Trouble Finding a Venue

Annakat1028 · March 2011

I am having a very hard time finding the "right" wedding venue. My fiance and I have looked at about a dozen - some we've liked more than others, some we hated, and there's a few we loved. The problem is, they are all over our budget. Is it worth spending thousands more to have the venue? I do not want to settle on a place I do not like, but I also don't know how to come up with that much more money. Do most couples run into this problem?

Annakat1028 · March 2011

I am having a very hard time finding the "right" wedding venue. My fiance and I have looked at about a dozen - some we've liked more than others, some we hated, and there's a few we loved. The problem is, they are all over our budget. Is it worth spending thousands more to have the venue? I do not want to settle on a place I do not like, but I also don't know how to come up with that much more money. Do most couples run into this problem?

[Deleted User] · March 2011

This is an international board. Assuming you are getting married in the Boston, MA area, you need to post this on your local board. Look to the left in the blue boxes and click local wedding boards. Then find the Boston board. I am sure the ladies there will have some great suggestions for you. Good luck.

Galaxy8227 · March 2011

What area of MA are you interested in?

JS888 · March 2011

What is your budget? Is there a certain amount per plate you wanted to stay under? I know that we ended up increasing our budget after we started looking around and saw what things cost.

seprincipe · March 2011

Also, don't forget about negotiating!! If I had only gone by what the paperwork said, I'd never have gotten my venue. There was a 125 person minimum and a $20,000 food minimum. I was able to get these both waived. My new final cost min is only $7000. Also, consider having your wedding in the off season (November-march/April). You can save a lot this way.

goldnvintage · March 2011

You might want to think about cutting the guest list to work within a smaller budget. Its typically the food that is the most expensive thing not the actual facility.

Annakat1028 · March 2011

@ Galaxy8227 We are looking in the metro west area (Newton out to the 495 stretch) as well as the cape since I grew up down there.

@ JS888 We don't have a strict number set in mind, but it just seems half the places we look at are a $20,000 minimum or something close to that. Originally we said $12,000 but I know our budget will be higher than that - especially with a June wedding on a Saturday!

@ seprincipe How were you able to talk them down/waive the minimums? It seems like a few of the places we talked to were willing to work with us, others were not.

We do have a big guest list but we both come from big families and want many friends included. I think we'll be around 150 when it's said and done. I don't want to not invite friends/family that were are close with to save a little money, but I also am worried how over budget we could go. I guess I wasn't prepared with all the budget complications!

Dayn070104 · March 2011

are you dead-set on a date? i agree with PPs that say to consider an off-season or non-saturday wedding. I'm getting married on a Sunday in July and I was able to save a big chunk of change because of it. Also consider a friday night. You may also be able to save by finding a venue that does not provide the catering, and looking into a separate vendor for that.

having said all that, i would not settle simply to save, but there are certainly ways to cut corners and negotiate so that you can have your dream day

Blueyed228 · March 2011

H's cousin got married at Sapphire Estate in Sharon. It was really pretty.

SandaPanda · March 2011

We are getting married at the Sheraton Four Points in Norwood in April. We were on a VERY tight budget...and have 100 guests. The event coordinator Mindy there worked with us on several options that were incredibly helpful in cutting costs. I will say -even though we did not go with an all inclusive...I sort of wish we had as I have spent a TON on little extras! After all is said and done - her packages for the "all inclusive" style receptions that cover DJ, entree, wine at dinner, cake, centerpieces etc etc are HUGE money savers , and a lot less stress in terms of planning.

They have a gorgeous ballroom...and are very easy to get to.

Definitely worth a look for you. We can't wait for ours!

http://www.fourpointsnorwood.com/

bmoruzzi · March 2011

I'm from the cape too and looked there originally. The prices are ridiculous. I'm not familiar with metro west, but if you're willing to do south shore, check out the Atlantica. It's only $200 for the room rental fee on a Friday with a $6000 food and beverage minimum.

ShaboAE · March 2011

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_massachusetts-boston_trouble-finding-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:89Discussion:5cff0bd2-833e-4e5d-b5df-5636b6a14c9ePost:3d4073ac-473a-4b44-b859-c222de334c70">Re: Trouble Finding a Venue</a>:
[QUOTE]We are getting married at the Sheraton Four Points in Norwood in April. We were on a VERY tight budget...and have 100 guests. The event coordinator Mindy there worked with us on several options that were incredibly helpful in cutting costs. I will say -even though we did not go with an all inclusive...I sort of wish we had as I have spent a TON on little extras! After all is said and done - her packages for the "all inclusive" style receptions that cover DJ, entree, wine at dinner, cake, centerpieces etc etc are HUGE money savers , and a lot less stress in terms of planning. :) They have a gorgeous ballroom...and are very easy to get to. Definitely worth a look for you. We can't wait for ours! <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.fourpointsnorwood.com/">http://www.fourpointsnorwood.com/</a>
Posted by SandaPanda[/QUOTE]

I am also getting married there. You will NOT be able to fit an all-inclusive package from them in your budget of $12k with 150 people. Can you work with them? Maybe. Mindy and Donna are the 2 coordinators, and they're both awesome, as are all the other vendors we've met with. Just make sure you work with them BEFORE you sign the contract.

AC18 · March 2011

I am getting married at the Flying Bridge in Falmouth and think that they are extremely reasonable. They have alot of different options and they have been so helpful. It was was just renovated this past year. Definalty worth taking a look at! Let me know if you have any questions! Good luck!

Annakat1028 · March 2011

I have looked at all the above mentioned except the Four Points.

I wasn't happy with the Atlantica b/c she told me if we didn't do open bar to meet a minimum she would have to move us to another room and the max guest amount that could fit was 160. I am not cutting people off just to squeeze into a room.

I have a few appointments with country clubs on the cape but so many are ridiculously expensive - not to mention, almost all we've seen, the room itself is small even though the grounds are gorgeous.

We're willing to up the budget and I think when we see "the" place, we'll know. I just am finding it very difficult to find a place that we both love and has what we're looking for. One of my biggest issues is a hotel close by. We have many family and friends that will want to stya over (especially if it's down cape because they want to make a weekend out of it) but 1. hotels are few and far between and 2. it's the summer and I'm worried the availability won't be there.

I'm sure we'll find something soon - - I'm just anxious to get the rest of the wedding details planned

loopla · March 2011

I'm getting married on a Sunday and it seems to be a discounted day (as well as Friday) even in the summer. Like for DJ's and photographers and stuff on top of the venue, a little discount...

MKStuart83 · March 2011

Just keep looking! Eventually you will find the perfect place. I got engaged in October and just yesterday found the venue that I have always wanted. Try to not look at the moat traditional wedding spots and it may end up being cheaper. I have a small guest list about 75-100 and on a very tight budget. I was ready to give up because every place had minimums for guests.

That being said I can reccomend a few places. The Myriad Ballrrom in Mendon is reasonable. You basically only have to pay for food, no room rental fee BUT you have to have at least 125 guests. Then theres Blissful Meadows, also reasonably priced. I know someone that's getting married at Bourne Farm in Falmouth. You would have to bring in a tent and everything else but I can't imagine it being too expensive. About the hotel on the Cape, if you pick a hotel they will block off rooms for your guests so there are rooms available.

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