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??
