Reception Site - Over Budget but Perfect!

[JessaJS]

Hi all,
My fiance and I have been through the wringer with wedding plans so far - we were planning a DW, but have now decided to plan a more traditional wedding due to some family drama.
Well, the one thing my fiance really wants for the wedding is a reception venue with the WOW factor.
Unfortunately, at our budget, there''s really not much out there that fits that bill. We''ve been looking at community centers, etc.
I found this ballroom that is just starting to offer weddings - it''s over our budget but they allow outside caterers and I have a contact with a super cheap caterer - stone age prices per plate.
Is it worth being about $1500-$2000 over budget to have the place of our dreams???
Let''s see if I can post pics....

 

[JessaJS]

Ballroom -

 

[JessaJS]

Stained Glass - Most people do head table in front of this view - so pretty!

 

[JessaJS]

Lower level foyer

 

[JessaJS]

Staircase.
OH - And did I mention we can bring our own liquor? That saves money too - and the mansion supplies the Chavari Chairs - which would be expensive to rent elsewhere, I assume....
Thoughts?

 

[Tacori E-ring]

It is beautiful. I would go for it. In the long run $2,000 more really isn''t that much for having your wedding in your dream location. Besides I bet if you really looked hard you could cut some other things (dress, flowers, invites) a little and make up the difference.

 

[jcrow]

i say go for it. a place like that you could save on flowers & decor since it''s SO fab by itself!

 

[JessaJS]

More Views - sigh!!

 

[larussel03]

I think this place is wonderful and you say it''s over budget by 1500-2000, but if they allow you to bring your own liquor and you do wine and beer only (with champagne toast) you will save at least that much since open bars are much more expensive at venues where you cannot bring your own (mine for example is 24.00 a head for open bar for the night, which is more reasonable than other places that charge by the hour!)

 

[SoonIHope]

It''s absolutely gorgeous!

And I agree, you would save a lot on decor since it''s already so fancy, a lot on chairs (Chiavaris are $8.50 per chair where my wedding is!!!), and a good bit on alcohol, so I don''t think the price difference will come out to much if anything in the end. Good luck and be sure to come back with wedding pics when the time comes!

 

[JessaJS]

Sorry so many pics- it''s just so darn pretty, IMO. No more, pinkie swear! hehe
Here''s a private seating area.

I think that we would barely have to decorate other than linens and some small centerpieces, so yes, we would definitely save there.

Minneapolis (where I''m from) has a lot of nice historic mansions but none that I''ve found that allow outside caterers, so that could be huge for us. I still dream of havng a wedding at Oak Alley - JCrow - that place is heavenly!!

 

[Kismet]

You can save a ton of money by providing your own liquor. Our bar tab ended up being around $800 for 100 people for 5 hours. Plus $1000-2000 isn''t really all that much in the grand scheme of things, unless you''re really strapped for cash.

 

[Janezita45]

That place is gorgeous! You will have alot of fabolous shots in your wedding album!

But if you think about it, if you spend more for this location, the costs would probably end up leveling out since they are flexible and let you bring your own liquor and your own caterer. If this is the place of your dreams, I don''t see why you shouldn''t go for it!

 

[Gypsy]

Yeah. Well. You''ve got WOW covered. In spades! Where is that? As for budget-- it depends you how tight the budget is... but it sounds like you are willing to give a little to get this place. So I say go for it. It''s STUNNING. Tell your florist you want to compliment -- NOT compete with the venue.

 

[larussel03]

WOW, I really can''t get over how great the ballroom is!! I''m totally green with envy, I''ll have to find you and KICK you if you don''t go with this place! So great, I''m sure you can make the budget work with it, just cut in other areas, and like I said before, bringing your own booze is HUGE in the cutting costs dept!

 

[Fancy605]

That ball room is SO beautiful! Oh--why can''t there be something like that near my town.

 

[KimberlyH]

It''s beautiful and I say go for it. My ceremony/reception were in a place that was a bit more than I wanted to spend but I didn''t need to do ANY decorating because it was so perfect to start off with (totally different atmosphere than the place you are considering but still beautiful). I saved a ton of money on not buying flowers etc.

 

[San Diego Bride]

that venue is absolutely gorgeous! i think $1500-$2000 is totally worth it for the wow factor. everyone will be impressed and the pictures will be incredible. you can save in so many areas... DIY invitations, beer/wine/signature drink only, candles instead of flowers. i say go for it!

 

[LaurenThePartier]

I''m with everyone else. That venue is absolutely gorgeous, and you will cherish your wedding photos forever when you have a location with that much drama. Go with your heart on this one.

 

[codex57]

Absolutely. Venue is one of the most important places. I''d sacrifice somewhere else to get it. Looks like you''ve found the thing with your cheap caterer connection.

 

[Curls]

I would definately choose this place. It''s gorgeous!!! While it''s a decent amount over budget, it''s not *that* much. Easy for me to say since I''m not paying, huh? But I know if it where me, unless the other less expensive places look almost as nice, I just wouldn''t be as happy with the others after seeing this one.

 

[robbie3982]

Go for it! It''s gorgeous, and like everyone else said you''ll save a lot on decorations and you can cut back on other things to compensate.

 

[FacetFire]

I''m with everyone else -- go for it! It definitely does have the WOW factor! The cost will be worth it...and you''re lucky you can save in other areas by using this site.

 

[labbielove]

Go for it!
it''s amazing, you don''t need many flowers (candles would be oh so romantic, and they come fairly cheap)
and the liquor savings alone will be HUGE....
not to mention other areas you can save in - flowers being a relatively easy area to save on, as well as invites, etc.

our caterer is telling us to go cash tab versus the package price on open bar, based on his experience that can come out significantly less. since we select what beer/wine to serve, he will get us case pricing and pass the savings on to us in the per drink fees.
depends on crowd, but we did the math based on our guests, and it should come out less.
being able to bring your OWNliquor is even way cheaper than that... you can totally shop the specials over the time you have between now and then, and come out way ahead.

the venue is a huge part of it, so if you love it, go for it-

 

[Scooba]

I agree with everyone, in the scheme of things 1500-2000 isn''t that much to have the place of your dreams, I would let that amount of money be your deciding factor. Go for it, it''s beautiful!

 

[kcoursolle]

Whoa, I''m speechless!

 

[Clarygrace]

Indeed, go for it, it''s absolutely spectacular! You definitely can save on other things, such as decor, byob etc. Can''t wait to see your pics!

Good Luck!

 

[JessaJS]

You are all so sweet!
My fiance and I are setting up a tour to go see the sit tonight! It''s called the Semple Mansion and the ballroom inside is called the Grand Palladian Ballroom. I''m so excited!
I think that you are all right - what''s $2,000 when it comes to the perfect site? We are tight on money but I really do think we would be able to save on decor, etc. I''ll keep you all posted on if it''s as fabulous in person as it is online!!

 

[larussel03]

I like the idea someone posted on using candles rather than flowers for centerpieces...in that place, you could prob do hurricaine or pillars on mirrors and rosepetals rather than floral centerpieces, if you wanted to save money there.

 

[njc]

The mansion is FANTASTIC! I agree with everyone else that you can make up for the extra money by spending a little less somewhere else. I don’t even know that you need to decorate at all there. I think you can go with the white table linens (usually free, color=money) like in the picture, and then I can see candles and rose petals sprinkled on the tables! For an extra splash of color, you could do colored napkins (if you can swing it) OR to get the same splash for less money, DIY some menus and have them at every setting. If you are having flowers at your ceremony, you can have them moved to the reception to save a little too.

We were able to bring in our own liquor too, really does save! The cheapest bar probably is just beer and wine, but if you do want liquor, here is a tip to save a little more. If you can get on a military base, or know someone who can, get them to buy it at the PX! They do not charge sales tax so its another couple bucks back in your pocket for every bottle… It adds up fast!

Cant wait to hear more about it!