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HELP with a venue in Houston for 300 people!

nidasnidas
First Comment
in Texas-Houston
Hi All,

I live in New York and am planning my wedding in Houston next summer (2012) for around 300 people! I have researched and flown out to visit, it seems like, everyone single venue in Houston for an indoor reception but the space has either been too small or too expensive (surprise surprise :) Can anyone help or suggest venues please? Some details:

Guests: approx 300
Time of day: evening
Location: in order of preference:  Downtown Houston, Sugarland or Richmond
Catering: prefer to do outside catering
Type of venue: a hotel ballroom would be great since I'll have quite a few out of town guests, but a free-standing ballroom near a hotel may work too

Thank you in advance!!!
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Re: HELP with a venue in Houston for 300 people!

  • lnhassellnhassel member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    What is your budget? We also were looking for something similar and ended up going with The Petroleum Club in downtown Houston but I am not sure if this is in your price range or not. And they do not allow outside catering because the only minimum they have is a food minimum there is no rental charge as long as you hit the food minimum. let me know if you are interested and I can send you some of the information I have on them.
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  • Eboix518Eboix518 member
    Seventh Anniversary 500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Pretty sure most hotels will not allow outside catering?

    Not sure what your budget is...

    Bell Tower on 34th I think would hold your amount - not sure what their catering rules are
    My sister had 325 and her reception was at the St Regis, we had to use their catering though
    I had around the same amount and mine was at Union Station inside minute maid park, we blocked rooms at Inn at the Ballpark across the street, the magnolia is right around the corner - we also had to use aramark for catering
    Crystal Ballroom would also hold that amount, that was our second choice
    Also Petroleom Club, Omni downtown, Hotel Intercontinental
    The Parador I think holds 300, alows outside catering but they have a preferred list


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  • aaronmichaelaaronmichael member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Ashton Gardens is a beautiful venue in Houston.

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  • nidasnidas
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you all!

    Since we require Halal Indian / Kosher catering, most venues have been pretty amenable but then of course charge quite a fee for doing outside catering. Normally, they have reduced their food and beverage minimum a little so we would still get appetizers, the cake, and other such things from them. Downtown hotels are ranging from $15-25,000 for a food and beverage minimum which is hard to meet if I get outside catering. I think up to $10,000 in food and beverage minimum would work best, so I can account for other costs (food, decor, etc). I was finding this at Hotel Derek (LOVE THE SPACE) but it may be too small for 300 ppl comfortably.

    Omni is asking for about $20,000 minimum. Crystal Ballroom, Hilton Americas, Intercon, Bell Tower are all not available for that date (and the date isn't flexible.. sigh).

    Would love some info on the Petroleum Club and will check out Union Station.

    Any other advice would be greatly appreciated!
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  • nidasnidas
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Petroleum Club looks beautiful !!! Ashton Gardens is sending me a quote but isn't very flexible about outside catering so let's see!
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  • mlewis85mlewis85 member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Hi Nidas!  I'm in the boat -- I live in KC but we're getting married in Houston.  We're only having 150 guests but my FFIL who is Mexican says they need a lot of room to jump around (don't ask) so we're trying to find a space that will fit around 300.  So many nice places are already booked for next summer and planning it long distance is a pain!

    What about Signature Manor?  They are out in Sugarland I believe and allow outside catering.  Most hotels from my research do not allow outside catering.

    PP suggested Parador and I think that would be great too.  It's a few minutes outside of downtown.  Also UofH Hilton seems pretty nice.  Their F&B minimum is 6500.  Bella Elegante is downtown can fit 300 in their big ballroom but FWIW I thought the place was kind of... dingy.

    Downtown Club at the Plaza might hold 300 (F&B min 10k).   Houston Center would too (don't remember their F&B min but can e-mail you an info sheet if you want).  Can also e-mail you information for Petroleum Club.

    GL!
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  • nidasnidas
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    mlewis - thank you and yes planning a long distance wedding is a pain! ahhhhh!! So I've learned, that just bc a place says they can seat 300, doesn't mean they can do so comfortably. Depending on what your budget it, you may want to check out Hotel Derek. I really love the hotel, and the wedding planner there is a sweetheart, but I think it may just be too small for me.

    I don't think I saw Signature Manor and Parador but I'll check them out. I agree about Bella Elegante - saw it and didn't love it. U of H hilton for that f&B minimum may work. Downtown Club at the Plaza -- super cute and very nice wedding planner, but it's a very long and narrow space, instead of ballroomy (square) so it wouldn't work!
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  • mlewis85mlewis85 member
    Fifth Anniversary 100 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011

    Ditto about Downtown Club at the Plaza although my fiancee loves it so it's still in the running.  Thanks for the heads up on Hotel Derek!  Do you have any pricing information you wouldn't mind sharing?

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  • PJS001PJS001 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Have you looked into Safari Ranch? Their website says they can accomodate from 100-1,000 people so they may have something for you. They also say to contact them about outside catering, so theorettically they allow it.

    Also, Briscoe Manor which is also in Richmond should be able to  handle a party of 300.
    And now we are as one
    Married February 20, 2011

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  • nidasnidas
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    PJS001 - yes, my dad really likes Safari Texas Ranch, so it's definitely in the running! I feel like the ballroom has some rough edges, in other words, a lot of decor to cover up the kitchen area and old looking feel, but it works from a price perspective and space so it's on the top of our list!
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  • PJS001PJS001 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hey, with enough decorations they made my university's colliseum look like a ballroom, so I am sure you can make a questionable location look gorgeous. :)
    And now we are as one
    Married February 20, 2011

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  • lnhassellnhassel member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    For the large room at the Petroleum club their food minimum is 10K but that does not include beverages. In your situation not sure if they would reduce this or throw in beverages to accommodate.

    Also our other top choice was the Parador and although they used to allow outside catering they dont anymore. They require the use of Behind the Bash catering.
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  • loop0406loop0406 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Chateau Crystale has 2 rooms, you can hold ceremony/reception all in one place. The big ballroom accomodates plenty of guests and they allow outside catering and alcohol.
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  • HollyPW2011HollyPW2011 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    check out the Rennassaince Hotel
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  • Carla1019Carla1019
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I can second Signature Manor. We decided to go with them when I saw their portfolio of working with international couples. They have a great deal of experience working with Indian and African cultures. My FI family is African. They allow outside food but you have to purchase their alcohol. 

    We are having 250 guests but in his culture I would not be surprised if over 300 come. They can accommodate 800 people and your reception can last until 5am in the morning if you need it to. They also have transportation service available you can add to your package to transfer your family and guests to/from their hotel. 
    Wedding date July 7, 2012
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  • nidasnidas
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you all! I've looked into several of the places you all mentioned - this is so helpful!
    hopefully wil be able to finalize something soon!
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  • wcoreaswcoreas member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    check out Greer and Lowdermilk Conference Center

    www.hfrrf.org
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