Venue Road Block

>>Warning: Venting Ahead<<

Ugh.

Yes, I'm starting a blog post with an "ugh."  Maybe it's the cold weather and the ugly grayish snow.  Maybe it's the lack of sun or having to deal with cheating students.  Maybe it's the fact that I gained at my last WW weigh-in.  Maybe it's that I spent two solid weeks with Jason over break, and now, I just miss him.  But "ugh" is how I feel about this venue search right now.  I feel frozen in all wedding planning until we get the venue reserved.  I can't do anything with decorations until I know what I have to work with from the venue.  I can't reserve any other vendors (caterer, photographer, etc...) until the wedding date is officially set.

I've looked up SO many venues in the KC area, that they are all starting to run together right now.  I've printed off some 20 information/price guides (and looked through another 100 online).  It just doesn't seem like I've found the "right" place (or even something close).


Is it too much to ask to find a place that will let us bring 250 guests for both a wedding and reception, pick our own catering, bring in our own alcohol, and let us keep our reception going past 9 pm on a Sunday for a reasonable price without looking cheap or being in the ghetto?  Heck, you can throw in the food and booze if you're not going to charge me some $60 a guest before taxes/fees! 


I am so frustrated that people honestly expected me to spend some $10,000 just to freaking rent a place for some 8 hours!!!  Really, people?  That's without food, drinks, decor... JUST FOR A BUILDING!  Well, not even the whole building, a room of a building!  UGH!


Maybe it's that I'm such a thrifty person.  I love a good deal!  It makes me queasy to just think about spending that much total on a wedding (let alone on just the venue).  I know, I'll have to get over it, but think about the awesome honeymoon I could go on with 10 Grand!  Or a down payment on a house!

And don't get me started on the "extra fees."  Most of these places have some fine print that includes tax (~8%), tourist tax (~3%), and a gratuity/service charge (~20%).  So I find a place that I think is do-able price wise... but it's not after you add some 30% to it.  UGH!!!


So amid all of my frustration comes my knight-in-shining-armor: (yes, that's right) Jason.  He's been pretty hands-off so far in the planning.  Although he'll give me his opinion occasionally if I throw out an idea, he's not one bring anything wedding-related up in a conversation.  But after my break-down over the venue search a week and a half ago, Jason started looking at places online, even scheduling a couple of tours this weekend.  We went to 5 places last weekend, none of which fit our needs.  But he didn't get down about it like I was.  He's been e-mailing people to get more information, and has been sending me daily links to his favorite finds (along with prices, pictures, and his thoughts).


Just went I was hitting my low, there he was. :o)  I could get used to this!  Maybe this whole wedding-planning thing is more about the upcoming marriage and less about the actual wedding.

So, I could use some positive (and cheap, but not cheap-looking) thoughts sent my way this weekend.  After we get over this hump, I promise to post more happy thoughts.


>>vent over<<