Update - airport vs. aquarium!

[luvthemstrawberries]

This is the previous thread starting my debate between two venues: https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/which-venue-do-you-like-better-lots-of-pictures.100374/

Towards the end of that thread, I''d gathered a little more info, but the thread had kind of died down by then. Since then, I''ve found out a few more things and I''d like some opinions! Mainly I''m interested in knowing if you guys would consider having a wedding reception in a public place. The airport terminal is not a typical terminal - it''s basically an office/hangout place for the pilots, employees, and customers of General Aviation (smaller, chartered flights - not public flights) to hang out, get some food, sleep, etc. Also has a Hertz rental neon sign on one wall, a welcome desk in the middle of the floor, and offices/conference rooms on another side. But it''s still a great atmosphere. It''s also a public building that anyone can come into and watch planes on the runway. You can see the public airlines on this runway too - it''s very busy. So it makes for a neat place to hang out.

So, long story short... it''s incredibly cheap to hold an event at this place. Something like $600 for the first 2 hours, then $50 an hour after that (can''t remember the exact numbers right now), so we''d tack on a few more hours. But it also HAS to remain open to the public. They can''t turn anyone away while an event is going on. Since you walk in the front doors basically right into the area where tables, etc are set up, the man did tell us that most people tend to turn around and leave when they see an event going on. But I can just imagine us, with our luck, getting some visitors that night who KNOW it''s their right to be in there regardless of us, and they bring screaming kids and plop right down on the benches next to our buffet table...

Side note, since some of you were asking the price difference - the aquarium is $2500 for 4 hours including setup and breakdown, $300 per extra hour, so we''d add on at least one more hour. Still fairly inexpensive compared to area country clubs, hotels, etc. But they close off the aquarium once our event starts.

 

[fieryred33143]

The airport sounds really, really cool

But

I''m not too concerned with the food. If they grab a plate to eat, then they grab a plate. Oh well. If they steal a few favors, that''s ok. Most people don''t take them home. What I would be more concerned about is alcohol. You know your friends and family and if there are any obnoxious/violent drunks in your group, at least you''ll be somewhat prepared. But if these uninvited guests can get their hands on some alcohol, you have no idea what kind of drunk they''ll be. Plus, what it an underage person gets some alcohol or something like that.

Are you going to have some sort of wrist band or something that will tell caterers only your guests have access to the food/alcohol?

 

[mayachel]

Is there some sort of security system to prevent party crashers? It seems like it is a very pretty and sentimental space to you.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Haha Fiery reminded me of a few things I should clarify...

1) I'm not so much worried about other people coming in and stealing food. Haha it does sound like that with how I wrote it. I'm more concerned with them coming in with screaming kids and being loud and obtrusive while we're trying to have a reception. Like I said, there's a huge chance no one else will even come in when they see an event going on, b/c most people would feel more uncomfortable doing that even if they know they're allowed to be there. Plus this isn't a very crowded building usually, especially on a Saturday evening. So any people coming to plane watch would probably turn around and leave. BUT there is NO guarantee.

2) We are not planning on serving alcohol. FI and I rarely drink, neither do most of our families. When any of us do, it's only an occasional beer/glass of wine/mixed drink (with the exception of a few cousins who got hammered at our last family wedding). But I don't think it warrants the huge expense, and I don't want a cash bar. Been to one with those, and I don't think people should have to pay for anything when they come.

Fiery, thanks for the advice to watch out for though if we did decide to have any alcohol, even just a select offering. I'd never thought about the possibility of outsiders getting in the drinks. We'll have less than 100 people, and everybody knows everybody, but that's still possible. And I certainly don't want to be on edge having to watch everything, or especially don't want people to have to wear identification that they're there for my party...

 

[blondebunny]

I''d be a little weary about the airport although it sounds cool....I could totally see jerk trying to crash it just trying to prove a point that its public and he can...

Also, I know u said you were going to have a buffet... what if some rude person came and so much that some guests were left hungry??

I probably wouldnt do it just for the fact that there are alot of "WHAT IFS?" ya know?? you dont want to have to worry on your big special day that someone rude jerk could do something to potentionally cause some harm..

The aquarium sounds really cool too..

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:10:41 PM
Author: mayachel
Is there some sort of security system to prevent party crashers? It seems like it is a very pretty and sentimental space to you.

We would required to pay for an off duty police officer to be "security" during the event, just to patrol the area, parking lots, etc. But I''m not sure if his duty covers party crashers... ugh. I''d assume he''d get involved if there was a disruption or something, but not sure.

 

[Clairitek]

If I were a member of the greater public roaming around the airport and watching planes I would definitely turn around and walk away from the reception if I saw it going on. I don''t think that I would assume that I was entitled to be down there during a private event. In fact, I''d probably be embarrassed that I accidentally waltzed into someon else''s party.

I would probably go ahead with the airport if I was in your shoes. I think it would be a rare person who would actually have the guts to walk into your reception and eat your food, drink your booze, and help themselves to a favor.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 12/17/2008 1:31:43 PM
Author: Clairitek
If I were a member of the greater public roaming around the airport and watching planes I would definitely turn around and walk away from the reception if I saw it going on. I don't think that I would assume that I was entitled to be down there during a private event. In fact, I'd probably be embarrassed that I accidentally waltzed into someon else's party.

I would probably go ahead with the airport if I was in your shoes. I think it would be a rare person who would actually have the guts to walk into your reception and eat your food, drink your booze, and help themselves to a favor.

Thanks Clairitek - that's what I'm so on the fence about. My head tells me exactly what u said - most people wouldn't intrude and would be more embarrassed if they accidentally did. I just worry because my luck usually matches me up with the "rare" occurrences in life.

I'm actually more worried about people just being interruptive and loud, not so much about taking food and favors.

 

[Octavia]

My wedding and reception will be in a state park, and can''t be roped off or anything either. While the ceremony and reception areas are sort of naturally set apart from the rest of the park, there are still trails quite nearby. Honestly, I''m not that worried about it. Almost every weekend I''ve been down there, there has been a wedding going on and it''s never seemed like a problem for people. From what I could see, most hikers/dog walkers/venue-checker-outers keep a respectful distance when there''s a wedding going on -- although one day we ended up talking to a bride in the parking lot (before the wedding) and she invited us to come look at the way she had set up and decorated. We quickly peeked, told her it was gorgeous, and left so we weren''t in the way and she could get ready. I thought it was really sweet of her to do that!

If that''s the kind of bride you picture yourself being, then a public space probably won''t be a problem for you. If you''d prefer not to have anyone who isn''t invited peeking at your wedding, it''s probably not the best choice. For me, it was important to have the wedding in a public space that we could go back to again and again and that''s always beautiful regardless of when we go. And I really don''t mind the thought of other people being nearby without walls separating us from them. Other people have different priorities, so it''s really a matter of what makes you and your FI comfortable -- but obviously, I''m on the "go for it!" side

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 12/18/2008 12:41:51 AM
Author: Octavia
My wedding and reception will be in a state park, and can''t be roped off or anything either. While the ceremony and reception areas are sort of naturally set apart from the rest of the park, there are still trails quite nearby. Honestly, I''m not that worried about it. Almost every weekend I''ve been down there, there has been a wedding going on and it''s never seemed like a problem for people. From what I could see, most hikers/dog walkers/venue-checker-outers keep a respectful distance when there''s a wedding going on -- although one day we ended up talking to a bride in the parking lot (before the wedding) and she invited us to come look at the way she had set up and decorated. We quickly peeked, told her it was gorgeous, and left so we weren''t in the way and she could get ready. I thought it was really sweet of her to do that!

If that''s the kind of bride you picture yourself being, then a public space probably won''t be a problem for you. If you''d prefer not to have anyone who isn''t invited peeking at your wedding, it''s probably not the best choice. For me, it was important to have the wedding in a public space that we could go back to again and again and that''s always beautiful regardless of when we go. And I really don''t mind the thought of other people being nearby without walls separating us from them. Other people have different priorities, so it''s really a matter of what makes you and your FI comfortable -- but obviously, I''m on the ''go for it!'' side

Thanks Octavia for the advice! I haven''t thought about that, but it would be cool to be able to go back whenever we wanted. We''d still have our ceremony in a church, but we could go to the airport and see our reception site anytime if we had it there.

It''s not that I worry about people peeking. Even at the aquarium, it states in the contract that the directors are allowed to discreetly bring people in to view the event in action, just like we did to a birthday party when we visited there. I wouldn''t even mind talking to someone if they had questions. Even at the airport I wouldn''t mind people looking for a minute then leaving. I just more worry about someone disrupting the party completely by being loud or something, because the GA terminal is just one small building - a big open space, no separating rooms or anything. Then again, I''m not all about a lot of attention on me, so maybe I should consider all of it.

 

[mayachel]

I say go for the airport if you love it. You are unlikely to be disturbed by raucous party crashers. Even if they do wander in, most will bow out gracefully, if they don''t...between the groomsmen and security your built in "bouncers" can help out the situation.

 

[mrowmrowsmom]

If you''re not having alcohol, I say go for the airport. It''s certainly original, and you can''t beat the price. I love the idea of the aquarium too, but the airport is way cheaper. Most random people won''t want to stay and ruin your reception. And if someone does, well, karma is a *****.

 

[elrohwen]

I still think the airport terminal is an awesome! And totally unique. Well, I guess they''re both fairly unique, but I''ve heard of aquarium weddings and I''ve never heards of an airport terminal wedding.

I don''t think it would be a big problem having it in a public space. Like Octavia said, most people will keep a respectful distance. Someone might be loud for a second, but it''s likely that your DJ will be playing music and people will be dancing, so I don''t think it would be that disruptive.

 

[Sparkalicious]

What great venue ideas! It will be neat for your guests to get to experience your wedding in a venue that is original and fun!

To answer your question ... wedding reception in a public place? ... I may have considered it previously, however, after attending my cousin''s wedding at a resort in the Caribbean ... I have changed my mind. It was really annoying having random people in bathing suits standing "inconspiculously" and staring at all the proceedings. While they did hang back a respectable distance and were not noisy and were fully respectful, there was just something that totally put me off. The ceremony/reception were still fabulous and all the wedding guests had an incredible time, as did the bride and groom ... It''s just one of those personal preference things. Probably relates to me being a control freak and not being able to control who is involved in a public place.

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:27:07 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
What great venue ideas! It will be neat for your guests to get to experience your wedding in a venue that is original and fun!

To answer your question ... wedding reception in a public place? ... I may have considered it previously, however, after attending my cousin''s wedding at a resort in the Caribbean ... I have changed my mind. It was really annoying having random people in bathing suits standing ''inconspiculously'' and staring at all the proceedings. While they did hang back a respectable distance and were not noisy and were fully respectful, there was just something that totally put me off. The ceremony/reception were still fabulous and all the wedding guests had an incredible time, as did the bride and groom ... It''s just one of those personal preference things. Probably relates to me being a control freak and not being able to control who is involved in a public place.

Haha as am I! Hmm maybe I should consider that...

 

[Sparkalicious]

Date: 12/18/2008 2:32:08 PM
Author: luvthemstrawberries

Date: 12/18/2008 2:27:07 PM
Author: Sparkalicious
... It''s just one of those personal preference things. Probably relates to me being a control freak and not being able to control who is involved in a public place.

Haha as am I! Hmm maybe I should consider that...

tee hee

 

[luvthemstrawberries]

Well we have a date set next week now to sit down and discuss all this and try to come to some conclusions. I''m waiting to hear back the rest of the open dates for the aquarium, and the airport is mostly open through the year. So hopefully pretty soon you all will be hearing some good (and final) news from me! I think the public aspect will play a big part in the decision, which is the main thing the airport has going against it. The aquarium mainly has distance going against it. So, we''ll see.

Thank you all for the input so far! If anyone else has any input about having a reception in a public place, feel free!

 

[katamari]

I loved the airport, and, it wouldn''t bother me that it is public. I think there are different types of public places, and the airport wouldn''t cause the kind of problems that would bother me. At a beach or a park, people are there (usually) without a purpose, so it might be more likely that they ogle or loiter, because, what else are they going to do? Anyone who comes to an airport, though, has a purpose and a timeline, so they aren''t going to loose that sense of what they are doing and get sidetracked. They might check it out, but I can''t see anyone "crashing" it because they will have too much else going on.

As for kids, fewer kids fly than adults, so odds are at least in your favor. And, I would think most parents would try to calm a wild kid at an airport because they are about to be in a small, public, contained space with them and don''t want them thinking it would be okay to act up on the plane.

It is just the reception, right, and not the ceremony? I might be a little more self-conscious about having onlookers at the ceremony, but at the reception, I wouldn''t even notice.