Venue Help

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That’s good to hear, I thought I had it at the Venue #1 but I was alone since my FH has been there for weddings before he didn’t see the need to come. (I think he needs to see it as a blank canvas before we decide.)

I was at the wedding show and met the event coordinators on a venue we didn’t find doing research and we both were there and both got excited. So we’re booked to visit them on Feb 4th and I’m really hoping our feelings line up with how we felt at the wedding show. I gotta see it in person to know.

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Ah, that's exciting! I hope it's everything that you're hoping for.

What proved to us that we had found our venue was the way we felt at it. We felt like it was a very homey place to get married and like we could have an intimate wedding there. The staff also made us feel right at home from the moment we emailed them inquiring about the place all the way to today. We loved it from the tour and were really excited when it was under our anticipated budget! Once we saw this one we knew that none of the other venues we had lined up to tour would compare so we I totally think there is something to the whole concept.

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It’s similar to my situation. I visited Venue #1 alone, he was at work, we both have been to weddings and events there before so he didn’t really care to see it. He said from the beginning that I’m the boss and I can decide he’ll be happy with whatever I’m happy with, yadda yadda same as usual lol. He hates making decisions lol, I really like the first venue, we wanna book an off-season wedding so they offered me all kinds of perks and discounts so I was excited. But my heart was not totally sold, just my brain (money reasons and location for guests)

we saw Venue #2, while beautiful, not us at all.. so we doubt we’ll go with them.

Feb 4th we visit Venue #3 which we both got good vibes from talking to the venue coordinators at the wedding show. We’re both excited to see it in person, but we don’t wanna get too excited and hype it up too much in our minds. It’s more of a hike for our guest at 45-1:15 mins drive. It sounds like a very unique experience, and the style of the venue is so us! It’s a historic building turned hotel. So we’d be staying the night and partying as late as we like if we rent out the 15 rooms. We’re all about making the evening one to remember.

Venue #1 won’t be that we think, though its a ****$ cheaper... but we’d need to do more decorating and prep.. so it may even out in the end I suppose! Goodness this is hard!

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What!?! It looks like marble! So fancy

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It is really cool!

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Great tip! I have 3 now in mind, visited 2 and 1 to go Feb 4th, it’s the one we both are excited about. Still didn’t see it in person, only spoke to the coordinators at the wedding show and gushed over their website lol, it’s the most expensive options so I really hope to have that moment where I just know, i’f I’m going to spend the extra money after all!

Your venue is gorgeous by the way, I love the style. I would really like the opportunity to decorate myself, as an artist. The venue we’re excited about visiting doesn’t really need decorating.. so torn! Lol

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Thanks for the advice! I wanna have my ceremony and reception in the same venue so that’s why I’m under so much pressure to make sure I pick the right one for us! I think I may have it but we’re only visiting on Feb 4th, I’m waiting patiently and hope it doesn’t let my expectations down. If not I have another place in mind, but I’m less excited about it! Which is why I’m stressing a little lol

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It’s a tough decision to make but it’s one of the very first things to decide, and such a key component to the wedding! At the end of the day it’s that we have fun and enjoy our wedding day together I suppose. The more I stress the more I’ll make myself crazy lol

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That’s reassuring to hear. I loved talking to the venue coordinators at the wedding show and we were both almost sold right there. But we both agree we wanna visit in person. We have a tour booked on Feb 4th, we’re both so excited. We just hope we didn’t hype it up too much in our minds by then.

I do believe in the "when you see it you will know". It is just like your fiancée - you just know that he is the one.

I am in the same boat as you - I have a place in mind that I really want and hope I get, but I have a few back ups just in case.

I saw venue #1 on my own whilst my fiance was away on business and fell head over heels. I thought he would too, so scheduled a visit one afternoon after Christmas for us and our parents. However, I also scheduled another venue for the morning. Of course, EVERYONE was blown away by that venue and I was feeling a little pissy because after this appointment venue #1 would not be as well liked. Walking around venue #1 later that day and the feeling wasn't the same for me either - more logistical questions and with the other venue fresh in my mind. In the end, we back and forthed on the pro's and con's for about 3 weeks, and booked venue #2 - more outdoor space, a very Canadian vibe and great location for everyone to get to!

View quoted message Thank you. It's the Elora mill venue. Floor is actually carpet

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This venue is so beautiful! The floor is so cool!!

My advice would be narrow it down to 3 only. Compare prices and what it offers. There is no perfect venue amand nothing a little decor cant fix. This is our venue. But we are not having any decor just the basic and decide to keep cost low and use the flowers as decor. Just go in with a vision and see if you can picture everything you envision within the venue.

Good luck!

Our incredible venue

Our venue is the closest one to our ceremony spot. We have gone with a rustic theme, so it is literally the perfect place. It is a gazebo at the Jasper stables. It has a fire pit in the middle and it has completely captured our hearts. Also, it is a smaller venue which has allowed us to have a more intimate wedding of 88. Go with the one that captures your hearts.

I think you'll know, though I understand being hesitant/wanting to see more places to make sure you're making the right decision.

My fiancé was dead set on the venue we chose the day we visited it, but I wanted to see more "just in case." After comparing what it offers, etc. to the other venues we planned to visit, I decided to call off our other meetings and go for it. We've since visited it multiple times and I love it more each time. (Especially because they've done renovations since!)

You will know when you fall in love with the whole look of it and feel the vibe given.

MY husband knew this place and first reaction was seems nice yet expensive. When I went to see the resort beside me, let me tell you the price was about what i set in whole and not worth it. It was beautiful though for sure.

I did agree and we signed the contract for the first venue and everyone loved it especially since it was in the middle of nowhere and lots of activities to enjoy even for the kids.

Work the numbers too and compare to see where you both feel its worth signing to have your special day celebrated.

View quoted message Thank you! I am getting a little bit of guilt myself about it. I always said I wanted small and simple but as I create my guest list I quickly realized, I don't necessarily want anything huge but but I'm still double the guests I thought, and I just keep thinking of people I'd want there to celebrate. I've been saying the same thing, I only plan on getting married this one time so I totally agree with you! I'm glad I'm not alone feeling like this. My future MIL and FIL aren't married themselves because they believe it to be too frivolous of an expense for them. She reminds me she's excited for me but I sometimes wonder if she's secretly judging my choices... We have a great relationship, we're very close so she would probably just tell me outright, so I think I'm just worrying for nothing lol.

For us, it was about the guest count, being "us", followed by price.

As long as you have what your top priorities are, follow your gut. I know tons of people that are making me feel bad for spending what we are spending (even though $20,000 is on the low end of weddings now-a-days...) but if that price gets me what I want then I've got to go for it! You only get married once!! (Hopefully of course.)

The way you will know is if you can't think of something you would change- and can't. It made the price priority fade to the background because it just didn't matter. It was the place that we would be saying "I do"!

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My first venue was my first choice too, but when we visited the wedding show we found another venue that seems more our style its just a bit more than I planned on spending, still do-able, but saving money is always great. But I know memories last a lifetime so I’m waiting for a chance to visit this new place before I decide for sure!

Like all the ladies said, if it checks all the boxes of what you are looking for it will be the one for you!
I did a lot of research and made a chart comparing all the venues in our area. We only went to see 2 that were fairly similar in price and the atmosphere we were looking for.
The first venue we looked at was my top choice. As soon as I talked to the manager and saw it all. I knew it was where I would get married. So super great that you saved the best for last! I almost cancelled the appointment at the second venue, but went through all the motions anyways

For us when we saw it we knew! It was a little more expensive than the others but it came with so many extras it made it beyond worth it!! The whole look and feel really got us! All the Perks and the ratings! We fell in love and knew almost instantly! We visited 5 venues in total before making our decision!

I agree with Valerie that it was mostly about if the venue had what we wanted or not. Our venue came in pretty close to having everything we wanted and within the price-point we wanted.

We visited TONS of venues, probably 6 or so, and it was the last place we visited that did it for us. We weren't 100% sure but it really came down to the logistics of it all.

View quoted message Great to hear! Because I feel we're both more like that ourselves. We have to discuss and decide, I don't think I'm going to have that moment people say I'll have. We both agree it will be amazing wherever we do it, so I suppose that's why I feel this way. It's not the place it's the people and the experience, but the place is in the photos forever too lol

For us, it was more about whether the venue checked off all of the boxes on our list or not. The process of elimination started pretty early on, based on the email responses and the info they provided.

We contacted about 10 venues, in total, but only visited 2. After the two visits, we had a little "meeting" to discuss what we liked, didn't like and whether we should see more venue or, if we were confident in our choice. So, we didn't really have that sort of epiphany when we saw the venue.