350 Guests 18K Budget - Venue Help!!!

cynizzo

Hey folks,
So my fiancee and I are trying to find a venue that can accomodate 350 guests--the only problem is that we have an $18K budget.  Does anyone have any ideas about an affordable and spacious venue that allows for outside catering (or that has a flexible menu, which won't break our budget)?  Please HELP!!!

Best,
Cyn.

fallbride1109

Is $18K for the whole wedding or just food/beverage/venue?

Addison Event Center is a very reasonable Dallas venue that holds a large guest size--however, I believe their capacity is 300. 

Others:
Texas Discovery Gardens
Colleyville Center
809 Vickery (Ft. Worth)
Granville Arts Center

Here's a recent thread with other suggestions:
http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_affordable-venues-in-dallas

professorscience

Cityplace Loft has about a 300 capacity, but only if the 18K is your budget for space/food/drink.

ejheart

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_350-guests-18k-budget-venue-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:31030883-f7af-4e61-9152-8ae53162c4d2Post:987ce796-f4be-462e-9caf-8915be8ebf65">Re: 350 Guests 18K Budget - Venue Help!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]Is $18K for the whole wedding or just food/beverage/venue? Addison Event Center is a very reasonable Dallas venue that holds a large guest size--however, I believe their capacity is 300.  Others: Texas Discovery Gardens Colleyville Center 809 Vickery (Ft. Worth) Granville Arts Center Here's a recent thread with other suggestions: <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_affordable-venues-in-dallas">http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_affordable-venues-in-dallas</a>
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

<div>Hmm...I looked at 809 Vickery and I really don't think it could hold 350. It seemed pretty small to me. Although, there was a decent sized outdoor space so I guess if you were willing to have people split between indoor/outdoor then that might work.</div><div>
</div><div>I would suggest finding a place that will let you bring in your own caterer and/or alcohol. It really is a huge money-saver. I know that a lot of places that provide these services on-site have pretty hefty/food beverage minimums, so I would try to narrow it down that way. </div><div>
</div><div>Hurst Conference Center says it can hold up to 900, but it may be pricey. It looks really nice and hotel-esque on the inside though. There's also another community center in the mid-cities area but it's slipping my mind. I'll try to look for it tomorrow.</div>

aeliza06

You might try the Bank of America building (city club), Tower Club, DMA,  333 First Avenue, or Union Station. 

MarieSD

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_350-guests-18k-budget-venue-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:31030883-f7af-4e61-9152-8ae53162c4d2Post:8587d0e8-19f1-40db-821d-1d67a7afdfe5">Re: 350 Guests 18K Budget - Venue Help!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: 350 Guests 18K Budget - Venue Help!!! : Hmm...I looked at 809 Vickery and I really don't think it could hold 350. It seemed pretty small to me. Although, there was a decent sized outdoor space so I guess if you were willing to have people split between indoor/outdoor then that might work. I would suggest finding a place that will let you bring in your own caterer and/or alcohol. It really is a huge money-saver. I know that a lot of places that provide these services on-site have pretty hefty/food beverage minimums, so I would try to narrow it down that way.
Posted by ejheart[/QUOTE]

Ditto on both these accounts. I had my RD at 809 at Vickery and I think the indoor capacity was 125. The courtyard area was probably about the same, if not smaller.

If you could trim your guest list to 300, the T & P Station in downtown Fort Worth would be beautiful and affordable. When I was looking, it was $2500 to rent for a Saturday night, and completely BYOB/BYOfood. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.the-t.com/ReserveTheTP.aspx" title="http://www.the-t.com/ReserveTheTP.aspx">Link</a>.

Fort Worth Community Arts Center can hold 500 if you rent out all their galleries, and they are also BYOB/BYOfood. They were also cheaper than the other venues I looked at -- more around $1200 I think, but I can't remember exactly. <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.fwcac.com/?rentals/events" title="http://www.fwcac.com/?rentals/events">Link</a>.

The Stampede Room at Stockyards Station can hold up to 800. (There's also the Texas Cowboy Hall Of Fame there that holds 800 too.) Their rental rates were relatively inexpensive and they are BYOB I believe. They require that you go through their catering company for the food, but I think it's a local BBQ company, and I remember that the first menu on their list was really quite affordable (something like $18-20pp?). <a href="http://www.stockyardsstation.com/events/stampede-room" title="http://www.stockyardsstation.com/events/stampede-room" rel="nofollow">Link</a>.

Disclosure: All these venues are in Fort Worth because that's where I was looking. Also, the prices are probably out of date -- those are 2010 prices and may have gone up.

fallbride1109

809 Vickery comes up on a quick search but yeah they obviously mean both the outdoor and inside areas. (250 and 150.) Very tricky of them.

karulyne

I don't know if it would bother you that the fort worth community arts center has smaller rooms that would divide your guests up, the largest room I think would fit maybe half your guests? that might be pushing it too. You might email them to ask about pricing if thats ok with you, its still fairly open so people wouldn't be closed off or anything. Marla is really nice and she will give you a breakdown of all the costs involved, and even give you some options of what it might cost for different amounts of time or other possible variances. I know when I was looking last month to have about 125 guests there the quotes varied between 2300 and 2900 depending if I wanted to use multiple rooms or different amounts of time. I also wanted to have alcohol which raised costs, it would be less if you had a dry event, though I'm sure with your guest list you'll have to rent more rooms so it would be more than what I was quoted. I know the largest room was 105 an hour not including the costs of staffing and security or the 500 deposit.

You may want to ask Los Vaqueros about their capacity as well (assuming you are ok with an outdoor event and are ok with using their menu or their alternate catering menu)...I know I asked in my consultation there about how many could fit in the garden and it was in the 300s. Whether it was 300 flat or 350 or something else I can't remember, but its worth asking! I know Delany Vineyards in Grapevine can hold 400 people but I didn't contact them to find out anymore on their prices or any other details.

karulyne

oh, I almost missed one more that was on my list, fairview farms corral barn in Plano has a max of 350 people. I don't have a lot of information on them but it looks like you can use your own caterer but alcohol sales go through them.

aeliza06

Oh, that reminds me: 

Howell Family Farms

The Fort Worth Modern

Cotton Mill (8000$ but BYOB and includes tables/chairs/full day setup).

Jen6862

Did you sit down and draw up your list and come up with 350 names or is this an estimate?

The biggest way to open up your venue options and to fit this within in budget is to cut your guest list down. Fiance and I made a decision early on that if we hadn't even seen them in the past 5-10 plus years then they really weren't a part of our lives and we didn't invite them. The only exception we made was my godparents. We also gave both paren'ts a set number of guest they could invite. To me you lose some of the intimacy of a wedding when there are too many people. However if it's what you really want (and it is your wedding!) then I wish you the best of luck in finding an awesome venue!

An affordable option might also to be to look for Veterans or Knights of Columbus Banquet Halls.

cynizzo

Thanks so much everyone!  The entire budget (minus the honeymoon, our wedding night suite, and our rings) is $18K.  I plan to purchase a relatively inexpensive dress and I'm not too keen on flowers as centerpieces so I'm hoping the majority of our costs will be associated with photography, videography, food, and venue. 

ejheart

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_350-guests-18k-budget-venue-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:31030883-f7af-4e61-9152-8ae53162c4d2Post:b1ef60cb-7fd5-4240-84ff-f2f28942651e">Re:350 Guests 18K Budget Venue Help!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]809 Vickery comes up on a quick search but yeah they obviously mean both the outdoor and inside areas. (250 and 150.) Very tricky of them. :)
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

Ooh, you know...I just remembered that when I went to look they were in the process of remodeling a second indoor room that was HUGE. That was back in December, so they may have it done by now! If not then it will probably be done soon. I can't remember if it was going to have A/C or just open air though.

fallbride1109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_350-guests-18k-budget-venue-help?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:31030883-f7af-4e61-9152-8ae53162c4d2Post:c34a37d3-fa17-45ee-ab49-050131730442">Re:350 Guests 18K Budget Venue Help!!!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re:350 Guests 18K Budget Venue Help!!! : Ooh, you know...I just remembered that when I went to look they were in the process of remodeling a second indoor room that was HUGE. That was back in December, so they may have it done by now! If not then it will probably be done soon. I can't remember if it was going to have A/C or just open air though.
Posted by ejheart[/QUOTE]

Here it is.  Mystery solved:

<span style="font-size:12pt;">Our newest project, The Warehouse, is now available for events. With 4,000 square feet, the reclaimed stone warehouse opens into the courtyard through a custom iron and glass door . There are addtional restrooms and stone bar. The strands of light add instand atmosphere. This space can seat 300 guests. This warehouse is unique only to 809 at Vickery.</span>

prlmrg08

809 Vickery is a great option. The warehouse is open and if you have your wedding when it is "suppose" to be cool the outside courtyard is very cool as well. 

Loriellis2

Look into 809....my daughters wedding was there this past weekend...it was fantastic...and so easy on the budget....We used A Beautiful Beginning for catering...again wonderful!  We had 200 guest....and tons of room ... 

cynizzo

Thanks everyone--we are going to visit the Chateau @ Forest Park and Blue Cypress this weekend.  Wish us luck!