Wedding Venue input desired :) Which do you prefer/why?

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Ladies-- I''m in need of your oh-so-wonderful wisdom!! FI and I are stuck between two venues. Price-wise they''re the same, but each is quite unique.

Venue 1: "Windows on the River" Downtown Cleveland, view of the city skyline, on the river. It has a big walls/ceiling of windows (hence the name). Has a very industrial feel, but they usually string lights/fabric from the ceiling.

Venue 2: Rural NE Ohio country club. Huge, huge ballroom and "chapel" in a gothic design. Vaulted ceilings, chandeliers, rich colors.

Each as good points/bad points & the style is different. I''m just curious to hear which one all of YOU prefer and WHY. It''s definitely a ''personal preference'' sort of thing, but I''m hoping to hear something "fresh." We''re at a standstill right now, and need to move quickly before the venues get booked up!!!

A bit about our wedding: December 19th, rich, winter-y theme. Deep red, cream, and gold are our colors. Lace & satin. Very classic feeling. Centerpieces will (hopefully) be tree branches with hanging votives & little gold ornaments (for guest to take home).

Pictures to follow.... And thanks in advance

What would a girl do without her Pricescopers?

 

[neatfreak]

Even without pictures, I hate country clubs, so I would go with the Windows on the River for sure.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Windows 1

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Windows 2...

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Windows 3

 

[blackpolkadot]

Date: 11/25/2008 11:06:26 PM
Author: neatfreak
Even without pictures, I hate country clubs, so I would go with the Windows on the River for sure.

Ditto. But the pictures are gorgeous!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Country Club...

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Country Club 2

 

[neatfreak]

Still going for windows...although that country club doesn''t seem nearly as cheesy as most!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Last one!! Thanks!!!

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

I lied... one more of Windows. I wanted you to see the window wall/ceiling a bit better.

 

[blackpolkadot]

I still

the view from the windows!

 

[katamari]

I hate the way the tables (particularly the chairs) look at the Windows, but I love the way it looks otherwise.

They are both beautiful, though, and I would personally think about other factors to pick between the two. Are most of your guests from downtown? Or would the rural location be easier for them to get to? What about parking? Hotels nearby for your OOT guests? Catering/vendors at each? Are there additional costs that will come by choosing either venue? Etc.

 

[PearlDahhhling]

I like the country club the most. It doesn''t look like a traditional country club which is a plus, and I think that it will fit your christmastime, classic feel the best. The windows place is lovely, but personally I''m not a fan of industrial type venues for weddings unless the entire wedding itself is going to be modern. And with your colors and classic theme I think the country club would be beautiful!

 

[Clairitek]

Normally I would have the same reaction as Neatfreak to country clubs but this one is different! I love the floor of the country club (it looks like polished brick?) over the flooring of the Windows place. I would typically go for more modern but I agree with Pearl that your theme and colors are very classic and rich and would go really well with the country club style.

 

[bee*]

I love the windows. I think that it's beautiful. I just love everything about it.

 

[Clairitek]

Just thought of something looking at the photos again- will your red clash with the red on the walls of the country club?

 

[forensics1]

Windows at night. What a gorgeous romantic venue.

 

[galvana]

This is a tough one, personally i like the country club better. Just because i think its looks prettier to me, and i think it will be a nice warm/cozy romantic setting for a winter-y theme wedding.

 

[Gypsy]

I'm usually against country clubs, but that particular one for your theme and time of year... no contest. It's got a rich, upsale (but not ornate or fussy) warm and luxurious feeling that fits perfectly with velvets and christmas ornaments and it's just perfect. No the reds won't clash, in fact I think the reds on the wall give you a way of having your red without sucker punching eveyone with it in every detail. the creams and the golds will really show up against it and oh... I just love that venue for what you are gong for. The floor is great the doorways are beautiful, and the whole place just looks like it's waiting to host a wedding like yours! I think your branches and ornaments centerpieces would get lost with the windows place... but I think they'll shine at the country club. It's like a luxurious winter get away. I love it.

 

[sunnyd]

I say country club unless you can cover up the ugly I-beams in the windows place.

You and I have similar themes and colors going on, and the club has more of the feel I''d want.

 

[Sparkalicious]

Based on your theme - My vote is for the country club even though both venues are beautiful.

 

[kstar512]

The one thing I knew going into planning was No Country Clubs or banquet halls! But this one is VERY nice,. I doesn''t seem cheesy or boring at all, I actually really like it. I also love the one with the windows, but since you have clear vision of what kind of theme you are having, I think the country club fits it best. IMO the one with the windows doesn''t have a "classic feeling" you were describing and would be much more modern.

 

[aliciagirl]

As a current Cleveland resident, I am SO JEALOUS that Windows is even an option for you! It is so gorgeous!! Have you seen the Cleveland Brides magazine? It always has tons of absolutely beautiful weddings from there. If we weren''t having our wedding back home, it would definitely be our number 1 choice!

DEFINITELY Windows on the River! g

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

Thank you everyone for your input!!!!

Less than 24 hours later, we''ve made our decision.

While I agree with the majority of you that the CC fits the ''theme'' a bit better, we did some additional research into venues/cost/etc, and for full linens (chair covers included), parking, space rental, and ceremony-to-reception tear-down, the CC is over $3000 more than Windows.

Windows IS industrial. The location for OOT guests isn''t ideal. The green I beams are hideous. BUT- it''s better than about 95% of the other NE Ohio venues, and it''s still within our price range.

Alicia: I haven''t seen Cleveland Bride, as I''m currently living in Denver Planning a wedding out-of-state has been a trip. I''m still not sure how some things will pan out, but at least we have a reception hall!

 

[Sparkalicious]

Congrats! Your wedding will be gorgeous. Glad for you that you have found a fantastic venue. Chalk that up to one more big fat CHECK for your wedding list of things to do!

 

[78girl]

Hey Pilsn -

As a fellow Clevelander who was anticipating Windows for a winter ''10 wedding - is it really a concern that you needed to book it this early for late 2011??? I haven''t contacted them as I''m not officially engaged yet - but I assumed January of 2010 wouldn''t be a problem trying to reserve...let alone December of 2011...

If so, yikes! I better get my bf moving on the ring front!

 

[HollyS]

Date: 11/26/2008 12:42:59 AM
Author: PearlDahhhling
I like the country club the most. It doesn''t look like a traditional country club which is a plus, and I think that it will fit your christmastime, classic feel the best. The windows place is lovely, but personally I''m not a fan of industrial type venues for weddings unless the entire wedding itself is going to be modern. And with your colors and classic theme I think the country club would be beautiful!

Ditto.