Central Florida wedding newbie!

irisheyezfsu

I am recently engaged as of 4/22/10!!! Hello fellow central florida brides!

While I have a planner personality, it already feels a year might not be enough time to plan a wedding for spring 2011 in Orlando from DC.  

Bride [ Me ] : from orlando originally, where parents reside. Altomonate springs/longwood area is where the wedding ceremony itself will be held. 

honestly, I have been looking at wedding stuff before  I was engaged (what girl doesn't) and I have always felt that I couldn't find a reception site that met both mine and my FH's expectations.

I was wondering if you ladies had suggestions for reception sites in the orlando area that is fun but elegant. Yes I have looked on knot for suggestion and have come up with only one that has peaked my interest so far. 

by the way sarak (sarahsmile23) nice picture in the knot, it lead me to this board!

Blonde407

Congrats and welcome :-)

Some locations you might want to look into... Lake mary event center, Casa Feliz, Winter Park Racquet club...

Also we have a CFL Bio (located in my siggy) that has vendor reviews from venues to invitations and there is also a list of frequently used vendors :-)

Britt1406

Congratulations!! Just a few questions might help us with more suggestions: How many people are you estimating? Do you want indoor or outdoor? Do you have a budget in mind?

irisheyezfsu

well since my FB and I are both only children looks like going to be on the larger size hopping to keep around 250 at the max but I know there is a chance for larger. 

I would prefer outside, since wer are getting married in a church.  But as long as the place as an area we could use that is indoor/outdoor that would be cool.

thanks Blonde 407.  Yes I have looked into some those locations, I think those two in winter park will be two small for my affair though both are beautiful and they have some tight restrictions due to being in neighorhoods.  I like to dance and don't want to have the neighbors calling if the party gets going ya know haha.

The one location that I mentioned being happy before was the Lake Mary event center. Part of this is due to the fact the church is in Altamonte Springs.  I will definitely check your resources!

Pretty Parula

Welcome and congratulations!

Casa Feliz will definitely be too small for your guest list, but LMEC should be able to accommodate you. They also overlook a lake and have very pretty indoor/outdoor spaces. Let us know if you need any more ideas for other vendors, too! Most of us who've already gotten married have vendor reviews posted in our bios, so that might be helpful for you, too! Good luck with everything!

irisheyezfsu

yeah actually the lake marry event place is the one that peaked my interest. My parents live in longwood and the church is in altamonte springs so it is a great location. Plus I did like that it was on a lake. 

Did you take a tour of it?   Definitely going to look at the vendors

Theresa626

The Hard Rock hotel is both fun and elegant. 

jmucheech21

So, are you doing your ceremony in a church and just looking for a reception location?

jmucheech21

Oh, and welcome!!    I went to college in VA, so many of my friends live in the DC area.  Love it up there!!!!  

irisheyezfsu

yes we are having it in the church I grew up in for the most part.  Even though there is a reception hall located on church property, it just isn't very stylish. 

Yes my fiance and I love DC and northern virgina area, we are actually moving to our first apartment in Alexandria next month!

Theresa626- is that were you had your reception? If so what did you like most about it? I have looked breifly online but don't remember too many visuals on the website

meghanmcadams

Which church in Altamonte are you getting married at? Is there a distance limitation for your guests, that you want them to travel. Do you need a hotel nearby?

I'm also getting married in Altamonte, and one of the other girls just got married in Altamonte and had her reception at Lake Mary Event Center.

mlharbis

My friend from high school got had her ceremony and reception at LMEC. AThe ceremony was outside and the reception inside. It was pretty and is a very popular location. I am not that familiar with reception locations in that area since my church is in Winter Park I only looked in the surrounding WP/Orlando area.
Welcome and Congratulations!!!!!!

ashbosity

I believe LMEC seats 240. That's where I'm having my ceremony and reception. I work at Hard Rock Hotel. Its nice and big, but it is alot more expensive than free standing venues. Their food starts at $100pp. Here's a link to a photographer's blog of a wedding there, but there aren't a lot of pictures of the actual reception venue. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ladolcevitastudio.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/smithsamfordw_091010_171.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ladolceblog.com/%3Fm%3D200911&usg=__yKE8tsBoWoG-jmPr3GKtffyJHKA=&h=985&w=633&sz=368&hl=en&start=2&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=_Ehogirhm90k9M:&tbnh=149&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhard%2Brock%2Bhotel%2Bwedding%2Bpictures%2Borlando%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26ndsp%3D18%26tbs%3Disch:1

Hope this helps!

ashbosity

Jeez, sorry about that link being crazy. I forgot to say that Hard Rock would be a bit of a drive from Altamonte. As PP stated, it depends on the travel limits you want to keep your guests from traveling.

SarahSmile23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_florida-central-florida_central-florida-wedding-newbie?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:66Discussion:2d53bcf0-e694-43ab-8d61-733d6f4690e4Post:6d1aa520-1af5-4a64-a407-d20724076f21">Central Florida wedding newbie!</a>:
[QUOTE]I am recently engaged as of 4/22/10!!! Hello fellow central florida brides! While I have a planner personality, it already feels a year might not be enough time to plan a wedding for spring 2011 in Orlando from DC.   Bride [ Me :) ] : from orlando originally, where parents reside. Altomonate springs/longwood area is where the wedding ceremony itself will be held.  honestly, I have been looking at wedding stuff before  I was engaged (what girl doesn't) and I have always felt that I couldn't find a reception site that met both mine and my FH's expectations. I was wondering if you ladies had suggestions for reception sites in the orlando area that is fun but elegant. Yes I have looked on knot for suggestion and have come up with only one that has peaked my interest so far.  <strong>by the way sarak (sarahsmile23) nice picture in the knot, it lead me to this board!</strong>
Posted by irisheyezfsu[/QUOTE]

bwahaha. in the knot magazine? i haven't seen it yet! but i wasn't really excited about the pic of me annie wanted to use. i wish she had just used one of my wedding pics! i actually didn't tell anybody about it, so i'm sure people have no idea what we are talking about.

welcome, by the way!

Megs30

Welcome and Congrats!

I am getting married and having my reception at the Lake Mary Events Center so if you have any questions let me know.  Another good idea for a reception place is the new Westin in Lake Mary.  It is beautiful!

irisheyezfsu

Sarah- haha it is a nice picture. I was waiting for my FH to get done with a presentation at work before I went home so I stopped into a book store and picked up the wedding bible (the knot) and there you were lol. It is actually what directed me here!  (might have to steal your photographer I love that picture!)

MLHarbis, Ashbosity, Megs30 - how would you rate the LMEC (1-10) and for those of you having your reception there, how has the service been?

As for the out of town guest, both my FH and I have family in florida ranging from tampa, west palm beach, the penisala, and orlando.  However I feel like my cut off for locations is no farther than the Gaylord.  That gives me a big radius.  We both will have family coming from out of state, but as all this family has been to orlando and florida many times it is no issue.
 Part the reason we wanted to have it in Orlando was that it was easier for our family to get to and less expensive than if we dragged everyone to DC. 

meganmacadams - we haven't talked to my church yet but we plan on being married at Annuciation Catholic Church.  It is where I was baptised, and grew up, my family has a strong tie to that church. 

SarahSmile23

hmm...then i have no idea what photo it is! but my photographer was tab mccausland. she's a sweetheart! i'm wondering if annie used one of my engagement pics?

and you have plenty of time to plan for a 2011 wedding, don't stress about that.

irisheyezfsu

yes I realize that I have a year, I am not that stressed just a major planner (got it from my mom), also I know it will be a little harder to plan from DC, so just starting to figure out stuff.

meghanmcadams

Annunciations a gorgeous church! There aren't a lot of unique options close to there that will hold over 200 comfortably, but it's possible. Personally we are using the Sheraton in Maitland and getting married at Mary Mag.

P.S. Totally forgot to say welcome and congrats!

Megs30

My wedding is in November so I can't give too much of a review but I just love the venue and its location.  They have a list of caterers you can choose to work with.  They are listed on their site.  Those caterers can work with various budgets and ideas too.  I am using Arthur's for my caterer and they are wonderful!

Hope this helps!

irisheyezfsu

megan - Thank you, I pretty much grew up there, went to Annuciation grade school, met my best friends there. So it holds a lot of special memories.   I know a lot of people that went to Mary Mag. Yes there aren't a lot of great places in the area, that is why I am researching now .

Megs30- Thanks for letting me know about the caterer. Trust me I have gone through their whole site. I happen to be marrying a foodie of sorts, so being restricted to a caterer makes him cringe (he wants in charge of food).  I like that we have a choice between several people.

Megs30

You're welcome!  Good luck with the planning and let me know if you have any questions

AlexiaANDRobert

Annunciation is a beautiful Church.  I grew up there but switched to Mary Mag.

Anyway, near Altamonte - Holy Trinity Reception Center is one of my favorites.  It's in Maitland and not a far drive.

Annunciation is near I-4 so it's not too bad to hit up Lake Mary or Altamonte.  The Embassy Suites (the hotel overlooking/next to Cranes Roost) is really pretty inside.  I bet you could have a reception there.

Good luck!

brit21489

I'm getting married at Lake Mary Events Center (LMEC) in less than 2 months! Poptartsrock, aka Teresa, got married there last month, you could ask her questions. I love it there, and I think you should check it out!

And welcome!! These girls are great and we are all willing to help you out with any of the questions you might have. Good luck planning! 

meghanmcadams

[QUOTE]Annunciation is a beautiful Church.  I grew up there but switched to Mary Mag. Anyway, near Altamonte - Holy Trinity Reception Center is one of my favorites.  It's in Maitland and not a far drive. Annunciation is near I-4 so it's not too bad to hit up Lake Mary or Altamonte.  The Embassy Suites (the hotel overlooking/next to Cranes Roost) is really pretty inside.  I bet you could have a reception there. Good luck!
Posted by AlexiaANDRobert[/QUOTE]

I looked at both Alexia mentioned and although you may have different tastes here are my thoughts <img src="http://cdn.cl9.vanillaforums.com/downloaded/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />

Holy Trinity was awesome but- they do not have a designated cocktail space, they have a small entry way, but you can do cocktails outside in the courtyard or pay to rent their huge outside pavilion that is behind reception hall.

Embassy suites was nice- the wedding planning lady was my favorite and most prepared. We were turned off by the ballroom though, the ceiling is a low drop. Not my taste, but the cocktail space is awesome.

If you are looking for a hotel reception the Sheraton is pretty awesome, but I can't give too much of a review yet. I have been to a lot of things at LMEC from when I worked for another City, and the place is awesome and so is the staff.

You might also want to check out Winter Park Civic Center.

Good luck!

irisheyezfsu

Thanks guys, I love annuciation, like stated before I grew up there so that is completely decided on ceremony location.  When did you contact the church about doing pre cana (marriage prep) and such? 

I am excited to hear all the good reports on the LMEC, this is making me ant to check it out more.  I have looked at picture of the winter park civic center definitely a possibility, I liked the hardwoods. 

I guess I am really picky on hotel receptions because they usually have patterned carpet and usually it turns me off if it doesn't match. I am weird like that. 

mlharbis

The Winter Park Civic Center is very plain and needs a lot of work to make it a pretty wedding reception. I have seen some pictures of fabulous wedding receptions there but I do know that all of those receptions had very large budgets, so if you have a decent budget don't be turned off because you can do beautiful things there because it is such a large open blank canvas, but it you have limited money for decorations it is prob not the place for you.

irisheyezfsu

good point !

meghanmcadams

I understand your carpet problem, trust me I was just as picky!!


As for contacting the church I did it pretty quick after our engagement, we knew what date we wanted and needed (Fiance is a teacher and we are getting married Saturday before spring break). Once you start the prep with the Church you are ok, and I believe you can do Pre-Cana where you live, as long as it is completed. Actually I might recommend it, ours was horrible it was not the pre-marriage prep either of us expected. But thats a story for another day. If I can help at all let me know.

nhshorty

Welcome and congrats! Lake Mary Event Center is our site as well but you may have difficulty booking as they're booking 18 months out for a Saturday wedding!  Check it out soon if you're interested.  I toured it again last week and was blown away by how beautiful it was!

Good luck!