So, I want to share my experience with finding a Wedding Venue....
Let me just tell you, it was NOT easy. But it was fun!!
1. Will Rogers Theater
Man is this place beautiful. It's classy Art Deco awesomeness. They're an all-inclusive place, which means they provide the food and drink (that is to say, you have to use their catering service and bar or you can't have your event in there), the linens, some minor decorations, tables, chairs, etc... Pretty much all you have to bring are the people and the music. They even have a sound system you can hook your sounds up to. They have lots of different menu options, ranging from multi-course sit down dinner to piles of finger foods. Coffee, tea, and punch are also included in the price of the food. The bar is of course extra, but there are options with that as well. They do charge a security fee.
BOTTOM LINE: Gorgeous, classy, stress-lowering (because they do a lot of the setup for you), freaking fantastic....but not economical for a party with 200+ guests. So, therefore, not for us.
2. The Farmer's Market
Wowie wow wow. This place is divine. It's one GIANT ballroom with old hardwood floors, paper lanterns and twinkle lights strung all over the ceiling, huge windows with beautiful views of the downtown skyline, paint peeling off the cement walls giving it a perfectly vintage feel....... Someone please invite me to your wedding or party or something in this space. The event coordinator is very sweet and easy to work with. They allow outside catering, but you have to use their bar services. There's a charge for security and bartenders, plus an extra cleaning fee if there is an event the next day. The room rental includes tables and chairs, but the chairs are NOT cute, so one would need to rent covers or even different chairs altogether. But did I mention it's really a neat space????
(we spied on a wedding setup)
BOTTOM LINE: it was just more dollars than I wanted to drop for essentially just a space......
3. Festivities at The Old Post Office
SWEET! Original hardwood floors, golden-bronze radiators still on the walls, ceiling fans, walls covered with windows!!! It's fantastic. The building was built as a post office over one hundred years ago. It's kind of a funny shaped space; lots of little nooks and crannies. I LOVE IT. It was the most unique place we looked at by far. There is a charge for outside catering, but it's only $100. They require the use of their bar services, but have lots of options. PLUS, they keep all the alcohol in an old mail safe! So neat! It's not meant for tons of people, and parking could potentially be an issue. So car pool and wear comfy shoes!
BOTTOM LINE: We'll take it!!! See you there April 18th!!
140 days and counting down!!!!!!
W & E
