2 RH dillemma-Deciding between ambiance, $ and hotel accomodations
I love weddings and have such romantic and somewhat traditional visions of how I'd like it to be. But, I have to cut corners since it's only my DH and myself paying. My mom can help a bit but she has a fixed income. I got laid off and am trying to find a job. My fiancee isn't rich, uptight with this money and doesn't want to put a deposit down until he can save more $ but don't want all the good days to book up. Can I put down a deposit 3 months before a wedding?
I think I'm starting to obsess. Originally, I was going to have a winter-Jan or March 2010 wedding at the Westbury Manor which we both love. The Hill room upstairs is too small though for 110 guests and I could wind up with 130 guests. The rooms downstairs get too expensive. We also liked the Fox Hollow's charm but my best friend had her wedding in the Winter Garden Pavillion and we have the same college friends. Plus, I want my own place and the room is a bit too dark and rectangular. The bride and groom sits in the back and you have to cut thru all the tables to get to the front dance floor. I like being in the middle with guests on either side.
Then, I got into the nice wedding Spring thing. I hate the cold and DH can't even stand outside comfortably in March/April for photos. So, May or June would be wonderful. July/Aug is too hot and I get miserable with my make up getting slimey and shiny.
Most of my family and college friends (70 people) are from NJ so I'd want them to stay have the option to stay over night. The Fox Hollow has the Inn next door. Also, I heard I can get cheaper rates on Holidays. My NJ people will never make a Friday evening ceremony and they will worry about traffic and work the next day for a Sunday or holiday wedding. So, I am winding up with an Saturday wedding and would love the spring, early summer wedding. Of course, that's when it's the most expensive.
That leaves me with the complete package at the Holiday Inn in Plainview. It's very affordable, the room is big and everything is included for $13K. DJ, limo, invites, photo, video, flowers, complete 5 hour RC and cake. The invitations are awful though and also the chairs (see pics) but invitations aren't expensive and I priced out chair linens. As a graphic designer/amateur photographer, I am afraid to use their photographer and am thinking of backing it up with someone else who will shoot candid shots and provide a DVD of edited shots with rights to print. That brings up the cost to $16K.
Recently, DH and I went to the Douglaston Manor and loved it. They have a package including the same as the Holiday Inn but it's $16,999. No hotel however and also more $. The cocktail hour room leads to an outside cocktail hour with a view of the Manhattan skyline. I will get the Grand Ballroom that is beautiful. I love that Meditterean/European Tudor/Medieval look. (See pics below)
I want to be practical but ambiance is VERY important to me. The Holiday Inn's outside is institutional and I was sooo happy when I saw the Douglaston Manor. Will I be upset that I spent the money for the Douglaston Manor and worry that my guests can't sleep over after drinking all evening? My family is good about the dedicated driver. Maybe I'm spending too much time worrying about my guests.
Both Holiday Inn and Douglaston Manor can be done on a Sat pm, any time of the year and offers a complete wedding package and both rooms are big. So, I have a choice to make.
On my wedding day and years after, will I be glad that I chose the beautiful Douglaston Manor where I will walk in and feel so happy with the ambiance, food, cake and view OR will I be upset about the extra money spent and no hotel for my guests afterwards?
I can't seem to make a decision. Please help!
Thanks
I think I'm starting to obsess. Originally, I was going to have a winter-Jan or March 2010 wedding at the Westbury Manor which we both love. The Hill room upstairs is too small though for 110 guests and I could wind up with 130 guests. The rooms downstairs get too expensive. We also liked the Fox Hollow's charm but my best friend had her wedding in the Winter Garden Pavillion and we have the same college friends. Plus, I want my own place and the room is a bit too dark and rectangular. The bride and groom sits in the back and you have to cut thru all the tables to get to the front dance floor. I like being in the middle with guests on either side.
Then, I got into the nice wedding Spring thing. I hate the cold and DH can't even stand outside comfortably in March/April for photos. So, May or June would be wonderful. July/Aug is too hot and I get miserable with my make up getting slimey and shiny.
Most of my family and college friends (70 people) are from NJ so I'd want them to stay have the option to stay over night. The Fox Hollow has the Inn next door. Also, I heard I can get cheaper rates on Holidays. My NJ people will never make a Friday evening ceremony and they will worry about traffic and work the next day for a Sunday or holiday wedding. So, I am winding up with an Saturday wedding and would love the spring, early summer wedding. Of course, that's when it's the most expensive.
That leaves me with the complete package at the Holiday Inn in Plainview. It's very affordable, the room is big and everything is included for $13K. DJ, limo, invites, photo, video, flowers, complete 5 hour RC and cake. The invitations are awful though and also the chairs (see pics) but invitations aren't expensive and I priced out chair linens. As a graphic designer/amateur photographer, I am afraid to use their photographer and am thinking of backing it up with someone else who will shoot candid shots and provide a DVD of edited shots with rights to print. That brings up the cost to $16K.
Recently, DH and I went to the Douglaston Manor and loved it. They have a package including the same as the Holiday Inn but it's $16,999. No hotel however and also more $. The cocktail hour room leads to an outside cocktail hour with a view of the Manhattan skyline. I will get the Grand Ballroom that is beautiful. I love that Meditterean/European Tudor/Medieval look. (See pics below)
I want to be practical but ambiance is VERY important to me. The Holiday Inn's outside is institutional and I was sooo happy when I saw the Douglaston Manor. Will I be upset that I spent the money for the Douglaston Manor and worry that my guests can't sleep over after drinking all evening? My family is good about the dedicated driver. Maybe I'm spending too much time worrying about my guests.
Both Holiday Inn and Douglaston Manor can be done on a Sat pm, any time of the year and offers a complete wedding package and both rooms are big. So, I have a choice to make.
On my wedding day and years after, will I be glad that I chose the beautiful Douglaston Manor where I will walk in and feel so happy with the ambiance, food, cake and view OR will I be upset about the extra money spent and no hotel for my guests afterwards?
I can't seem to make a decision. Please help!
Thanks
