Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP

CCO2012

So, went to the Zoo yesterday and I'm so excited. The venue is perfect. Just large enough to have a big dance floor and a comfortable amount of space between each table. EVERYTHING is included except overlays, chargers and flowers. I just have to bring in whatever I want of those items and my DJ and that is it!!! The price is so good too, since our zoo is not for profit, that we are upgrading their call whisky (Jack Daniels) to Gentleman's Jack, their call scotch (Dewar's) to the Johnny Walker Black Label and their call rum (Bacardi) to Pampero Aniversario (made in Venezuela!)... I'm so freaking excited!!!!

ETA: They also include the wedding cake and one of their vendors I can choose from is the one I've dreamed of since I was about 4 years old. I would go their with my grandpa for donuts on Saturday and look at all the wedding cakes with my sister. I'm so happy about this part because its like I can bring a little tradition from my grandparents into the wedding since they have both passed on.

Here are a few pics of the venue for a more casual wedding than we are wanting:




And the outside of the space:






Now, I'm going to begin the wedding dress process tomorrow since I only have until Mid-January to order it. (YIKES) What should I bring? What should I wear? (under garments) Any other tips?

TIA Ladies! Your tips yesterday were awesome and I felt very comfortable after leaving the meeting.

polkadot111

Lovely!!

Don't wear a thong. Wear full coverage underwear. Also, bring/wear a strapless bra. If you don't have one, they'll often borrow you one.  Also, bring a hair tie to put your hair up if that's how you're going to wear it for the wedding for the full effect.

motoLyn

Wow what a killer venue!  So jealous.  As for wedding shopping bring a strapless, though I just used the one at the shop, hell I don't even have boobs so I could go braless.  Depends on how comfy you are with having another female stranger in there with you.  I shower at the gym often so I'm used to it.  Oh heels with the height you were thinking off.  Get an idea of length and all.  Also TAKE LOTS OF PICS!  I want pics, dress p0rn!

elannis

It's so pretty and sounds perfect!! I'm glad it's everything you were hoping for! : ) I also like that you get to incorporate a little of your grandparents' memory into your wedding too!

I agree with polkadot on the full coverage underwear. They usually have a strapless bra if you don't. Also, remember to bring a camera and keep an open mind and try on stuff even if you think it looks horrible on the hanger, lol. You never know what you'll like! It's so much fun, but can be tiring if you're trying on a lot of them, so don't go with an empty stomach. I had to get an energy drink after my longest appointment too, lol. I can't wait to see pictures!!

lunarsongbird

I wore spanx, which worked out great. I also wore a nice strapless bra.
Bring a camera.
 Wear makeup. Do your hair pretty. (This is all gave me a sense of what the dress was really going to look like).

I also had the opportunity to wear the necklace I will be wearing on my wedding day- so I could see exactly how it wold work with the dress. Do you know what jewelry you might be wearing?

CCO2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_venue-update-advise-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b6a3fbb5-6c96-4487-9c8b-5cb6b393ebfaPost:2a89bcdb-a006-4e3d-996e-6fc713286285">Re: Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]I wore spanx, which worked out great. I also wore a nice strapless bra. Bring a camera.  Wear makeup. Do your hair pretty. (This is all gave me a sense of what the dress was really going to look like).<strong> I also had the opportunity to wear the necklace I will be wearing on my wedding day- so I could see exactly how it wold work with the dress. Do you know what jewelry you might be wearing?</strong>
Posted by lunarsongbird[/QUOTE]

Most likely the necklace I wear most days that is the same color as my ring (or one that is actually the same stone that I've hinted at BF about for a gift lol) and simple earrings like I wear most days too.


Ahhh this is so exciting!

Elle1036

So happy for you!

I agree with Lunar.  Put some time into your hair and makeup when you go dress shopping.  You'll feel a lot better about what you're putting on.

I wore nude full-coverage underwear and a white strapless bra that I didn't end up using anyway.

becunning2

Holy crap, that's an INFORMAL wedding?

I'm doomed to complete casualdom. 

Lovely, lovely venue though!

wink0erin

That venue is lovely! I'm glad you got a great deal!

peekaboo2011

Gorgeous venue!! I'm super jealous!

And everyone's given you great advice, but the best thing you can do is SMILE and trust when your consultant pulls a dress you think looks horrendous.

doubleSS07

oh how pretty is that!  I love that the outside of the building lookos like one of those old carousel buildings.  Good luck with the dress shopping and yes take lots of pictures.  I want to see dress porn too.  I love looking at everyones dress adventures.  Have an amazing time.

polkadot111

Yeah, how is that a casual wedding???!! Man yours is going to be beautiful!!

Looks like mine will be REALLY casual if that is just casual... haha

Swazzle

Looks awesome CCO!!!

bethsmiles

That is such a cool venue!! Your wedding is going to be so awesome!

QuiltingNurse

I'm so excited for you! I love the zoo and wish there was one at least semi close to me. I feel like your wedding would be the ideal day for me and BF, I love the zoo and he loves to get 'Gentleman drunk' lol. No advice on the dress shopping, but I hope it goes well for you! You're wedding will be awesome!

CCO2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_venue-update-advise-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b6a3fbb5-6c96-4487-9c8b-5cb6b393ebfaPost:4f20d73d-adcb-4674-bc1b-588bc423aaf5">Re: Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]oh how pretty is that!  I love that the outside of the building lookos like one of those old carousel buildings.  Good luck with the dress shopping and yes take lots of pictures.  I want to see dress porn too.  I love looking at everyones dress adventures.  Have an amazing time.
Posted by doubleSS07[/QUOTE]


It is from the 1904 Worlds Fair, I believe... I love the old look :)

(If not it was built to resemble the original building from the 1904 Wrold's Fair)

ETA: Thanks everyone, I'm pretty excited about the venue too. I should say for the zoo, that is informal. We have been talking about using some dark colored napkins with gold chargers and more "intimate" flowers with lots of candles.

Something like one of these:

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jaycee7389

I LOVE that venue! So different than zoo weddings at the Pittsburgh Zoo.

I wore, as most people said, nude underwear and a strapless bra. When I picked out my dress I didn't even consider doing my hair or make-up nice and I regretted it. Definitely consider that!

Be open to styles you don't think you'll like on!

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_venue-update-advise-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b6a3fbb5-6c96-4487-9c8b-5cb6b393ebfaPost:c7339866-511e-4397-932c-de07f73e9ae0">Re: Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]If I had more time the morning I went shopping, I would have tried doing some loose curls in my hair, rather than just straightening it.  I know my hair won't be pin-straight for my wedding day, but it can get really messy when it's curly and I'm trying on clothes.  For a few of the dresses, I pull my hair back in a loose bun, but it would have been better if it looked more like what I envision my hair to be like.   Do you know if you're doing a veil or headpiece?  The next time I go shopping, I might bring a flower and a ribbon I already have since I know I won't be wearing a veil.  (It won't be the flower I'm wearing in my wedding, but I was something that might look similar, and I already have it.)  <strong> The one place I went, the consultant wanted to put a veil on me, but I said I'm not wearing one.  She didn't seem to want to put a headband on me or something, it was weird.  (Like I said, "I want a headband or flower or something," expecting her to find one, but she just stood there looking at me.  It was awkward.)</strong>
Posted by yaga13[/QUOTE]

<div>That's lame.  I was given some sort of headband at every appointment I had.  They did, however, keep trying to push sparkly headbands on me, even when I said I just wanted a ribbon.  Oh well.</div>

Elle1036

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_not-engaged-yet_venue-update-advise-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:136Discussion:b6a3fbb5-6c96-4487-9c8b-5cb6b393ebfaPost:c9af1adc-2025-469c-86cb-b26b3c3df3a2">Re: Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Venue Update and More advise please! :) PIP : She also didn't ask my budget, so I ended up in dresses that were 3 times what FI and I decided I should spend.  She seemed really young and not really experienced with the dress shopping experience.<strong>  She only had me point at ones I wanted to try on, rather than have me pick a few and then have her suggest a few other ones. </strong> I wouldn't have minded something outside my comfort zone, but I have NO idea what else I should have tried on.  
Posted by yaga13[/QUOTE]

<div>I did that, too, at my last appointment (the one where I actually found my dress).  My poor consultant was brand new on the job, and didn't know much at all.  She made a <em>couple</em> suggestions herself, but they were just so, so wrong.  lol.  She was really sweet, though, so I couldn't be annoyed with her.</div><div>
</div><div>Next time you go shopping, just tell them that it's your first time out and you have no idea what you want.  Let them pull all kinds of crap.</div>

CCO2012

I am most likely wearing a veil, but I will make sure to try several looks and maybe bring head pieces with me just incase.

Peaseblossom55

Wow that venue is gorgeous! Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!