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Wedding Venue help

Aforr0811Aforr0811 member
First Comment
in Maine
So, I'm recently engaged (well as of Christmas) and I'm starting to seriously think about the wedding. I have the guest list pretty much ironed out, I'm just struggling with a venue. 

I really like the Bethel Inn and the Captain Daniel Stone Inn. 
Has anyone had weddings here? What was your experience...have any suggestions? 

I'm planning from away, so any advice would be helpful.

Thank yoU!
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Re: Wedding Venue help

  • chrispygalchrispygal
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married in Bethel, but not at the Bethel Inn.  Sorry I can't give you an opinions, but yay for Bethel!  lol
    Married 9.4.11
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  • Aforr0811Aforr0811 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Where in Bethel?

    I liked the Inn because they offer almost everything. Being from away, it doesn't lend itself to a DIY wedding, sadly.
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  • amanda_robinson0717amanda_robinson0717
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i am also doing a wedding from afar in bethel,me and its so much easier then you would think! if you want some referals, between me and chrispy who are having our wedding at a private location called ski esta on sunday river (www.skiesta.us)
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  • plato79plato79 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I looked at the Bethel Inn and I LOOOOVED it. We passed on it because we really liked the Inn (they have a larger conference center, but it's not that quaint inn feel), but felt it was too small for our 200-220 person wedding. I feel like the Bethel Inn would be great for 100-150 person weddings. Also, things you should know...you have to end the reception by 10pm, though you can go down to the bar area afterwards. 

    You should totally check it out though. It's beautiful and well-priced. The food is unbelievable and they pretty much were willing to bend over backwards to make us happy. I have a lot of allergies and they were going to have me sit down and design a menu with the chef. 

    Also, you should go visit because they give you a great deal (I think it came to be around $120) for a really nice room, an amazing three or four course dinner, and a very tasty breakfast the next day. 

    Although we didn't go with the Bethel (we went with Sunday River instead), we are going to hold our rehearsal dinner there. I'm super excited about having the rehearsal there. 

    Last, the Bethel Inn and the accompanying area has some amazing photo opportunities. Good luck with your search!! :)
    Wedding Countdown Ticker June 3, 2011!
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  • plato79plato79 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    p.s. I'm planning from afar...well, Boston. 
    Wedding Countdown Ticker June 3, 2011!
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  • ivyrose13ivyrose13 member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    I looked at the Captain Daniel Stone Inn, it's absolutely gorgeous and has a nice grand staircase. My main issue was the size, I'm expecting 150 people and they really can only accommodate 80. The room felt very cramped to me, the "ballroom" is a little bigger than a large dining room in a house, and dancing is in a separate, adjoining room. My only other issue is that they expect a 50% deposit in order to hold a date, and that was not in my budget at the time. On the positive, for someone planning a wedding from away, they do most of the wedding planning for you. Their food is delicious too.


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    The truth behind a well laced dress
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  • chrispygalchrispygal
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011

    I thought the Bethel Inn was cute, and the grounds were beautiful (I love downtown Bethel!), but I thought the rooms were just ok.  But it all depends what you are looking for.  The people there really were nice and lovely, but we knew from the start we didn't want a function room-type wedding so we were just there looking at rooms for a room block.

    Aforr, like Amanda said both she and I have rented the Ski Esta House.  It's a private house that has enough room for a smaller (60ish people) wedding to be held inside.  The house is serioulsy amazing.  I am planning from a distance (RI/MA border) and have had a fairly easy time with it.  We've done two trips up to Bethel so far - one to see the venue and one to visit with vendors and I feel very comfortable with who we're using.  We're having the Good Food Store cater and their food was amazing!  We are using Pooh Corner Farms for flowers, and there are some great florists in Portland too that I can recommend if you're looking for options.  I am in love with our photographers, Birch Blaze Photography, and I recommended them to Jennormandie and she loved them as well.  I have been able to do most of this via email and phone, and I went for the in-person visits because they made me feel better but I know we would have been fine without it.

    If you're having a larger event and like the idea of renting a house, there is also the Glen House, which has a big lawn area large enough to hold a tented event.  Both this and the Ski Esta have enough bedrooms to have some family/friends stay with you and we ended up renting our house for the week and making this our honeymoon.  We're really excited!  And I'm excited to see what you decide on.  Do you have an idea of when you are looking to hold the wedding?

    Married 9.4.11
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  • Aforr0811Aforr0811 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    You girls are so sweet!
    Thank you for all the information.

    Right now the guest list is at 85 and probably 10 people wont come. Most of my fiance's family is from Washington and really can't afford the flights/hotels. We really have an open mind to when the wedding will be held, anywhere between September to early November. It all depends on open dates.

    So the wedding will be on the smaller side. The Captain Daniel Stone Inn might work since it's smaller. The Bethel Inn looks gorgeous too.  

    So, this Ski Esta House, sounds very nice. Did you girls find it hard to coordinate rentals, caterers etc..? I was originally concerned about coordinating all of this and not quite sure how it all happens ...setting up, taking down etc..
    Would the Ski Esta house be too large for a smaller wedding? I don't want a large space, so then it looks like nobody came to the wedding :)

    Thank you again!

    -Alicia
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  • chrispygalchrispygal
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Check out the pictures Alicia, and google SkiEsta weddings and you'll see some pictures.  It's definitely a huge house, but it will not be too big for 75-85 people - it might actually be a little tight although people have sat more.  What I loved about it is that there is a place outside on the deck or down on the lawn to have an outdoor wedding (I'm planning labor day weekend and on the deck) but there is also space inside in the living room to have the ceremony in case there is bad weather. 

    I have had very little issues with planning, although it definitely is a little more detailed.  Luckily the caterer and the home owner have been HUGE helps!  They've done ton of weddings in the home so they know it inside and out.  Same thing with the rental company I"m using too.  And you'd have myself and Amanda as well.  :) 
    It's definitely different, and costly in a different way, but I think for what we're getting it's totally worth it.  Feel free to PM if you have any $$ questions, I'll be happy to answer them. 

    Have fun with your research!
    Married 9.4.11
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  • chrispygalchrispygal
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh and I forgot to mention that I did hire a wedding planner to run the rehearsal and to set up and manage the day of the wedding.   It was invaluable to me to be able to enjoy and not stress the day of. 
    Married 9.4.11
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  • Aforr0811Aforr0811 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Ah, a wedding planner, something I wish I had become. It would make all of this easier!

    Thank you for the advice, I've place the Ski Esta House on my list of venue's to look at when I'm back in Maine. 

    Does the overwhelming feeling that you are behind schedule ever go away? Maybe once we hit the honeymoon!
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  • chrispygalchrispygal
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Haha, it does go away for a bit, but really it's just a false sense of security.  :)  I think one of the most stressful times was figuring out what we wanted to do.  Once we got that part decided, the rest was much easier.  Now it's just a lot of little things to do.  I have a running list with notes, and I pick one thing to work on at a time.   Have fun with it!
    Married 9.4.11
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  • EML333EML333
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am also thinking about having my wedding in Bethel. I am going to look at the resorts at Sunday River but I am wondering if I should also make an appointment at the Bethel Inn. Are their rates at all comparable? Which one do you guys think would be more practical/ affordable for a group of about 175?

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  • Aforr0811Aforr0811 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I have found the people at the Bethel Inn to be super helpful. 
    We're planning for a late fall wedding, so they have given me decent quotes. We still haven't decided on a venue though. 
    Here is a PDF of their rates...I believe theres a 1,000 dollar venue fee, but I'm not quite sure about that.



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