Winfrey Point, Hickory Street Annex, Filter Building?

kethompson1

Hello everyone! I am planning to get married in Dallas sometime around October of 2013 (long engagement!), and I am giving myself a headache looking at so many venues online! We live in Washington DC now, but our families are both still in Dallas. My fiance and I would ideally like an outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception - although he would prefer if the reception had a patio option. My vision of the day is rustic elegance, and I love how these 3 venues can be transformed in any way you'd like.

Winfrey Point - anyone know how many people can comfortably be seated here if we are also having a band and (possibly, if there is space) action stations/buffet? Also sounds like the whole place has to be cleaned and done with by midnight - so early!

Filter Building - same capacity question - it seems smaller than Winfrey, yeah? I imagine the 200-person capacity is the standing capacity (with no dance floor, subsequently).

HS Annex - I love the look of the reception space, anyone been to an outdoor wedding here? I have seen photographers' pics of outdoor weddings, but it is hard to get a grasp for what the area looks like around the grassy/garden space. I hear it is in a pretty sketchy neighborhood...

Our invite list will likely approach 200, so maybe around 150 attending. We have to plan for 200, though, of course! Any insight would help, as well as other suggestions! Thanks!

Kristin

cwaggoner07

I am getting married at the Filter Building next month! Yeah, the capacity says 200, but we're planning for 150-160. I think with a band and a dance floor that's going to be our max.
One thing about the Filter Building, and Winfrey Point as well, is that they are EXTREMELY DIY, so getting a coordinator, especially being as far away as you are, is going to be crucial.
Now that I'm just over a month out, I am sometimes kicking myself for not getting a more inclusive venue, just because coordinating everyone to be in one place at one time, even with my coordinator could potentially be chaotic. That being said... I freaking love the Filter Building and I don't actually regret it one bit.
With FB the music has to be off by midnight (city ordinance since it's near a neighborhood), but you can stay until 1am for cleanup.
There is also a great patio situation, which we probably won't be using due to the heat.
You can send me a PM if you have any more questions about the FB. Good luck!

crash2729

For your capacity questions it would probably be best to contact the venue (or I guess the city in this case) to find out. I'm sure they have that information as they do weddings there quite often. 

I don't have any knowledge of the hickory street place so I'm no help there. Sorry.

fallbride1109

Winfrey point's capacity is 270 according to the Dallas Parks website
http://www.dallasparks.org/reservations/reservations.aspx
It is 100% DIY--they do nothing but provide tables and folding chairs.  It's cheap to rent, but if you want to transform it, it can cost more than a nice all-inclusive venue.

Filter Building.  Like cwaggoner says, 200 is overstating it with a dance floor. 
http://www.thefilterbuilding.com/

HSA 250
http://hickorystreetannex.com/events%20venue.htm
http://hickorystreetannex.com/frog%20galleries/hsa/album/index.html
I don't think HSA is really known for it's outdoor appeal--it's sort of industrial looking IMO.  It can be a cool vibe if that is what you are going for I guess.

Personally, I love the McKinney Cotton Mill but I think it's pricey.
http://www.mckinneycottonmill.com/weddings.html

professorscience

WP has a lot of places where you could set up buffets or stations. It also has a stage where your band could set up. I don't know about holding 200 guests comfortably in the main room, but there is a screened in patio area where you could have more tables. I considered Hickory Street Annex for my reception, but it wasn't really my style. All the weddings I've seen there were indoors. I don't think there's a great area for an outdoor ceremony. Another word about WP, it books FAST. Your best bet is to show up in person to make sure you get it. You can call them to see how early you can reserve it their rule is a year out, but they opened my date on the first of the month.

prlmrg08

WP sounds like a great fit! They offer the wrap around patio and a beautiful outdoor space for ceremony. I would suggest getting a planner for this one though, as it is all inclusive! 

Jen6862

If you go with Winfrey Point or the Filter Building book early! I had an Oct. 2011 wedding but by the time I started looking to book all the October dates where already filled!

kethompson1

thank you so much everybody! I am planning to call this week to confirm some details, I was just wondering if anyone had any first-hand experience! Sometimes I think the capacity listed on the website for the DIY places is the standing capacity rather than the capacity for a nice dinner Good suggestion at WP putting tables on the patio. I wonder if it can be tented if necessary?

And yes, a planner will be a must!! I hate that WP won't let you book until a year out... I hate to think that I'll miss booking another venue's available date by waiting! Oh well, still need to visit these in person.

Does the thinking-about-wedding-things phase ever pass? I imagine it only gets worse!! :P

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_winfrey-point-hickory-street-annex-filter-building?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:9e02323e-5f37-435b-96e3-f59a3e9b8f58Post:24d9818d-0390-4d53-af1a-99c5daf892e1">Re: Winfrey Point, Hickory Street Annex, Filter Building?</a>:
[QUOTE]thank you so much everybody! I am planning to call this week to confirm some details, I was just wondering if anyone had any first-hand experience! Sometimes I think the capacity listed on the website for the DIY places is the standing capacity rather than the capacity for a nice dinner :) Good suggestion at WP putting tables on the patio. I wonder if it can be tented if necessary? And yes, a planner will be a must!! I hate that WP won't let you book until a year out... I hate to think that I'll miss booking another venue's available date by waiting! Oh well, still need to visit these in person. Does the thinking-about-wedding-things phase ever pass? I imagine it only gets worse!! :P
Posted by kethompson1[/QUOTE]

<div>I can't remember how many people were invited to the wedding where I was a BM, but I feel like it was under 100.  They had a long head table parallel to the stage, and then two sets of long tables for guests on either side of the room, with a big area for dancing, and the room definitely felt pretty open with that crowd.  I would think 100-150 would be cramped if you did all the tables AND the dance floor in there, but it could work.  The stage is pretty big, so if you're just doing a DJ, you could probably set him up in just a corner of the stage and put a few tables up there (like the wedding party or something).  There's the wrap-around screened-in patio part, which would probably hold about 4 or 5 round tables (I think -- I'm terrible at visualizing), but they would be pretty shut off from the rest of the reception.  This was one reason we were okay with losing WP -- I hated the idea of some of the guests being "outside."  There's also an unscreened patio area that was nice for pics and looks out on the lake.</div><div>
</div><div>My biggest complaints about WP were that the little bride's room where we got ready was tiny, cramped, and hot.  Granted, it was September, and the weather should be better in October, but it's something to think about.  The other was the bathroom.  It's basically what you would imagine if you think of a park pavillion rest room -- very bare.  I would have wanted to bring a basket of soaps or flowers or something.</div>

susanbre1

You might also want to do some research online about the Dallas Arboretum request to use WInfrey Point as parking.  It's been in the news a lot lately--currently, it has been stopped, but the issue is not dead.  I'd hate to see the natural beauty of the place turned to concrete!  Good luck! 

susanbre1

You might also want to do some research online about the Dallas Arboretum request to use WInfrey Point as parking.  It's been in the news a lot lately--currently, it has been stopped, but the issue is not dead.  I'd hate to see the natural beauty of the place turned to concrete!  Good luck! 

kethompson1

Ah, thank you for the insight. I spoke to one of the ladies in charge of building rentals (regarding Winfrey Point), and she was only moderately helpful in answering my questions. I think this location might end up being too small for us, which probably means Filter Building would be also. We want to have a band and a good-sized dance floor.

I think perhaps I should meet with a wedding coordinator before I make any decisions. Haha!

professorscience

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_winfrey-point-hickory-street-annex-filter-building?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:9e02323e-5f37-435b-96e3-f59a3e9b8f58Post:3ebbca3c-5d5a-4be6-a9fa-f348a3bdc1cb">Re: Winfrey Point, Hickory Street Annex, Filter Building?</a>:
[QUOTE]Ah, thank you for the insight. I spoke to one of the ladies in charge of building rentals (regarding Winfrey Point), and she was only moderately helpful in answering my questions. I think this location might end up being too small for us, which probably means Filter Building would be also. We want to have a band and a good-sized dance floor. I think perhaps I should meet with a wedding coordinator before I make any decisions. Haha!
Posted by kethompson1[/QUOTE]

<div>If you can afford it, I totally recommend a coordinator -- especially if you are planning from OOT.  Jen planned her wedding from Boston, though, and I don't think she had full-service coordination, so it can be done!</div>