My fiance and I are still looking for a venue, we have probably looked at 10 or more spaces at this point and we are burnt out.
Some of our favorites have been downtown Portland, Oregon. We live about 20 minutes outside the city. My mother has mentioned multiple times that she is concerned about people being comfortable driving downtown, parking, and the overall stress a big city can bring to those who aren't used to it.
We have also looked at several golf clubs and outdoor venues that have ample guest parking. My Mom feels that one of these venues would be a better option because it is easier for guests to find, they can park quickly and are less likely to get lost or be late from navigating one way city streets.
We do have a few elderly guests but they would most likely be riding with other family members. I can think of a few groups of people that probably don't drive in the city very often, but otherwise it seems everybody would be fine. I work downtown, walking distance from most of the venues. I commute every day and I'm totally used to it, so I feel like my opinion is a bit invalid here.
What do you ladies think? Mom is helping to pay a portion, but she certainly isn't holding that over us. She wants it to be our decision, but now that she has mentioned this potential issue I am paranoid to commit to a city venue. Our favorite downtown venu is also significantly cheaper than the estate/golf club venues we liked.
Thanks in advance!