FINALLY - my 1st 2 venue visits on Friday!

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

So, Friday FI and I are going to see The Country Abbey and Rose Chapel. They are both in our budget. All we have seen are from the website and from googling "Wedding at _________" and finding photographer websites. The only thing I don't like about The Country Abbey is the seemingly incredibly low ceilings in the reception space. Rose Chapel seems very cute on the photographer websites, and it seems that their own website does little justice.

Anyone been to a wedding at either of these places? Input, advice?

It has been hard for us to find venues that fit our requirements: under 3000, byob, open catering.... a bonus if they are relatively free with decor in the reception area.

I'm excited! I need to make a list of questions! I hope they won't think I'm weird if I'm writing in my spiral the whole time I am talking to them.

Oh, and btw, I have started my little planning website... hoping it will come in handy to share with our parents and my sister in Illinois.

danac2010 · July 2010

I have pics of a friends wedding at Country Abbey if you want to see them.

Rose Chapel's reception area is smaller than it looks online. How many guest fo you have?

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

We are ballparking around 85 will attend, at most.

And I would love to see the pics! futurewynn at gmail dot com if you need to email them.

NMac2010 · July 2010

Amber, I am sending you a PM! We are getting married at the Country Abby in a few weeks.

danac2010 · July 2010

You have an email!

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

Thanks, y'all! and I have messaged back!

Donnaaries · July 2010

Have you considered places like Winfrey Point and Filter Building? Both let you bring your own caterer (and you can negotiate with the caterer to provide your own alcohol) and both are under $3000 for a Saturday night rental.

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

Well, I forgot to mention my other requirement of having an separate indoor ceremony and reception space at the same venue, so I think that it wouldn't work with Winfrey Point.... but we are most likely going to try The Filter Building, because we loved it! I was just afraid of a few fees adding up in the end, but I think that's how it is with most places.

InfamousQBert · July 2010

we're getting married at winfrey point. i'm very excited and glad we chose it, but you do realize WHY other places charge more when they include more in the package. you do EVERYTHING yourself there! but you can't beat the price and the view!

fyi, it books up EARLY. if you're less than a year out, there's no way you'll get a weekend there. we actually took a thursday (!) because we didn't want to have to push it out any further and loved the place so much. it's workng for us (small wedding with almost everyone in town), but that could be a problem for some people.

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

I wonder if Winfrey Point has room on the inside for a ceremony without having to flip the space?

lesalyric · July 2010

We are getting married at The Rose Chapel in October. With 85 guests you should be perfect in the larger reception area. I love the coordinator we dealt with there and found all of their prices and policies to be extremely reasonable.

They have actually been actively updating both the reception area and the other building on the property. Since I was there last they have put new flooring in the ballroom and have started work on one of the other buildings on the site. I really liked the idea of the money I paid for the reception/chapel space going to the Southside Preservation Association.

Some things worth noting:
1 - The chairs in the ballroom are not pretty. They aren't horrible, but if you are picky about asthetics you will need chair covers, which they provide/put on for around $2 a chair or you can buy/put on your own. I am just going with the ugly chairs...lol.

2 - The Fort Worth Bridal Show was just in town, ask about any kind of special stemming from that. I was able to get their Platinum Package (some decor, chafing dishes/sterno fuel, and many other items that become important when you DIY) thrown in for free because I booked shortly after the bridal show even though I didn't see them at the show.

3 - The neighborhood surrounding the venue is still in transition. I LOVE the Southside neighborhood and this was no big deal for me, but I have seen a few other girls put off by it.

Anything else you want to know, just ask.

ETA: I remembered one more thing -- Rose Chapel does all of the clean up for you after your event. One thing I noticed about most places in my budget was that clean-up was on me and my family after the wedding. I hated the idea of having to ask my family to do that after the wedding so it was one of the main selling points for me. HTH!

AmberMarieTX · July 2010

Wow, lots of info, and that definitely helps! I went to the Fort Worth Bridal Show on Saturday and I didn't see them... maybe I missed them? I felt like I was just walking around aimlessly since most stuff was photographers that were out of my budget and not my style (not to mention I already had my heart set on sixfourteen).

I wonder if they were there and if there is anyway to get the Platinum Package thrown in after all.. I do love that they do the cleanup. I can't wait to visit.

About the chairs, yeah I saw them and they are not pretty, but definitely I have seen uglier. I really don't like chair covers for some reason so I will just deal with the chairs. I saw one wedding photographed and I hardly noticed them... maybe I can put a ribbon around each one or something? lol

Do you know how strict they are on decor in the ballroom? Things on the wall or from rafters and do they allow balloons? Thanks for all the helpful info

lesalyric · July 2010

I checked my packet and no mention of balloons. It does say that all
decorations to be affixed to a wall or doorway must have prior approval.

Donnaaries · July 2010

AmberMarie, Winfrey Point does have an enclosed patio area in addition to the space inside, not sure if it's big enough to hold 85 for ceremony though.

pattc · July 2010

Colleyville Center is very reasonable.

FINALLY - my 1st 2 venue visits on Friday!

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