Overwhelmed by venues...ahhh! Kind of long

nextrightthing

Hi ladies.   We would like to choose a venue sooner rather than later so we can save our date and not have to worry about it for a while.  So of course I've looked at the vendor reviews here and on wedding wire, but I was hoping y'all have some additional insight.

We are planning a brunch wedding for November 2013.  Initially I really liked the Orchard in Azle, and I still think it is beautiful, but it is really far out (we are moving to far North Dallas).  Plus it is very DIY and that seems really stressful.

Then I started thinking about the Omni Mandalay, because we got engaged there and I just love their Easter brunches....but I can't seem to find a lot of reviews about weddings there?  They did give me a very, very reasonable quote with a lot of extras included.  Then I started thinking hmm....if we can afford that, maybe we can afford the Stoneleigh or something else in up/downtown.  So many options, and I'm afraid to make the wrong choice and regret it.

Anyway, so my question is whether any of you have been to a wedding at the Omni Mandalay, and what you thought....also, if you know of any places that might be nice for a brunch.  I am steering clear of places with minimums over 7,000ish, and it will be less than 125 people. Thanks in advance.

fallbride1109

Are you talking about the new Omni downtown? I've stayed at the one in Las Colinas. It's ok but it has a convention hotel feel to it. Minimum at the Stoneleigh is 16k. But maybe you could get a deal on a Sunday. Wendi was married at the Magnolia and the minimum was 5k I think. We had a Knottie a while back have a brunch wedding at the Ft. Worth Hilton and it was really lovely. I'm always envious of brunch weddings when I see them!

nextrightthing

Eeeeek 16,000 is a no-go.  Thanks for the input though.    The Mandalay is the one in Las Colinas....it wouldn't be in the ballroom, though, it would be in the Rhapsody room which is a little less cliche and has windows out to the canals and the pretty yard....

professorscience

FWIW, I have been to two Magnolia receptions and they are awesome.

juliebug1997

My reception was at Maggiano's Little Italy at North Park.  Our F/B minimum was $5000 and it included at least half the cost of the cake from Dallas Affaires.  The only problem is that they don't have room for a ceremony.  However, our food was delicious (as was the cake) and someone was just telling me last night how much they loved the food.  

fallbride1109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_overwhelmed-by-venuesahhh-kind-of-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:71a532ae-d870-461f-8553-98b36cdd3770Post:7ef61852-ddf5-46f6-93d0-77176df414f5">Re: Overwhelmed by venues...ahhh! Kind of long</a>:
[QUOTE]Eeeeek 16,000 is a no-go.  Thanks for the input though.  :)  The Mandalay is the one in Las Colinas....it wouldn't be in the ballroom, though, it would be in the Rhapsody room which is a little less cliche and has windows out to the canals and the pretty yard....
Posted by nextrightthing[/QUOTE]

Yeah I considered the Stoneleigh and my boss was married there.  I think if you got a good deal at the Omni you shoujld take it, especially since you were engaged there.  We got married at the hotel we went to for drinks on our first date and went to frequently while we were dating.   It was very special to get married there.  :)

My husband and I have stayed at that Omni several times - Pappas Bros. steakhouse is our favorite special occasion restaurant so we'll just stay at the Omni sometimes after dinner there.  We love the lounge where the guy plays the piano.  We stayed there once and there was a wedding going on next door in the ballroom.

Oh and hotel weddings are so great--they do everything for you, you can stay there after the RD and get ready the next morning, convenient for OOT, etc.  It's not for everyone, but I loved my hotel wedding.

juliebug1997

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_overwhelmed-by-venuesahhh-kind-of-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:71a532ae-d870-461f-8553-98b36cdd3770Post:52a76829-41c2-4856-8cd9-009e50bab349">Re: Overwhelmed by venues...ahhh! Kind of long</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Overwhelmed by venues...ahhh! Kind of long : Yeah I considered the Stoneleigh and my boss was married there.  I think if you got a good deal at the Omni you shoujld take it, especially since you were engaged there.  We got married at the hotel we went to for drinks on our first date and went to frequently while we were dating.   It was very special to get married there.  :) My husband and I have stayed at that Omni several times - Pappas Bros. steakhouse is our favorite special occasion restaurant so we'll just stay at the Omni sometimes after dinner there.  We love the lounge where the guy plays the piano.  We stayed there once and there was a wedding going on next door in the ballroom. Oh and hotel weddings are so great--they do everything for you, you can stay there after the RD and get ready the next morning, convenient for OOT, etc.  It's not for everyone, but I loved my hotel wedding.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

<div>I wanted a hotel reception pretty bad, but we wanted to get married at a specific church and the few hotels there were around there were a little pricier than we were willing to spend, but I definitely agree that hotel weddings can make things easier.  PS:  Another shameless plug for my venue, but Maggiano's was the same way too.  </div>

laur2511

I'm curious the quote they gave you because I went to see the Omni Mandalay a few months ago and loved it, until they told me it was $10,000 min.  And that was for a Sunday and outside food (since we have to use our own caterer).

Everything else looked great but I couldn't meet the min (nor did I want to just for a venue and drinks).

aeliza06

Have you thought about Nylo Las Colinas? Their rooms are beautiful and a little less cliche

Also, Venetian Terrace? It is on the canal in Las Colinas and last time I checked, their F&B min is $5000. You could still stay at the Omni Mandalay and take the gondola there as your getaway ride. They have a terrace connected to a room full of windows. 

Event 1013 in Plano, the Filter Building near White Rock Lake, and the Aldredge House are a few more DIY venues that would look lovely during a brunch reception. 

The Four Seasons in Las Colinas does an AMAZING brunch. One of their rooms overlooks the green and is all windows. When I looked a few years back, their F&B min was 7500.

aeliza06

Oh, and downtown- Avanti Fountain Place would look gorgeous for a brunch wedding. 

nextrightthing

Thanks for all the ideas!  The Mandalay minimum was 6,000, but it is a brunch in the smaller room and will be over by 4pm.  I am blown away by how much cheaper a brunch is!

fallbride1109

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_overwhelmed-by-venuesahhh-kind-of-long?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:71a532ae-d870-461f-8553-98b36cdd3770Post:3cf12858-814e-4b8b-9b60-e9fda019f1a2">Re: Overwhelmed by venues...ahhh! Kind of long</a>:
[QUOTE]Thanks for all the ideas!  The Mandalay minimum was 6,000, but it is a brunch in the smaller room and will be over by 4pm.  I am blown away by how much cheaper a brunch is!
Posted by nextrightthing[/QUOTE]

We briefly considered it ourselves but DH wanted a big party.  I always think they are lovely whever I see them and then you have the night free to do whatever you want.  Keep us posted on what you decide!