- Blog
- Bios
- Boards
- Classifieds
- DIY
- Gallery
- Vendor Reviews
- Shop Weddingbee
Weddingbee Blog
I’ve been a little hesitant to write about our wedding reception venue for a few different reasons. I’ll admit I’m doing something that most brides wouldn’t do - I’m taking a bit of a gamble on my reception venue. After a trip to visit the venue again and finalizing our menu yesterday, I’m starting to get the feeling that my gamble will really pay off.
Let me start my story from the beginning - let’s rewind back to March 2007. While Chinese Banquets have become less popular among Chinese American brides (or used as a 2nd reception or rehearsal dinner), we had decided to have a Banquet as our only reception for cultural and cost reasons. The only thing that stood in our way was a place to hold it. Despite going the Banquet route, I still wanted a “pretty venue.” After visiting a few less-than-appealing restaurants in Boston’s Chinatown, Daddy Toucan suggested that we check out this grand palace looking Chinese restaurant on a hill - Jin Asian Cuisine Restaurant. All the decor was very Asian- almost too Chinese-y, borderline tacky. We loved it.
Mr. Toucan by the bridge and water feature
Stairs up to the private rooms and bathrooms
Old Wagon decoration
It was GORGEOUS. So, what was the problem?
Jin Asia has had few past legal issues, and was notorious for its constantly changing management. I was torn. In the end, I decided to just make sure I got EVERYTHING in writing and booked this room for our reception:
A la Carte Room/Empire Ballroom
Wall across the entrance
Since our reception room was one of the “smaller” rooms (max capacity 250), we decided to book the lounge next door for our cocktail hour:
The Lounge
Like I said, this all happened practically one year ago to the day. Last November, one of my worst fears happened- Jin Asia got new management again. Uh oh. Was Miss Toucan about to lose big?
Nope! Miss Toucan was simply dealt a better hand! I am happy to report that the new management and event manager has been MUCH easier to deal with, and are really starting to turn the restaurant around (Daddy Toucan and I have noticed A LOT more cars in the parking lot now). We’ll have to see how the rest of the hand plays out in June, but things are looking good…
Have you taken any risks with your wedding vendors? Are you a gambler like me?
My risks include not trying on my wedding dress before buying and receiving it, trusting a family friend with catering, and leaving my bridesmaids to choosing a cake baker in the town the wedding will be held. Eek.
I really love your reception venue. It is so AWESOME.
We took a risk with our caterer. After we lost our first venue (because they double booked us, and didn’t tell us until a few months later), we were scrambling to find a new place, which proved to be very difficult. When we found our current venue, we exhausted, having scoured just about EVERYTHING in northern California, and it was “close enough” to what we were looking for, without being uber-expensive (but was still more than we were paying before). The big caveat was that we had to use the venue’s caterer (and lose the one we loved that we had already booked). This caterer offered no tasting before booking (and the tastings are done about 4 months before the wedding). I read around for reviews online, and there weren’t a ton. But I found a few good reviews. And this caterer was on the preferred list for a local venue hot-spot. Desperate, and feeling like we had no other viable options, we went for it.
We go for our tasting in a month. The menu we chose SOUNDS delicious. If it’s less than yummy when we go… ugh… heads will roll!
The place is gorgeous! That is definitely a gamble worthwhile…congrats!
Oh, I’m with you here: our reception venue isn’t finished yet and the first time I looked at it there was still siding in sitting in the middle of what will be the dance floor. We’ll be the first wedding, which part of me loves because I get to be a trendsetter, and part hates because there are more things to consider- the prices aren’t even finalized yet. So, I can completely relate to “taking a gamble”– what a great site though, I’m sure it will pay off for you!!
Our risk was our caterer. They don’t do contracts nor do they do deposits. I was worried.
A few of my friends have had their weddings at Jinn and it was very nice. I mean… I’m sure you’ve checked out the restaurants in Chinatown and Jinn is MUCH better in terms of classiness and it has a great view.
We went to Jin and were a little overwhelmed by it all! I felt uncomfortable booking there at the time because of all the labor violations… do you know if it has gotten better now? How are you arranging for transportation? We might have our rehearsal dinner there, but Saugus isn’t so easy to get to =)
Whew! Im so glad it worked out for you! Our big gamble will be our food…which I’m bummed about…were serving food we never got to try 
my parents LOVE going to jin. my dad is all about chinese buffets.
Oh yeah, totally. My venue was booked after looking at 1 other different venue on the same day 
Of course. I did a lot of online research.
In case any Seatlte brides are reading the comments. In the Seattle area, there’s a gorgeous Chinese restaurent http://www.oasian.net where I almost stuffed myself to death at a friend’s wedding reception. Great food!! They are not cheap for offsite catering though.
Miss Toucan, so glad everything is working out for you! Good to hear that the NEW management is even better!
My gamble is a little bit different…I’m getting married at a popular concert venue the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, and the venue has the right to cancel our event in favor of a famous musician coming to town…
It’s in my contract, so if it happens, I know I’ve been warned! But I’m not (too) worried given that it’s on a Sunday…and it SEEMS like any concert on a holiday weekend like that would have already been scheduled…but yeah, serious heart palpitations every time I think about that actually happening. It already has happened to a couple of brides before mine…
@PB: Yes, definitely! We went to a few Chinatown restaurants, and were less than pleased with the appearance.
@jpang: I, too, was a little uncomfortable with the labor violations - it’s why I considered it a gamble on my part. The management then assured me that things were better, so I booked. The NEW management is WAY WAY better. I know now, that the old management used to charge 18% in gratuity - 12% to wait staff and 6% to administration. The NEW management gives the whole 18% tip to the wait staff - just the way it SHOULD be.
Best of luck to the rest of you gamblers out there! 
I hope your gamble pays off! What’s life without a little risk anyway?
I’m also having my reception there this summer. Because of their reputation, I made sure everything is in writing as well, I’m still a little bit nervous tho, because I have read elsewhere that they don’t always follow through, the event coordinator assured me that that must be under the old management. I hope so..
[...] found a nice looking reception venue that isn’t overly decorated with red and [...]
| Visit our sister sites | eHarmony Online Dating |
eHarmony Advice Dating Advice |
Project Wedding Wedding Songs |
JustMommies Pregnancy Calendar |
Mrs. Toucan, Boston Age and Occupation: 25, Full-time Research Assistant, Part-time Graduate Student Fiance's Age and Occupation: 25, Actuary Engagement Date: February 18, 2007 Wedding Date: June 7, 2008 Blogging Since: November 07, 2007 Venue: St. Catherine of Genoa, Jin Asian Cuisine Restaurant About Me: I’m a Gemini to the extreme. On one side, I’m a girly girl. I read countless bridal and fashion magazines, and have an obsession with keeping up with the latest Hollywood gossip. On the other side, I’m a sports fanatic. Despite being a full-time bride-to be, full-time research assistant, and part-time student, I’m also a full-time Red Sox fan from spring training to October, and a full-time Patriots fan from mini-camp to February. I devote almost as much time researching my for fantasy football team as researching for our wedding!
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 29 | 30 | 31 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
Latest Gallery Pics