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Venue Help!

niknik15niknik15
Combo Breaker First Comment
in Texas-San Antonio
Alright gals,
I could really use some help on anything and everything, but right now the venue is giving me the most grief. There will be between 250 and 300 people. My family is very large and there is really no one I can cut from the guest list. To be honest, I want to spend as little as possible on everything for the wedding (Max $10,000). I would like to have it either on the north/northeast side or downtown sa. Although half of the guest list will be coming from austin so I am open to anywhere between. I would really like to provide dinner and open bar so suggestions on caterers would be awesome too.
Thanks in advance!
Nikki
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Re: Venue Help!

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    schook1975schook1975 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Have you looked at Boulder Springs in New Braunfels?  Also, try Heavenly Gourmet for food.  They were reasonably priced and the food was good.  Hope this helps. 
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    BabyBlueNTexasBabyBlueNTexas member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am a Boulder Springs Bride-- and I can tell you that if you are looking for a venue under 10,000, you are going to have to do it on a Friday or Sunday in order to have it there. A Sat at Boulder Springs is close to 5,000 just to rent the place out. That doesn't include rentals, food, or anything else. You get chairs and tables.

    For 300 people, it is going to be hard to find a place for that many people for what you are looking to spend. Food cost alone can run you from 7-18 dollars depending on what you choose. $7 dollars a person (Bill Millers, Taco Cabana, Rudy's (maybe) times 300 people is $2,100 alone. That doesn't include flowers, music/entertainment...

    Not trying to get you down-- because it can be done, but you are going to have to tame your tastes for a cheaper venue or do something like just appetizers to cut costs.

    Here are some suggestions:

    http://www.aggiepark.com/article.html?aid=113 Aggie Park - can seat 300 people, and the rate is 2000 for a Sat., plus you can bring in your own food.

    http://www.hillcountryvenue.com/ Twelve Oaks in Bulverde-- they offer wedding packages which are all inclusive

    http://www.thegardensatwestgreen.com/?page_id=117 I have seen them post 1500 dollars for cermony and reception


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    niknik15niknik15
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks for the help. Two places I've been kind of considering is La Orilla Ballroom or Old San Francisco. Although at the ballroom everyone would have to be seperated into two rooms. One of the caterers I was looking at was grady's because they have chicken fried steaks for under ten a person. I've looked at Twelve Oaks and it looks like they only have room for 100 people. I am keeping West Green on the list, but I've heard they are really hard to get a hold of and keep in touch.
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    jenb1205jenb1205
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We're getting married at La Orilla del Rio with 150 people and that is the most they can seat inside.  Also, I really don't think it's possible to be able to have your size guest list with only $10,000.  There's a preferred caterers list and you have to pay city tax on the food and alcohol (it's 25% on alcohol if I remember correctly).

    It's a gorgeous space but I have literally no idea how you'd accomodate everyone for what you're looking to spend.  I think you can probably find a less expensive and larger venue.  The venue cost alone is 16% of your budget. 

    I do know that Canyon Springs can accomodate larger weddings but I have no idea of the cost.
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    BabyBlueNTexasBabyBlueNTexas member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    There is also the Firefighters Banquet Hall. Not sure what it looks like or cost though. Also maybe one of the military bases might have something to accomodate.
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    niknik15niknik15
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Alright... I came up with an idea and would like to get your opinion on it. Sorry its long, but here it goes. My dad comes from a very large family, he has 13 brothers and sisters. All of them and their families live in Austin. I see them at almost every holiday. I wanted to invite them all to the wedding, but that is about 90 people.

    What if we had a seperate party for just my dad's side of the family in Austin at my dad's house and not invite them to the wedding? Although there are three families that have children my age and I see them the most (like once a month) that I would like to invite. Overall, his family are my main drinkers and if I had it there, then I could tell them to just bring their own drinks. We had a graduation party for me at their house back in May and it went really well so I know it would be cheaper and there is plenty of room.
     
    Then I would have the wedding later on Saturday night, say 7 or 8. Then just have some appetizers and an ice cream bar. My fiance suggested that around midnight or whenever all of the older people start to leave have an afterparty at a club on the riverwalk and have a bottle service or vip room for the rest of the evening.
     
    One last thought I had was, have a Sunday brunch for the out of town guests (about 30 people). I think I would feel bad if all of my out of town guests came and all I gave them was a scoop of ice cream. I feel that if I seperate the reception into multiple parties I would have time to see and talk to everyone, still be able to enjoy everything, be able to get a smaller venue, and not feel that I am required to serve a meal.

    Is this tacky or a good idea? Is this too much to try and coordinate? Could this bring the price to within my budget?
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    BabyBlueNTexasBabyBlueNTexas member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It is your wedding.. if that is what you want to do.. then it is unique.. :)
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    jenb1205jenb1205
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    It is YOUR wedding, but if you brought this up on the etiquette board, they would let you know that what you suggest is in extremely poor etiquette. Having a wedding party for your dad's side of the family and not inviting them to the wedding ceremony is rude.  It basically tells them that they aren't important enough to attend what is one of the biggest events of your life.  Trust me, if you posted there, you would get a lot of responses that are a lot more blunt than mine.  Obviously, I don't know your family dynamics but in my own, this would never be acceptable.  It would hurt my dad's family to not be worthy enough of an invite to my wedding ceremony and the actual reception, especially if you are going to invite a few of them to both. 

    Having only appetizers and an ice cream bar is acceptable if you didn't do it at dinner time.  If it were me, I'd have the ceremony at 1:00p and then an afternoon reception so that most of your guests would not arrive expecting a full meal. 

    There are ways to have a wedding that you can afford.  You mentioned a graduation party you had, why not have a backyard BBQ for your wedding?  It may not be what you envisioned but if you google backyard BBQ weddings, there are lots of people that do them and do them creatively with neat details.  Personally, I'd rather eat Bill Miller's in someone's backyard and actually get to witness their wedding ceremony rather than have appetizers and ice cream only in a fancier place.  You can rent out the hall of a church generally for less money than a wedding/party specific venue.  There are other options (Friday/Sunday weddings, brunch weddings, etc.) that cost significantly less than a Saturday night dinner wedding.  Again, I'd rather go to a wedidng on Saturday morning and have brunch at the reception than have an appetizer bar on Saturday night. 

    People generally spend a significant amount of money to attend your wedding and give you a gift.  On the etiquette board, they will tell you to invite who you can afford or figure out a way to make it work with your guest list.  People with budgets similar to yours plan great weddings all the time.  But it is not proper etiquette to invite people to wedding related parties or events if they are not invited to the actual wedding.  The one exception to this that you might find is the Destination Wedding/At Home Reception but even then, usually all the guests are invited to both events and can choose if they want to attend the DW. 
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    jenb1205jenb1205
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I also just re-read your post and saw the part about the after party at a club on the Riverwalk with bottle service, etc.  Again, have the wedding you can afford.  All the seperate parties that you are referring to are what is commonly referred to as a tiered reception and that is one of the easiest ways to offend people and end up with a lot of hurt feelings. 
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    BabyBlueNTexasBabyBlueNTexas member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Good points Jen! I have to agree with her.. as I said in my 1st post. You need to scale numbers of guests back or choose a venue that is so cheap that you can make it work. We both are in the Austin board, and there is a BEAUTIFUL Venue in a neighborhood that was built by the neighborhood. It is not the ideal location, but the place rents for 800 dollars a day. I am sure there are probably other ways to achieve having everyone there at the same time. You are just going to have to think outside the box-- and most of us are not having to do that. We are using the typical places to have a wedding.

    Think about state parks-- city places--- ect--- think about churchs... anything that might have a space and work your magic. It is going to take phone calls and effort to make this work, but in the end--- you are going to find a way to make it work.
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    niknik15niknik15
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    What is the place called in Austin? I'm definitely game to having it in Austin.
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    jenb1205jenb1205
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I am pretty much worthless to help you because I was only shopping for venues that held 150-200.  :(

    I have heard great things about La Gloria in Austin, it's owned by the art museum I beileve, but BabyBlue is right, do a posting on the Austin board too, it's way more active than SA and they should have ideas for venues. 

    I would just recommend really thinking outside the box and looking into venues that aren't wedding-specific because you'll find a larger markup on anything "wedding related".  You're right about Grady's for catering.  Bill Miller's, Rudy's, Taco Cabana and Las Palapas all do catering for huge events for really good per person prices.  I am 99% sure that La Gloria is BYOB, meaning that you would provide beverages (most people purchase at Costco and they also allow you to return unopened bottles).  Beer and wine only is a much more cost-effective way to serve if you want to have an open bar.  We got a great deal on beer/wine from our caterer and we were able to choose the selections.  My dad was really specific about wanting bottled beer but if you go the keg route, it's usually even less expensive.  But there are a couple of people doing backyard BBQs on the Etiquette board that might have some really good advice. 
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    jessicanorenejessicanorene member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    I photographed a wedding at the Gardens at West Green last month - please beware! This facility has NO indoor area that will fit your guests, it is a house, that's all. The grounds are really beautiful, but the wedding party had to clean the place the day of their wedding because it was filthy, the coordinator was rude, they never provided the tent the couple had paid for (and yes, it rained) - really, it was truly awful. It was a shame, because the place has potential - but its worht nothing if they practically ruin your wedding!
    Be CAREFUL!!

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    jessicanorenejessicanorene member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Oh, check out Granberry Hills. I believe their hillside venue (they have 2) can hold about 300 to 325? They are on the Northeast side of town, and the price is significantly lower than most. They do allow alcohol, as well. I've shot several weddings there, and the staff is extremely helpful as well!
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    BelennBelenn
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    We're having our wedding at St. Paul Community center...It seats max 600 peeps, but we only need it for 400... Price is 3500, and a lot of our peeps are coming in from Austin as well.  Its a very beautiful hall...Oak purquet flooring, candalabra chandelliers, sconces on the walls, and a huge dance floor.  They're proving the alcohol to sell, the security, crew to set up and tear down, and clean up spills and such, and some linens.  Check em out!  
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    jennidolljennidoll member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Does St. Paul Community Center have a website with pics?  I'm having trouble finding some info online about it.
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    amgiesamgies member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    St. Paul's website is: http://www.sawhost.com/stPaul/

    And there is another very affordable hall but it's by Six Flags called the Knights of Columbus Crownridge Banqet Hall.  It's the nicest K of C I've ever seen and in a very nice scenic area.  They are very affordable and big (up to 450).  They have very reasonable catering prices too.  I know you can do it under $10K.  Call Larry at (210)698-0414 or visit http://www.crownridgekchall.com/

    Hope that helps!
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    niknik15niknik15
    Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    thanks for all your help. I'll definitely keep those in mind.
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    intendtomarryintendtomarry member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Ok I was in the same place you are, but I hired The Wedding Studio (although I am out of town) they did a free! that's right free! venue search for me with a complete budget breakdown, it helped me tremendously to figure out what to do, then they can provide every service you need for your wedding, and I still got choices on photographers, flowers, food...I'm surprised more brides don't know of this place, don't waste your energy especially if there is a company in town that can do this stuff for you

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    MMH3123MMH3123 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Have you tried The Doubletree Airport on NE Loop 410. They have great packages that all include 
    Your Choice of Bridal Cake by Lucy's Cake Shop,
     Cake Server Set, 
    Cake Cutting and Service, 
    Your Choice of Fresh Floral Centerpieces by Castle Hills/DeZavala Flowers* and Votive Candles for All Tables
    White Chair Covers with Your Choice of Sash ColorChampagne Toast for All of Your Guests     Chocolate Favors for All of Your Guests Complimentary Reception Space Including Dance Floor Set UpFour Hour Beverage Station with Fruit Punch, Iced Tea and Coffee Full Time Wedding Specialist on Premises to Oversee Your Event from the Day of Booking to the Day of the Event Deluxe Accommodations for the Bride and Groom for One Night with a Bottle of Champagne, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries and Breakfast Buffet for Two
    You can look at their wed sit at www.dtreeweddings.com/">www.dtreeweddings.com 
    Good Luck !
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