Ceremony Location???? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

DragonYoga · #1 05-24-2006, 02:19 PM

My FH and I had originally agreed on having the wedding at the Casa de la Paz (they have a wedding package) and now I'm having 2nd thoughts... My reason? I want to plan the wedding MYSELF!

I know, I know... I still have over a year to plan, but yiii why am I doing this flipflop thing??

For those of you who are curious about the location we agreed on: www.casadelapaz.com We agreed to a 2 day rental - as part of the wedding package we chose, we are required to rent the entire house for one night - but because we are marrying on a Friday, we are required to rent it for 2 days/nights.... So, the final total will be just under $7,000 for the wedding package ($2500) and the 2-day house rental (which, by the way, has 7 bedrooms and can fit up to 15 guests)...

It sounds perfect, wonderful location, which is literally right on the bayfront and just down from the famous Lion Bridge, so why am I having second thoughts?????

maroki13 · #2 05-24-2006, 02:23 PM

I think it is a gorgeous site!!! Would they not let you plan the wedding yourself if you have it there??

Heather · #3 05-24-2006, 02:58 PM

It is beautiful...

Wouldn't you have the ability to plan it yourself? It seems like maybe there would be a coordinator to help you, but you would have the final say right?

Marge129 · #4 05-24-2006, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heather

It seems like maybe there would be a coordinator to help you, but you would have the final say right?

My thoughts exactly.

The site is gorgeous!

555Ann555 · #5 05-24-2006, 04:20 PM

The venue looks lovely. The only query I have with it is the photography package. Have you read through the small print on that?

Maybe it'd be negotiable, but the package include says he's only shooting one roll of 35mm film

This doesn't give much of a margin for error...

SuzyBride · #6 05-24-2006, 06:29 PM

That place is gorgeous! If you are having second thoughts though maybe you should look into other locations until you settle on one. Look over their photography package too, I wasn't all that impressed with it.

DragonYoga · #7 05-24-2006, 06:57 PM

Yeah.... Ever since downloading the Fire Your Wedding Planner *big smooches to Heather for that one!*, I've been thinking that one over. I still love the location, but their wedding "package" is basically "I want #1 for that, uhh # 6 for that and...." and I don't like not having more control over what I want. I will go back and talk to them see if I can't just rent the house and plan my wedding there. If they're not gonna be flexible, I'll have to dump the idea... which I don't really want to do!

birdie · #8 05-25-2006, 04:31 PM

I've been having similar problems with trying to find ceremony venues. I have all these stipulations including the fact that I want to do the planning. I don't want the caterer picked out for me and the florist picked out for me and the cake picked out for me, etc.

I think you should hold off of reserving the spot if you haven't already. If these things are important to you, that's what you should hold out for. It's your wedding! It should be how you want it.

labeadel · #9 05-25-2006, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by birdie

I've been having similar problems with trying to find ceremony venues. I have all these stipulations including the fact that I want to do the planning. I don't want the caterer picked out for me and the florist picked out for me and the cake picked out for me, etc.

I'm exactly the opposite. There will be plenty to plan outside of what they are taking care of for you. I say that as much as you can other people take care of for you, do it. My hotel did my food, so I didn't have to choose a caterer and they gave me 3 places to choose my cake from. If I wouldn't have had to pick out a florist I would've loved that too. Fortunately, they supplied me with a list of florists, which was very helpful. My point? Go with the place that you love and will help take care of things for you. There is lots to do...

DragonYoga · #10 06-02-2006, 04:22 PM

Yeah, but to go to this place, we are getting married on a Friday and they require us to rent the entire house for 2 days. That comes to a total of $6950. Minus all the other little "wedding neccessities" and the reception. Last time I spoke to the guy, he was a bit rude and asked (in a snotty way that came off as more of a demand) that we change the date to the next day so that they can have "more time" to get everything together.

SOOOO..... I'm seriously considering ditching the place to spite him!

I'll post a few pictures of a couple other sites downtown. I talked to city hall, they said to wait til 11 months before the wedding to reserve the spot; there are two. One is the slave market ($60 to reserve the gazebo area) and the other is the courtyard in the Lightner Museum - which is $175. Both locations are gorgeous. And way, way, WAY cheaper than the house with the snotty owner!!!

rosefeather · #11 06-02-2006, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonYoga

Last time I spoke to the guy, he was a bit rude and asked (in a snotty way that came off as more of a demand) that we change the date to the next day so that they can have "more time" to get everything together.

. WOW. That's not right. I say go with your gut. If you want the place go for it. If you are having some hesitations, I would check a few other places out. You may find one that you LOVE even better.

DragonYoga · #12 06-03-2006, 03:00 AM

I agree, rose! That original location is gorgeous, but...Owners that think they can dictate what goes on for a WEDDING day rubs me the wrong way

So that place is the "last resort" kind of thing lol.

clairon13 · #13 06-03-2006, 03:31 AM

i loved the lightner museum when i visited st aug!!! i very much wanted to get married (when i thought i was having a spring, not winter wedding) at the ornamental metal museum b/cs its ambience was so artsy and beautiful. and maybe even weird!!! hehehe
anyway, on topic: i'm a control freak, i really had problems w/ all the typical venu's so-called wedding pckgs, b/cs i too wanted this element but that element and this ..... you get the picture. i say go w/ your gut. the casa place is stunning... but if you need more control, take it. but labeadle makes a great point... there is so much to do, and this far out you still WANT to be in control of it... closer to time, it gets a little hectic!! so weigh your options. but i'm like ann, a photo freak, so that was waht was most important to me. keep us posted, tho!!
(and i only wish i'd done all my flip-flopping w/ months to go.. as it was, i did lit like w/in the last two months and these wonderful girls still put up w/ me!!)

555Ann555 · #14 06-03-2006, 12:55 PM

That is true Misty, you did change your mind a lot towards the end

I think you have to go with your gut feeling DY. If this guy is already getting your hackles up then maybe this isn't the right place.

DragonYoga · #15 06-03-2006, 01:09 PM

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. I took FH for a stroll around downtown, and through the plaza (slave market) without telling him why; he thought I just wanted to go a different way

We also went to visit the lightner museum, so he got a chance to see the courtyard

I'll decide with him later on, around the end of the summer/early fall. We had a good time btw - today we r going to the ripley place. ANYWAY...! Ann and Misty, thanks for the feedback! I really think I'll go with some other place. Even thinking about that guy, and the way he asked/demanded is getting me riled up all over again! lol.

labeadel · #16 06-05-2006, 07:44 PM

I wouldn't go with someone who was rude either. You need good people with you on your big day!

DragonYoga · #17 06-06-2006, 04:40 PM

AMEN, Amy!!!

clairon13 · #18 06-06-2006, 09:08 PM

but definitely let us know when you know!!! and feel free to change your mind, either b/cs you want to, or b/cs you had to (some of my flip-flopping was due to terrible vendors that were going psycho on me at the end... so it's not all my fault, ann!!!

)

DragonYoga · #19 06-07-2006, 02:24 AM

I definetely will!

peckmiranda · #20 06-21-2006, 07:07 PM

I know what you're talking about. I'm having the ceremony in a little tiny town in Kansas with NO options whatsoever. Pretty much the only place to get married is a very plain church, and ever since I was a little girl I've said I will NOT get married in a church. I refuse to set a date until I figure out where I want to have it!

555Ann555 · #21 06-21-2006, 08:17 PM

Hello there Peckmiranda!

welcome to pash!

DragonYoga · #22 06-22-2006, 02:56 AM

HI, Peck!

Welcome to Pash!

UPDATE: I'll be having the wedding at the courtyard in the lightner museum!

I can't reserve unitl 11 months before the date, but it is defintely where it will be. It's a city-owned property, so they have weird rules like that!

clairon13 · #23 06-22-2006, 05:12 AM

yay!!! i was secretly crossing my fingers that you'd decide on that place.... but only b/cs i've been there, lol!!! but isn't it great just to even mentally cross that off your to-do or to-figure-out list?!?!? it's going to be beautiful... now december feels so far away.... <sigh> especially in this heat!!!

peckmiranda · #24 06-22-2006, 05:20 AM

Thanks

My first name's Miranda, btw, not Peck. Not like the little guy on Willow!

And amazingly, I think I've found the place I like. Apparently they're renovating this old train depot that's like 100 years old. It's just a timing thing now. You can't reserve it more than six months in advance, and since they're just now renovating it, I'm sure a lot of people are going to have the same idea I had. Hopefully I can get it for the date I want! Which...still not sure if I want a spring, summer, or fall wedding.

Kim&Bob2004 · #25 06-22-2006, 06:03 AM

Welcome Miranda!

Please tell us more about yourself. Or did I miss it!