Venue Search

So all the planning books I've religiously consulted hammer in the fact that you need to find a reception venue before anything else. I have spent the past three weeks researching, calling, and comparing venues. Also since I am a huge finance nerd, I compiled all of my results into an excel spreadsheet for easier comparing.

I decided to make a grand total of 10 appointments for this past weekend. Because I am planning my Cleveland wedding from Buffalo, I need to cram everything into one weekend (A vendor bender!) If anyone is from the Cleveland area, you would know that we were absolutely pounded with a blizzard on Friday and Saturday. All my carefully laid plans were ruined!!! After making a harrowing trip back(included a broken muffler and burnt out headlight on the middle of the freeway), over half of my appointments canceled on me because of the snow. Waaaaaa!

However, I still made it to three- one of which was my top choice from all the information I had so far.

First choice: Frank & Pauly's - Atrium at the Square

Gorgeous view from the balcony- main reason this place was my original fav:

The food is Italian, and reasonable prices for family style eating. It can fit my expected 250-300 guests, and the are reasonable about decorating restrictions(not that the space needs any!)

Main issue- location of the dance floor. My family likes to PARTY, and that means dancing. The dance floor is like shoved off to the side, and blocked by all these pillars.

The coordinator there told me I could bring in a dance floor to put in the middle, but that seems like so much trouble. Another issue is the bar- their house package is well, WELL liquor, and my fiance will not stand for that. Actually the only questions he asked of anywhere we went was the brands of liquor in the bar packages..(well, at least he is interested in something!) Upgrading gets pricey though. Another problem is that it is downtown, so parking is an issue. I can rent the attached garage, but then either I or the guests(tacky to ask people to pay their own parking?) have to pick up the tab.

Option 2: Sammy's at the Metropolitan Ballroom

View from the top floor windows....WOW

Can you imagine this at night? That's Lake Erie in the background. The ballroom is gorgeous too, decorated in a 1920s style that I could totally imagine my wedding. This would be my vision for this space:

Here's the inside:

Downsides to this venue: no outdoor space- you can't use the roof, PARKING again, and general extreme priciness!

Third option: Brennan's

Brennan's is not downtown- its actually kind of in the ghetto (lol) off W 130th. It's more of a catering hall- they have 4 banquet rooms, which look like most other banquet rooms in catering halls- stuck in the early 90s! Ugly carpet, tacky chandeliers, you get the picture. However, these places tend to look a million times better by candle light, so I'm keeping an open mind.

What do you think?

The main attractiveness of a place like this is the price(reasonable)...AND... its BYOB! Haha... actually it means we get to bring all our own wine, liquor, or beer for them to use at the bar. Not only does it save ALOT of money, but the boy likes it because he can have complete control over the alcohol. Crytal for everyone! Parking is free. Drawbacks are its lack of any sort of originality.

So... what do you like best? Option 1, 2, or 3??

Sis and I at the Atrium...girl risked her life to drive us around Cleveland that day in a terrible blizzard...that's why she's the MOH!!