Reception Venues HELP!!! Kinda Long but Desperate for Advice!!!

mkovacik · August 2010

Hello everyone! This is my first time posting and I'm in desperate need of guidance!

I'm an Orlando native, born and raised, but currently live in Annapolis, Maryland with my fiancee. Because all of our friends and family live in Florida, we've decided to do an Orlando wedding. We've already booked the Knowles Memorial chapel for June 3, 2011 but we are having a heck of a time finding a reception site that is big enough to accomodate our 200 guests and affordable enough to fit my parents $10k budget (they're paying for reception, we're paying for everything else). Cutting the guest list down is NOT an option (I know many of you will suggest this but it just can't be done). And, if this isn't all stressful enough, I'm doing this 900 miles away!

We've already investigated numerous reception locations, listed below, and they have all not worked out for many reasons...
-Winter Park Farmers Market (Too small)
-Swan and Dolphin Hotel, Grand Bohemian Hotel, Sonata Hotel (Too expensive/Not enough included)
-Lake Lucerne (Outdoor dance floor in June... enough said!)
-Lake Mary Event Center (Booked)
-Heathrow, Interlocken, Citrus Club, Winter Park Country Clubs (Too expensive/Booked)
-Ballroom at Church Street, Winter Park Civic Center, and Dubsdred (not to my taste)
-The list goes on and on and on...

My parents just looked at Ceviche Tapas Restaurant and Bar and they really liked it, but it's just not what I envisioned for my big day. However, price is really good and they are really willing and able to accomodate everything I want.

Has anyone done a reception at Ceviche? If so, would you recommend it?

And if anyone has any ideas of places we've not yet looked at, I'd LOVE some help! I can't be there to look around, so any suggestions are welcome!

Thank you in advance!!

-

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

hey you aren't the only one doing this I am in Alexandria, VA, DC area and planning my Orlando hometown wedding too! Places in Orlando book wayyy in advance. I am having October 2011 wedding and places are already getting booked. I have a wedding guest list of 160-200 as well we are still putting it all together. I feel your anxiety.

I would check out city owned places in Sandford and Orlando. Check out http://www.thehistorycenter.org/events. If you would like I can send you a copy of the orlando magisine which has a 4 page listing of orlando receptions sites with a bunch of info. for each.

dilemma412 · August 2010

not sure how many it holds, but what about the orlando science center?

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

on the terrace it holds 300.

Theresa626 · August 2010

Have you looked at Leu Gardens?

Theresa626 · August 2010

Also, the Longwood Historic Center

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

The Longwood Community Building is very pretty on the outside you have to do a lot of decorations yourself and is very reasonable but only seats 150. What about masion and Jardin?

meghanmcadams · August 2010

Maison and Jardin would be very pricey for 200.

What area of town are you looking for?

andee1353 · August 2010

You may have to adjust your taste some to accommodate the price point

Theresa626 · August 2010

YOu're getting married at the Rollins chapel, correct? Could you contact Rollins and see if they have any sort of ballroom of some sort or large fuction area that can be rented out? Almost every college has one it's just a matter of whether they will rent it to you.

andee1353 · August 2010

You may have to adjust your taste to fit the budget

jmucheech21 · August 2010

I would recommend looking at some venues that you bring in your own caterer for. This would allow you a lot more flexibility with pricing. The girls on here that have hired caterers seem to have gotten much lower prices than those who went to a place that did their own catering. There are lots of halls and civic centers all around the Orlando area. I'm not very familiar with those in the area you are getting married, but if you go on the city website, I bet you can find some ideas.

Good luck!!!

lauralulu777 · August 2010

What exactly is that $10K budgeted to cover? Facility rental and food only? Music? Decorations? I know you said your parents are paying for the "reception", but that can mean so many different things....

Let me put it this way: I'm having my reception at the Winter Park Farmers Market. I am expecting about 125 guests at my wedding, and even though I am doing ALL decorations myself, have ZERO dollars for a floral budget (I am making all of my centerpieces myself out of willow branches and tissue paper flowers) and found a caterer who gave me a hell of a deal, I'll be LUCKY to keep this thing close to 10K.

If there's no way you can cut the guest list, unfortunately you and your fiance may have to pick up the rest of the tab beyond the 10K for the reception.

I looked at tons of venues all over a four-county area, and depending on what that 10K is meant to cover, I can't really think of any "traditional" wedding venue that can do it for that amount for as many guests as you're having.

Ceviche is a nice restaurant, the food is good and it has a very authentic spanish vibe, decor and menu. It's not what I would consider a "traditional" wedding venue, so if you're a ballroom-and-chandelier kind of girl, you're going to hate it. The interiors are dark woods and lots of reds and oranges (at least it was when I went there last time - it's been a while).

It may be worth your while to make the trip to Orlando to check it out.

Good luck!

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

Definitely take time to make a trip. My fiance and I are taking a trip there next week and have two days booked with appointments with my parents and his parents are coming from West Palm Beach to see places as well with us. We expect to see about 6 venues in two days.

jmucheech21 · August 2010

Not sure if this will help at all, but I went to Celebration Golf Club and told them I really wanted to keep my ceremony fee and reception costs at $11,000. I have 150 guests. They met this exact price for me just because I asked for it. Try calling around and just saying that. "I have $10,000 to spend for 200 guests, can you help me?"

Also, keep in mind about 25-30% of invited guests don't attend. Unfortunately, you can't rely on that, because for some people almost everyone shows. Its a gamble, but if many of your guests are from MD, some of them just may not be able to make the trip. That would cut down on your costs a little bit.

vedika · August 2010

If you are looking for a place in Orlando, I definitely recommed the Wyndham Orlando Resort - it has a beautiful property and Donna Cooke (the Event Coordinator) has been SUPER helpful! Her contact number is 407-351-2420. They cater for 200+ and have a gorgeous ballroom for it. The food is fantastic and the area is pleasant to take pictures. GL!

vedika · August 2010

PS: I DEFINITELY suggest getting a Day Of Coordinator. If you have the $$ get one! I recommend Ashlie Hampton - she has been superb. People do complain of her inconsistency in communication, but she does great work! Her number is 407-761-7066; by hiring a DOC, you can relieve a bit of stress in knowing that you will find the right place and have the best day ever!

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

She has a pretty tight budget, how much does wyndham cost?

mkovacik · August 2010

First of all, thanks to everyone for your help! I was in a really, REALLY frustrated place when I posted this and really just needed advice. A special thanks to Irisheyez for all your posts... You obviously know how frustrating this can be!!

When I said my parents were paying $10k for the reception that's to include the venue, food, taxes/fees, tables, chairs, basic linens, etc. Basically everything other than decor and cake. I gues I'm just really shocked that with that much money, I can't find a traditional venue that will fit in my price range for 200 guests! Maybe I'm just naiive but I had no idea that this wedding could cost so much!!

I still haven't figured out what I'm doing but I am planning a visit home soon so that I can actually see these venues and make a decision. I'm ready to move on to the fun stuff like dress and cake!!

Thanks again!

Theresa626 · August 2010

mkovacik, I know 10,000 seems like a ton of money but 200 is also a lot of people. It breaks down to fifty a person. When was the last time you went to a restaurant and ate a salad, entree and dessert plus drank all you wanted for four hours and only spent 50 dollars total? At that price, you have to cut out something from your traditional ballroom wedding. The main cost driver of a wedding is the number of guests you have. So, 10,000 is a lot of money but it only goes so far depending on how many people you have.

Theresa626 · August 2010

Also, have you thought about doing a dessert only reception or an hors d'oeuvres only reception and changing the time of it to a non meal time? You'd have to start later or end much earlier but it would save on money. YOu could also save on alcohol by doing only wine and beer or only one signature drink the whole night.

vedika · August 2010

The Wyndham WILL work with your budget. I am by no means having a super elaborate or extravagant wedding but Donna worked with my $10k budget and even added in a few extras! I am doing basic linens and getting 3 different meals, this also included a full service bar. It doesn't hurt to ask if you are still shopping around! Good luck!

irisheyezfsu · August 2010

haha thanks for the special thanks! If you are ever in the DC area and want to get coffee or something and need advice please feel free to contact me! Trust me weddings can be a very interesting journey and I am still in the begining of my planning as well! Best tip is just be upfront about your budget to people and get everything in writting. If they throw in "extras" for you then get it in writting. I have heard of people leaving and someone else taking over and not being able to get those "extras" because it was just an oral agreement.

Dragonfly6191 · August 2010

I know people have given you alot of other options, but just wanted to answer your question about Cerviche....

My sorority did a formal event there last year. Personally, I wasn't overly impressed. The space is fairly small, and set-up in a way that doesn't really seem to function well with large crowds. We had probably 250-300 people, so you might be ok...but one thing I readily remember is that the dance floor is very, very small. So if that is a big deal to you, I would definetely look elsewhere! However, the food is great!

savis05 · August 2010

I'm planning on having mine at the Renasaince Hotel (SP?) in orlando. Try there?

amybunn · August 2010

If you getting married at the Chapel at Rollins you should check out the Winter Park Women's Club. It's fairly inexpensive to rent. I think the inside only holds 180 people, but the doors open up to the front yard where you can put more tables. Went to a wedding there that was indoors/outdoors and it was great. It's not even half a mile from the chapel. We walked over after the ceremony.

Reception Venues HELP!!! Kinda Long but Desperate for Advice!!!

Re: Reception Venues HELP!!! Kinda Long but Desperate for Advice!!!

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