Wedding planning has picked up like a snow ball rolling down hill. As soon as I decided to move the wedding to Texas, my mom and aunts got on the ball. This week I am in Texas visiting since I couldn’t come down for Christmas and they have several places for me to look at for deciding the venue. Today, I am sitting down with all the number and all the factors and making a choice. Each venue has something I love and something that’s an obstacle. And they are all fairly equal. Here are some of the choices I’m considering today.

The First United Methodist Church
I’m a member of this church even though I moved away. I sang with the choir for several years and feel very comfortable with the actual space. The sanctuary is beautiful with stained glass windows and a high arched ceiling with exposed dark wood beams. I love it. Since I’ve been gone they built a huge family life center. It is basically a very fancy gymnasium with a professional kitchen. The cost to have it there is quite low and we would not have to worry about space. However, it has a more institutional feeling to it. And there could not be any alcohol, not even a champagne toast. I’ve decided not to serve alcohol at my wedding–however, I would not be surprised if someone showed up with a flask and I don’t want to worry about breaking the rules.

Valcour Verandas
My aunt found this place and it a wonderful farm house with a huge wrap around porch. There are large oak tree all over the property if I decided to do it out door, and if rains there is room to move it inside. Also, the owners are wonderful cooks and could cater the event as well. And I can reserve it for two days and they could cater the rehearsal dinner if we chose to have one. However, the space is a bit tight. If everyone we invited showed up, it wouldn’t work. I’ve been told 2/3 or less usually attend. If that is the case, we will be okay. If not, it’ll be standing room and out the door. Also, it is a bit more costly than my other options, but could be customized to meet a lower bottom-line. For example, I could find an outside caterer at lower price per person. They do not serve alcohol but it isn’t off limits. So if some of my rowdier friends had a little to drink, they wouldn’t get in trouble. The location is a bit out of the way, but it’s close to Lake Jackson, a larger town with hotels, restaurants and shopping.

The Lodge at Danbury
My grandmother and other aunt found this place. Plus it was suggested twice by people I’ve talked to around here. It’s perfect: Big oak trees, a fishing pond, plenty of indoor space, a giant fire pit and lodging for 46 people. It’s only available the week of Easter, so they are willing to discount the place for Thurs-Sun. It would be like a bit wedding camp. However, they have a zero tolerance policy for alcohol. I could perhaps ask people not to drink at the wedding reception, but for the whole weekend that just won’t work. Danbury is a very small town with effectively no restaurants or nightlife to even accommodate off site tom-foolery. And most of my folks probably wouldn’t stay there, meaning they’d have to drive 30-45 minutes. It’s too bad they facility is so strict about the no alcohol policy because it’s real deal breaker. It’s not about the alcohol it’s about the choice.

Valcour is my leading choice right now, but I will make a final decision tonight.

Update: I wrote this and then never got to post it. My choice is Valcour and I’m putting down a deposit tomorrow.