WE HAVE A VENUE!!!!

Here’s some Stevie Wonder to help you celebrate!!!!

This is definitely on the wedding day playlist. 

Good? Okay, me too.

Here’s how it all happened.

A week ago, Peter and I narrowed down our venue selection to the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse, and Fantasy Farm. Our quote for the latter was firm, but we were still in need of pricing for a cocktail reception at the Schoolhouse by one of their preferred caterers. I reached out and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

Radio silence.

After a week of NOTHING, I cursed the concept of preferred caterers with two words that rhyme with “Puck Matt”, and emailed Gus from Fantasy Farm. He responded WITHIN THE HOUR, and we threw down out $2800 deposit the next day.

Sure, it’s a banquet hall. Was it something we were initially planning for? No, but after spending months in the DIY trenches, I’m happy to retreat and have someone else take care of the booze, food etc. Especially after hearing absolutely NOTHING from the Enoch Turner Schoolhouse’s preferred caterers for over a week. I could only imagine what it would be like dealing with them on the big day. 

I received a lot of advice as to whether we should go the DIY route, or with a seasoned event space. Most acknowledged a DIY wedding would definitely reflect  "us", but it's not worth the stress. I mean, a wedding is really a huge party, did I really want to be on the phone phone bickering with caterers a mere few short hours before saying "I do"? 

Also, the thought of producing and directing* the actual wedding ceremony excites me WAAAAY more than what kind of appetizer will be paired with a silver platter. 

With Fantasy Farm we also get more bang for our buck. Our guests will be treated to a 5 course meal, and an open bar. With DJ vlarks on the IPod, it’s sure to be a fun night. And ultimately, that’s all we wanted from the get – go, is a fun night.

Let the planning for Nov. 19 2016 begin! 

*The thought of producing and directing anything excites us television folk 

Choose Your Own Adventure: Hamkey Wedding Edition

Everyone (read: people over 25) has that one friend. 

You know, that person who BEFORE they have kids says they would never give their child plastic toys, feed them fast food, put them in gendered clothing, etc. 

Within a year of giving birth, their child is throwing back McNuggets while smacking on a Playskool Poppin’ Park Elefun, and your friend is collapsed on the couch taking back everything they ever said pre-child. 

Me? I’m that person when it comes to wedding venues. Remember when I said Peter and I weren’t really banquet hall kinda people? Well, turns out planning a wedding is reaaallly hard, and the convenience of banquet halls is not to be understated. Let me explain. 

We are 7 months into our engagement and still venue-less. My loving parents, VERY excited for our nuptials, decided to help out. And by help out, I mean they made an appointment at Fantasy Farm and asked Peter and I to come and check it out with them. 

So! Last Saturday Peter and I begrudgingly piled into their car and headed to the Farm to meet Gus, the sales manager. 

There are two rooms for rent at Fantasy Farm. The “cottage” looks like a Swiss chalet, and isn’t really our style. The larger and recently renovated ballroom definitely has potential. 

Before taking over as sales manager at Fantasy Farm, Gus worked as a wedding coordinator. Years of dealing with multiple vendors really have impacted Gus – the dude is a crusader against hidden fees. He said that if we book with Fantasy Farms the quote he’ll give us is the price we will pay. And what is that quote? About $2000 less than our ENTIRE budget (and that’s for a wedding of 115 people, not the 128 we initially budgeted for). But, everyone will get a full meal, and there’s an open bar. 

 But! That also means we’d have to cut down our guest list, and expand our budget by potentially $3000 to cover other expenses. Also, they only date left is Nov. 24 – a little late in the year. 

By now you’re thinking, “Larkey! Why is this post called ‘Choose Your Own Hamkey Adventure?’” 

Well, that’s because we have another venue in mind. 

The Enoch Turner Schoolhouse. 

We fell in love with the décor and charm of the building. If we go with the Schoolhouse we will not be able to afford a traditional sit down dinner, but we could have a cocktail reception with appetizers. Still waiting to hear back from some caterers on how much that would cost. Also, there are still dates left in October, which is a definite bonus.  

Ultimately we are going to go with the less expensive option, but what if they’re relatively similar? Gus’ warning of ‘beware of hidden fees’ is haunting me like the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future haunted dear ol’ Ebenezer Scrooge. So, dear reader, if they were relatively cost same, what would you choose? Should we be more worried about unexpected or hidden fees? Do you know anyone that got married in either or location? What was their experience like? Let me know, we are having a tough time deciding.