Ladies, I just have to share with you all a venue I stumbled upon.
I am a distributor for an at-home body wrap product and attended a vendor fair at the Granger Community Center. Don't know where Granger is? It is about 10 minutes North of the Urbandale Super Target (the S.T. you can see right off the Interstate). I had no idea Granger had a community center and was pleasantly shocked when I went in to set up.
The Granger Community Center is a former church. I'm not sure if they redid all the walls or what but, it looks brand new. The exterior is really nice too. After I was informed that it is a former church, things started making sense to me.
When you first walk in the front doors, you are in a foyer area. If you walk ahead (I believe there are double doors to go through) you find yourself in a big, open, vaulted room. There is a big wooden dance floor in the middle of this room and a stage at the back of the room. The room is wider vs. long and narrow. It makes sense to me that this room is the former sanctuary. Another option from the foyer is to turn left and follow a short, wide hall which opens into a second room. This room is wide open and there is a kitchen are in the back of this room. If memory serves me correct, there are smaller individual rooms (I'm thinking a baby room, and an older kids room with sitters in each room for our wedding/reception) along the outer edge of this room.
Like I said earlier, I thought the community center was a new building built just to be a community center. It seriously feels new. It's spacious, it's neutral colored, and...drum roll please... the current rental price is $400 for the day for non-residents of Granger. And... you get to choose your caterer!
We are having our ceremony and reception there, as my fiance's family is from MN. and the less they have to attempt to find their way around the better. I meet with Betty, one of the fabulous gals who helps coordinate the center, a week from today to sign my contract. I will take pictures to share with you all while there.
Now for the technical things:
The events side (I'm guessing this is the side with the stage) holds 314 with zero tables. 146 with tables and chairs.
The other side holds 228 without tables. 106 with tables and chairs (this, I believe, is the side with the kitchen and the two side rooms hold 25 people.
The center has 25 - 8' tables (200 ppl) and 10 - 60" round tables (60 - 80 ppl), 150+ (they just purchased more and she is thinking they now have 200 chairs but I will confirm next Tues.) white folding chairs, and five high chairs available for your use.
For those who are really trying for a budget wedding, they also have 9 dozen table settings (plates, glasses, soup bowls, coffee mugs, and silverware) you may use too! So, you could do your own food if you wanted...
I am in no way affiliated with this center. I just had to share with you all this hidden gem. Hope it helps some. I know that I am personally thrilled!
Oh... here is there website, it's currentlly not great (I've provided more info than the site provides) but they will be taking pictures Tuesday as well and updating the site in the future.
http://www.grangeriowa.gov/index.asp?Type=B_PR&SEC=%7BE37E858D-2564-4C2F-B258-D802E07C2B92%7D