Happy Dance!

[Gypsy]

Then venue search MAY be at an end.

We nixed two possibilities this weekend due to space considerations. Which left me with:

The Churchill: Very "DC" and well... under budget. But I''m afraid of the food quality and the room cleanliness (Tripadvisor).

http://www.thechurchillhotel.com/

The Fourseasons. Affordable and Nice. But with no frills. Literally. I can only afford a luncheon here. No brunch.

http://www.fourseasons.com/washington/

So I contacted a few places. And here''s what I found:

The Madison--- solid Travelocity reviews. Great service. And I get a fabulous brunch with ALL the whistles. And more. The price is the same as the Four Seasons but I get much more.

And the lady was wonderful and a knot bride had her wedding there and was very pleased.

http://www.loewshotels.com/hotels/washington_madison/tour/

All of them have nice locations for the guests, which is huge.

But I''m leaning toward the Madison because it''s nicer than The Churchill, but I still get everything I want.

What do you think? Honestly???

Part of me still says, but the Four Seasons is the Four Seasons... but another part of me says why have a no frills wedding at the Four Seasons, when I get all I want with The Madison and I don''t sacrifice too much in terms of hotel quality (4 star v 5 star)

 

[Kerbear560]

Hi Gypsy! I clicked on the link for The Churchill, but couldn''t find any pictures on their site. If you have concerns about the room cleanliness and food quality, I''d move on!

The Four Seasons looks nice, but it sounds like you aren''t happy with the pricing...

Which leads me to The Madison! It sounds like you''ve already made up your mind! Good reviews on Travelocity and from a knottie who had her reception there! You like the guest accommodations! And, you said it yourself, why have a no frills wedding at the Four Seasons, when you get all you want with the Madison and you don''t sacrifice too much in terms of hotel quality! The pictures of the ballroom on their site look gorgeous (for what it''s worth, based on the pictures on both websites, I prefer it to The Four Seasons ballroom)!

 

[Gypsy]

kerbear-- I keep meaning to see your knot bio! Gonna go do that now.

Oh... and we''d be using the Dumbarton Conservatory at the Four Seasons. Ballroom is way big for 60 people. But it is nice at The Madison from the pics... I am worried it will be a little dark though.

 

[decodelighted]

Hmmmm. I kinda like that it would say "The Four Seasons" on the invites. Is that shallow? Yes. It. Is.

I''d go see them both - maybe you could squeeze some kinda brunch out of those Season-ites! You''re persuasive!

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah the Four Season''s on the invites is nice. But I asked them today, and they can''t do a brunch for that price-- I asked the woman for a red meat option instead of pork if I get my own cake but that''s the max I''m getting there. And I can''t afford more-- everything so far is right at budget. I''m not saving $$ anywhere. Dress-- at budget. Invites-- at budget-- Flowers-- DIY at budget. Photographer-- at budget. There is a chance I might book a less expensive photographer... but it''s not high. The one woman I REALLY like is at budget and photographery is really important to me. Depending on where I get the cake done... I may save a couple hundred bucks... but that''s not enough for anything at the Four Seasons. Not even a room for the wedding night.

SO. It''s either a three course luncheon (salad, either pork tenderloin, fish or pasta, with cake as third course) at the Four Seasons with a cheese and fruit display at the cocktail hour OR a full brunch (crab benedict, NY strip carving station, pancakes, pasta, salads, potatoes, bacon, sausage, imported cheeses, pastries, bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon, fruits and berries, etc) plus a suite for the night and a private breakfast for two the next morning at The Madison.

LOL. Big difference there. But you''re right I have to see the space and see what I think. But if the difference isn''t startling, the Madison saves me $$ because of the included suite for the night and breakfast the next morning. I would only have to pay for one night instead of two. Which is nice. And alcohol at the brunch can be limited to champagne cocktails (kir royale, mimosas), bloody marys, and screw drivers.

 

[decodelighted]

Okay ... you''ve sold me on The Madison, if you like it in person. "The Madison" sound plenty nice too.

And I LOVE a yummy, yummy cocktail brunch!

 

[Gypsy]

Deco! I just did a virtual tour of the Madison on Travelocity-- and the ballroom has no windows. At all. But even worse-- the ceremony locations are all very low ceilinged and most have no windows either. I really wanted to be married outside... or at least in a bright room with big windows with an open (high ceilinged) feel. Frick.

Why is this so hard? Seriously. I need a bigger budget. A thousand dollars more. And I''d be fine. I could book the City Club of Washington Franklin Square. Unless maybe... if I get married during the week. But with everyone coming from out of town that would be a horrible thing to do to my guests.

 

[decodelighted]

I've been to events at the DC Press Club & DAR's Constitution Hall & The Hay Adams hotel ... all were nice, if that helps?

Hmmm. Outside area in Sept. I can ask my sister who lives there now if she's been to any nice events lately?

ETA: Have no idea what the costs are here but the Rooftop Terrace at the Hay Adams looks amazing ... the Concord Room is also good for a buffet for 50, service for 75?

 

[Gypsy]

I haven''t called the Hay Adams-- because frankly I think they are way out of my price range. Still... I could it doesn''t hurt to ask. As for the City Club in Franklin square-- I''m going to call the woman back and talk to her. It does help very much Deco that you''ve been there. I totally trust your taste and assessments of the places. Thanks, and thank you sister for me too.

 

[sumbride]

My parents stay at the Madison and the Hay Adams every year for meetings and they love both hotels, but the HA is SOO pricey. I picked them up there one night and they handed me roses... somebody had just had their reception there and the florist was taking apart all the arrangements and I guess just handing them out... wish I had her name! The roses were gorgeous for a week! My parents loved the idea of a DC wedding at the Hay Adams! But then they realized just how many $$$$$ it would take! The Madison is much lower-key. It''s a very nice hotel, but if the ballroom doesn''t suit your needs, I guess that won''t work. A word on the "prestige factor" for the invitations. The Madison is very DC and would look fabulous on the invitation to anybody in DC, but the 4 seasons is more universally prestigious.

Gypsy, this may also be out of range, but have you looked at the St. Regis? Would you consider anything in Arlington or Alexandria, VA?

 

[Gypsy]

Sumbride-- great info. Hay Adams is gonna be out of reach. Not too concerned about prestige-- but I want bang for my buck.

I did call the City club of DC about a brunch buffet deal... and the lady said she'd talk to her manager, but that she thinks it's possible. So that's nice! Thanks Deco and Sumbride!

ETA: Yeah. We really want something in the city proper.