61. 

    MissK
    

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    Ok here is another option....Georgetown Studios and Engine Room. I looked at it for a work event. It is the old Rainier brewery room. It is really a cool venue and it's $750 for the venue and it let you bring your own caterer in.....and it has PLENTY of parking.
    http://www.georgetownstudios.com/

    How many peeps do you plan on inviting? You could probably pull off a Trader Joes spread. Buy all the wine, beer, sparkling water, apps, cheese, crackers etc for about $500 - $700. Depending on what kind of vibe and how many you are inviting. Have some high standup cocktail tables and for the dj, put an awesome playlist together and use that as the dj.

    Anyhoo I hope you find the best place possible.

    Posted 2 years ago #
62. 

    MissK
    

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    Another ecomonical option is the VFW hall on Mercer Island. It rents out for $310 and it allows for an outside caterer. They have a view of Lake Washington, Wet Bar, Stage and Sound System, Catering kitchen, Round Tables and Chairs, Set-up time included in rental. Looks like a very nice venue and cheap. again I was considering this venue for a work event.

    Here is the website

    http://vfwmercerisland.blogspot.com/search/label/Rental%20information

    Posted 2 years ago #
63. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    Thanks MissK! My max venue budget is $2000, not including all the extras like food and wine. I just have to be able to bring them in and not use the venue's food/alcohol... which gets really expensive really fast (like $10 per drink per person having over 100 people- ouch!). We expect about 100 people to attend. And we are a little picky on our food, (ie: my fiancee is a captain of a local fishing boat and his wedding need is lots of fresh seafood, but we will get great deals on it, yay, but we have to be able to not use specific caterers in order to do this). Which is why we have to be able to do our own catering.

    WOW! Just looked at Georgetown Studios! :) Love it! I love all the huge windows and the light they bring in. I'm going to email them now! Thanks for the tip, and if anything else comes to you please share!!!! :)

    Posted 2 years ago #
64. 

    MissK
    

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    Yay! I am glad. I LOVE to do the research and give out my ideas. My friend got married a few years ago and they had bbq salmon, crab legs (husband was from AK) salad and then for drinks they had awesome decorative ice filled buckets that held the beer and wine. Then they also had non alcoholic drinks in these old style glass pitchers. It was so awesome, because everyone just was relaxed and enjoyed everything. Very elegant for being very down home and unpretentious. The groom was in charge of the bbq, but I think that was where he was more comfortable. Plus, all the guys seemed to gather round the bbq to b.s. and talk bbq. LOL The bride visited and so did he while people came through the line. He only did it at the beginning and then joined his wife for the party.

    If your fiancee can get a deal on seafood that is AWESOME!

    Posted 2 years ago #
65. 

    julief
    

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    ginamarie! email sent! I hope it wasn't overkill.

    Posted 2 years ago #
66. 

    MissK
    

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    A site I love for not only Hollywood gossip, but for everything else is http://www.casasugar.com/Roundup-CasaSugar-Wedding-Posts-8588277

    There are some great wedding ideas here too.

    Posted 2 years ago #
67. 

    Womyn2me
    

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    We just got back from Papyrus, where we were checking out wedding invites. Shelley is a little shell shocked now. but we are going with a pocket folder that can be shut with a sticker.

    Posted 2 years ago #
68. 

    ginamarie
    

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    julief... I got it. Thank you so much. You're wedding looked beautiful! It seems like a really nice venue. How did the decorations and flowers work out? I assume you had to provide them yourselves. My fiance noticed on the site that there is a 20% service fee. I'm assuming that is pretty typical but what have you come across regarding that? Also, what were the cost/issues surrounding having the reception and ceremony there?

    Thanks again!

    Posted 2 years ago #
69. 

    wildernessbarbie
    

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    womyn2me-I used a pocket style invite, and got them from this website: http://www.cardsandpockets.com/

    Good quality, and they'll send you samples for fairly cheap.

    Posted 2 years ago #
70. 

    DCB667
    

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    MissK, I'm just wondering about your pricing for The Engine Room being $750? Is that on an off night? Because when I contacted them a few months ago it was $1950 for a Saturday wedding. It is an amazing place and still a top pick for my June 2011 wedding.

    Posted 2 years ago #
71. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    DCB667- I'm guessing that must have been for a few hours, not a whole day event. Georgetown Studios quoted me $2500 for May 2011 for a Saturday event.

    Posted 2 years ago #
72. 

    DCB667
    

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    Hmmm, I wonder if they do a partial day rental? Maybe they only do that for non wedding events...when I talked to them, I think it was in January and at the time I had said Sept. 2010 wedding they told me $1950 and that all venue rentals were for a full 12 hours. I haven't contacted them again since we decided to move it to next June. A $550 hike in rental from 2010 to 2011 is quite a bit!

    Posted 2 years ago #
73. 

    MissK
    

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    My quoted price was for a corporate event, on the off season, during the week. I think all venues jack the prices up in the summer and then a little more for Saturdays.

    They must be getting alot of buzz and that's why the price hike? I tell ya if that doesn't work...The Hideaway in Queen Anne is outstanding!

    Posted 2 years ago #
74. 

    DCB667
    

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    Is The Hideaway big enough for ceremony and reception for 150 peeps? I'm going to look into it, I don't think it has come across my radar yet since I've been searching.

    PS, I really enjoy the weddingbee.com website, they have TONS of DIY ideas coming from their bloggers daily. They have an always circulating group of bloggers writing about their personal wedding plans leading up to their wedding day and then recaps of how it all turned out. It's a great community, very positive, lot's of information.

    Posted 2 years ago #
75. 

    DCB667
    

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    Ahh, I did look into The Hideaway a while back. It is a great space and you can't beat the price of $1050 on a Saturday...but they don't recommend over 100 people for a ceremony or for a sit down dinner. They can accomodate 150 people for a stand up reception style.

    Posted 2 years ago #
76. 

    MissK
    

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    Remember not all 150 people invited will attend. Are you having a sit down dinner?

    Posted 2 years ago #
77. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    We have found our venue!!! YAY!!! Our day is still open (May 14, 2011) and I faxed in our Rental Application, once it's approved I'll give the deposit and from there it's smooth sailing...... ;)

    We decided to go with the Golden Garden's Bathhouse! It is very, very reasonably priced at $150/hour (8 hour min), but they do have quite a few add-ons which bring it up a little($150 maintenance fee, an employee (or two) to watch the venue at $20/hr ($160 each).. and they are not a day-of helper or anything, $20 booking fee, $60 liquor license, a licensed bartender, etc).

    But, it's in Seattle, has a great view, and we had our first kiss at Golden Gardens, so it's perfect! It will need a bit of great decorating to achieve the look I want, but I love it. It is on the small side, so we are cutting out list down to about 100 that will actually show up, which is totally fine with me since I have always pictured a smaller, intimate wedding with the people I love.

    So.. YAY! Thank you everyone for all of your help and suggestions and I am sure this thread will help so many people!

    If anyone is interested in the Golden Gardens Bathhouse here is the link, and also someone's blog who got married there and the pics look great!

    http://www.seattle.gov/parks/Reservations/GoldenGardens.htm#rent
    http://marriedwithmichelle.blogspot.com/2008/12/golden-gardens-wedding.html

    Posted 2 years ago #
78. 

    sammy
    

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    Yay congrats! :)

    Posted 2 years ago #
79. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    Thanks!

    Threadjack- I love your Sammy!!! Sooooo cute! I know he is loving that fan! My best friend has one and whenever he stays over he'll hop on the bed for about one minute and then retreat to the cool bathroom or kitchen to sleep. They are the absolute best dogs ever!

    Posted 2 years ago #
80. 

    Bird
    

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    I haven't read all fo these - looks like you have a lot of options but we loved Lake Union Cafe. I saw one poster thought it might be tight for 150 but we had about that and it was great. I really liked it because you don't have to do too much with decor like you would some of the big hotel ballrooms, etc. We did a lot of candles and some small flower arrangements - so helped us to save money there! Good luck. oh and my friend got married on the Skansonia in November so it works for a smaller wedding in cold weather too.

    Posted 2 years ago #
81. 

    Bird
    

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    one more piece of advice - pick a venue that allows you to bring in your own alcohol (like Skansonia or LUC) that helps a lot with your budget!

    Posted 2 years ago #
82. 

    Bird
    

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    okay, duh - you have a venue! Yay!

    Posted 2 years ago #
83. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    Thanks Bird! ;)

    And yeah, one of our MUSTS was having to bring our own alcohol! I think we would have died when we saw the alcohol bill if we went with a caterer's alcohol!

    Posted 2 years ago #
84. 

    Jack Tar
    

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    My daughter was wed at the High Cedars Golf course in the Sumner / Orting valley. They have a great inside hall with kitchen. The price was very reasonable and there was plenty of space for both the wedding and reception. The backdrop of the trees and gold course was beautiful.

    Posted 2 years ago #
85. 

    shallow.end
    

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    hey bird! I attended a wedding at LUC and it was roughly 150ish (maybe a few more) and as a guest, the cocktail hour was miserable. That's a lot of people to transition from one room to the next while it's being reset. The reception was great, although I heard complaints from people seated in the back atrium-y room. It's definitely a fun place for a party.

    briana! congratulations on your selection. I've been to several weddings there and it's a great space. Who is your caterer?

    Posted 2 years ago #
86. 

    DCB667
    

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    Briana, congrats on nailing down your location. We looked into that venue as well and it's great...but too small for us.
    MissK, 150 is our projected number of guests actually coming, we are inviting about 200 and yes, a sit down dinner. The search continues!

    Posted 2 years ago #
87. 

    Chef Wahoo
    

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    Congratulations, Briana! Those photos of the venue were really great. I've never been to an event there, but wow, what a beautiful space.

    Posted 2 years ago #
88. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    Thanks guys! I'm really excited! :)

    Shallow.end- I haven't even started to look at Caterers. That actually one of the two things (caterer and honeymoon) that my fiancee is in charge of.

    DCB6670- It is a bit small, we are actually cutting down our guest list in order to make it work comfortably. Good luck on your search! Have you looked at the venues at Marymoor Park?

    Posted 2 years ago #
89. 

    ginamarie
    

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    Hey Briana, Congrats!! We were really looking into the boathouse but I was held backby two things... I didn't think they would have room for a dancefloor inside. The second was I was trying to figure out where we would do the ceremony. If we just have it on the beach would everyone just stand for it and where would we have it on the beach where it isn't super crowded....

    Did you run into either of those problems? If so do you have any solutions for me..lol?

    Posted 2 years ago #
90. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    Ha! Yes! Those were the two things that made me almost pass it up. We're hoping for good weather for an outdoor ceremony, which we would do on the lawn just northwest of the bathhouse. If it is bad weather (May 14th- so entirely possible) we are going to have it inside (we looked at tents but they are expensive). We plan on having all the food and alcohol in the kitchen room. So we are going to have all the tables pushed up along the perimeter walls, and we measured and can easily fit 84 chairs (the 10 people in the wedding party won't sit for the ceremony)and a small isle which we will walk down. After our short ceremony most people will grab drinks while my friends move the tables out a bit and put the chairs around them. The tables will still be around the perimeter of the room with the small dance floor in the center. After everyone is done eating we might even put one or two of the tables away to make the dance floor bigger. I am really hoping for nice weather though so people can spill out and mingle outside.

    Oh yeah, I'm going to curtain off the tables during the ceremony so it feels like it is a separate area.

    Posted 2 years ago #
91. 

    ginamarie
    

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    So if you do an outside ceremony will everyone stand for it? I was trying to figure out the logistics for it myself. It is a great venue though. And so close which is really nice.

    Posted 2 years ago #
92. 

    briana-n-pugs
    

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    I'm still trying to figure that out. I was thinking about renting chairs... that way if its outside we can just use the chairs I rent for the ceremony and use the ones that they have for inside and if its inside just use the ones that I rent inside and not have to rent chair covers. But I'm not sure, since we are having a really short ceremony it wouldn't be dreadful to have to stand, but then you have people who can't see that well, and it doesn't look that great for pictures. It is amazing how much planning goes into something that lasts a few hours!

    Posted 2 years ago #
93. 

    ginamarie
    

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    Oh god, I truely understand. And same deal with us with the short ceremony. I guess it might be worth it to rent chairs for the beach. I wonder if the permit for marrying on the beach allows it.

    Posted 2 years ago #
94. 

    Womyn2me
    

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    OK I am back to the 'trying to find a wedding planner" mode because Kristal isnt calling us back... ideas people?

    Posted 2 years ago #
95. 

    steadfamily
    

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    We LOVED the Seattle Yacht Club - if you have a friend who is attending the wedding and can sponsor you in. They are professional, detail oriented and don't cost an arm and a leg.

    We did a mid-week wedding, which also helped in scheduling as well as finances. For out of town guests, it was great as they created extended vacations instead of weekend rush trips. Spent Wed-Sun with our friends in celebration and joy. Highly recommend it!

    Congrats on your upcoming nuptals!

    Posted 2 years ago #
96. 

    steadfamily
    

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    as far as photographers, haven't found anyone better than Joann Arruda. She catches traditional shots and the ones your friends typically are snapping! Loved her profiles of many of our special guests - absolutely classic and fun.

    Posted 2 years ago #

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