booking it without seeing it?

[mjso]

My current number one choice in location (for both the ceremony and the reception) is apparently very popular. My mom had called one of her friends to get info on it because her daughter had gotten married there last year. Well today my mom''s friend called to let my mom know that one of her coworker''s had just gone to book the place for her daughter''s wedding and they got the last friday night open in May of 2009. (We were hoping for April of 2009).

So my mom already was planning to go there tomorrow for a bridal show to check it out for me. I''ll be going back in 4 weeks to go look myself (I already have an appointment). My mom is now taking my dad with her, because she is going to inquire about dates and is thinking about booking it tomorrow if the date we want is still open. She called me to see if I thought she should book it or what, she feels weird booking it without me seeing it.

I told her to go ahead and book it (she''d call me with open dates and let me pick), but I''m kind of nervous. Is it crazy to book a place for my wedding before I even see it? I trust my mom and dad''s judgment, but I''m still a little nervous. Part of me thinks I''d rather have them book it so I can have the place...what if I went in February and there was nothing open until 2011? I''ve seen pictures online and it looks great, but you never know...

 

[bee*]

I don''t think you''re crazy doing it at all-my venue is very popular also (I couldn''t get a saturday until 2011) and if I''d known that it would be that busy we would definitely have booked it earlier without seeing it. If it has good word of mouth and the pictures are great and your parents like it I think that it''ll be fine to book it without seeing it first.

 

[Pandora II]

I booked my venue and went to see it 5 months later.

My parents knew it well and I had seen the outside before.

If you trust your mother''s taste then go for it!

 

[Independent Gal]

I don't think it's crazy at all. I'm letting my mom do almost everything 'sight unseen' for WP1 (though the dinner is at her house... which, duh, I've seen). I've never even seen the room where I'll be married.

Here's what I'd do.

1) Ask yourself: do I trust my mom and is her 'vision' of what makes a nice wedding joint likely to tally up with mine?
2) What exactly AM I looking for? Make a list of your criteria. GIVE THEM TO YOUR MOM. Ask her to check into each one while she's there. Especially, think about things like 'enough room for dancing' if that's important to you or 'convenient space for a chill out room' or 'pretty ladies' rooms'. That kind of thing. What would you check for if you were going? Then ask your mom to check for those things on your behalf.
3) Then just chiiiiill. I mean, it's going to be somewhere between 'great' and 'amazing,' right?

I think it's fine. Go for it!

 

[winston26]

I can definitely understand why you''d be nervous, but if the place is really THAT popular, it''s got to be pretty darn awesome. I''d guess you''re pretty safe.

 

[Sabine]

I would also trust your parents'' opinions, and if they want to book, book. Also, do you need to actually put money down to book? If you book it and then go see it in a month and don''t like it, could you cancel without losing money?

 

[mjso]

Yay!! My mom just called (well she called three times already this morning, lol). We have a date! She booked the place for May 1, 2009.

Both of my parents loved it and sounded so excited. The other good things are that their anniversary is the day before and hopefully the date will be easy for the FI to remember (it is May Day, after all). I originally was shying away from May because it is more expensive, but my parents didn''t seem to mind, so now I''m thrilled.

Now I just have to wait until I go back home to see it, which might be the hardest part. The deposit is refundable, as long as they are able to rebook the date (which seems like it shouldn''t be a problem).

Oh and in case anyone wants to take a look, our site is: http://www.merrimakers.com/locations/watersedge.html

 

[Independent Gal]

Hurray! That''s very exciting.