Decisions, Decisions...

Well loyal readers (is anyone out there???), I've narrowed my venue list down to three, no easy task. However, it is much much harder to decide from this shorter list. Help me!! I've been having wedding nightmares, and I just want to get this decided.

Choice #1 : The Lakeside Courthouse

I blogged about the courthouse in my last post and why I thought it was so divine. After a few more weeks of thinking about it, I haven't changed my mind. I still love it. I think this option could be as expensive or as cheap as we want it to be. With everything I want to do, it will probably come in at about mid- way between my three final choices. I also thought of some easy ways to cut costs even more.

1. Change the date- not my favorite idea, but if I had it on any other Saturday other than the 4th of July I probably would not have to pay for parking.
2. Be reasonable with rentals- No I DO NOT need the gorgeous chivari chairs (tear), nor do I need to pay an extra $1000 to have glass glasses at the bar
3. Cut back on decorations and other extras- the space is already gorgeous.

Choice # 2: Windows on the River

I also wrote about Windows in a previous post, but let me sum up why it made it to the top 3.

1. WINDOWS!!! I love the view of the city, and the awesome downtown location.

2. The possibility of having an outdoor patio for cocktails.

Cons are:

1. I can't have it on Saturday July 4th. That date is taken, so I would need to do it on the 3rd. I'm not sold on a Friday wedding.

2. It would be the most expensive- even on a Friday. However, the price does include hors d'oeuvres, dinner, drinks, the cake, and some flowers, so that helps.

3. The room I like has a balcony that overlooks the rest of the room. The problem is that the lower room can only fit 200 people, and anyone over that would have to be seated on the balcony. Would this offend anyone??

4. The room itself is very very GREEN. Green carpet, paint, etc... it would be too overwhelming to almost any other color I brought in.

Looking at this, I realize I have more cons than pros. Does my love of the view outweigh all the bad stuff??? Would it for you?


AND... Choice # 3: Party Center

I haven't blogged about this location before because I haven't actually been to see it yet. Then why would I even consider it? Well, I actually have been to see it, but the last time I was in there was around 10 years ago. IT is owned by the family of my best childhood friend ever. I am actually in her upcoming wedding that is taking place there this September.

My mom contacted her father a few weeks ago because I had been procrastinating. I just felt bad about potentially contacting him if I decided I didn't like it. However my mom is all excited now because his prices are amazing. I can't believe the highway robbery other venues are committing when I take a look at how much less he can provide me with the SAME things for.

So, here we go with the PROS:

1. I've known the family forever, so I know they would so a REALLY good job! I would completely trust my event in their hands.

2. It would be by far the least expensive option, and the least amount of work for me. My parents like the idea.

3. I will be at my friends' reception taking place almost a year before mine, and can decide what I do and don't like about it.

4. It's literally a quarter- mile from my parents' house.

Cons:

1. It's literally a quarter- mile from my parents' house, which is in the middle of BFN. (butt- f***ing NOWHERE!). Where would the guests stay?? I would need a shuttle to and from a hotel somewhere. Also, not a cool fun downtown area like I wanted!

2. It looks nice in the pictures, but it really is just another catering hall, just like every other one. No originality here! If I go crazy with extra decorating or other things it will just erase the whole point of having it there to save $$$.

3. He's not sure if I can have it on the 4th... he said he might not be able to get anyone to work. WTF?? All the other days I potentially wanted it were already taken.




And I guess Option #4...keep looking.......... I am starting to get MAJORLY frustrated here though, and might not be able to take it anymore. So what do YOU think??

Vexing Venue Issues

Ok, so I am still having major problems with my vendor decisions. I think I ruled out all three I previously posted on. The dance floor in the tower just kept bugging me, I decided Brennan's was too ugly, and the Metro sent me a ridiculously expensive proposal.

Here's the run- down from my last trip:

Massimo de Milano was my first stop on my way in from Buffalo. Unfortunately I didn't get any good pics because I forgot my camera in the car, and was too scared to go back and get it. Which brings me to my main issue with the place- location. Its downtown in Ohio City which is great, except for the bums and generally shady looking people crawling around the parking lots. Maybe this is why they offer FREE valet parking
Here's a picture from their website.



It was very pretty inside, with tulle draped from the ceiling and a light, almost ethereal look. A couple of other pros were their straightforward pricing- flat fees per person which included taxes and gratuity, 6 HOURS TOP SHELF BAR (this is unheard of), and a great menu choice. The food is Italian, and you have a chance to try before you buy.

The issues I had were neighborhood it is in, and the size(they told me it an fit a max of 250). I am expecting AT LEAST 250 guests, and it also did not look like it could accommodate that many comfortably. Also, the bar and cocktail area is kind of ugly. There is not a hotel within walking distance either, although the city is right across the bridge, a 2 minute drive. I am still keeping this in mind.

Next stop- Windows on the River. Here is the entrance. Now, some people don't like this industrial look and the green paint everywhere. However, I LOVE it. I think it is so much more interesting then the typical hotel lobby entrance. Also, there is an arcade around the corner.

There are two room choices here. First, the Bridgeview room.


This room was ok. I wasn't overly impressed. The view of the bridge and city was great! Next she took me into the Cityview Room. I am noticing now that I didn't take any great pictures of the actual room, I was so busy admiring the view. Here's one to give you a general idea of the room.

The room is two stories, with a balcony. This was a problem, because any guests over a count of 200 would need to be seated up here. I'm not sure if anyone would take offense at this. Thoughts? Also, my date (July 4) was taken! Waaa! I would have to have it on Friday, July 3. As soon as I mentioned this, she whipped out their Friday menu, a good $13 less per person. Ok, maybe a Friday isn't so bad. Everyone gets that Friday off...... right? Even with the discount, Windows is NOT cheap. It would be a little little bit over our budget, however they include your cake, flowers, and other decorations in the price. Plus, we can have our cocktail hour right on this patio by the river. At night, with the lights.... I think it would be awesome! Check out the view!

I really like (almost) everything about Windows and am still considering it.

The next day, Rachel (my sis) and I went out to Strongsville to check out two different places. They were each about 35-45 minutes from our house. First up was the Belarusan Community Center. I have heard some rave reviews about the food from here (especially the lemon chicken). The caterer was a straight forward no- nonsense woman that I instantly liked, and it is a one room party center- NO other weddings. We can bring our own alcohol (bring on the signature drinks!), even kegs too. It had an outdoor patio, and was very large. Here's the entrance:

There were some things I didn't like- Belaruse is a Russian country, and their country crest or whatever is plastered EVERYWHERE! There is a huge one on the wall by the bar. Ugh! I would have to see about covering that up. It's not downtown, and there is no hotel in walking distance (although there should be some a short drive away.) It's just not very fancy, or interesting. (I do like the disco ball! LOL)

Next we stopped by a wedding factory in the area, Michaud's Town and Country. Ok, the reason I call this a wedding factory is that they have 8 rooms there! This instantly turned me off. The entrance was very pretty though, and the prices were good. It is also BYOB. The only room I liked there had a 300 person minimum, and is HUGE!

I don't think I can guarantee AT LEAST 300 guests- and I would have to pay for any extras. I think this is OUT?!??

Our last stop of the day was Landerhaven in Beachwood. I have heard great things about this place from my friend's sister who had her wedding here. Rach and I were starving by the time we got here, so when they handed us a complimentary tin of fresh baked cookies, I was in heaven. (We promptly stuffed our faces as soon as we left the place! haha) Ok, this place is right NEXT to a hotel, which is great. Free parking, and a nice entrance as well. It does feel a little corporate though, with a big office in the lobby. The coordinator was a mess though- she took us to the first room which at the moment was partitioned into three parts. "Oh, just imagine these all pulled back." Ummmmm...ok. It did have a nice patio area though, with a garden and fountain. Then she took us into the cocktail area for the other ballroom. Gorgeous!

I love the huge windows! Then she peeks into the ballroom, and proceeds to tell us that there is a wedding going on, and that she couldn't take us in there because it was a black wedding and we would stick out. Ummmm....what!?! Ok, we're wearing jeans and I'm carrying a million notebooks, so yeah I think I would stick out at a formal wedding no matter what. She then takes us to see the "private" bridal suite where the WP can get ready. Yeah super private I guess, anyone can get a tour through it while someone is using it. I was very turned off by her obvious unprofessionalism. She gave me the prices, which were outrageous anyways, and then tried to get me to put down a deposit right then and there. Ok, I didn't even actually see any of the rooms, so no thanks. I will not be going back there.

So.... some good and some bad. Still no decisions! I have another idea that I'm working on though, and hopefully can blog on soon.