Houston Wedding

What type of place are you looking for? And define too pricey.

I have heard great things about Spring Chateau, but I havent't visited. I visited a sister property and they were on the reasonable side.

But I know we have some brides in the Woodlands area. Maybe they can give you some places to look.

And just a side note- we Houston brides get together from time to time. Feel free to join us!

That would be amazing! I think my friends are getting annoyed with my wedding talk, except my friend Michelle who is getting married on 10/01/11. I think they are having their reception at the Spring Chateau and they are paying $11000 for four hours. I was like... yikes. I really don't want to spend over $2000 but I'm a little flexable.

I am getting married at Willowfork Country Club in Katy and they have a minimum amount of money you have to spend. I think on a Saturday the minimum is $5k. I am getting married on a Sunday so my minimun is $3k.

There is a girl on here who is having her ceremony at the park in the Woodlands for FREE, her name is Nicole-she might have helpful ideas as well.

I am having my wedding at Northgate Country Club. Its super pretty there and the event coordinator is super nice and easy to work with.

I also checked out Heathers Glen which was pretty but looked like it needed a revamping.

I have also heard that Spring Chateau is good but i didnt check it out.

La Tranquilla Ranch was pretty but I think i would only use it for a reception site. Chateau Polonez was really expensive but super pretty and very inclusive of your needs.

I liked the perks and things of Belle Rose Maison but the owner was a complete flake!

I would suggest to you to go to the Bridal Extravaganza in july and check out places and deals there.

I don't know if this is your style, but we got married at the Carriage House Cafe in the Willowbrook area. It is an 1800's style resturant that often does weddings. The food is BBQ, chicken fried steaks, stuff like that. The place has horses in the back and they have horse drawn carriages, which you can get as part of the package! We had the ceremony on one side and the reception on the other, with the carriage ride in between. For larger weddings, you can rent the upstairs and downstairs, the downstairs has plenty of room for dancing. They also have a dressing room, thanks to me!! (It was a storage room, I cleaned it out and turned it into a dressing room with a couch, dressing table, full length mirror, etc.)

Frankly, finding anything around $2000 that's an actual wedding venue (Meaning their primary business) will be next to impossible- especially in this city. Is that just for the venue? You may need to look at non-wedding venues to get that price.

I have heard JulyBride talk about the Carriage House a few times, and we had another bride here get married there.

What type of wedding are you looking for? What's your guest count?

About your friend's wedding- you have to look at what is included in that price. All the food/alcohol, the cake, the DJ- and for how many guests.

A general price point to keep in mind during planning:

Photographer- $2000

DJ- $****

Officiant- $200-400

Your dad's backyard may be an option- but often you'll spend more in renting things (tables, chairs, tents, etc) than if you used an actual existing venue.

Well we want to spend more money on the honeymoon than on the wedding. Our guest count right now is at 150 but I will probably slim it down for the ceremony count and just have close family and friends at the wedding. The good thing about my dads is that my step mom works for Hilton and can get us the table/chairs/tents/linens for free. And my dad has a beautiful backyard, but the bad news is that it will probably only hold about 50-60 people back there, and that might be a stretch.

If you've got contacts at the Hilton- can you do it there? And I don't they will allow their chairs and tables to be taken off site, unless they are literally the Hiltons who own it.

I can understand spending more on the honeymoon, but $2000 isn't going to cut it for 150 people. If you think about it- that's $10/person for food and $500 for EVERYTHING ELSE!

Don't get me wrong- it can be done. But you'll have to make a alot of sacrifices and cuts.

I consider myself to be THE budget bride (ours was $2,700, we planned for 50 orginally but ended up with far less ) but with that high of a guest count, even I have to say that is impossible.

I also don't see how practical it would be to load up a truck and take all the chairs and tables out of the Hilton (if it would even be allowed).

Yeah. Well I know for my step brothers engagement party she borrowed the tables and chairs from the Hilton. She's the site manager. I may ask her how much it would be to do it there, I never even thought of that.

I have the reception planned out it's just the ceremony place I don't have. I told my FH the only thing I was going to insist that I have is my fairy tale dress. I don't mind extending the budget to **** since yesterday I found a honeymoon package that would only cost us $2500 for 7 nights. I thought it was going to be around $6000.

I just don't want to go above 8,000. That's the price of my car. Lol, I would feel ridiculous.

Usually renting a room for an event at the hotel is about $500- depending on the location, day of the week, time, etc. Since she is the site manager, I'm sure she can cut a deal.

The real costs will come in with the food.

One way around that- have a private lunchtime ceremony at a restaurant in their meeting room with just immediate family and super super super close friends (or just the parents). Then, later that night- do the big party at the hotel. If you start it after 8pm, you won't have to provide a full meal- just appetizers and cake.

But you still have to pay a photographer and a DJ. Those are big ticket items.

Actually that sounds perfect. I think I'll give her a call and see if she can find out the information for me.

Well we have a friend who is doing the DJ stuff for $200. The photographer will probably be pretty expensive though.

I'm not sure of others places up near the Woodlands, but we looked at getting married at Perry's Steakhouse. they have a location in the Woodlands, and their pork chop is to die for! If you've never had it, go for lunch!

It's like $13.95 for lunch- and worth 3 times that price!

It looks like that location has a Sunday brunch too. Just another option. A Sunday wedding will be much cheaper!

Do you know if it would still be just as expensive for a Friday wedding?

A dinner anything will be more expensive, plus you'd have to do your reception the next day- doubling up on hair/makeup stuff.

A late Saturday afternoon ceremony would save you the most money at a restaurant. They aren't as busy, and lunch is heck of alot cheaper than a dinner.

And just an FYI- the pork chop dinner is about $25-30 and doesn't come with sides.

I would just like to add that Meghan is right about the porkchop! Best. Food. EVER!

Yeah I knew Perry's was expensive I live by the one off of Cypresswood. But I suppose just a dinner party with our parents and BMs and GM.

That's why I suggested the lunch. It's much cheaper. And the dinner portion is so large, neither FH or I can finish one! It's call the 7 finger pork chop for a reason. It's 7 fingers tall, and about a full, flat hand wide!

We are getting married at Columbia Lakes, its beautiful and not very expensive.