How many reception venues did you view?

jenngb · December 2010

I know I am set up too many appointments but I am trying to find the best price as well as a great venue. The two that I really like and happen to be the cheapest are still over my budget.
How many venues is too many?

cfibelkorn · December 2010

If you have the time...you can view as many as you want. View all that you want/can because you will be able to make a better decision if you have more options

DFWIndian · December 2010

I did three, but then again there were only about a certain number of places which would accomdate my size of 500+ guests. Two were already booked back in March of this year.

fallbride1109 · December 2010

We only toured one--the one we booked. But that being said, I looked online ALOT. I probably seriously considered 4 (and actually had appointments for 3 but once we saw ours we knew it was perfect and that was that).

I really don't recommend looking at anything that is vastly outside of your budget.

bsn1752 · December 2010

I looked a hundreds online..

I only toured one.

Tiffany618 · December 2010

We looked at 3. Had an appointment for one more, but like Stephie, we knew #3 was the one.

rcpm44 · December 2010

I think I only actually "viewed" 2 or 3, but I contacted anywhere from 10-30.

I tend to be of the mindset of not wanting to waste anyone's time, so I'd call or e-mail for prices, If I liked the price I would continue talking to the vendor, but if the price was too much I'd move on, which would mean that I wouldn't or didn't go and view the venue.

Does this make sense?

angieandjames · December 2010

I only had one option, because I got married in my hometown, so my experience is different... But I'd agree with PP - don't look outside your budget (unless you don't know beforehand that it's outside your budget, obviously). And I don't think you can look at too many... Unless you get to the point that you start second-guessing what you want, maybe. Look until you find the right place, and then stop!

jenngb · December 2010

I originally emailed 40 locations. Yes 40! A lot of them didn't respond. By the end of the week I will haved viewed 10. I have scratched about 10 off the list. I emailed some that didn't respond and still no answer. I don't want to deal with any of the locations who can't even send me a response. I could only imagine what kind of service I would get later.
I think I will end up viewing about 20 locations.

tnickel06 · December 2010

I think we viewed about 5 in person. I looked at a lot online. We did nip some in the bud because they never responded even though they looked nice or the ones that only wanted to give pricing if we met with them in person. We planned our wedding out of town, so that was not an option.

jenngb · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:511d27c6-4df7-494d-baaf-a407a22e68b0">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think I only actually "viewed" 2 or 3, but I contacted anywhere from 10-30. I tend to be of the mindset of not wanting to waste anyone's time, so I'd call or e-mail for prices, If I liked the price I would continue talking to the vendor, but if the price was too much I'd move on, which would mean that I wouldn't or didn't go and view the venue. Does this make sense?
Posted by rcpm44[/QUOTE]

Yes, I have emailed some back saying that it was out of my price range and thanked them for their time. I'd rather not my time either. I'm already spending time and money driving to 20 different locations.

serlace · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:35b8bf67-07a5-4405-9e3e-ea76d6908842">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE] think I will end up viewing about 20 locations.
Posted by jenngb[/QUOTE]

Wow. That's a lot. I would recommend taking detailed notes at each one, so that you don't confuse them later. I looked at 4 venues.

danac2010 · December 2010

We looked at 5 or 6 I think but none of them gave me the feeling I was looking for so we started back at square one and called/emailed about 10-12 more for prices. If the price was out of our budget I didn't bother anymore with that one. The venue we choose was actually not on any of my list and I had forgot about it until my mom said something. We just went on a random Sunday to look and liked the prices and I loved the view so we booked.

I agree with everyone else on not looking if it is out of your budget. If you fall in love and it's not in budget then nothing else feels right and then you may not end up finding anything. Most places will email you prices. Look at the vendor sticky here and look the places up online. If looks like it has what you want email or call and narrow the list down. I would call/email as many as you can and then get a good list together to go tour that are within your budget.

cfibelkorn · December 2010

Ok I totally edit my first post.....20 would be WAY to many to drive around to look at (unless you just really want to)

Like the other girls I looked at several online and narrowed it down to about 3-5 that I actually viewed.

Tiffany618 · December 2010

Viewing so many seems a bit excessive. Are you not able to narrow it down by photos and pricing info? You can see great photos of lots of venues by googling the venue name and looking at all the photog's blogs that pull up.

Are you considering not only your budget, but the proximity to where most of your guests will be driving from, etc?

Also, the coordinators at a lot of these places are very, very busy during the holiday season. (..and others may be on vacation as well) Don't rule someone out just because they haven't responded instantly, give them at least a week.

MLandCJ · December 2010

I toured probably about 100 online.

I visited about 20-30 places.

YWCA was about 10 on the list and I knew it was the one when I walked in, but my father thought Fort Worth was to far so we kept looking. I kept coming back to it. Finally he agreed it wasn't to far.

fallbride1109 · December 2010

Wow, that IS alot. Are any of them strong contenders? Is there anything we can do to help you narrow it down?

I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception all in the same place so I limited my search to places with this option. Maybe think of a certain feature you know you want to help you narrow the parameters.

jenngb · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:c357d2b1-2cc6-4290-adf2-faa8327170a6">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]Viewing so many seems a bit excessive. Are you not able to narrow it down by photos and pricing info? You can see great photos of lots of venues by googling the venue name and looking at all the photog's blogs that pull up. Are you considering not only your budget, but the proximity to where most of your guests will be driving from, etc? Also, the coordinators at a lot of these places are very, very busy during the holiday season. (..and others may be on vacation as well) Don't rule someone out just because they haven't responded instantly, give them at least a week.
Posted by Tiffany618[/QUOTE]

I emailed them early November and again about a week ago. I'm looking at al the pictures online and if they have prices too.

2012JulyBride · December 2010

So far I have visited 3, only one of them I haven't attended a wedding at but the weddings at the other two places were over five years ago.

The first one, that I hadn't been to, was very cheap but I had to see it in person because the different wedding pictures almost seemed to contradict itself and the description made me wonder. It wasn't bad but it also wasn't great.

The second one I was expecting to be WAY out of budget because it's so beautiful and they wouldn't give prices online or over the phone..."we want to show you everything they have to offer before giving out the prices." I'm glad I did go there because it's very resonable, they offer and set/clean up decorations for the ceremony and reception, and you can make monthly payments.

The third one I decided to visit because I had a few questions that the website didn't answer. It looks about the same as I remember it, although the wedding I attended was in the winter so they had a white Christmas tree up in the chaple.

We have decided on the 2nd one but I'm still kind of looking just in case I find something just as beautiful and about the same, or less, and a little closer to his family so they don't have to make a two hour drive.

cfibelkorn · December 2010

I think you should make a list of what is important for you in a potential venue. Then email those questions to the venue's and view only the ones that fit the majority of what you are looking for.....

jenngb · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:9585baf1-34c2-471d-8183-167d649b04de">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]Wow, that IS alot. Are any of them strong contenders? Is there anything we can do to help you narrow it down? I knew I wanted an outdoor ceremony and an indoor reception all in the same place so I limited my search to places with this option. Maybe think of a certain feature you know you want to help you narrow the parameters.
Posted by stephiehall[/QUOTE]

I don't really know of a particular feature that I want. I did see a few thing I like at a couple of places. I will NOT have an outdoor ceremony. My top 3 right now are Addison Event Center, Crowne Hotel on Midway in Addison and Marc Events. I looked at a couple of hotels and the "big Square " rooms were nto appealing to me. The room at the Crowne Hotel use to be a bar and is multi-level and is different. Addison Event Center is cheap and a good location. Marc Events I loved the set up but not the location. It's in the design district and I'd rather be closer to a hotel.

danac2010 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:0026c600-f120-468c-96e5-5fb29f4c9174">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]So far I have visited 3, only one of them I haven't attended a wedding at but the weddings at the other two places were over five years ago. The first one, that I hadn't been to, was very cheap but I had to see it in person because the different wedding pictures almost seemed to contradict itself and the description made me wonder. It wasn't bad but it also wasn't great. <strong>The second one I was expecting to be WAY out of budget because it's so beautiful and they wouldn't give prices online or over the phone..."we want to show you everything they have to offer before giving out the prices." I'm glad I did go there because it's very resonable, they offer and set/clean up decorations for the ceremony and reception, and you can make monthly payments.</strong> The third one I decided to visit because I had a few questions that the website didn't answer. It looks about the same as I remember it, although the wedding I attended was in the winter so they had a white Christmas tree up in the chaple. We have decided on the 2nd one but I'm still kind of looking just in case I find something just as beautiful and about the same, or less, and a little closer to his family so they don't have to make a two hour drive.
Posted by 2012JulyBride[/QUOTE]

Are you talking about the venue I used that you PM'd me about? If yes, it really is a great place but I understand the 2 hour drive. DH's family all lived about 2 hours away! (The staircase was my favorite part!!!)

fallbride1109 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:f2474717-c3b2-4c3e-bb6d-bf6a8ac07650">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]I think you should make a list of what is important for you in a potential venue. Then email those questions to the venue's and view only the ones that fit the majority of what you are looking for.....
Posted by cfibelkorn[/QUOTE]

Yes, I agree. Find something--anything--that you know you want (even location and budget if that's all you've got) and limit your search somewhat. It kind of sounds like to me you're afraid of missing out on that "perfect" spot, but I think you're more likely to find it if you concentrate on what you really want for your wedding, rather than the fear you'll miss something.

llc2011 · December 2010

I looked at several places online, but only visited 4. We booked the 4th place that we toured because I knew it was the one.

Good luck! Hopefully there is a way to cut down that number just to make it easier on yourself. 20 might be a lot to keep track of pros and cons.

courtski2004 · December 2010

We viewed three, and the decision was made based on the research that I had compiled on about 15 venues. We had something fairly specific in mind and didn't look outside of that 'box'. The pricing information for so many of the venues is online for the most part, the rest I received via phone conference--then in person for the 3 that we physically went to.

cfibelkorn · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:d4e078a4-0ea4-46c7-8c8d-b9e30ca4c86e">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How many reception venues did you view? : <strong>I don't really know of a particular feature that I want. I did see a few thing I like at a couple of places. I will NOT have an outdoor ceremony</strong>. My top 3 right now are Addison Event Center, Crowne Hotel on Midway in Addison and Marc Events. I looked at a couple of hotels and the "big Square " rooms were nto appealing to me. The room at the Crowne Hotel use to be a bar and is multi-level and is different. Addison Event Center is cheap and a good location. Marc Events I loved the set up but not the location. It's in the design district and I'd rather be closer to a hotel.
Posted by jenngb[/QUOTE]

Just to get you started:

1. Does the venue have an area to have an indoor ceremony and reception? In seperate rooms?

2. Do you want to bring in an outside caterer? If so, do they allow that? If not, what is the price per person for in house catering?

3. Do you want a full bar? How much do they charge per person? Do they let you bring in your own alcohol?

4. Do they have an area for you to get ready/dressed?

5. What decor is included (i.e., tablecloths, chairs, tables, candles)?

etc., etc......

fallbride1109 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:d4e078a4-0ea4-46c7-8c8d-b9e30ca4c86e">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How many reception venues did you view? : My top 3 right now are Addison Event Center, Crowne Hotel on Midway in Addison and Marc Events. I looked at a couple of hotels and the "big Square " rooms were nto appealing to me. The room at the Crowne Hotel use to be a bar and is multi-level and is different. Addison Event Center is cheap and a good location. Marc Events I loved the set up but not the location. It's in the design district and I'd rather be closer to a hotel.
Posted by jenngb[/QUOTE]

Well if it's any help, we've had several Knotties use the AEC and were very happy. If you don't like the location, rule it out (especially if it's outside of your budget). The location is something that won't change.

courtski2004 · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:d4e078a4-0ea4-46c7-8c8d-b9e30ca4c86e">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: My top 3 right now are Addison Event Center, Crowne Hotel on Midway in Addison and Marc Events. Addison Event Center is cheap and a good location. Marc Events I loved the set up but not the location. It's in the design district and I'd rather be closer to a hotel.
Posted by jenngb[/QUOTE]

We booked AEC, mostly based on recommendations received on this board. The tasting was great, Henry and Suzan are wonderful to work with, and so many of the Addison hotels have great room-block rates--some are including shuttle service to and from the venue, which is a great plus.

2012JulyBride · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:4f08c297-c12b-4622-a09b-b305edd837ec">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How many reception venues did you view? : Are you talking about the venue I used that you PM'd me about? If yes, it really is a great place but I understand the 2 hour drive. DH's family all lived about 2 hours away! (The staircase was my favorite part!!!)
Posted by danac2010[/QUOTE]

Yes it is!!! I love the chandelier in the Brides room, the staircase, ALL the decorations...it's fabulous! I just hope that it's as wonderful as I think it will be. I know something will end up "going wrong" but as long as all the pieces fit together in some way I'll be happy...oh, and that we get married! :)

meghanttu08 · December 2010

We were spacifically looking for a place to hold the ceramony and reception since we will be inviting lots of OOT guests. We toured 4 places. Piazza was #3. No others compared.

bobbileighb · December 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_many-reception-venues-did?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:af91940c-4548-4ac9-9163-3a8ef8e9f3b2Post:594d0f71-153f-4306-a51e-5d7198ea58e7">Re: How many reception venues did you view?</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: How many reception venues did you view? : Just to get you started: 1. Does the venue have an area to have an indoor ceremony and reception? In seperate rooms? 2. Do you want to bring in an outside caterer? If so, do they allow that? If not, what is the price per person for in house catering? 3. Do you want a full bar? How much do they charge per person? Do they let you bring in your own alcohol? 4. Do they have an area for you to get ready/dressed? 5. What decor is included (i.e., tablecloths, chairs, tables, candles)? etc., etc......
Posted by cfibelkorn[/QUOTE]

I think this list should help or at least get you started with making you own. I knew about three things that were a must for me and then the budget. I looked at about 30 online, emailed about 7 and had appointments with 3 but at #2 we signed because we just knew it was right.

How many reception venues did you view?

Re: How many reception venues did you view?

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