venue frustration

I am suffering from complete frustration and I thought that blogging may be a great way to vent ...so if you aren't in the mood to hear some complaining, you may want to simply move on from this blog:)

I am loving the Wedding Planning process and for the most part things have been moving along really well up until now.  At this point most of the elements are simply ideas swirling around in my head, but I have been working to nail down whatever specifics I can so that things are less stressful as the date draws nearer.  Of course things are slightly more complicated because I live on the other side of the world, but thanks to my wonderful parents and friends at home, I am feeling very supported.

One of the specifics that is an absolute necessity to nail down is the venue.  I'm sure by my past blogs that you are assuming it is all booked and confirmed.  Not so, and not for a lack of trying.  I have never in my entire life had so much difficulty giving someone money.  It's to the point that if I wasn't totally in love with the place and if I didn't think it was perfect for my vision, I would move on and cut my losses.  Korea has definitely been teaching me patience, but I don't think there is enough patience in the world to deal with this.

Here's the scoop.  Once my parents visited the venue I was hooked and set.  I immediately requested a proposal knowing that the format of my wedding celebration is going to be slightly different (more details to come) ...I waited for a response.  When one didn't come within a week (or even an acknowledgement) I sent another email.  Again, nothing.  Then I went the next step and got my mom to start calling.  I think she called every single day for a week.  At this point it is about 3 weeks since the visit.

One morning my mom finally got ahold of the Event Manager, who is extremely friendly and let her know that she would have the proposal by noon that day, she had just been waiting for final approval on the discount she was extending.  Noon came and went.  Many noons came and went.

Are you ready to scream yet?

I was just about to have Wayne's mom start physically stalking her when the Proposal arrived in my inbox.  It was about 4 lines and didn't include many details, but it was a happy day.

I immediately responded with a positive and she promised to send it out in the mail to my parents house because we had 1 month to sign and get the cheque back to her.

This was over a month ago and nothing has arrived.  Nor is she responding to any emails or phone calls.  When I originally googled the venue I read that communication was difficult ...this is taking difficult to the next level.

On the flipside, I came across this picture today and thought it was a super cute idea for my ceremony ...or maybe a photobooth backdrop. (ps. I am talking about the white door altar)

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mark your calendars

The venue has been chosen.  The date has been set.

I chose the Gambrel Barn (which is the Agricultural Museum in Country Heritage Park) in Milton for the wedding.  I absolutely loved the Halton Museum, the inside is gorgeous and I could imagine exactly how it would look ...but after my parents went to visit the Gambrel Barn and sent me the pictures, I think we all just knew that this would be the spot.

There are a lot of reasons:

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  First and foremost, it means something to Wayne.  He went to camp in this park as a kid, and I love that we are getting married at a venue where he already has memories
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  The inside is as close to the initial vision that I had in my mind (wood and rustic) as I have seen
• 
  
  Size ...even though I am planning to keep the wedding fairly small, I didn't want to have to worry about size
• 
  
  Patio ...no one likes to consider rain on their wedding day, but the covered patio eliminates the need to consider a tent
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  The Ceremony ...I will be able to have the ceremony anywhere on the grounds that I want, and if it rains, I can still do it outside at the Pavillion in the pictures above
• 
  
  It just feels right

And now I am officially excited! I have a visual in my head and I know the palette that I am working with.

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the venue

As a Wedding Planner I have always prayed for the brides that have figured out where they wanted to get married before coming to me.  It's a time consuming and incredibly personal decision that I absolutely hate trying to make.  I really thought that it would be easier for me ... I started with a visual in my head and thought it would all flow from there.  One million google searches, 10,000 emails and 3 pleas to my parents to do site checks later and I have narrowed it down to 2. 

They are both in Milton, they are both barns and they are both museums ...but they are totally different.

The Halton Museum & The Agricultural Museum.

The Pros & Cons.

When I started thinking about my wedding I really wanted a barn. I wanted that rustic feel, and I really felt that it suited Wayne's childhood and personality.  I wanted the challenge that decorating the inside would bring, but also the blank slate that wood really has.  While I love the beauty and simplicity of planning  a wedding at a Golf Course or a Hotel, the type of event that I am planning really didn't fit.

My parents saw the Halton Museum first and the pictures are gorgeous.  I have a proposal from the caterer and the food would be amazing.  But it's small and I would have to watch my guest list and consider renting a tent if I want to use the patio, which really increases the budget.

Then Wayne mentioned the Agricultural Museum.  It's a far larger venue (can hold up to 750 people if necessary ...which is both a plus and something to consider because there is nothing worse than an empty room,) has the wooden feel that I had originally envisioned and the grounds around it are beautiful.  But communication with them has been extremely frustrating and their caterer is onsite.

Have a look at the pictures.

The Halton Museum

This is the patio where the tent would cover if I went that route.

I love the look of the walls, but you can easily tell that the room is not overly spacious. Don't worry, I wouldn't use those chairs.

The Agricultural Museum

Again, never - never would I use those chairs ...but the room is spacious and open and definitely rustic.

This is the patio that is attached, it has a cover over it.

I think overall our goal is really to have an amazing party and to celebrate both our wedding and our family & friends.  Of course this means making sure the food is great and the bar is plentiful.  I want a lot of time and room for socializing, drinking and celebrating. 

And I want to keep it simple.

Decisions, decisions.

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