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Savvy November 2018

Help!!! choosing between two very different venues

scarlett, on April 29, 2018 at 11:45 PM

Posted in Wedding Reception 30

So we have narrowed our wedding venue to two top choices. they're totally different and both have pros and cons and I really can't decide. Venue one is near our house, about 25 mins away. it's beautiful and has more of a garden vine that I initially pictured for the wedding. it would have to be...
So we have narrowed our wedding venue to two top choices. they're totally different and both have pros and cons and I really can't decide.

Venue one is near our house, about 25 mins away. it's beautiful and has more of a garden vine that I initially pictured for the wedding. it would have to be daytime because of the price and availability, which I don't mind as much but it feels a little rushed and early because it would have to be 11:30-4 to accommodate their night wedding. but it would be very easy for everyone to get to and no one would have to stay over, etc. But it does have an after party bar if we wanted to hang out. Nothing special. i think most people would probably go home though. We don't have any special connection to this place, it's just a beautiful place nearby. it's the cheaper, easier, super beautiful option.
The other venue is in a shore town about 2.5 hours away but it's a popular, lovely destination and has more of a vintage vibe that's totally my style. It is a dream wedding spot for me but I thought it was completely out of budget so when I started planning I went more for low-key garden vibe. it would require everyone to stay over and has a 2 night minimum. but there are 1-2 hotels walkable (literally 2 blocks) that would allow one night. It is more expensive than the other venue but includes more. It is one of my favorite places ever and my fiancé and I visited it together a few times too. it's more stylized and not the garden vibe I pictured (because I didn't think it was an option) but it is so "us" in every other way. it has more to do and see overall and would be more of a special day... and possibly night before/morning after whereas the other place feels like hi, bye.
All things being equal I'd probably pick the shore venue but I am not high maintenance AT ALL and hate putting people out whatsoever so I hate the idea of asking people to go to a wedding that's not around the corner. I'd be perfectly happy with the North Jersey venue and we would save money but my fiancé thinks we only do this once so we should go all out. I've gone all over the place for weddings but also now a lot of our friends have kids so it is less manageable for people than it was 6-7 years ago. I would probably be disappointed if a lot of the people I've gone above and beyond for said no.
But... my bachelorette party is no frills. My shower is local. so...that's low expectations. I dunno what to do!!!

30 Comments

  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    Hmmm i dunno!!!! i think it would be 2. but i'm easy to please and would be fine with the first option. i guess i'm wondering HOW IMPORTANT it is to just be happy with it vs being TOTALLY IN LOVE with it.

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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    Yes it's definitely a full wedding package. open bar. cocktail hour (more limited than some of the huge banquet halls here but still a few passed hors d'oeurves and 2 pasta stations plus another station), dinner. dessert. we would probably have a welcome dinner the evening before. And i would 100% do the room block at a hotel that doesn't require a minimum - i totally agree!!


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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    Have you been to both? i haven't BEEN TO a wedding in congress hall so my concern is that when they say "OH ITS A LOT OF FOOD" they don't know what North Jersey Italian weddings look like hahhaha

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  • Tara
    Master September 2018
    Tara ·
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    You only get to enjoy the day once, i say go with your dream spot!
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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    I know...but we will also be paying more for it too so i dunno!!! haha but we did get a hand me down ring so that saved a little money!

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  • Tara
    Master September 2018
    Tara ·
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    Thats great you guys saved money in that department! We got a huge boost from a client to get married in sept because she will be hosting, cooking, decorating etc and saving us thousand so we jumped on it of course but aren't even engaged (yet) lol, so when we knew we only had 5 months, i decided as long as he was okay with me choosing i would pick my ring and make it as low cost as possible, i found one on etsy for $350! But even still everything needs to be very low cost, but still nice. Dig around and do as much research as possible and maybe you can save in other ways to get your dream venue. And i agree with another comment i saw, it would be stressful to have a wedding right after you!
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  • MrsD
    Legend July 2019
    MrsD ·
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    I personally like weddings when I have to stay in a hotel, rather than drive from my house. It feels more like a mini vacation. More than 60% of our guests have to fly in from other states, and they are making it work. I would go with whatever you feel is best, but I wouldn't get rid of the beach one because it's far and requires hotels.

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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    I appreciate that - i was thinking that too. like i have gone to a couple sunday night weddings where i couldn't take off work and had to drive home because i needed to take my parents home (my dad was sickly) and was disappointed i didn't get to stay and go to the after party and hang out at the hotel.



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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    Yeah i think we are really going to go minimal on the non-essentials. easy flowers, no frills DJ, my friend's husband is a photographer and he has a nice inexpensive package since he does it on the side. i want to make it beautiful but i am not an extravagant person at all so i don't want all kinds of opulent expensive things. it's just not me. i am more kitschy but classy hahaha.



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  • S
    Savvy November 2018
    scarlett ·
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    My only main hangup with booking the shore venue (Congress Hall) is that I kept picturing a garden theme in my head and the other venue fits that more. Every other venue I looked at was a garden theme. But Congress Hall is so magical in so many other ways and so much more sentimental and grand that I am just so in love with it. Just not sure if i want to give up the garden greenhouse look. BUT I AM having my shower in a greenhouse so maybe i get both that way?! hahaha

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