...both in South Berwick and very different from each other. Spring Hill and The Red Barn at Outlook Farm.
Spring Hill is super affordable. They can do cocktail receptions for $20pp (!!!). The building is new-ish and, from pictures, looks OK. It will need a lot of decor to make it our own. I've read that the porch is very beautiful. The photos I've seen of weddings there are nice enough, but it gives me that "big box" feeling (someone actually described the reception room as a big, white box). I could definitely invite more people to a wedding at Spring Hill. I would likely have to have the ceremony outside at Spring Hill which I really, really do not want to do.
The Red Barn as a ceremony and reception venue is ideal to me, but the prices are still steep (although they are very willing to work with me to create a more affordable menu). The room needs little except candles and additional lighting to make it really beautiful, IMHO. My father has already agreed to pay for the food if we can get it to a low enough price (very likely). It's still more than I thought anyone would ever spend on a wedding for me and I'm afraid I'm getting too swept up in it all to really look at the money and what is being spent and if it's worth it.
Spring Hill would be a major savings over The Red Barn, but I'm afraid it's not worth it and that I am settling because of the price. Anyone have direct experience with either venue and can shed some insight? I obviously plan to meet with the coordinators at both venues before making a decision, and my wedding is over a year away, but this is way harder than I thought it would be and it's already stressing me out. TIA.