Help with a reception venue

airair44

Wedding planning has become a nightmare for me.  I am planning a wedding for December because I am in school year round and December is the only time I have more than a few days off. I know it is only 7 months away which is making my life extremely difficult.  I had settled on  Sunday, December 11th because it was the only date my church and the VOA lodge were both available.  I reserved the church but then come to find out someone had given me false information about the lodge availability and it is not available after all.  I am crushed because it was exactly what I wanted for a great price.  So  now I am frantically searching for a new reception venue, here is what I am looking for:

-holds at least 150
-budget friendly (the lodge was going to be $300!!) I would like to not go much over $1000 for the rental
-not mandatory to use an expensive caterer
-I would like something a little different.  That is why i liked the lodge.  Preferably something in a park/outdoorsy setting.

I have checked hamilton county parks but their catering seems pretty pricey!  The lodges that don't require their catering are all too small.  I know there are a lot of constraints but if anyone has any ideas please let me know!  Thanks!

Erin Heyne

A good way to search for vendors that allow outside an outside cater is to simply google your local cater i.e. Cincinnati wedding cater, dayton wedding cater. Many of their websites will list 'preferred or recommended venues'. I learned a lot about venues going about it this way! I learned more about reception sites by researching them through caterer websites.

PTfish

Have you looked at Beckett Ridge CC? It has the exposed beams and is less than 1,000 for rental.


http://cincinnati.weddings.com/Local/vendordetail.aspx?CategoryCode=CAR&VendorId=237645&MsdVisit=1

clearheavens

I really feel for you about finding the right reception venue.  It was also one of our most time consuming and stressful areas of planning.

Try the Krippendorf Lodge, it's a gorgeous outdoorsy location - http://www.cincynature.org/krippendorf.html

Also consider the Fairfield Community Arts Center, they allow outside catering - http://www.fairfield-city.org/cac/

The Muhlhauser Barn would be inexpensive and they allow outside catering but I think they're only available until November every year - 

http://www.westchesteroh.org/CSMuhlhauserBarn.cfm

ebbowman5

Mariner's Inn- the west chester location. They are extremely affordable & easy to work with. Not sure if that's too far away from your church or not, but its worth looking into. They are fantastic!

emmmbeee

Try Pattison Lodge in Clermont County.  The lodge is in a very quiet, pretty setting.  We loved it but we're from NKY so the drive there seemed to be a bit much for some of our guests that live even further south than us so we ruled it out.  But it's only $475 for a rental on a Sunday and they allow you to bring in your own catering/alcohol.  See:  http://parks.clermontcountyohio.gov/Lodge.aspx

I think Krippendorf requires you to use an exclusive caterer that is a bit pricey, but I may be wrong.  I think that's why we ruled that one out.

The city of Cincinnati also has a few lodges (run by their parks department, not by the county's).  Maple Ridge Lodge is very nice and it seats 200.  See: http://www.premierparkevents.com/

In NKY there is the Fort Thomas Community Center.  I believe it is around $700-$800 to rent and it is usually booked up but given that your date is a Sunday it may be avaialble.  See:  http://www.ftthomas.org/Recreation/ComCtr.html

There is also the Southgate Community Center in NKY.  See:  http://www.southgateky.org.yew.arvixe.com/dnn/CommCenter.aspx

airair44

Thanks so much for the suggestions, these are great!

clearheavens

Oh, also check out Anderson Center, you can bring your own caterer - http://andersoncenterevents.org

And the Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center - http://www.thecarnegie.com/