I'm new! Of course I have a question.

scstar17

Hello, my name is Holly and I just got engaged last Tuesday.  I'm already looking at venues and am running into some issues already....hopefully someone can help!

We are having our reception at Wildfire at 159 W Erie.  I am not the banquet hall type of girl, I just want good food and drinks and fun with everybody.  Dancing not necessary.  The problem is the ceremony site - WHERE???  Our wedding will be in November so it needs to be indoors, and cheap.  I mean CHEAP cheap under 1K.  We're not having a religious one so it should be done in 20 minutes and I just can't find where to have it without spending way too much.  100 people max, more like 70 realistically.

Anyone have the same predicament as me, or did you?  What did you do?  Any input is appreciated, thank you.

Kathleen9411

You could see how much it would be to have the ceremony at Wildfire.  While they clear out the chairs from the ceremony you can start with your cocktail/picture time and no one will have to worry about traveling in Chicago in November.  

CASK85

Congrats on your engagement!!  Want to tell us how it happened?

I couldn't really find anything for our October wedding ceremony either. We're just doing it in the restaurant where we're having the reception and they're flipping the room for us from ceremony set-up to dinner set-up during cocktail hour while we're in a different room. 

scstar17

I will write to Wildfire and check, thank you.  I guess as long as they can keep the tables out until they change it to the reception I'd be okay.  I'm not very imaginative with how to decorate it for the ceremony, though.

What do you think guests can do while they 'flip' the room back?  The bar at Wildfire would then be 'cash' until the room re-opens, is that a safe assumption?

CASK85

Have you been to the space at WildFire? We looked at it.  Depending on how large your wedding is they would probably have people filter out the back to the bar and maybe the back room set up with a few highboy tables and have passed appetizers or something with your cocktail hour. I'd suggest open bar during that time. 

EDIT: There is a bar in the reception space for this purpose - it wouldn't be the public bar. 

scstar17

Hi!  Oh wow I see my profile is dated January of 2010, embarrassing.  Obviously I started this account thinking we'd be engaged sooner than it happened!  Damn job market held up our plans.

My bf is from New Orleans, and he moved up here to be with me actually.  I can say on here that we met, well, online!  Not on a dating site, it wasn't what we set out for but we met, talked, and obviously it progressed a lot with hard work and lots of phone calls.  Odd, but we're happy

We live together, and he was quite nervous about the proposal even though he knew I'd say yes.  We picked out a ring a couple weeks ago and he was supposed to have it in time for a weekend proposal, but the store was delayed in sizing and he got it last Tuesday...so he just came home from work and asked me right there, with our cats mewing in our faces.  I think he just wanted to get that part over with, the poor shy boy.  But here we are!  We actually live in the suburbs but want a Chicago wedding.  I grew up in the city and we spend our weekends there so it makes the most sense.  We'll have another reception in New Orleans but his mom is pretty much planning that entire thing.  I don't even care, she can do that for me.  I just want my Chicago one.

So your guests will be moving on to a secondary room while the first is flipped?  What restaurant are you having it in, if you don't mind me asking?  If I know it I can picture it better.  I really appreciate the input, I am very bad at planning stuff like this.

CASK85

Check out my planning bio (it is a link in my signature) for more information about our wedding. 

ps -- that is a really sweet proposal story  

scstar17

Yes, I definitely don't want it to be cash bar, just figured that if they did the room changing people wouldn't have anywhere to go but outside or into the normal public part of the bar.

I have been to this Wildfire location once, but not in a private room.  Engaged one week, we'll start viewing soon enough but I wanted to get info from them right away and it seems like we're going to stick with them because we know the food is great.

EDIT: sorry, new to the boards so I didn't realize I could see your plans on here.  Thank you for the help!  I know there is a bar in their reception room/s but figured people would be in the way, so they'd have to be out of there to put in tables.  See how much I know about weddings?  Not much.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:210f7034-d354-4f97-a259-b6fbd2830e52">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]Yes, I definitely don't want it to be cash bar, just figured that if they did the room changing people wouldn't have anywhere to go but outside or into the normal public part of the bar. I have been to this Wildfire location once, but not in a private room.  Engaged one week, we'll start viewing soon enough but I wanted to get info from them right away and it seems like we're going to stick with them because we know the food is great. EDIT: sorry, new to the boards so I didn't realize I could see your plans on here.  Thank you for the help!  I know there is a bar in their reception room/s but figured people would be in the way, so they'd have to be out of there to put in tables.  See how much I know about weddings?  Not much.
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]
haha - don't be sorry :) <div>
</div><div>And I only know so much about Wildfire because we went there to look for our own wedding, so I got a good sense of how things would flow. </div>

scstar17

Why did you decide against WF in the end? (your ring is gorgeous!)

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:4f275119-9d1b-45f3-9d10-a0def77da3ff">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]Why did you decide against WF in the end? (your ring is gorgeous!)
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]
Thank you :) <div>
</div><div>My FI didn't like the look of the space. He thought it was too dark and didn't like the carpet. lol Oh, and we wanted dancing and it was extra for a dance floor, so it put WF just out of our budget. Otherwise though, I liked it. </div>

gottadance64

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:4f275119-9d1b-45f3-9d10-a0def77da3ff">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]Why did you decide against WF in the end? (your ring is gorgeous!)
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Agreed - love that ring!

</div>

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:57e0d57c-57cf-4035-b7cb-91282605a87b">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question. : Agreed - love that ring!
Posted by gottadance64[/QUOTE]
aww, thanks :) 

scstar17

Wildfire won't do different setups for the two parts, so still searching for another.  I'm looking at Berger Park Cultural center now...

I really appreciate the quick help yesterday!  I'm so far away but getting into all the details already.  Thank god I keep meticulous notes and get everything done ahead of schedule.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:633fecf6-dda4-4a3a-ab70-5ad758382116">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]Wildfire won't do different setups for the two parts, so still searching for another.  <strong>I'm looking at Berger Park Cultural center now.</strong>.. I really appreciate the quick help yesterday!  I'm so far away but getting into all the details already.  Thank god I keep meticulous notes and get everything done ahead of schedule.
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]
Ha - I've been there too :) Sounds like you and have have similar styles. You should check out the venue we're using too.

scstar17

You should be my wedding planner   Seriously thank you!  You are a very helpful person, I'm glad I decided to post on here after originally saying no because I'd get too obsessive with the wedding details.  I emailed their event planner at the Irish Bistro and I look forward to their response.  It absolutely looks like our style place.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:0e87bbce-274e-45d4-b6b1-334c7107e8b4">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]You should be my wedding planner :)  Seriously thank you!  You are a very helpful person, I'm glad I decided to post on here after originally saying no because I'd get too obsessive with the wedding details.  I emailed their event planner at the Irish Bistro and I look forward to their response.  It absolutely looks like our style place.
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]
You are welcome!! I love being able to help someone! <div>
</div><div>If the event planner at the bistro takes a little while to get back to you, don't worry. She will email you back sooner or later. And you can show up there randomly any time and ask to see the space. You and your FI should go have a date night there. The food is awesome and they have a great beer selection. </div>

scstar17

It's very close to my best friend/MOH's house too, so perfect for getting ready and getting there!  I'm glad you're happy with your choice and hopefully I can start helping people here instead of just gobbling up tips. 

Two more things, ha ha.  Are they letting you in earlier in the day to set up your centerpieces?  And are they allowing you to play your own music via iPod/laptop or DJ? 

It looks perfect because my dad, who passed away four years ago, made stained glass pieces for years and years so there's that room, plus dark purple is my color and there's an entire room of it.  Wow.  And the beer choices and Irish-ness of the place will be good for my friends.

CASK85

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_illinois-chicago_im-new-of-course-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:72Discussion:266d2602-7f66-4e26-a9df-e4e6310ec1dbPost:18e6ca39-fc02-4ec8-b1a9-377a84953687">Re: I'm new! Of course I have a question.</a>:
[QUOTE]It's very close to my best friend/MOH's house too, so perfect for getting ready and getting there!  I'm glad you're happy with your choice and hopefully I can start helping people here instead of just gobbling up tips.  <strong>Two more things, ha ha.  Are they letting you in earlier in the day to set up your centerpieces?  And are they allowing you to play your own music via iPod/laptop or DJ?</strong>  It looks perfect because my dad, who passed away four years ago, made stained glass pieces for years and years so there's that room, plus dark purple is my color and there's an entire room of it.  Wow.  And the beer choices and Irish-ness of the place will be good for my friends.
Posted by scstar17[/QUOTE]
Since we're using the Elizabeth room for the ceremony and for dinner, I'm trusting them to set up our centerpieces because they'll have to flip the set up while we're having our cocktail hour. Our centerpieces are simple - burgundy table runners with mason jars containing ivory votives and then (I think) scattered orange gourds and maybe apples too. I'll probably send in my MOH and/or Mom to make sure things look good before the guests go in. Edit: They said we could show up early that day if we wanted to decorate though. <div>
</div><div>And we're using our ipod for music, but you could have a DJ if you wanted. </div><div>
</div><div>They're really laid back there, so you can do pretty much whatever you want. </div>

scstar17

PERFECT!  I can't stop thanking you.  Thank you.  My centerpieces will be various glass vases and jars and votives so I can send the moms in to take care of it if need-be.

We are doing the iPod route so that's great.  All great.  I want to have my wedding this weekend I'm so excited now.