Courtyard on St. James

PhenomenalNina

Hello, Ladies!

Okay, so the FI and I have looked at Las Velas, Villa Rinata, and The Gallery. We didnt like Las Velas because I wasnt happy with spending $10,000 on a place where you have to get the room flipped. Villa Rinata was wonderful, we REALLY like the place and Tracey, BUT, I really want an outdoor ceremony. So, The Gallery is our favorite right about now, but Im struggling with the odd placement of the chairs. Beautiful venue though. But now I have a question...

Does anyone have any information/pricing/reviews regarding the Courtyard on St James?? I really like the pictures and I love outdoor courtyard as a ceremony.

 I looked at the general info pricing, and it looks great, but are there any hidden fees our outrageous F and B minimum we'd have to have in order to have a wedding there? We dont want to spend alot of money and looking to have about 150 people at our wedding. Please help!! We plan to go look at the Courtyard this next weekend and will decide between that place and The Gallery to put down a deposit!!

kreece22

I recently book my wedding at St James for May 2012. I love it! There were not hidden fees. The only fees are the room cleaning fees for your ceremony and reception both are under 1000. Everything else is based off a minimum depending on which room you want ,you are required to spend a certain amount of money.

It all kind of depends on what time of day you are having it, what day of the week etc. If you email or call them they are very prompt and can email you anything you need which will have all the pricing. I can give you an idea of what the minimums are if you want to email me. Can you private message on here? lol

PhenomenalNina

Sent it!

Mandan5

I had my wedding at Courtyard on St. James in March.  With 150 people you'd probably be in the Garden room which had a food and drink minimum of $8500 (before taxes and service fees).  I ddn't have a problem with any hidden fees.  They were great to work with and I got so many compliments from my guests on the venue and how great the food was.  I'd be happy to answer any other questions you have. 

My photographer posted preview pics on Facebook.  Here's the link:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.10150171122459647.325474.107894854646

In case it doesn't work just look for Kristen Stewart Photography on Facebook and then the Album is Amanda + Tony {married}

mhphouston

From a different perspective....
I had my photography studio onsite at The Gallery a couple of years ago. It is a great place, and the staff is really nice to work with. Ask Tara or Kristina about the placement of the chairs... in the time I was there, I saw the chairs set up several different ways.  The Gallery lets you bring in your own caterer which I don't think many others will and you are guarenteed that you are the only wedding that day on their property.

PhenomenalNina

Mandan5, I will be looking at your pictures, congratulations! I love the grass wall that I see from the CSJ website. Were you able to negotiate the F and B minimum?



Mhphouston, I LOVE the The Gallery, but it just seems like the fountain is in the way....is it just me? I dont plan to use a runner, I plan to use green orchids and blue hydranges in the shape and color of a peacock feather to make my pathway interesting, and it seems like the fountain would mess it up. But I am VERY attracted to the venue and the idea of my own caterer definitely makes us not have to kill our budget, and yet still be able to invite all of our family.

Mandan5

I wasn't able to negotiate the F and B minimum.  Our numbers ended up being lower than we anticipated so we had to throw in a bunch of extras (cheese and fruit display, dessert bar, premium alcohol) to meet the minimum.  They worked with us to try to get the most out of the minimum, but it still ended up being a bit expensive.  If you have 150 people and are getting any type of alcohol package I can't imagine that you'll have an issue meeting the food and drink minimum. 

PhenomenalNina

Thank you for your input, Mandan5. Your pictures are beautiful! I have a question, did you meet with Darryl and Co for your decor? Just curious as to how expensive they are. I plan to use them (maybe) at CSJ or The Gallery for linens and floral.

Mandan5

I didn't meet with Darryl and Co.  I used SCF events for flowers and I had free linens from Courtyard because they were having a special the month I signed.  I think Darryl and Co may be one of Courtyard's preferred vendors.  I have no idea how much they cost.

PhenomenalNina

Thanks. I was wondering because Im obsessed with the clear glass/plastic pedestal thingies to have for my ceremony decor!

Eboix518

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-houston_courtyard-st-james?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:121Discussion:dd5553ad-ef24-4820-abe2-8936a05e586ePost:51792204-762e-4cfa-9851-cce504d98b9a">Re: Courtyard on St. James</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks. I was wondering because Im obsessed with the clear glass/plastic pedestal thingies to have for my ceremony decor!
Posted by PhenomenalNina[/QUOTE]

I used daryl & co for my linens and flowers. When we first met with them (Mike Vidrio did all of our stuff) we told them our budget what we wanted etc... they were amazing to work with and they show you what your tables will look like prior to your wedding day so you can make any changes etc..

kreativeangle

I photographed about 3 weddings there and the place is just great. Take a look at my facebook page to see the wedding I photographed at St James.

Abdul~
832.434.9053
http://kreativeangle.com
http://facebook.com/kreativeangle

PhenomenalNina

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-houston_courtyard-st-james?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:121Discussion:dd5553ad-ef24-4820-abe2-8936a05e586ePost:9a0a871c-9cc4-4a08-ac46-4a30e5477c88">Re: Courtyard on St. James</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Courtyard on St. James : I used daryl & co for my linens and flowers. When we first met with them (Mike Vidrio did all of our stuff) we told them our budget what we wanted etc... they were amazing to work with and they show you what your tables will look like prior to your wedding day so you can make any changes etc..
Posted by Eboix518[/QUOTE]

Eboix518, thanks! Im glad to hear they will work with your budget. But what kind of budget did you have, if you dont mind sharing? Im hoping to spend about 10k or under for my entire wedding. (We're not having any alcohol).

PhenomenalNina

Kreativeangle,  youre pictures are beautiful! I love the ways you captured their wedding! We went to go see CSJ this past Saturday, and my mother really likes that place. So does my FI. I definitely love the ivy wall because it fits right into my peacock theme. So, we shall see when I get my prosposal sent to me!

PhenomenalNina

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-houston_courtyard-st-james?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:121Discussion:dd5553ad-ef24-4820-abe2-8936a05e586ePost:18523943-8552-4208-8765-ea9ed516dfa4">Re: Courtyard on St. James</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Courtyard on St. James : Eboix518, thanks! Im glad to hear they will work with your budget. But what kind of budget did you have, if you dont mind sharing? Im hoping to spend about 10k or under for my entire wedding. (We're not having any alcohol).
Posted by PhenomenalNina[/QUOTE]

I meant to say *floral and decor* budget!

Eboix518

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-houston_courtyard-st-james?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:121Discussion:dd5553ad-ef24-4820-abe2-8936a05e586ePost:1cb44e8c-80ee-4b9d-a517-bb2df6a60a55">Re: Courtyard on St. James</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Courtyard on St. James : I meant to say *floral and decor* budget!
Posted by PhenomenalNina[/QUOTE]

I think it was about 6K for all the floral and linens - that was for 300 people though. e had 30 tables to decorate and I think 4 bar height tables, my linens ran around 500-600 since my venue onle offered white lap length table cloths and no chair covers

PhenomenalNina

 WE SET A DATE FOR.....COURTYARD ON ST JAMES!! YAAyy, im so excited! June 2012, and we have the chocolate linens included because we booked before June 30th. I am so excited.

Meagan78

My sister-in-law had her wedding there and it was gorgeous.  She had the ceremony outdoors in November and it was a really beautiful way to be married.  On a side note, we used Abdul (Kreative Angle, above) for our wedding and his work was just as spectacular for our day as the pictures he posted above.

99tls99

Great choice!  I used both the Courtyard on St. James and Darryl & Co. and they were two of the best wedding choices I made (besides the groom!).  I had no hidden fee issues with the Courtyard and Darryl & Co. is beyond wonderful!  I still don't have pics on disc from my photographer, but I have a link to her site on my blog, you can check out both the venue and Darryl & Co. Just keep in mind if you do look that every piece of furniture, every pillow, EVERYTHING was brought in by Darryl & Co.  It was an empty space before Scott (my planner/consultant from D&Co.) transformed it with their amazing selection of furniture rentals and linens!  You will not be disappointed with either of these great vendors! 

http://taylortakeson.blogspot.com/2011/05/im-back.html