Saturday, February 9, 2008

Wedding Drama

I knew things were going too well. I wasn't worried about a thing. Everything was falling into place nicely. And then... our venue is having trouble getting their event permit for this coming summer. We knew we were taking a chance with a new venue, they've only done weddings for one year, but we figured any problems would be small, logistical ones, like the fact that after we signed the contract, she changed the hours of the rental so all music must be completed by 8 pm. But no. Apparently the Vahon Island residents are very pariticular about their space and are annoyed about the weddings that have been taking place at the Fox Farm. The city has received numerous complaints on parking, music and alcohol related issues. In order to have any chance at getting her permit, she's had to make a number of concessions including no street parking (which should be ok, since they have a lot of space and people can park on the property), no amplified music (which will also probably be ok, we hired a jazz band who can probably get away without amplification. maybe) and no alcohol (not my ideal wedding, but what can you do?). Even with all that, there is still a chance the permit won't happen and then we are kind of screwed. We have to have the wedding on August 9th, because that is when my vacation will be, and people have already made plans, and we have already booked our photographer, caterer and band--with several thousand dollars of non-refundable deposits.

What to do? I don't really know at this point. We can wait it out, and hope it all works out, and accept that this won't be exactly the wedding we had hoped it would be, but at least we will have a place to have a wedding. Assuming nothing else happens in the meantime. Or I can start trying to find another venue, but realisitically? Finding a venue for an August weekend wedding in Seattle only 6 months before the wedding is not going to happen. Sigh.

So if anyone has any bright ideas, or knows of any venues that aren't a hotel ballroom and are located anywhere within two hours of Seattle that allows outside caterers... please let me know!

2 comments:

Shell said...

Errm.... Gasworks? Golden Gardens bathhouse? Mt. Baker rowing club? UW Pack Forest? Chehalis Red Barn Studios)? Tacoma somewhere? A mansion or B&B up in Mt. Vernon? I have a friend who might still be running his farm in Kent (Heath)...

Sounds like massive drama. I would be sad not to toast you with some wine. Please have alcohol. :)

Anonymous said...

Trust me, it will all work out. You are going to have a beautiful, perfect wedding, and we will all be there to celebrate with you. It is going to be fabulous. Have you checked out the Stimson-Green mansion in Capitol Hill?