Wedding Decided on venues! ((Pics inside))

[Lynnie]

Okay, so I have been a bad PSer and have been mostly lurking recently. Well, not that that''s terrible (to all you fellow lurkers out there!). For those of you who don''t know my story, DF and I are paying for the wedding ourselves (families can''t afford to), and our budget is in the neighborhood of $14000, for 115-ish people. So I''d been to about 10 venues (for reception), and I was beginning to freak out that we wouldn''t be able to afford the type of wedding we wanted (to the point of tears, at times). We wanted an outside ceremony and an inside recepetion. In April. Most of the venues'' quotes were $XX/pp PLUS 20% gratuity PLUS 7% tax. The $XX/pp was fine - within budget - but when you add 27% on top of thousands, MAN ALIVE! (as my mom would say). So two weeks ago, I found a reception venue that I loved, and within budget ($XX INCLUDING TAX & TIP & CAKE & OPEN BAR & VALET PARKING!!!) Can you tell, I''m excited??? So we booked it. Sure, the neighborhood''s not the greatest, but sacrifices must be made somewhere, right?

I realize I did things backwards, booking the reception before the ceremony. I had been planning on renting space from the Fairmount Park Commission (for those not familiar w/the Philly area, Fairmount Park is a huge public park that runs throughout the city - they have many sites available to rent). So, me and DF take TWO days to look at the spaces they had available. NONE were ideal. Either they had parking issues, space issues, or just plain ugliness issues (we found a bum at one site - gotta love Philly). The only one that was doable had a bit of a parking issue. Once I had this space in my mind for consideration, I started thinking about all that would have to go along with it - renting chairs, decorating, handicap-accessability (which it''s not), no bathrooms close at all, I got overwhelmed (cried again), and decided fairmount park was OUT. Plus, I''ve heard it''s a pain to deal with the commission.

So you have NO IDEA what a pain it is trying to find a space for an outdoor ceremony ONLY (no reception) in the Philly area. BUT after many nights of tears, and DF saying "Don''t worry, it''ll all work out", it finally did. I stumbled upon a website for Pennsbury Manor, a historic house just north of Philadelphia (about 35 min drive from my house, about 50min from reception). It sits on the Delaware River, on 45 acres. They have horses, cattle, a vinery, and it is just beautiful. AND affordable (how does $5 a head + $50 for chair setup sound?) I am just so happy

and here I am at almost 5am posting (I''m training myself for a week of nightshift). It''s truely like stepping into another world (It was once the home of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania, and they restored it in the ''30s)

Octavia, if you see this, I haven''t forgotten about you. I have seen your posts and am happy that your wedding planning''s coming along well. I''m sorry I haven''t been on the ball.

Thanks for reading about my procrastination. Less than 9 months to go, and I finally booked!!!

Without further adieu, pics....

 

[Lynnie]

The reception venue... (taken from their website)

 

[Lynnie]

another from their website

 

[Lynnie]

and the crappy photo I took. The DJ goes up on the balcony (where the fake plants are)

 

[Lynnie]

Pennsbury Manor... This is the house, I will be able to hide in it until I make my entrance

 

[Lynnie]

The actual site of the ceremony will be here...

 

[Lynnie]

The side-view of the tree pictured earlier

 

[Lynnie]

The side of the house that doesn''t face the river... I see countless photo-opts here (see the little staircase that goes nowhere? I thought that was so cool)

 

[Lynnie]

Too many pics for PS>> NEVER! Here are the horsies (pardon my lack of photography skills)

 

[Lynnie]

The view from the back of the house - the side that faces the river (brick-side posted earlier)

 

[Lynnie]

OK, one more... one of several peacocks that are free to roam the grounds. They have geese there too.

Thanks for looking. I am off to pray for no rain on my wedding day!!!

 

[bettina]

It looks absolutely gorgeous! Good for you for getting at least that part out of the way.

I''m sure it''ll all be beautiful.

On a separate note, I work midnights and spend most of my time here just counting the minutes and refreshing the pages hoping for responses. So, I hear ya on that one.

 

[Lynnie]

LOL bettina... I''m surprised I got a response, being there''s only 15 members logged in right now!! I work nightshift 99% of the time too, there''s really not much to do this time of night/morning, is there??

 

[honey22]

Looks like a lovely venue - and YAY that it''s in budget!!! It''s going to be super!

 

[bettina]

Lynnie - I know. And PS is like crack. At least it''s keeping me off ebay.

 

[crystalheart1]

Hi Lynnie

I LOVE Pennsbury Manor.. I know the site well. I have taken my boys there when they were younger.

It is a very nice site over looking the River... perfect. What time of year are you having your wedding.

Mine is November 9th at the Marriott in Conshy PA.. But I live in Bucks Co..

 

[PearlDahhhling]

Oooh I''m so happy for you! FI and I have just started looking at venues and we too are on a budget and it''s SO hard to find places that have everything you want and won''t murder your bank account. Both places are LOVELY! I am in love in love with your ceremony site! It is GORGEOUS! And I love the chandeliers at your reception location! So pretty! Woo hoo!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Beautiful, beautiful!!

Love it and it being historic is even cooler! I''m a nerd.

 

[Octavia]

Lynnie, I''m so glad that you''ve got everything booked and moving forward!! No worries about "not being on the ball" -- I''m sure you''ve got more important things to think about than posting on PS. Your venues both look beautiful - I think I remember you Saying that your reception is up in the Northeast somewhere?

Thank you so much for thinking of me, too! My FI and I booked Ridley Creek State Park for our wedding, which is just gorgeous and we''re very excited! I''m interested to hear more about your wedding, so keep us posted whenever you have a chance!

 

[Lynnie]

Thanks, everyone!! It is such a HUGE burdon off my shoulders having these taken care of.

Honey: Thank you!! I sure hope so, I''ll need PS dust for NO RAIN
Crystal: I love it, too! I had no idea such a place was pretty much in my own backyard! Lol, Philadelphians know all about most of the historical sites here... Betsy''s house, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc etc, but this place is such a treasure! I think after the wedding, I''ll throw them a donation. They are such a pleasure to work with. The wedding is in mid-April. I imagine it''s gorgeous in the fall though.
PearlDahhhling: (love that screen name!): Thanks!! Looking at venues is exciting, but extremely stressful. Well, it was for me, especially being on a budget. You want the most bang for your buck, yaknow? but also without sacrificing too much... Ugh, I''m just glad it''s done with. lol. The reception site is actually a converted movie theater with 30-foot ceilings.
Sarah: haha, fellow nerd! I was actually thinking of including a tid-bit of info about the history of the place in the programs. DF thinks it''s a silly idea, but I think it''s cute! In their website, it describes what Penn actually paid the Native Americans for the land... It was paid for in currency of both America and Europe and in merchandise: 350 fathoms of wampum (nearly one-half a mile), 300 gilders, twenty white blankets, twenty fathoms of "strawd waters", sixty fathoms of duffields (coarse woolen fabric), twenty kettles, twenty guns, twenty coats, forty shirts, pipes, scissors, shoes, combs, hoes, tobacco, knives, two anchers (an ancher is about ten gallons) of rum, cider, beer. I''m such a nerd.
Octavia: Hey girl!! Yeah, the reception venue is called The Regal Ballroom, and it''s here in the Northeast. http://grasshopperscatering.com/home.asp
Yay for you, too!!! Haha, similar budgets, outdoorsy-weddings... I''m hoping I can keep everything else within budget, now that almost 8 grand is spoken for!! Have you looked for a dress yet? If so, where did you go? I think that''ll be my next hurdle! Ooh, I just realized... you''re an Ideal Rock now! Congrats!