FI wants a possible venue switch...great.

[Courtneylub]

FI works at a country club during the summer and just found out this morning that he could possibly book events at partnering country clubs. If you know someone, there''s always a loophole. So he called one and found out it''d be quite a bit cheaper than the Bella Terraza place where we booked a couple of weeks ago. I told him I would not be closed minded about checking it out, but that I did not like the thought of switching. I''m already hooked on the Italian themed place that we have booked. We''ve already put down a small deposit, but enough for me to cringe at the thought of losing it. I''ve got all sorts of pictures in my head about the original place...even my dress matches the whole theme.

The plan is to stay calm and go with him on Friday to check it out. I can''t find any pictures online anywhere of this place...I''m guessing because it''s a private club. I know it''s a long shot, but Is there anyone on PS who''s attended an event at Lakeside Country Club in Houston?

 

[gtn]

Sorry I have never been there, but I figured I would bump it up to see if somebody here has something to say about it.

 

[Courtneylub]

We went last night to check it out and it''s a nice place. It''s a typical "old money" country club with funky carpet, but gorgeous chandeliers and candelebras. The view outside the banquet room is a pretty lake with a lighted bridge. There really isn''t a place for a ceremony, but some people have had one in a smaller room in the club which wasn''t my favorite. It looks like we''re sticking with the Bella place, but we are going to ask each one a few questions first. We need to be 100% sure by Friday because we have to pay in full by then in order to receive the 15% discount.

 

[Isolde]

Do you have any links, so we can see both places?

 

[Courtneylub]

Here is the place we currently have booked...my favorite. The ceremony will be in the courtyard.

http://www.wedding-reception-banquet-halls.com/facility_tour/btvt/virtual_tours.htm

We went to check out the country club last night and there are pros and cons. The ballroom would be really nice with the lights dimmed and candle light everywhere, plus some chair covers. I don''t really like the look of chair covers, but the chairs aren''t very attractive. There is really no place for a ceremony though. FI thinks we could pull it off on the lake dock outside, but it''s like amphitheatre seating. You can''t place chairs directly in front of the dock. People would have to stand and/or sit up a ways on the flat part. It''s just not realistic. It would be so nice if it were suited for true ceremony. The view is amazing from the dock and from the ballroom.

Anyways, luckily we found out there''s an open house at the first place on the 13th. That way we can see it all decorated and try the food. I had the coordinator ask the owner if we could wait to pay the full balance (with the 15% discount) until after the open house. He agreed, so now we''re not so pressured to choose right away.

FI, I know, is leaning more towards the country club. He worked there for 13 years, we would probably get more for the money, and he knows the chef, could get hookups, etc. I told him if the first place is not what we want, we can have the reception at the country club, but we would first need to find a place offsite for the ceremony.

 

[appletini]

Courtney,

Both places are popular Houston wedding venues so I don''t think you can go wrong either way. I don''t know when you are planning to get married, but knowing how Houston weather is I would not get married outside. If you have your heart set on the Italian theme go for that, but if you can save a lot of money by getting married as LSCC well then thats more money you can spend on your honeymoon or to buy a house, etc.

 

[Courtneylub]

The outdoor ceremony would be around 7:30-8pm and would last about 15 minutes. I''m more set on the Bella Terrazza because of the tall walls and big trees...and of course the wall of water as our background.

If we do get married at Lakeside, we will need to have the ceremony at a separate place...a church or chapel.

 

[MustangGal]

I don''t know how far apart those 2 locations are, but could you just have the ceremony at the Italian place and the reception at the club?

 

[appletini]

What about having your rehearsal dinner at Lakeside...then you both get what you want?

 

[Courtneylub]

We can''t just have the ceremony at Bella. It would need to be booked for the entire evening. Also, we aren''t having a rehearsal dinner.

I''m starting to get stressed and upset over this. We have the open house on the 13th..so I''m just hoping he will have a change of heart. I see where he''s coming from: possibly getting more for the money, knowing the people there, etc.

We will see.

 

[Courtneylub]

So, we had our first fight about the wedding last night. I guess you could call it a fight. I screamed and said a curse word.

He admitted his attachment to the country club. I would be completely more opened minded if we hadn''t already booked the Bella. I have the place in my head and ordered the dress to match...I can picture the whole thing. Why does it all have to change?

Now I''m reconsidering the dress. I can''t return it. I suppose I can see if they''ve even placed the order yet.

Edit since I started typing this: I will keep the dress. I can make it work anywhere and I do like it for more reasons than it going well with the Bella.

If we end up with approx. 175 guests and IF they can fit that many in the smaller ballroom (for the ceremony) adjacent to the larger one (reception), then we''d have to find ways to decorate it like a ceremony. Arches and what not. This sounds like some work!! Which is what I wanted very little of. I know how stressful planning is and I thought we did damn well with finding a place that did it all for us.

Grrrr!