Marriage Halls

People are more and more dependent on Marriage Halls for performing marriages of their children due to various reasons like

1. lack of large houses with open spaces
2. lack of homes/home towns where close relations could normally assemble otherwise
3. desire for lavish weddings
4. affordability
5. lack of time and energy to organise a wedding and depending on service providers
6. peer pressure
7. inter-religious/inter-language/inter-caste marriages calling for neutral venues

This gives licence for the marriage hall owners/employees to exploit with hidden costs/shortcomings about which we have no prior knowledge and the after wisdom of no use. Some of these are

1. extra charges for generator whether used or not
2. not providing complete infrastructure forcing people to hire out extras like accommodation for close guests, quilts, mattresses, drinking water, etc.
3. not providing energy meters at convenient places where one can easily remember and note down readings.
4. Not providing promised furniture/infrastructure.
5. Charging for labour additionally over whom we have no control and whose number we do not know.
6. Gate-crashers.
7. Insisting on utilising the services of particular individuals like caterers, decorators, who dictate terms and rates.
8. Pestering for tips.

These are only a few examples. Some Halls like Charitable ones may be better and free from these evils.

There should be some regulations. May be there are.

These halls should be made to prominently display:

1. Hire charges.
2. Services/infrastructure provided.
3. An undertaking not to insist any particular service provider.
4. That they will aaccept payments only through cheques.

More suggestions are welcome

ponder...