Venue choosing - dream or budget?

knottiea6ff287c51daf46c

Hey all - I’m in the very preliminary stages of planning but I’m trying to get my head around picking a venue. Our budget is relatively limited (trying to keep below $18k) but my partner and I have many friends and family all around the world, so we’re inviting 150 people and expecting probably like 125-130, my budget for venue is about $7000 (I have planners, florists, DJs, etc. in my family so our only big expenses are venue, food, and photographer). My partner’s ask is that the venue is easy to get to from the airport as he is English and wants his friends and family from Europe to not have to travel too far. My ask is that we can have our ceremony and reception at the same location so we don’t have to worry about safety and travel time. And my other ask is as vain as it might sound I really, really want our reception venue to be pretty. Like, not big and showy necessarily but at least romantic and will look nice as the background to pictures. 

I’ve looked all around the Dallas Fort Worth area and found a really pretty venue that checks all our boxes. It’s in a historic area, the reception and ceremony spaces are on two different floors, there are plenty of hotels in walking distance, we could be in 8 hours before the event, easy access to the airport, it’s a beautiful space that I won’t have to invest a lot in decorations for. But it’s $6770. That’s still within the budget I’ve set for our venue but my family and to some degree my partner think it’s too expensive. I’ve looked extensively in the area and it’s by far the best deal I’ve found for the number of guests. 

My other option is a church in Dallas that my parents met and got married at. The sanctuary is absolutely stunning, but the reception space is a typical church hall and it NOT attractive. There’s only a few 2 star hotels nearby and they’re not in walking distance. And just the use of the ceremony space is $2100. Still hearing back about reception hall, if they even have chairs and tables, etc. We also would have to have their pastor officiate which would be okay, but my partner and I had discussed our pastor friends doing it. I’m not trying to be picky or cranky but I just have an idea of my reception being candlelit and romantic and I just don’t know if I could do that in a church hall with plastic chairs, plaster walls, and carpet. I feel even with saving a few thousand on the space, we’re still forking out nearly as much on decorations and hotel transportation. 

Has anyone else had a similar dilemma? Which did you choose and do you have any regrets? Have you been able to transform a drab space into a dreamy reception? Or did you pick your dream venue for a little more and wish you had saved the money or spent it on something else? 

Thank you in advance, any insight is much appreciated!!

MesmrEwe

knottiea6ff287c51daf46c said:

Hey all - I’m in the very preliminary stages of planning but I’m trying to get my head around picking a venue. Our budget is relatively limited (trying to keep below $18k) but my partner and I have many friends and family all around the world, so we’re inviting 150 people and expecting probably like 125-130, my budget for venue is about $7000 (I have planners, florists, DJs, etc. in my family so our only big expenses are venue, food, and photographer). My partner’s ask is that the venue is easy to get to from the airport as he is English and wants his friends and family from Europe to not have to travel too far. My ask is that we can have our ceremony and reception at the same location so we don’t have to worry about safety and travel time. And my other ask is as vain as it might sound I really, really want our reception venue to be pretty. Like, not big and showy necessarily but at least romantic and will look nice as the background to pictures. 

I’ve looked all around the Dallas Fort Worth area and found a really pretty venue that checks all our boxes. It’s in a historic area, the reception and ceremony spaces are on two different floors, there are plenty of hotels in walking distance, we could be in 8 hours before the event, easy access to the airport, it’s a beautiful space that I won’t have to invest a lot in decorations for. But it’s $6770. That’s still within the budget I’ve set for our venue but my family and to some degree my partner think it’s too expensive. I’ve looked extensively in the area and it’s by far the best deal I’ve found for the number of guests. 

My other option is a church in Dallas that my parents met and got married at. The sanctuary is absolutely stunning, but the reception space is a typical church hall and it NOT attractive. There’s only a few 2 star hotels nearby and they’re not in walking distance. And just the use of the ceremony space is $2100. Still hearing back about reception hall, if they even have chairs and tables, etc. We also would have to have their pastor officiate which would be okay, but my partner and I had discussed our pastor friends doing it. I’m not trying to be picky or cranky but I just have an idea of my reception being candlelit and romantic and I just don’t know if I could do that in a church hall with plastic chairs, plaster walls, and carpet. I feel even with saving a few thousand on the space, we’re still forking out nearly as much on decorations and hotel transportation. 

Has anyone else had a similar dilemma? Which did you choose and do you have any regrets? Have you been able to transform a drab space into a dreamy reception? Or did you pick your dream venue for a little more and wish you had saved the money or spent it on something else? 

Thank you in advance, any insight is much appreciated!!

First - write out all of the names of the people who will be on your respective guest list and plus-ones so you have an accurate number of how many you plan on attending which also is the number you plan to invite (act as-if through the process that you will have 100% attendance!  It happens!!!).  It is so easy to get caught by the "We only anticipate X number showing up", but haven't actually added up the IRL numbers.  I've seen it happen too many times on here and IRL where there's a figure in people's heads and they've never actually added up how many people are in their family and friends circles only to discover one "side" is over their anticipated entire guest count.  

Having been to conferences put on by colleagues in the DFW area, there are plenty of options that will fit your budget along with both of your needs/wants, you just need to do some more looking. Consider options that have free airport shuttles as it'll be one less expense for your OOC guests.  I can't remember where it was in Plano (It was part of the Marriott line of hotels), but there was one all-inclusive with a free airport shuttle, concierge, etc. that was right next to an assortment of restaurants and shopping in walking distance so guests wouldn't need to pay for the add-ons if they didn't want to and the hotel's catering was delicious, rooms were nice by themselves without much need for extra decor.  Also, consider some venues may be more up front with their pricing structures so on the outset, the more expensive venue seems more expensive, but the nickel and dimes of a venue that appeared cheaper at first can add up fast!  Always make sure you're comparing apples to apples instead of grapes to champagne..  

Also ask if you want your family working or do you want them attending your wedding as guests?  Expecting your family to be your wedding vendors, at minimum you should be offering to pay them accordingly for their supplies, time, and talent!  It avoids A LOT of hurt feelings and solves the "who is the decision maker?" for the design/theme/etc. of things.  Also, expecting them to want to work for your wedding, you need to talk to them and ask first!  You never know, they could already be booked that day or have no additional openings to even work your wedding or no interest in working your wedding and want to be there as guests!