Wish Me Luck!

jeanacorina

I'm going to look at another venue this morning, and we're supposed to make a decision after we see this one and BOOK SOMETHING.I might actually have a wedding date by Monday!I'm nervous. I don't get nervous! I really want this place to be amazing and perfect and just what we're looking for. And be able to fit 100 guests easily with plenty of room for dancing.Once I have a date, I need to book my photographer and buy my dress, both of which I've already chosen. Then, it's on to Save the Dates, which I think we've picked and will need to order soon to send them out in December or January. But first, I have to BOOK the dang LOCATION. I hope it's great. Yikes!www.stage1gatehouse.com is where we're going. Wish me luck! I'll let you know how it turns out.

pinkpinot

Good luck! I'm excited to hear how it goes.

notquiteblushing

That place looks nice too. Good luck!

KD+BC

Wow, that place looks gorgeous!!! ::fingers crossed::

Acrosthec

Good luck! You need a date so we know when your kickin' NEY bach cruise will be.

Goldlie11

The venue looks stunning/ Good luck.

KD+BC

It's gonna take me about 3 years to get a bikini bod so could you please plan the wedding accordingly? Bach cruise, here I come!

noelle24

Good luck Jeana! Whatever you choose, I'm sure it will be awesome.

PandaBurr

Mojitos? >_>

desertsun

It looks ah-MAY-zing! We'll want all the details asap, please!

magsugar13

It is beautiful especially the grounds! What did you think?

jeanacorina

Well, it was just as gorgeous in person as it is on the site. It's a tad smaller than the other place, but the setup makes it work. Plenty of room to move around and dance, and also they set air conditioners out on the patio to help keep it cool for guests who want to sit outside.The landscaping is awesome, the table linens are included (and much nicer than the ones at the other location), the centerpieces they provide are good enough for my taste, and the coordinator is somebody I can identify with, feel comfortable with, and trust to run my wedding the way I want it.The price is comparable to the last location, so that's great.All in all, I give it a huge thumbs-up! The only thing I'll need is a dress, a florist, and officiant, and a photographer and everything else is handled by the Gatehouse (DJ, cake, food, everything).Now I just have to wait for FI to think about it and make his decision. He feels good about both places, but he says it's very important for me to like the coordinator, so he is leaning toward this one. But, you know FI.... he takes his good sweet time.Yay! I feel really good about this one!

desertsun

I'm so glad you liked it! I agree that you can't underestimate the importance of feeling comfortable with the coordinator. I don't remember if you told us where else you're looking?I hope your FI makes up his mind soon so you can get crackin' on the florist, photog, etc. Do you have thoughts on particular flowers you like yet, or are you waiting to meet with a vendor?

pinkpinot

Good for you guys! That is exciting.  I don't have a solid date yet but I'm really looking forward to when we do, it will seem more "real."

Cherry393

Wishing you good luck

AnneAndJJ

Sounds awesome! I'm glad going to see it turned out as well as you had hoped

jeanacorina

I don't remember if you told us where else you're looking?Do you have thoughts on particular flowers you like yet, or are you waiting to meet with a vendor?The other location we're considering is www.carriagehouse-la.com but that place doesn't look as good in person as it does in pictures. It's still very nice, but the pictures make it seem huge and neutral-toned, when really it's not much bigger than the Gatehouse and the ballroom is painted pink. O_OI am leaning toward dahlias for our flowers. I love them-- they're bright, happy, and come in lots of colors (including purple). My second choice is gerbera daisies, which are also bright and happy, but do not come in purple. However, they are in season year-round and are on the inexpensive side.I don't believe dahlias are much more expensive, but I will wait to make a final decision when I meet with a florist and can compare the two side-by-side. Either way, I love the look of one type of flower throughout the entire wedding. So, whatever it is will be all over the place.

notquiteblushing

So.....how did it go?

notquiteblushing

Ok oops saw your earlier post.  So you booked it?

jeanacorina

Haha, NQB! I want to, but FI doesn't make decisions quickly. Why do you think it took him over 5 years to propose?I'll count myself very lucky if he decides what his opinion is by tomorrow. But I love the Gatehouse, and from what I've told her and what she's seen online, so does my mom.She told FI not to worry about the $300 price difference, that we should choose whichever we like best. She also said for us NOT to stress about the guest list, because she and dad understand that we wanted a 20-guest wedding in the first place and the extra 80 or so people are for our parents.Since dad is paying for the reception, and has already given his OK for either one, we are NOT to stress. Just make a choice. I am so lucky that my parents are this cool about my wedding. It was tough to compromise on the guest list thing, but I'm kinda glad I did. It made them really happy and now talking to them about I want is way easier because they're just really grateful I didn't go bridezilla and say "NO! NOBODY IS COMING TO MY WEDDING I AM GOING TO ELOPE TO MEXICO!"

desertsun

Note to self: it pays to NOT be a bridezilla. :)It sounds like the wedding planning process is actually not that bad for you, jeana! Helps to have such supportive parents!Do both venues do the food, too? Did you sample when you visited? I know you said FI and his dad are in charge of the menu, but since I'm a vegetarian, too, I'm especially curious about the menu/catering stuff and how you will be dealing with that. Thanks for letting me be your e-stalker and answering all my questions about your planning! It's really informative to see everything coming together piece by piece. Just tell me to shut it if I pry too much, okay? :)It's so cool to see someone who was NEY when I started lurking actually progressing through the engagement and wedding planning.So yeah, let us know which venue you end up picking.

jeanacorina

Note to self: it pays to NOT be a bridezilla. :)So true! As stubborn as I am, I've learned in life that picking your battles is the best way to have things go smoothly and make the most people happy along the way.Do both venues do the food, too? Did you sample when you visited?Yes, they both do the catering. No, we did not taste-test. It seems most places only do a taste-test after you book, so we checked out all the reviews we could find online to make sure people thought it was good food.As far as vegetarian food, both places have some options, although the hostess we met with at the Carriage House started telling me about all the chicken dishes when I asked about vegetarian food. That was kind of funny. 'Cause chicken is totally a vegetable, right? :)I have emailed the hostess for the Gatehouse to see if we could swap out one item on their cheaper menu for the grilled zucchini and asparagus on the premier menu and maybe pay the difference (if it even applies for that dish). They do have a couple of vegetarian things on the classic menu, but I'd like to be able to eat well if I get the chance (plus they send us off with two to-go boxes of food-- one box better be full of yummies I can eat!).Besides, nobody will miss the cocktail meatballs when there's duck almandine and bacon-wrapped shrimp. lolI totally trust FI to make sure there is a good variety of tasty food, including stuff for me. Food is what he really feels strongly about as far as the party goes, so it's only fair I let him have his way and save my energy for things I care about, like flowers.

**Mutley**

Late to the party, but... I do like The Gatehouse. There is just something about it. Hopefully, your FI will speed up his decision process. Also, I doubt you will go bridezilla. I think that when you originally want something small and intimate that focuses on the whole getting married part everything else doesn't matter as much. I put a lot of time and effort into all of the little details of our wedding day, but didn't care at all that day. The whole week leading up to the wedding left me giddy and excited. I woke up humming 'Going to the Chapel' almost every morning. Every single one of our vendors commented on how calm I was. I didn't feel calm though. I literally felt high all week... strangely, I still feel high. I think my hubby drugged me. LOL. jk

MidniteRae

It's beautiful! Hopefully your FI decides he likes it as much as you do!