Can’t find a venue

We had that dilema - mostly the "crazy pricing" one as we are in Florida and a popular wedding destination area. Then after I chose one and signed a contract, the coordinator never put our date in the calendar and ran off with our *and many other* deposit!! Don't despair, the perfect venue is out there - maybe look at places that may not seem to be your typical wedding reception venue. Lots of great ideas on these forum boards.

I mean I was kinda like that at first, but I mean I go into a place walk around and just kinda get the vibe. We do our own research about the place before we go, so we don’t really have a lot of questions. It’s either a yes or no for me. I don’t really have a “dream wedding venue” so I always keep my options open. My FH and I looked at different wedding venue styles in our budget to find what we actually like. We are picking ours this weekend out of the ones we went to. I think it’s important to only look at venues in your budget and not consider ones outside of it (don’t wanna get your hopes up). There was this one venue I really liked but it was out of our budget, so I decided to not even look at it. I found some really great options within our budget. Going off of the previous post, I would look at unique wedding venue options. Maybe that’s the way you want to go. When you get down to choosing, just lay them all out on a table and discuss the pros and cons of each one (as well as the fees and extra costs). There’s really no “wrong decision” if you only go to venues you generally like.

Yes, everything is so expensive!!

Yep! I settled on a venue because we had to pick one to set a date and immediately regretted it. I was trying to please others and it ended up causing more drama because then family knew I hated it. We tried to sell our date, find something new, etc etc... I still hated it the day of the wedding and it is my biggest wedding regret.

So don't rush in to it. Don't settle.

What are you looking for? A venue where you provide your own vendors or something that provides everything for you? How big or small do you need it to be to hold your must have guest list? Do you want to have a short and sweet wedding or do want an all night event with no curfew?


If you want to provide your own vendors and are on a strict budget, the best place to start is checking the parks department website under “wedding/event venues for rent”. They cost less than all inclusive venues in the long run and have more flexibility that all inclusive venues do not budge on. Another good place to look is Eventective.com and confirm reviews on Yelp Google which do not allow vendors to request unsavory reviews to be removed even with proof that they didn’t hold up their end that TheKnot/WW has a reputation for.

Yes I had that dilemma. My first venue that we looked at and was dead set on it and it is a local venue and when we went and visited it, I feel head over hills in love with it. We ( FH & I) agreed on the venue. But when they started adding this and that and telling us that we had to have this and that, my heart was crushed that we decided not to use that venue and go a different , much cheaper route. My heart is still crushed but it is what it is. I swallowed a big lump in my throat and moved on to something a little more affordable. Even though I still day dream of my first choice venue for my wedding.

So FH called the local Shrine Club and got prices. I have been to a friends wedding at the local Shrine Club and it was beautifully done. But it ended up being in our budget ( $500 to rent, $300 Refundable deposit, which we will be donating the refundable deposit back to the Shrine Club, because they do a lot for children, specially the children of St. Jude. So we know the money will go for a great cause.) and then $50 for my bridesmaids and I to use the big conference room to get ready. My first venue could only accommodate around 150 guest , whereas the Shrine Club accommodates 200... Win Win for us.

We went through that too! Besides the "false advertising" in advance of places (then you get there, and as other ladies stated you check it out, get a bit excited then they hit you with the "Real" pricing.... My fiancé and I also felt like "just a wallet" at MOST places we visited. And we did our research HEAVILY before booking walk throughs as we are having a destination wedding.

We actually found our venue BY ACCIDENT!

We had a weekend with no commitments (meaning we weren't traveling to do venue walk throughs) and I said to him, You wanna bypass wedding crap this weekend and go on one of our day trips and eat somewhere instead?" He, of course responded with yes. I came across a restaurant that had great history, rave reviews on food, and the location was just far enough away for us to experience someplace new...and it had cool things to do and see there as well. So, off we went. We fell in love with the area... driving up to it... then fell in love with the place just SEEING it from the parking lot... Then the bathrooms (He's a Union Plumber, wore off on me, that and we are Weird, LOL!) Then the FOOD. We were "We have got to come back here, omg it's SO COOL. " As we left, we noticed a bunch of activity going on that was unusual for a restaurant. I asked the Chef who was out shaking hands and saying hello to patrons in his cute chef outfit, including old-school Hat- what was going on. He said, "we have a wedding tomorrow. It's about the time guests arrive today and it gets interesting and fun." My fiancé said, "You guys have weddings here?" Chef said, "Yes Sir. We love it. You two engaged?" next thing we knew he had gotten our wedding coordinator to meet us, who graciously took half an hour out of all the crazy going on to show us around. We felt like we were HOME. She was so SUPER KIND and WARM. It was as if she was our old friend, easy to speak with, funny, down to earth. As was everyone she quickly introduced us too in our very quick and unscheduled walk-through appointment. She gave us paperwork, answered questions. We were shocked to find out they had such a unique space for weddings, along a river deck with beautiful views of the River George Washinton Crossed, and a walking bridge. Plus, it was like we were in England! We dig that. Anyways, We had NO intention of ANY of that. For THREE months after we kept looking at venues. BEGRUDGINGLY. Finally, I said, "Wanna go back to the Bass? On a day trip and a meal again?" Fiancé said, "I was hoping you were going to say, "Wanna go back to the Bass and book the place?" I grinned ear to ear. I didn't know he loved it so, he didn't know I did either. we both didn't want to sway each other's opinions on venues. (COMMUNICATION!! LOL)

My grin was ear to ear as was his. The place was opposite of what we ever thought we would find or want. Sure, we wanted Historic. But were on a totally different path with that. Here we were loving a restaurant. (As it is advertised as first, along with being a SMALL Quaint Hotel) ..... but ended up having two great bars, water views, deck on the water... ceremony site by their waterfall patio and all the other fun stuff! Quaint, Historic, Different, Stories galore, Folklore, tales, A bride, a park, a little convenience store also old and historic, parking, and one pet friendly Suite (Next to the waterfall!!!)

The place we booked was found accidentally. Despite every single thing we love about the place I rambled on about above, it was THE ONLY place that made us BOTH feel like: Yes, we are two people on a new journey in life, and NOT just a dam*ed wallet. Let me tell you we looked at some fabulous, beautiful places. Some had "offices" straight out of what you'd see in wedding movies (the planners offices, state of the art. etc.) But .. for us, NAH.

Like I said, it was like being at or coming home. And that was what we were both trying to find but couldn't. ..... Until that one day we just said forget wedding planning, let's go on a day trip to anywhere and eat some food too.

Keep your mind open to different places. Go out to eat and enjoy some rides to get lost. You never know what you will find, without planning to find it in the first place!

And it is OK to be frustrated and flabbergasted at pricing!! It's nuts!! and freaking completely understandable. for sure!! Take time away from it.

Good Luck Love.

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OMG GIRL!!!! I KNOW that place!! Used to pass by it on our many trips to New Hope. AND we ate there ... omg! LOL Small world. Oh, and I got your message but stupid WW won't let me respond - say's I have used up all my messaging????? Check out my website, my contact info is on there - drop me a line.

We went to like eight or so, which doesn’t feel like a lot but it certainly felt like a lot considering we don’t live together so we had to plan even more around just venue shopping.
Our first venue tour helped us so much, it made me realize what I actually wanted: didn’t care about the vendors so long as they weren’t outrageously expensive and were kind, but I cared about the vibe and the TIME I could have the ceremony at. I desperately wanted a brunch wedding with a morning ceremony. He wanted water nearby (river, lake, creek, anything.
So you both will figure out what really matters from what certain places can and can’t offer . Some places when you get into the nitty gritty of it turn out to not be great. And whatever you do, please dont settle or put up with people only out for your money. Good luck dear!