Tag Archives: where to have your wedding

Wedding Venue: Elms Mansion and Garden

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Elms Mansion
Neighborhood: Garden District
3029 Saint Charles Avenue
http://www.elmsmansion.com/

Average Cost: $19,000

*Average cost for each venue, including tax and gratuity, is calculated by figuring a 150-person guest list, ceremony fee, and 6-hour reception on a Saturday night using the least expensive menu and bar options. They do not include transportation to/from the venue, or any optional fees. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest hundred.

How it breaks down:

Facility Rental Fee: $2,200 for a three-hour reception

Ceremony Fee: Garden ceremony fee is $675

Food: Food packages start at $46.50/pp and go up to $68.50/pp (plus optional additions such as carving stations, soup stations, etc. which run from $2-$12.50/pp). $85 fee for a station attendant.

Bar: Upgrade to the Premium bar (Stoli, Crown, Jack Daniels) is $6.50/pp.

Tax and Service: 20% service charge and 9% sales tax on food, beverage, and any rented equipment

Party On! Each additional hour starts at $1,850. Parties can run from 5 p.m. to12 a.m.

What’s Included? Tables, chairs, service ware, linen, wait staff, wedding consultant, standard bar, champagne for bridal party photos, wedding “goody” bag and champagne, champagne flutes and cake knife to accent cake table

Extra Options: Tents are available for rental via a separate vendor.

More Stats:

Neighborhood: Garden District

Space Type: Inside/Outside

Size: Inside can accommodate 150 people if no assigned seating. Inside/Outside space combined can accommodate 200-250 people.

Food Service Type: Formal seated dinner is possible, though it’s not their specialty. Opt for the stations here.

Dressing Rooms Available: One

Elevator: Yes

Security Provided: Yes

Valet: No.

How Will Grandma Get There? The mansion is located right in the Garden District, about a 10-minute streetcar or cab ride away from the French Quarter. Streetcars are available for rental, starting from $750.

Things To Remember:

-If you want to have an inside-only event here, keep your # of guests to a comfortable 50

-Guest minimum is 100; Saturday evening guest minimum is 150

The Report: The mansion is located right in the Garden District, about a 10-minute streetcar ride (or 5 minute cab ride) away from the French Quarter. The streetcar drops you off steps away from the white mansion, which is well-maintained with columns and a wrought-iron balcony There are four rooms downstairs: a decent-sized “music room” where the bands set up if you choose to have them inside, and it also serves as a small dance floor.  The room also contains the interior bar. The other three rooms are two parlors (one of which they use for cake-cutting), and the “dining room” where the food stations are set up.  The outside area is accessible via a separate door (which does not open for a natural flow from the house), and is large enough to contain a raised deck, garden and gazebo, where most ceremonies take place. An additional room upstairs is for small, seated dinners up to 100.

WGM SAYS: I like the idea of a mansion for a wedding venue, but one thing you definitely have to consider is the size of your guest list, and how into having your seating be outside. It’s hard to establish a nice flow if you only want to utilize the inside, since there are several rooms instead of one or two big ones. Your only option for a seated dinner inside at Elms Mansion is in the upstairs room, where there is only room for 100 people and no space for a band or other form of entertainment. I think it’s a bit awkward to have to go upstairs to eat, but some people might not mind that. Your best bet in this venue is to go with food stations located inside, and seating outside either with or without a tent, depending how brave you are.

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No Direction

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 I’m starting to worry that I’m not going to be able to find the ideal location. I’ve bought several books on “southern weddings”, multiple destination wedding magazines, and hours of online research to date. So far I have a big pile of NOTHING.

I’ve seen two places that have looked  like they could possibly work, but they are way overbudget (I’m not going to pay $250 a head…$110-150 seems ideal), and the rest just seem like cheesy venues that could be from Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding.

I just feel like we’re in such a weird predicament because, well, we’re…stateless. Our friends who just got engaged didn’t even hesitate about where they’re getting married. When you’ve lived somewhere for awhile, and most of your friends/family are from around there, it seems like the answer is clear. 

I know we can do it in either of our hometowns, but nothing is standing out to me. Our old home, NYC, is out of the question because of the price/convenience factor, and our current hometown doesn’t have any offerings I’m crazy about either. Soon I’m just going to start throwing darts at the map.

How did YOU select your wedding location? Did you automatically know where you would do it?

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No Wedding, No Cry

I am at a major crossroads. 

After having narrowed down the possible wedding city to my hometown, a search of affordable/unique venues there has not turned out the way we wanted it. 

Yes, there are hotels. Yes, there are restaurants. Yes, there are museums, catering halls, temples, churches, beaches, and mansions…but I just can’t find a place I “love.” And really, when you’re dropping $25k for a wedding, shouldn’t you “love” a place?

The further I’ve gotten into the wedding process…with the wedding dress, the bands, the photographers, the florists…the more I begin to doubt if that’s where I want this money to go.

Of course I want to share this wonderful day with my family and friends. I want to walk down the aisle, kiss my FH at the alter, drink champagne, and dance with my dad. I’ve dreamed about these moments since I was a little girl. But at what price?

My extremely generous parents have offered to give us a check if we decide NOT to have the wedding. They are by no means pushing this, but it has been made an option. A check that can be put towards a house down payment or some other kind of meaningful investment, instead of what is really just 5 hours of eating and drinking. What’s better to wake up to the morning after you’re married? A great memory or a lifetime investment?

I have to admit…the thought of not having a wedding makes me sad. Of course we would have a ceremony/dinner with our immediate family, but I wouldn’t have that wedding I always imagined I’d have. There would be no white dress. No dance with my dad. No tossing of the bouquet…well, I probably wouldn’t want to do that anyway. I’m clumsy.

The question is…are those memories worth it?

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Wedding Venue: Latrobe’s on Royal

Latrobe’s on Royal

Neighborhood: French Quarter
403 Royal Street
www.latrobesonroyal.com

Average Cost: $18, 500

*Average cost for each venue, including tax and gratuity, is calculated by figuring a 150-person guest list, ceremony fee, and 6-hour reception on a Saturday night using the least expensive menu and bar options. They do not include transportation to/from the venue, or any optional fees. Numbers are rounded up to the nearest hundred.

How it Breaks Down…

Food: Three levels of Prix Fixe packages are available and range from $13,295-$17,295 for a three-hour reception

Bar: Upgrades to the premium bar are $5/person. Otherwise the price of liquor is include in Prix Fixe package cost.

Optional Extras: You can opt for a wooden dance floor for $850, but it is not required.

Hours Available: Rental is for 3 to 3.5 hours (the latter if you’re including your ceremony).

Party On! Each additional hour starts at $500. Parties can run from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m.

What’s Included? Facility fee, Ceremony fee, tables, chairs, service ware, linens, wait staff, food, open bar, service charge, tax and gratuity included in package price.

More Stats…

Neighborhood: French Quarter

Space Type: Inside

Size: Up to 300 people (150-200 would be more comfortable)

Food Service Type: Stations and formal seated dinner available

Dressing Rooms Available: One

Elevator: N/A

Security Provided: Yes

Valet: No.

How Will Grandma Get There? The venue is located right smack in the French Quarter, meaning there are plenty of hotel options within a short walking distance.

Things To Remember:

-Sunday weddings are typically $1,000 less.

-Have a date? Book this place NOW as their wedding calendar fills up fast.

The Report: This former two-story bank building is right in the heart of the French Quarter, but off the beaten path enough so you don’t get the crazies on Bourbon Street. The exterior of the building is quintessential New Orleans, complete with a wrought-iron balcony and gas lanterns. The venue is on the building’s first floor and has been refurbished so it feels modern yet still maintains it’s old-world charm, making it the perfect setting (the Carried Underwood video, Cowboy Casanova, was filmed there). Two large, distinct rooms allow you to have both a ceremony and reception easily in the same location, with a smaller “bar” area and foyer in between. There is no outside space, but the ceilings are tall and the space feels open. Bathrooms are in great condition, and contain several stalls for females. The menu is diverse and customizable, and the chef is Cordon Bleu trained.

WGM SAYS: If you’re going to have a destination wedding in a city like New Orleans, your guests should feel as if they’re in a unique part of the city’s history…and this venue definitely captures that. The location was perfect…guests could stay at the Royal Sonesta one block away, or another hotel in the French Quarter and be within short walking distance. The menu options were delicious (citrus smoke salmon with lemon crème fraiche, anyone?) and are customizable to suit your party…meaning if you wanted famous New Orleans beignets passed around for dessert, you could.  I’m a liquor snob, and the brands they choose for their various bar levels, such as Woodford Reserve bourbon and Grey Goose vodka, are definitely up to par. All in all, I think this venue offers a great value for food, bar, location, and decor.

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