Brennan's of Houston, Cohen House, The Alden, The Parador, The Gallery - any experiences?

jhg140

Hi Houston Knotties! Just got engaged in December, and we ae trying to get a date and location locked up ASAP, as we plan to get married in March 2013, and want to make sure we can get room blocks well in advance to avoid Rodeo congestion. Also, apparently March is a popular month... I'm guessing since its one of 3 or so months with temps under 100 degrees Anyway, can anyone provide any feedback on the following venues? Either having been to a wedding there or had yours there or your sister's coworker's mailman's dermatologist got married there? Probably going to invite 120~, but since neither of us are native Texans, expecting 100 for a Friday evening wedding with ceremony on-site. Hoping to keep ceremony/reception/open bar at 20k or less. - The Gallery - The Parador - Veranda @ the Alden - Cohen House @ Rice - Brennan's of Houston (in midtown - not Brenner's) Thanks so much!

tobitbo

Hi,

  I'm new to the board. Just engaged last saturday! We are going to have our wedding at Brennan's and are actually dropping of the contract today for May.  We are having a small number of guests around 35 and they only had 3 options available in may.  I would contact them soon if your planning a wedding in March.  I have been working with Ivonne and she is very helpful and nice.  Best of luck!

t12ubeauty

Congrats on your engagement! It's good that you're getting an early start.

I visited the Parador when searching for my wedding venue. It's an old church that was converted to a wedding venue so the main room has a tall, beautiful  dome ceiling. There is an adjacent room that can be used for cocktail hour. The garden is beautiful for outdooor ceremonies. They do have parking for like 80+ cars included. They quoted me 28K total for 225 guests, seated dinner, open bar on a Saturday evening so I think you could totally pull off 100 guests on a Friday for well under 20K. I liked that they had chiviari chairs. I think you get 10 hours total, including setup and breakdown, and they are very strict about it. 

My brother was in a wedding at the Gallery. He said the place was cool, but it is a raw space. He said it was a bit small (but I'm having 200+ guests), but 100 should be fine. You have to bring in  ALL vendors though...a DIY kind of place. 

I went to a wedding at the Alden a few years ago. It was not very memorable, unfortunately so I can't give you any details.

Hope some of this was helpful. Happy planning!

Carla1019

I second the Parador. I was a guest at this wedding and it was beautiful.  The outdoor ceremony was comfortable and we transitioned into the main hall smoothly.

The only downside I can say is that it is in an area of town that isn't the greatest. The property is beautiful but this is considered 3rd Ward and a few streets over you will have eye soars.

Serendipty11

I'd call The Alden, from what I remember on pricing you should be more than fine at 20K. Have you thought of Hotel Derek or Hotel Zaza? 

bnicolegarza

I just got engaged on Saturday, but I'm interested to hear about the Alden as well. I'm looking at both the Alden and the Grove for potential wedding venues.

Serendipty11

The Grove was one of my choices for a bit. It is beautiful and the space is so unique. The minimum for food and beverage during the day is $4,000. Evening minimum is between $7k-$8k, can't remember the exact figure. I had a hard time getting my calls returned so if they don't call you back then call the next day. I wish it would work out logistically for me there, I really love it. 

Alden was very prompt with returning calls!

jhg140

I LOVE the look of the Grove, but as their max for an indoor seated reception w/ dance floor is only 80 people, I don't think it will work for our particular party. I've been to weddings where you had to suck in and wiggle inbetween dining chairs to reach the dance floor, and that is not what I'm going for haha. But if we were going smaller, I'd book it in a heartbeat.