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October 2015 Weddings

How many venues....?

Alright, so, we went to see our first venue and kind of fell in love with it. It's SUPER all inclusive... housestaff, tables, chairs, set up, break down, bar, and food and decor, security, lighting, etc etc.... all in one venue. Ceremony and reception. As opposed to piecing the wedding together between two other places.

We love it... but a part of us feels like we should....for "due diligence" see a couple others... just for the sake of doing it. 

How many venues did you see before just going with your gut and deciding?
Alyssa & Drew 
10/4/15
St. Louis


Re: How many venues....?

  • We saw a total of three - the first one, we had what sounds like the same reaction as you! We loved it and pretty much knew it was the place. We saw the other two basically to confirm that decision, and by the third one, realized we were comparing everything to the first place that we loved. 

    We booked the first place. I think it's still important, if you can, to at least check out one or two others, if for nothing else than to confirm your first choice. 
  • UGH! I know that that is exactly what we are going to end up doing. I think that the second place that we are going to have cocktails at tonight since they "can only do a guided tour during the work day and not on the weekends..." we have to go wander about ourselves... that the price point and slight lack of service is going to put us off, even if the space is absolutely AMAZING and the photographs would be phenomenal.
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • I know how you're feeling! My FI and I looked at what felt like 20 places online, but only went to see one in person and ended up booking it. I'm only 21, so none of my friends are married yet. My FI works with a lot of guys a few years older than us that have just gotten married, so the they were able to help us figure a lot of stuff out. They told us not even to look at some places because they know what my tastes are. That being said, book it if you love it!! If it'll make you feel better, go look at 1 more venue if it'll make you feel more at ease about your decision. :)

    Nicole

    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • 2. The first place the guy was such an a hole. Second place we fell in love with it and after leaving decided that's where we were getting married. Didn't look anywhere else
  • I guess I just started looking at other places and they don't provide housestaff or any soundboard where I can have my processional music played ... all of that stuff it seems for these other places I would have to rent..... This place has everything. Food, Bar, Reception, Ceremony, Sound board with speakers throughout, cake cutters, Set up, break down, chairs, tables, linens, plates, and all place settings. ALL in one place....

    And honestly one of my biggest fears is that I will be too stressed out, since I tend to get over anxious, on my wedding day to truly enjoy it. You know? 

    They allow you to deliver all of your centerpieces and your dress the day before and they will have it steamed and hanging for you and all of the place settings out. 
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • Honestly, the venue sounds amazing. It sounds like they take care of you, and that will be really helpful as you plan out other vendors. Go for it if there is nothing else that comes close! 

    Do they have a preferred vendor list too? Only reason I ask is our venue does, and that has been a really big stress reducer for us. Finding vendors in your budget + vendors that are familiar with your venue = amazing in my book. 
  • Not exactly. They have a flower person that they recommend and a company that does "enhancements" (We are hiring that company to do the big backdrop with the lights in it that hang from the ceiling.) but not hiring the flower person because I have gotten pretty good at doing silk floral bouquets for family over the years that I intend to do it myself. :)

    There is another place that will offer us a tended outdoor venue... that kind of tugs at my heart strings when I look at photos of the weddings there.... but its a couple thousand more expensive. :/

    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • We went to see 6 total. We were originally going to do a super budgeted wedding that basically was never going to be the wedding of my dreams. My mom told me later that she will contribute significantly more than I originally expected and then told me she hates the venue I originally booked (it was a parks building in desperate need of a remodel) and basically all my ideas.

    We went looking again, at 5 this time, ranging from a gorgeous house in the historic district where JR from Dallas had his office, to a room with brick walls and not much else, to B&Bs, and even a hotel ballroom. I wanted to look at everything. We saw the first and fell in love with everything except the price. It was a hard decision, but I figure this is my one & only so better not regret it. Now that I picked the one I really want, my wedding nightmares have slowed if not stopped and I get to picture the garden wedding of my dreams!

    Basically, I would say do what you feel like your heart can't live without, because this place is going to be in your pictures forever and you don't want ill-feelings to taint a happy memory.
  • When we looked at our first venue, I fell in Kobe and decided I HAD to have it. (The venue was celebrations in Bensalem.). It was extremely
    Inclusive. I'm glad I didn't sign right away though. We looked at two more and I settled on my venue. It's all inclusive and super affordable
  • We are looing at our first venue, next Wed, I think it is the one we want, for the price, location, and if it is as nice as it seems.. we are getting married in the church he grew up going to.. and the venue is across the street from the neighborhood I grew up.. and it is all cheaper than we expected, so fingers crossed. but we may go look at 1-2 more incase it doesn't "feel right"..

     

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  • Yeah... the other two we liked behind this are a PITA to get time to come tour... and one of the two will not give us a mock up of a package to compare to the other venue..... which rubs me the wrong way. 

    I definitely keep imagining our wedding at this first venue and Drew says he doesn't "have" to see another place... but thinks we should "Do our due diligence"...
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • haha I posted basically this same exact question a couple weeks ago!


    The moral of the story is I ended up booking my first venue that I saw, and as you can see in my thread, I'm not the only one :)
  • We are leaning that direction, too. We contacted one other venue that is all inclusive but a couple grand more expensive that we intend to see, if they ever respond to my email.....
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • Ok, on the same subject, (I can start a new thread if need be) we saw our first venue Tuesday night. We like it. Other than it is a little outdated.. We are seeing another one Monday, and have to see how much we like it, and if the cost difference is worth the more $... My biggest concern is they give you a chioce of 3 plastic wear sets for the guests, and your bridal party gets real dinnerwear.. Is this normal? I am lost here the cost is really great and I think I can make up for that it is outdated in some decorations..

    Again this is the venue that is across the street from the neighborhood I grew up, closest to the church (still 20 minute drive) and is the best price.. so not is our first choice..
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  • I have never ever been to a wedding with plastic dinnerware for anyone, ever, not even budget weddings (that can be amazing!)... That does seem a bit odd to me.
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • I know I am iffy about it.. but my mother is a wedding photographer and she said she has seen it a lot, and no one seems to care.. we booked our venue, sending the deposit today we looked at another one but the food was horrible, and they didn't have our day, we took it as a sign we have found the one we want!

     

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  • Yay! Great for you both!
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • We looked at three sites and had a completely different problem -- we liked them all!

    First one was the Children's Museum in town that seemed like so much fun, second was an inclusive hotel ballroom, and third was a beautiful country club.

    After going through the financials and what we thought would be the most convenient for us and our guests we ended up going with the hotel and couldn't be happier!
  • Drew wants a decision by FRIDAY --- but the one remaining venue I need to see has events every single night and every night they are available for a tour - the kids have soccer games or practice... UGH! Can't do both!
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • I feel like it all went fast, we saw the venue on Tuesday last week, came back before a wedding to see it decorated.. They are owned by a caterer, so we tested the food the this Monday, and now we are waiting on the contract.. so in a week we saw 3 venues and are now booking the one we want.. next is to get the church to marry us.. hope all goes well when we meet with the priest on Tuesday nextweek...

     

     

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  • Drew wants us to make our final decision today and then call whichever venue we choose and begin filling out the contract process! 

    Seeing our second venue tonight - and then making our decision based on the mock ups they provide. 

    I really love the first venue but I have a hard time believing I won't LOVE this venue... its an old speakeasy and the "theme" for our wedding is, essentially, marquee lettering/lighting - so it would just go! But...if I don't get that feeling that our wedding could really be here... and I could "See" it happening here...then we are going with the first venue.
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • @lyssalouandrew, I think you've got the right mindset.

    Even though Jon and I liked all of them for multiple reasons, as we were going through and pricing everything out I knew in my heart which one I loved the most because I was getting upset that it wasn't going to be the most cost effective.  If your gut tells you to do with it, then go with it!
  • We went with it. Saw another venue, took them significant amounts of time to get me the mock up back - then when I asked to include some substantial catering food items on the mock up...he didn't.

    The first venue did, so we booked him!
    Alyssa & Drew 
    10/4/15
    St. Louis


  • yay! congrats!!
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