Now it is time to plan for real! Task 1 - make a rough draft guest list so that you have a general feel for how big a space you are looking for. Task 2 - decide on some possible dates, it is usually good to have a couple dates for flexibility. Step 3 - confirm the dates with the church (if you are going that route). Step 4 - find a venue for the reception! Yay! Now this is the fun stuff...right? There are so many amazing venues out there...how can you possibly choose just one?!?! I recommend perusing a magazine that lists local venues that offer wedding services. This can be a good jumping off place. My fiance and my BIL (see 'learning the language' post) made the first cuts - I can't be sure, but I have a feeling their criteria was mainly food based - my MOH made the appointments and the best way t
o learn anything at all is to go visit in person! Mom, my MOH and I bundled up and hit the mean streets of Westchester County to pound some pavement in our quest for the perfect venue. First stop...Castle on the Hudson
http://www.castleonthehudson.com/. It was beautiful, like a fairy tale. Picture horse drawn carriages and brass bands, the works. This was the first place we visited and they didn't have our date, in fact, they didn't have any Saturdays available in December! **Insert panic** Was I too late in this crazy wedding world to find a venue for December 5th?!?! It was still a year away! Oh no!!! My team talked me down--the space was just what I thought we were looking for, but in reality it was a little bit small for our potential numbers. They offer the 'European style' dinner in one room and the reception in an entirely different room...so it could have worked, but alas, it was not meant to be...moving on! Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club (MBYC)
http://mamaroneckbeachandyacht.com/. Scott welcomed
us at the door and we were immediately charmed, he talked us through the space, painting a picture of the wedding day. There is even a turret room for the bride and her maids to powder their noses and snack before making a grand entrance...could it be any more perfect? There were windows around the entire space and the water view was beautiful - even in the cold winter. AND, they had our date **relax shoulders**. Could this be the one? Was the tickle of excitement in my belly a sign? We weren't done yet though, moving on!
Glenn Island
http://www.glenisland-harbourclub.com/index2.html. Can you fall in love at first scent? I am not even kidding when I tell you that upon stepping through the front doors we were greeted by the most delicious smell...could it be? Fresh baked cookies? I know fresh baked cookies and that is what I was smelling, the cookie smell was everywhere, it was like a very wonderful dream! We were further charmed by Martin with his lilting Irish brogue, he ushered us through the beautiful space, everything was elegant, marble and gold, very rich. It just kept getting better, there were roughly 15 pages of sample menus included in the per-head price ranging from a raw bar to burgers and mac & cheese. Oh no...another tickle...how could I love two places? This all of a sudden became very difficult. There
was only one thing left to do, I had to bring Tim to both places to see if he got a tickle! I was pretty sure that the food selections would be the key to my fiance's heart, but you never know. The beauty of having a partner in this process is that sometimes things simply click for that person, things that could have you worked into a tizzy. Tim got a tickle alright, he really liked both places but it one simple sentence Tim solved the problem, "Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht is more us." And my insightful fiance was indeed right. Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht with it's simple room and clean lines and water view was indeed more "us." all of a sudden a vision started to take place. Within days we had a contract in hand and we had our place!
