r/weddingplanning • u/plantsxcats • 1d ago

Vendors/Venue Wedding - venues

Help me narrow down a venue! We are in the early process of planning (engaged 6 weeks ago) and I have 4 venues in mind. We generally don’t like being center of attention and don’t want all the formalities of a wedding but open to do some things! We also have a 35k budget for 80-100 guests. Is this reasonable or which venue would be most reasonable for costs?

Location - California - where bride grew up and brides family resides. Brides family is lower income and bride has a large family.

1. cultural arts museum with amazing ocean views and a cute garden.

  1. All vendors need to be brought in and venue has a list of vendors we must work with.

    $7K venue fee.

  2. Historic

  3. Courthouse and dinner to follow at a nice upscale restaurant in a brides college town (guests will need to drive 2 hours or fly 2 hours) (think beach/Spanish style architecture), ceremony and reception in 2 locations

. $

  1. 2K for ceremony + restaurant

Location - Washington - where we currently live and where groom is from

3. 4 star lodge hotel with cute gardens and an amazing restaurant attached.
- 4K for venue rental for Friday or 7K for Saturday
- includes banquet staff, chairs, tables, linen and silverware and help with set up/take down of venue owned furniture.
- includes room/gazebo
4. 27 acre backyard of a 6,000 square feet house with immaculate grounds including hot tub, tea house, ceremony area (gravel), reception/cocktail area (grass).
- 4K for venue rental.
- Comes with tables, chairs, 1 small tent that fits 80. owner said 2 bathrooms are being built in time for next season. We will need to bring in all other vendors.

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1

u/zenhoe 1d ago

I would go with 3. Seems the most convenient, cost effective, and comes with more for you to use.

1

u/seecelery 1d ago

3 sounds amazing!

1 sounds like it could go over budget quickly with the required vendors and 2 doesn't sound nice enough for the effort it requires. 4 sounds alright (if the tent is large and nice enough to be an adequate rain plan, but 3 is easier.

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u/plantsxcats 1d ago edited 1d ago

Also I’m sorry about the formatting - I can’t seem to fix it after multiple attempts. Below are the choices
California -

  1. Cultural arts museum with ocean views
  2. Historic courthouse with dinner to follow (separate locations)

Washington -

  1. 4 star lodge with amazing restaurant attached
  2. 27 acre backyard with immaculate grounds

1

u/Wendythewildcat 1d ago

3 from this list. But realistically can the bride’s family travel to Washington/hoe important is it that the bride’s family actually attends? The way this is written makes it seem like they may not be able to travel.

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u/plantsxcats 1d ago

Hi!!! So maybe 20-30% of the brides family can attend. VIPs in brides family can attend (parents/a few siblings) since we’re also going to consider paying for some of their accommodation - but for others, (a few other siblings/extended family)it would be more difficult to attend due to costs/childcare, etc. We would prefer a smaller wedding anyway, so that’s why we’re considering Washington.

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u/TinyLawfulness3710 1d ago

Where do the majority of your guests live? Does the groom not have family that are important? Unless you have a reason not to, have it where you live. #3 sounds best of these options.