Our Married Life

On Saturday we went to Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch. The price was decent compared to all the other places. Brian is still weirded out that it’s not a hall of some sort. Anyway the clubhouse is decent in size and could accomodate up to 300 people, we can rent the entire thing and hold up to 600. Of course we wouldn’t be able to afford a wedding for 600 people. The only downside about the place is that there is a pool right outside the clubhouse and members use. The last day members can access the pool also happens to be the same day we want our wedding. Labor Day weekend. I’ve been weary about planning the last few days. I guess we just haven’t found what we wanted yet. I also found a couple more places. I think if size is such an issue we should stick to hotel ballrooms. Unfortunately though, hotel prices are really high (~40-100 per person).

I think after visiting all the venues we need to sit down and compare them all. Afterall it is only a wedding and doesn’t really matter where it is. We just want to be pretty, fun, and cheap and good food.

Yesterday, we visited 3 reception sites. They were all kinda mediocre.

Our first visit was to Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson. It’s a nice club. Kinda old, but well kept and very nice. The reception area is in the clubhouse and has a nice view of the course. It was of course small. It could accomodate the number of guests we’re planning on having, but still small. The price was reasonable…

Second visit was to Cappella Court. The place is in an old strip mall, just 2 blocks away from the country club. When I say old strip mall, I mean shut down shops and construction everywhere. It’s in a nice neighborhood, old and established but very nice. But the fact that it was in a strip mall kinda deterred me from wanting it there. However, the size was great, and the inside was great. The price was high, but it included everything including both cakes.

The third was Swan Court. It was the most disappointing. Very small. They said if we were to have 150 guests we’d have to put some tables outside and on the dance floor. That was completely unacceptable. The ballroom is located in a tall business building, kinda like CityPlace. This one again was really close to the first two. It had a great view of a pond/fountain, but even that was enough. The price is similar to that of the country club.

I think we’ll keep looking. I guess now we need to contact hotels. The Rennaissance in Richardson, Radisson in Richardson, Hotel Intercontinental in Addison, and a few more.

Check back for pictures.

I haven’t seen the place. I’ve never been there. But, of all the options we have, this may be it. I’m also pretty sure I’m speaking too soon (note: Southfork Ranch). Swan Court a restaurant located inside a business building in Richardson. It has a nice view of a pond. That’s about all it is. For all I know it could be rinky dink like CityPlace. Judging from their dinner menu though, they seem to serve a decently expensive meal, so it’s gotta be better than Lubys. So far it doesn’t sound that great, but from what I’ve seen as far as pricing it may be it. We will see once we visit the place this Saturday. I just hope they don’t have a ridiculous facility fee or minimum.

We have three appointments this Saturday. I hope Brian doesn’t shoot me by the end of the day.

We will not be having our reception at Southfork Ranch. The minimum is 10,000-17,000 for their ballroom and atrium. Wahhhhhhhhhh. I am disappointed.

I have made an appointment with Cappella Court and just called Canyon Creek Country Club.

GOLLLYYYYY. Catering is much more expensive than eating at Chilis. What’s up with that.

Well today while Brian was watching the basketball game and messing with the receiver speakers, I decided to go see Southfork Ranch by myself. It wasn’t that far from here actually. 15 minute drive across 75 on Parker. The area around it is definitely rural. Southfork isn’t so spectacular. It’s just a farm/ranch. There were horses and stalls for the cows or horses. It’s situated on a pretty big land. The house itself seems very small from the outside. It’s only a 4 bedroom house, but the inside is decorated pretty lavishly. I took the tour because it was the only way to get in and see the grounds.

If we were to have a wedding, it would take place in a ballroom that is separate from the house. It looks like it used to be a stable or something that’s been converted to a ballroom. The building actually has 2 event rooms of equal size. It’s much much bigger than CityPlace; about 3 times as big. Even the dance floor was bigger. The only issue with Southfork is the price. The food is pretty comparable, and they have similar menus. But they do charge a facility fee. Luckily they were setting up the ballroom for a wedding that is taking place tonight. So I was able to take some pictures of what it would actually look like for a wedding. Very pretty. I think Brian would like this. Very similar to the KC hall he’s used to or keep suggesting.

I still have to make an appointment with the wedding coordinator to check on prices and options.

I’m starting to rethink this one as the #1 Choice. There’s gotta be something better. It’s a No-Go for Capella Court, even though we haven’t visited the place. Kristin at work says it used to be something else and was closed for bankruptcy. It’s also it a shady part of Richardson. We also need to look at Canyon Creek Country Club in Richardson…

More pictures of SouthFork Ranch…

This morning, Brian and I visited CityPlace. It was decent but small. I’m not sure we’ll go with this one. It was just to small. They had 2 rooms that we’d consider. The one on the 42nd floor was ok. The view was spectacular, but the room itself didn’t really sell itself. They were also very restrictive, we had to use their own caterer and bar services. The price is by far the most competitive but it just wasn’t that great. In fact, the other room that is more within our budget, 4500 minimum, was nice and lofty. However the floor space itself was too small, AND you can see offices down the hall. It is an office building…7-eleven is based there. Oh well.

I still need to make an appointment with Southfork Ranch, Swan Court, and Cappella Court.

More pictures of CityPlace…

I just made an appointment to visit CityPlace Dallas for this Saturday. Of all the places, the pricing structure here is the easiest. They offer everything you need. The price is based on food per person. Decorations, waiters, set-up, clean-up, even cake cutting (which other places charge for) is inclusive in that price. They just want a minimum to book certain rooms. Obviously the 42nd floor which is huge requires a minimum of 9000. But the other ballrooms is only 4500. Since the price per person is about $24-$35 a person, that’s pretty reasonable…