Eat, Drink, Be Happy!

So I talked about the VistaPrint Groupon deal that we used to buy our invitations and inserts.  We plan to use the second Groupon to buy our RSVP cards and Thank You cards.  In order to print the RSVP cards, that means that we need to make some decisions on the food.  We sat down yesterday to look at our package from the Franklin Plaza and our options.

So here's what we get (we will also be having cappuccino, cordials, and espresso with dessert)

As you can see, we have A LOT of decisions to make in regards to food.  However, at the moment, we only have to decide on two things for the RSVP cards:  our entree choices and our dessert choices.

First, we need to pick 3 entrees (We don't need to pick a vegetarian/vegan option ahead of time.  The plaza will personally call up vegetarians, vegans, and anyone else with a dietary restriction and will figure out a meal that works for them).    Here are our entree choices:

And we also need to pick 2 desserts that guests will get to decide between.

The one downfall to our venue is that we don't get to taste any of the food, but we are told that it is all very delicious.  Anyone else make their food decisions without trying?  

Also what choices would you like to see as a wedding guest?

Oh and to make everything even more difficult, they told us that if we want an entree or dessert that isn't already listed they can work with us to make it.  Too many options!

Hey Mr. DJ

So a few days ago we officially booked our DJ - Jeffrey Scott.  He came highly recommended by the venue and he has awesome reviews!  He has 83 reviews and they're all 5 out of 5's.

And he is actually DJ'in the Saturday wedding at the Franklin Plaza the day before our wedding, so he can just leave his equipment there.  Because of that he's waiving the set-up fee.  However, it still seemed kind of pricey - $1250 for 6 hours (plus the half hour before the wedding starts - he'll be set-up by then so that music is going as guests arrive).  How much did you pay for your DJ?

On another note, now that he's booked we have our music planning sheet to start working on.  Neither of us have any clue as to what music we want for anything.  What songs did you pick for those big moments at the wedding - first dance, mother daughter dance, father daughter dance, cake cutting, etc.

Dress Dilemma

I recently talked about our bridesmaid dress search here.  After days of going back and forth and looking over all of the pictures, we decided on the dress below.  We thought it was the most flattering on everyone.

However, after showing the dresses off on my go-to wedding site (weddingbee.com) I got some comments back saying that they weren't formal enough to go with my dress/wedding.

Here is my dress/some pictures of the venue (see more pics of the venue here and read more about it here).  We are going for a traditional type wedding and it will be starting at 2PM on a Sunday.  

So are knee length dresses formal enough?  What's your thought?  Yay or nay?

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

I am getting married at Franklin Plaza in Troy, NY this September.  I am trying to figure out hair and make-up for myself and my bridesmaids.  My bridesmaids will be paying for their own hair and make-up.  I asked if they wanted to get one or both done and they all agreed that they wanted to get everything done together on-site and make it a girls morning.  

So, we have two options:

#1 One of my bridesmaids cousin and step-mother are hair stylists and offered to do our hair on-site for $35-$45 per person. 

#2 Find a salon to have come to our hotel.  
- Timeless Up- dos:  Charges $65 per bridesmaid and $90 for the bride. This is $30 more per bridesmaid and $45 more (twice the price for me).  
- Shapes and Colors quoted $75 per person (cheaper for me than the first salon, but more expensive for the bridesmaids).

At first, I thought it would take longer to have my bridemaids step-mother and cousin to do everyones hair with just two of them, but then I found out that it takes about the same amount of time to have it done by people coming in from a salon.

Pricewise, the choice is an obvious one.  However, I have one concern with option #1.  As far as make-up and hair goes am do I need a professional for the day of - someone with experience specifically in bridal hair/make-up?

Anyone with any experience at all I would greatly appreciate your help.  Also if you are specifically from the Troy/Albany area do you have any salon recommendations?  I know of Rumors, Make Me Fabulous, etc., but I don't think I can justify spending that much money on hair and make-up for one day.

Franklin Plaza Rave

In my post yesterday, I talked a little bit about the history of the Franklin Plaza, but I wanted to add to my reception hall rant.  Aside from the building itself, the people at the plaza are phenomenal.  We have been closely working with Joe before signing our contract.  As I said earlier, our wedding will be on a Sunday and we are planning on having 110 guests.  Our all inclusive price (tax, tip, etc.) is $11,000, coming out to exactly $100 per person.  And, since we are not 100% on the number of guests, if we go under the planned 110 guests, Joe has offered to throw in something extra.

I guess I should explain what we get for $11,000.  First, that includes our ceremony costs (we will be having our ceremony there as well).  That means the set-up and break-down of the ceremony, flowers for the ceremony, the podium, stands for the unity candles - all included.  Next, after our ceremony downstairs, we will head upstairs to a selection of 15 horderves (8 of our own selection and 7 of the houses picks).  Also, the house will provide music for the 1 1/2 hour long cocktail hour (that means less money on a DJ).  Oh, and of course, full open bar.

After cocktail hour then its time for dinner.  We start with a champagne toast, followed by a choice of appetizer, choice of salad,  and a choice of 3 entrée selections.  Aside from the 3 entrée selections there is awesome a fantastic selection for vegetarians and vegans.  We just have them call and talk to Joe and they will have a choice of 4 vegetarian and/or vegan entrées.  I don't think we even have any vegetarian or vegan friend or family, but I love that they aren't limited to just one dish, they get a variety just like everyone else and at no extra cost.  Also, the Franklin Plaza provides a wide range of options for their horderves, appetizers, salads, and entrees.  However, if we want something off the list they can do it, again at no extra charge.  How awesome is that?

Also, they will do speciality meals for our immediate family members (bride, groom, and our parents).  If one of use wants a special appetizer, salad, entree, etc. they will make it just for us!  Of course, you guessed it, this is all done at no extra charge.  Oh an did I mention that they feed all of your wedding professionals for free?

Back to the reception, following our entrees there will be our choice of dessert served with coffee and tea.  And if we want our guests to have a choice of two deserts, we can.  They will make their desert selection when they select their entree.  Finally, because I love hot chocolate, I asked Joe if we could add that in with dessert.  Of course, Joe said it was no problem.  In fact, he is now throwing in hot chocolate, cappuccino  espresso  and cordials all at no extra cost.  Oh, we are also have open bar the whole time.

OK.  I promise the rant is almost over.  At our fist meeting, Joe repeatedly told us to make sure that we ask him before we buy anything because they might have it.  For example, we our doing a cupcake "cake" - well they have the stands for it.  We are considering a candy bar - they have the variety of containers for it.  Toiletry baskets for the bathrooms - they have the baskets.  Centrepieces   They have gorgeous candelabras already included.  And for any of those extras Joe said all we have to do is bring what we want added (i.e. the cupcakes, candy, toiletries, etc.) and they will set all of it up for us at no extra cost.  Oh, it also turns out that they have dark purple napkins that perfectly match our wedding color!

Well, if you haven't already figured it out, I am obsessed with our venue.  I couldn't be happier with our decision.  We were able to get everything that we wanted and much, much more for less than we had budgeted.  If you have any questions about the Franklin Plaza please feel free to ask.

So, what about any of you ladies?  What do you love about your venue?

Reception Hall

We finalized our reception hall decision today.  We visited the Franklin Plaza to meet with Joe, ask our final questions, and SIGN OUR CONTRACT!  It's finally official.  We will be getting married at the Franklin Plaza on September 29, 2013.  Just 314 days to go.

When we first started venue hunting and called the Franklin Plaza (one of our top picks prior to visiting) we were upset to hear that there was a 200 person minimum and that they didn't have any more Saturdays available in September.  However, we decided to visit anyway and we   are both very glad that we did.

Fortunately, things just worked themselves out.  We decided to go with a Sunday in September.  This meant a much lower minimum and more freedom to do exactly what we want.  Since we will be there on a Sunday, we will be the only wedding that day so we can choose any time of day that we want.  That also means that we can be there whenever we want for pictures that day!

Now, to talk a little bit about the Franklin Plaza.   First, the building is absolutely gorgeous, both inside and out.  This beautiful building, built in 1833 and restored in 1992, was a great financial institution located right in down-town Troy, NY.  Now known as the Franklin Plaza Ballroom, this building has been the site of wedding receptions and ceremonies for the past 30 years.  For a quick history lesson, the original Monitor Room (now used as the gift room) has been preserved because of its unique history.  In that very room the plans and financing for the Civil War ship, the "Monitor", were carried out. The original bank vault now serves as a coat check (and a great spot to grab some pictures) and the pink marble bank teller's counter serves an elegant bar.  

Franklin Plaza

So it's official!  We will be having our ceremony and reception at The Franklin Plaza.  The plaza is absolutely gorgeous and I have heard nothing but great things about it and the people that work there.

We might have been a little over zealous with the pictures, but it was so exciting to find the place!

The Bridal Suite 

Cocktail Hour Room (upstairs)

Ceremony Set-up (plus chairs, etc.)

Dining Room

The Bar Area

The bar itself used to be the counter for the bank tellers.

The Stairs (lead up to the Cocktail Hour area)

The Gift Room/The Bird Cage

Coat-check Area

This was the actual vault that was used when the building was still a bank.

The Flowers

Candelabras (Centrepiece one each table)

The Birdcage (again, for the cards that the guests bring)

The Ladies Room Downstairs

The Venue

So we flew out Wednesday night on our delayed flight only to wait for our second delayed flight at our layover.  We were expected in at 11 that night, but got in around 1:30 in the morning.  After getting back to his parents house, we were able to get a nice nap in before getting up and ready for our 8:30 appointment.

To recap, we had our list narrowed down to 6 places:  The Franklin Plaza, Mohawk River Country Club, The Georgian, The Desmond, Century House, and Longfellows.

Our first appointment was at The Franklin Plaza - it was absolutely gorgeous.  As soon as I stepped inside, I just kept thinking - this is it.  Well, it turns out it was.  We both absolutely love it there.  We are going to try to get back in to meet with Joe today or tomorrow before we fly out to ask our final questions and hopefully reserve a date.  

I will be posting pictures and talking more about The Franklin Plaza later, but if anyone has any questions about the other venues, please feel free to ask.

EDIT:  Check out my posts about the Franklin plaza here, here, and here.  

Reception Venues

We decided that we are going to get married in upstate New York.  It is where my fiance it from, it is where we met, it is where we both went to college, and it is only a few hours from my family.  After looking for a week at possibly venues, we have our list down to six places:

• The Desmond
• Franklin Plaza
• The Georgian
• Longfellows Inn
• Century House
• Mohawk River Country Club

If anyone has any reviews of any of them please feel free to comment.