Skip to main content
ARE YOU A VENDOR?

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Samantha
Savvy November 2020

Venue Advice

Samantha, on July 2, 2019 at 12:40 PM Posted in Planning 0 29
Saved
Reply

Help, I need advice!! Our wedding is November 14th, 2020, so we still have a little time to decide on a venue, but the two we are seriously considering are booking up quickly! We were ready to book one of our top 2 choices last week, but then the owner contacted me to let me know that their alcohol policies had changed. They now require a bartender to be present to serve ANY alcohol, even bottled drinks. Well, as luck would have it, we were planning on just getting an ABC permit so that we could do a serve-yourself bottled beer and wine cooler station in order to avoid hiring a bartender at all. So the venue's policy change puts a huge kink in our plans (it doesn't take them off the table for us but booking there would now force us to rebudget to include a bartender, which will be a huge hassle).


Long story short, as a result of the policy change at Venue #1, we are reconsidering booking with them and looking more closely at Venue #2 since they do not require a bartender to be present for individually sealed alcohol to be served. Both venues are beautiful, but Venue #1 feels more like "us," hence the reason we are still considering booking with them. However, Venue #2 is a close second in terms of the "vibe" we are going for and offers a turn-key package. I need help deciding which one to go with, so please tell me what you guys think:


Venue #1

Cost: $2,700

Includes:

- Venue rental noon Friday - noon Sunday

- Full bar/mini kitchen for bartender's use

- Picnic tables for outdoor reception seating

- Golf cart shuttle for guests

- 2 fire pits

- Bathrooms

- Completely outdoor ceremony/reception space (except for a small shelter where the bar is located)


Venue #2

Cost: $6,700

Includes:

- Venue rental noon Friday - noon Sunday

- Full kitchen

- Bathrooms

- Indoor/outdoor ceremony and reception space

- Space for wedding party to get ready

- Seating and tables w/linens for both ceremony & reception

- Large tent in case of rain

- Set up & clean up

- Wedding coordinater

- Officiant

- 4 hrs of photography

- Pre-ceremony reception with light refreshments

- Boquets & boutonnieres for wedding party

- Floral decor & centerpieces for both ceremony & reception

- Wedding cake

- Champagne and glasses for bride & groom

- Overnight stay in the wedding house (an updated 1800s farmhouse) for the bride & groom after wedding


So... what would you do??

29 Comments

Latest activity by Casey, on July 2, 2019 at 3:42 PM
  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    For #2, do you get to choose the officiant and photographer?

    • Reply
  • Courtney
    Master December 2019
    Courtney ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I would absolutely go with option #2, I've found that inclusive venues are the way to go for weddings. While it may not have your vibe, changes in décor can certainly fix that.

    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    They have 2 photographers and 4 officiants for you to choose from, or you can hire your own independently. We have already unofficially decided on the venue-provided officiant and photographer we would choose, though.
    • Reply
  • Jessica
    VIP June 2020
    Jessica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I would go with #2. Its a little more expensive, but if you are already thinking of doing linens, flowers, photographer and all that jazz this venue saves you A LOT of money. Also they have indoor and outdoor space so you have a back up plan if it rains or whatever the case may be. The only thing that would steer me away from #2 is the officiant and photographer... do you get to choose? Are they reliable? Are the photographers pictures even they style you want?

    • Reply
  • Gen
    Champion June 2019
    Gen ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Got it, well my only hesitation with that would've been if you didn't like their photographer and/or officiant. If you like them, I'd go with #2! Seems like it includes a lot for a pretty good price, and would save you a ton of stress having to deal with all those things individually. Do you have pics of both venues though?

    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Devoted November 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Complete outdoor reception and ceremony for venue #1 makes me nervous. Is there a bad weather option just in case?

    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    That's kind of what im leaning toward too just because the package provides so much. We budgeted out our costs and Venue #2 will actually come out to be about $3k cheaper than Venue #1 when everything is said and done, and that budget was done before the policy change at #1. Also, we do not have a wedding planner so i feel that an all inclusive package would really help me keep my head on straight. The only thing that has prevented us from booking #2 is just the fact that #1's setting is exactly what we have in mind. Like you said, #2's vibe could easily be altered with decor though
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    You get to choose from 2 photographers and 4 officiants but we have already researched our "would be" choices and have unofficially picked out both!
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    No bad weather option unless we rent a nice tent. It makes me nervous too, especially since the wedding will be in November
    • Reply
  • Jessica
    VIP June 2020
    Jessica ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Then I would personally go with #2.

    • Reply
  • Mandi
    Master October 2020
    Mandi ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I'd personally opt for #2 because there is indoor space in case of weather issues. Actually it seems like the better of the 2 options all over.
    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Devoted November 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Yea, then I would go with # 2. It seems like you are getting way more with venue #2. I would just ask to view some of their in house photographer's work as well as checking to see if you could bring in your own officiant if you wanted.

    • Reply
  • Courtney
    Master December 2019
    Courtney ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Our venue is all-inclusive and all we needed to bring in were a photographer, DJ,flowers, cake and chair rentals (our venue didn't have enough). Everything else is provided: catering, open bar, tables, linens, flatware, bridal suite, and free parking. Our venue provides a coordinator to help with deliveries and staff to help set up the spaces and serve dinner. As the bride I'm even assigned a staff member to make sure I eat during the night lol. Smiley xd

    • Reply
  • Katie
    Super November 2019
    Katie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    I would go with option 2 only because how much they offer within your package.
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I do have pictures, but I am having a hard time uplosfong them right now for some reason. #1 is a small mountain in the middle of 100 acres
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    And #2 is a restored farm that was built in the 1800s with several old barns and mature magnolia trees throughout the property
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I think that's probably what we'll end up doing. I think the price for what you get is unbeatable. In fact, having our wedding at #2 will end up costing about $3k less than it would at #1 if our estimates in our budget are correct!
    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I have seen their photographers work and i love it! And you do have the option to bring your own officiant, but we like theirs too 😊
    • Reply
  • Stephanie
    Devoted November 2021
    Stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment

    Sounds like #2 is definitely the winner then.

    • Reply
  • Samantha
    Savvy November 2020
    Samantha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content
    View Quoted Comment
    I agree. I'm just so in love with the space at #1. But, like someone above mentioned, we can always change the vibe of #2 with nice decor
    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

Show more

WeddingWire article topics