Anyone In The Ohio Area

[CtPryncess]

I am currently in Connecticut but plan to move to Mansfield Ohio in a matter of months. My wedding date is set for April 17th, 2010. I have been checking out various places to have a reception. I simply want a nice room that will allow me to bring in my own food and do a buffet style. The prices I have come up with are insane. This is going to be my second marriage. My first marriage was in England and I got married at The Danum Hotel in South Yorkshire and my reception was super cheap compared to what I'm seeing. I don't think my future hubby actually realizes how expensive a wedding is, as he is frugal and I don't blame him. We simply want a place that isn't too expensive but looks nice too. We want to be able to have music, a place to dance and some alcoholic beverages. I know that I have a lot of time but I really want to start up a budget now, so we can start saving up for the big day. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Michelle

[evilcookie]

I'm about 50 miles away in Newark. I understand your pain! I've had a heck of a time finding somewhere good for the reception that would even let us bring an outside caterer in. Most places have a caterer that you have to use, and they're insanely expensive. Have you already looked at this place: http://www.rlbanquetcenter.com/ - this might be another one...I'm not sure: http://www.midohioconferencecenter.com. I've had to try to track people down to see what kind of places there are around here. Try calling a florist or a dj in that area and asking what kind of venues are around. That's probably the best way - they always know of places. Best of luck!

[CtPryncess]

ty evilcookie for your input. I have seen rlbanquetcenter prior to starting this topic and although its absolutely gorgeous, you have to buy from the menu and I would like to bring in my own food. The Mid Ohio Conference Center I would have to contact them for the pricing. My future mother-in-law works at a Holiday Inn and she's quoted $500 for the rental of one of the rooms. FH told me that he thinks that is too much. I can cut corners as much as I can but I don't think he has yet to realize how much a wedding actually costs. I think he expects it to cost less than $1000.00. I love him though and him and I will make it work on a limited budget. So far from looking at this forum and looking at the budget discussion, I have already gotten lots of ideas. I want to use a lap top for the music or my own pc. I used a CD player for my first reception and I think that with a lap top or a pc would make it easier to create a play list and easily to adjust and add to with the songs already on the hard drive. The one thing I refuse to skimp on is the Photographer. I don't want to pay an arm and a leg but I would still want to have quality pictures and video of the event. My first wedding, I wasn't allowed to have pictures or video of the vows, because it wasn't allowed and it actually worked out in my favor in that regard as it was in England and the woman giving the vows had a very thick South Yorkshire accent and I had trouble understanding her in order to repeat it. I had to have my hubby repeat it lol I will be making my own invitations on my pc and I talked to my FH on the telephone and since most of the wedding party is going to be on his side and living in Mansfield, we will be hand delivering the invitations and save on postage. I don't think anyone from my family will attend this wedding as they didn't attend the first although this wedding is closer than the one in England. I will invite either way. My theory is, if they come, wonderful, if not, no big deal. :D

I'm about 50 miles away in Newark. I understand your pain! I've had a heck of a time finding somewhere good for the reception that would even let us bring an outside caterer in. Most places have a caterer that you have to use, and they're insanely expensive. Have you already looked at this place: http://www.rlbanquetcenter.com/ - this might be another one...I'm not sure: http://www.midohioconferencecenter.com. I've had to try to track people down to see what kind of places there are around here. Try calling a florist or a dj in that area and asking what kind of venues are around. That's probably the best way - they always know of places. Best of luck!

[evilcookie]

It sucks that so many of the reception sites require you to use their food. It's always so expensive, and half the time it's food you don't even want. I think it's worth a try to contact someone in that area that is involved in the reception process (we talked to our photographer, who gave us the name of a caterer that can do dinners for around $10/person, and then the caterer gave us the name of a bunch of facilities in the area that we could bring someone outside in to that we had never even found in our research). I know you want to cater yourself, but I bet a caterer or DJ could tell you which facilities they know of that let you or others bring in the food, etc...And poor FH! Nice weddings can definitely be done on a small budget (we're not working with much money at all), but I don't think you can get out for under $1000! Good luck, and let us know what you find!

[CtPryncess]

thanx evilcookie, I will definitely keep everyone posted as time progresses. He told me tonight that he's positive that his mom is going to want to help out as much as possible, but I don't want to depend on the in-laws too much.

It sucks that so many of the reception sites require you to use their food. It's always so expensive, and half the time it's food you don't even want. I think it's worth a try to contact someone in that area that is involved in the reception process (we talked to our photographer, who gave us the name of a caterer that can do dinners for around $10/person, and then the caterer gave us the name of a bunch of facilities in the area that we could bring someone outside in to that we had never even found in our research). I know you want to cater yourself, but I bet a caterer or DJ could tell you which facilities they know of that let you or others bring in the food, etc...And poor FH! Nice weddings can definitely be done on a small budget (we're not working with much money at all), but I don't think you can get out for under $1000! Good luck, and let us know what you find!