finalize.
On your wedding day, Bingemans takes care of everything so you can have a fabulous time! Your banquet captain will be your on-site contact. The banquet captain will introduce themselves on the day of the wedding to you and/or your family so you’ll know who you can talk to if you need anything.
Kate Lavender got married at Bingemans in July and says,“No other venue could offer as many options, nor could any other venue give you an option for the ceremony, reception AND terrific photos all in one place. Most importantly, no other venue has Erin. I would (and have) absolutely recommended Bingemans to other couples planning their weddings. Anytime I tell anyone about our wedding, I talk about the great experience we had there. If I was doing it all over again, I wouldn't change a single thing.”
Details, details, details
• The average bride spends $52.95 per person or $89.95 per person for the all inclusive package, which includes hors d'oeuvres, your meal, room rental, late night table, a champagne toast, wine selection for dinner, four hours of open bar, linens, centrepieces, room set-up and tear down and much more!
• A non-refundable deposit will secure your wedding date at Bingemans. It depends on the space but deposits range from $500 to $1200
• All prices are subject to tax
• Two weeks before your wedding, the remaining balance is due
• It’s a good idea to book Bingemans a year before your wedding date. However, Bingemans has many options so they can most likely accommodate last minute requests
• Your SOCAN fee (the license to pay music) is based on the square footage of the space that you’re using
• Your final guest count is due seventy-two hours before your wedding. There is no increase in room or plate charge if your number decreases, however Bingemans does reserve the right to move you to a smaller space
• The Monday after your wedding, the final invoice is taken care of (the difference is either due or refunded)
Bingemans has got to be one of the most recognized names in Kitchener-Waterloo's wedding and events industry. This name easily and repeatedly makes it onto the 'short list' of reception halls for most local brides and is on a list of exclusive and preferred catering companies at many other wedding locations throughout the area as well.
So whether you’ve been dreaming of an outdoor reception beneath a large gazebo, a multitude of photo shoot options (none of which you have to drive to), or an elegant ballroom that will fit all of your 150 or 1000+ guests, we love that Bingemans has the flexibility, experience, and space options – all in one location – to suit just about any bride. Let us explain.....
Your personal wedding specialist
To help you with everything from your menu selection to choosing the ideal room for your reception, Erin Thomson is your own personal Wedding Specialist (and your primary contact) at Bingemans.
With five years of experience in the wedding industry, Erin helps brides plan their perfect wedding day, whether the venue of choice is Bingeman's, Steckley Heritage farm, Roseville Estates or La Hacienda Sarria. And it’s Erin’s job to help with your options and planning throughout the many months leading up to your wedding.
Last year alone, she helped roughly fifty brides plan their Bingemans’ weddings. And with so many off-site options - Bingemans is the preferred and/or exclusive catering company at many of the area’s most popular wedding sites, aside from theirs of course - Erin and the Bingeman’s team are expecting to do over 150 weddings this year.
Erin is the first to credit Bingemans’ popularity with weddings to the entire team at Bingeman’s for offering brides the highest level of professionalism and years of experience. “From the Banquet Captain to the bus boy” Erin says it’s the whole team that attracts couples to Bingemans.
Patti from Enchanted Décor agrees. She often works with the Bingeman’s team and told The Ring, “The staff is extremely organized, pleasant and exceptionally accommodating… When they tell me that a room will be set up by a certain time I know it will be. Working with them is a pleasure. I can’t say enough about how organized and helpful they are.”
From the Ballroom to the Berkley…
At Bingemans there’s no shortage of possibilities, which is a big reason why these event specialists are a favourite with local brides. Maybe you decide to exchange vows amidst the lush greenery of the Pavilion, or follow your indoor ceremony with photos throughout the nearby forested areas. Or instead, you might opt for some funky shots at Bingemans’ waterpark or the outdoor mini golf course before hosting a cocktail hour and elegant reception in the Bingemans ballroom.
We love that Bingemans offers an all in one location. With six banquet rooms on the Bingemans property, you can invite twenty-five guests or one thousand guests to a wedding here. Each room has a different capacity and décor, giving you the option of an English pub or grand gala ballroom atmosphere. Erin says Bingemans is also a popular option for same sex weddings because couples don’t have to follow traditions. Pretty much anything you can dream up is possible!
With all of the available options, details, colours, prices, etc. We've taken a good look around, and are going to tell you what we thought was cool or important about these rooms. Let's break it down...
Marshall Hall | This room is really a 'hall' because of its gigantic size. It could hold the biggest of wedding or corporate events. For two days every October, this one room holds an entire bridal show with hundreds of exhibits and brides, and of course it’s regularly used for major conferences and Oktoberfest events. Most popularly used for large ethnic weddings, this hall has 13 foot ceilings.
Capacity: 1,800
Colour Scheme: Mix of browns and yellows
Size: 20,000 square feet of open space
Rental fee: $600 to $1500
The Ballroom | We loved this room because The Ballroom has the décor and atmosphere you'd want for an elegant wedding. It is tasteful, elegant, and up-to-date. Guests get to pass through the newly redecorated foyer entrance for their 'grand entrance' or cocktail hour. We were told that some couples use the foyer as a separate area for a bar and/or cocktail hour. The Ballroom has a nice, big area for a dance floor. One thing that is cool about this room is that there is no stage to focus on. Brides can organize their space in whichever way they like, putting their head table wherever their hearts desire! The Ballroom is also very large but can be altered in size with moveable walls, to make the large space more intimate, if needed.
Capacity: customizable
Décor: Elegant, tasteful, pale walls with pastel splashes that wouldn't interfere with wedding colours or decorations
Size: 15,000 square feet (if using entire space), 14 foot ceilings
Rental fee: $600 to $1500
Embassy Room | The Ring visited this room when it was empty and then when it was set up for a wedding. We also hosted the Kitchener-Waterloo Brides’ Ball in this space. It’s one of our very favourite of all the halls on the property. Crystal chandeliers, wall-to-wall windows for lots of light, two marble fireplaces, large dance floor, pot lights, crystal wall sconces, a great price, and it's only ten steps from Pavilion ceremony spot for an outdoor wedding... Need we say more?
Capacity: up to 240 - 280 comfortably
Décor: Pale yellow and cream colours
Size: 7200 square feet
Rental Fee: $900
Berkley Room | This is the smaller, English pub or tavern style banquet room, most often used for weddings of 50 to 100 people (including the wedding party). There is plenty of dark wood in this room and in its built-in bar. Additional accents are either in black wrought iron or bronze, from wall sconces to chandeliers - rich, dark colours. "We most often decorate the Berkley with trees and twinkle lights, and it looks quite nice. The room gets an intimate, romantic feel to it."
Capacity: up to 100 people
Rental Fee: $250
The Phillip Room | The Phillip Room is most often used for small weddings (40 people or less), anniversaries or birthday parties. Here, you seat all of your guests around one very large table, together. This is for a casual, small get-together.
Capacity: 40 people
Rental Fee: $150
The Heritage Room | this room is found beside Marshall Hall, and is the newest room to be added to Bingemans list of event options (it has always been considered a part of Marshall Hall). It can hold approximately 100 people and has great pot lights and off-white globe lights. Décor is neutral except for the blue carpet that you wouldn't really notice once tables and chairs are set up.
Capacity: approximately 100
Rental Fee: $250
Catering – on-site and off
Bingemans has been in business for over 70 years - the last 50+ years of which has involved catering weddings. So when it comes to wedding menus, you’d be hard-pressed to find a request or situation they haven’t undertaken in the past. “We cater to any bride,” says Erin. “On-site or off-site, traditional bride or outside the box, big budget or budget conscious, big wedding or intimate wedding, there’s something for everyone”
Erin says that flexibility is a big part of keeping today’s brides happy. Whether you fall in love with one of their menu packages or you’re looking for something totally unique, she says your meal will be exactly what you want it to be.
The Bingemans catering team can cater up to 1000 guests on site and 3000 guests off site (whew!). And if you want to book them specifically for catering, they can bring the team to any venue for your perfect wedding day meal.
Bingemans is proud to say they’re the exclusive off-site caterers for Hacienda, Steckle Heritage Farm and the Tannery, and a preferred caterer for both the Waterloo Children’s Museum and the Regional Museum.
They also say they work closely with Peter Martin’s 20 King. This means that when you book Bingemans for your off-site catering, you can often choose either Bingemans or Peter Martin’s 20 King for your meal. You’ll get the same great Bingemans wait staff and bartenders, but you’ll have the Peter Martin team in the kitchen.
Our favourite things
* Options, options, options!
* No cake cutting fee
* Bring in your own homemade wine in customized bottles (with a $10 corkage fee and a special occasion permit)
Trends for 2013/2014
Erin says that many couples are paying for most of, or all of their wedding themselves. And it’s probably why many brides are leaning towards DIY for everything from invitations to flower arrangements.
And Erin has also noticed that more and more families have a specific of dietary needs, “which Bingeman’s can always accommodate.”
Booking a wedding at Bingemans...
Email or phone works best to get in touch with Erin. That way, she can give you her complete attention during your consultation.
If you’re interested in booking Bingemans for your wedding, you’ll start with an initial consultation and a tour of the facility. You’ll go over different room options, prices and packages and Erin will create a proposal based on your budget, numbers, potential menu and your wish list. You’re more than welcome to come back with your parents or a best friend to have another look after the first consultation.
Once you’re ready to book, your contract can be emailed, mailed or you can come in to put your deposit down. Once you’ve made sure that all of your details are covered in your contract, you’ll sign on the dotted line and begin planning!
During your planning process you will have lots of access to Erin. If you want to talk about anything from colours, to your menu, to the wedding day schedule, she says she’s available to answer all of your questions – striving to get back to couples right away, typically within twenty-four hours. Although Erin’s regular hours are Monday to Friday from nine to five, and one Saturday per month, she can also be available after hours if you book your appointment in advance.
Four to six weeks before your wedding day, you will meet with Erin to go over all the details; your wedding day schedule and timing, colours, final menu, room set up, and any details you might want to finalize.
On your wedding day, Bingemans takes care of everything so you can have a fabulous time! Your banquet captain will be your on-site contact. The banquet captain will introduce themselves on the day of the wedding to you and/or your family so you’ll know who you can talk to if you need anything.
Kate Lavender got married at Bingemans in July and says,“No other venue could offer as many options, nor could any other venue give you an option for the ceremony, reception AND terrific photos all in one place. Most importantly, no other venue has Erin. I would (and have) absolutely recommended Bingemans to other couples planning their weddings. Anytime I tell anyone about our wedding, I talk about the great experience we had there. If I was doing it all over again, I wouldn't change a single thing.”
Details, details, details
• The average bride spends $52.95 per person or $89.95 per person for the all inclusive package, which includes hors d'oeuvres, your meal, room rental, late night table, a champagne toast, wine selection for dinner, four hours of open bar, linens, centrepieces, room set-up and tear down and much more!
• A non-refundable deposit will secure your wedding date at Bingemans. It depends on the space but deposits range from $500 to $1200
• All prices are subject to tax
• Two weeks before your wedding, the remaining balance is due
• It’s a good idea to book Bingemans a year before your wedding date. However, Bingemans has many options so they can most likely accommodate last minute requests
• Your SOCAN fee (the license to pay music) is based on the square footage of the space that you’re using
• Your final guest count is due seventy-two hours before your wedding. There is no increase in room or plate charge if your number decreases, however Bingemans does reserve the right to move you to a smaller space
• The Monday after your wedding, the final invoice is taken care of (the difference is either due or refunded)
