Choose An Outdoor Venue for a December Wedding or Not

I say why not!!! I know that sounds like a crazy idea since we are in Central Texas which means it could be 70 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next. But just because it is cold though doesn't mean you have to forgo the beauty of an outdoor venue. One advantage is the cost of the venue rental fee will definitely be cheaper allowing you more flexibility with your budget. You may have to rent heaters to help give warm pockets but just think about how wonderfully romantic a winter wedding can be. You could provide your guest an assortment of quilts to cover up if they get too cold. It's the perfect opportunity to serve some hot apple cider and hot chocolate, spiked or not. It can be a fabulously cozy affair.

Okay so now you are probably wondering...But won't everything be brown and lifeless in December? NOT AT ALL!!! When I was at The Inn yesterday watering, I decided to take some pictures to show just what outdoors in C. Texas looks like one week before Christmas after a few freezes. It is still wonderfully beautiful.

And in case you are also wondering, there is no sprinkler system & no maintenance crew. We have had no real measurable rain since September. What you see is due to the right plants in the right place, micro climates & one woman's love for her venue and what it can provide others. 

Things to Look at When Venue Shopping

Something I hear all the time when giving tours is how hard it is to do an apples to apples comparison when shopping for a venue. Each venue is really so very unique and while that is a good thing when it comes to pricing it causes a little more hassle for the shopper. I have also heard horror stories of clients booking a venue for their low facility rental price only to be "nickeled & dimed" to death for all the little things that were not included in the base price. This is why, when shopping for venues it is very important to have a list of everything that is included for the price you are being quoted. So I have done a little research in showing the value of what is included when you rent The Inn at Wild Rose Hall for your special day.

For a guest count of 150 people, here is what The Inn provides for your use:

• 150 white wooden chairs
• 15-60” round tables
• 15 economy floor length linens (45 color options thanks to Premier Party Central)
• 2- 6’ tables for head table
• 2 black head table linens
• 2- 6’ tables for buffet
• 2 black buffet table linens
• 30”x60” cake table
• 5’ antique bar
• 1-6’ table for use at bar area
• 1 black table linen for bar area table
• Approx. 1940 sq. ft. outdoor covered space
• Wrought iron Gazebo for the alter

Plus we:
• set up chairs at the ceremony site
• set up tables for the reception
• place our linens on the tables

Now I am sure you are asking, how much will this cost me on top of the venue rental fee? Well, the answer is simple. If you book your wedding at The Inn at Wild Rose Hall then it cost you

NOTHING EXTRA.

If you book at some of the other local venues and you have to rent all the above mentioned items, then you could have to pay an extra $3000 + on top of the venue rental fee. Here is how that breaks down:

To rent & set up 150 chairs, 20 tables, 20 tablecloths and a unique bar: up to $1200+ delivery

Rental of an Iron Gazebo: $350+ delivery

And if it rains and you have to rent a tent to cover @ 1940 sq ft: $1400+ delivery & set up fees

So booking with The Inn at Wild Rose Hall could save you thousands of dollars that you might not have realized if you are only looking at base venue rental prices. While price shouldn't really be the only thing that determines where you choose to exchange your vows, in this economic climate it does have to play a large part.

Featured on Pretty Little Weddings

Every once in a while I do a search for The Inn and stumble upon a blog where one of our weddings is featured. This was the case with Susan & Joshua's wedding being featured on Pretty Little Weddings. Thank you Brett Buchanan for the stunning photo's of Susan & Joshua's May 2010 garden wedding.

Click here to see the feature.

Featured on Grey Likes Wedding's

I was so excited to find out that Grey Likes Wedding's feature today was of Shira & Kumar's beautiful wedding held at The Inn back in September. Shira & Kumar, along with their families, were so much fun. Shira's DIY creativity made her wedding have that special touch that was simply & uniquely Shira & Kumar. Thank you to Stacy with SMS Photography for capturing some amazing moments & to Summer for featuring it today. Click here to see the feature!!!

M&M's Commitment Ceremony- October 23, 2010

As I have stated in previous posts, I so enjoyed getting to meet these wonderful ladies & their family and friends. Enjoy these fabulous pictures taken by Austin Proshots.

And here are a few taken by a family member who stayed at The Inn over the weekend. Thank you Jeff...I loved all your picture descriptions on FB. =)

We went ahead and set the ceremony in both locations due to the large chance of rain. However, the evening turned out beautiful so the ceremony went off in the lawn and these chairs got moved to the tables before the event got going.

Ceremony musicians...always a nice touch especially when they are friends of the couple and sing an original score.

Finding Sunset Times for Planning

A lot of times I have brides asking me when the sun sets on their specific wedding date in order to help them plan the ceremony start time. Here is a helpful link I found several years ago. You can go in and look up any date to find out when the sun will set on that day. This is one of the great things about the internet!!!

Sunset Times In Austin, Texas

Commitment Ceremony Reflection

This past weekend was The Inn's first commitment ceremony and I can honestly say I am sad that it has come and gone. I know that many people have an issue with this concept and if I am being totally open and honest I did too just a few short years ago. However I have done much soul searching over the last year and a half and have come to the realization that what this world doesn't have enough of is LOVE based on being true to your heart. What I saw this weekend was an overwhelming amount of love from family & friends to the couple. There were same sex & straight couples mingling together for a common goal of celebrating the love M&M share. My heart has been deeply touched by these amazing women and their family & friends. They included me in and allowed me a glimpse into a celebration that really looked no different than any other celebration. A couple deeply in love, family by their side, amazing friends....what everyone who is totally in tune with their heart wants!!! So I am blessed to walk away from this past weekend with a greater desire to celebrate LOVE NO MATTER THE PACKAGE!!!!

Event Professional Mixer this Wednesday from 4-8

Are you an event industry professional in need of a relaxing evening of great conversation and a peaceful setting? Then I have just the event for you. Come out this Wednesday to The Inn and let me welcome you into the relaxing peace that my place invokes from the moment you step through the door.

RSVP

Shira & Kumar's Amazing Wedding Last Month

The ubber talented Stacey with SMS Photography captured this wedding last month at The Inn fabulously. I figured I couldn't do it justice by posting just a few pictures. So here are a couple I pulled from her blog but I highly recommend you go see the full post on SMS Photography's blog. Enjoy!!!!

November 14th Open House

I am super excited about the open house coming up in a few weeks. Shamika with An Event to Remember has done a fabulous job in lining up some wonderfully creative vendors who will be on site that night. I couldn't have done this without all her help. Thank you so much Shamika!!!

So mark your calendars and come on out. I promise...once at The Inn you will feel relaxed and at home!!!

A huge thank you to Delores & Ann with Premire for the cocktail tables & all the beautiful linens they will be providing, to Kathy with Dragonfly Designs for this amazing flyer and to all the other vendors who have set aside a few hours to come out and provide you with the opportunity to hear what they have to offer that will make your day even more special.

• Dragonfly Designs
• Southern's Fine Dining
• An Event to Remember
• Premier Party Central
• Haute Cakes
• Bella by Sara
• Vignette Photography
• Complete Music
• D&H Stage Lighting
• WeTendBar

CLICK HERE FOR THE INVITE!!!!

New Twitter Sign

Here is the latest addition to our sign post that welcomes guest into The Inn. Another wonderful use for the old fencing I aquired several months back. A couple of paint pens, a sharpie and the "how can I make this unique?" attituded and voila.

As you can probably guess more signs will follow. Right now there is the welcome sign to The Inn along with parking & handicap/vendor drop off directional.

New Drink/Appetizer/Place Card/Candy Station

Okay so it has been complete for about 6 weeks but I had only documented the process on FB and not blogged about it yet. Honestly, building is in my blood and The Inn gives me an outlet however I am pretty sure this can be accomplished by anyone with just a few key tools and materials.

I had the idea months ago that I really needed to build a table for the outside of the fireplace wall. It was such a massive element that folding tables just did not please the designer in me. It wasn't until I was given a bunch of old fencing that it all came together. Here are the stages:

Before with just folding tables

The beginning...2 4x4 post, some 2x4 pt pine, 4 porch posts & a 4x8 sheet exterior grade plywood

The start of adding the old fencing

Top and trim complete with recycled fencing

A light coat of the same rich brown that the trim on the house was painted a few weeks prior.

This is where the fun begins. I added in a random way light blue from the ceiling and green from the wall at the end of the veranda. (sorry it's sideways...it refuses to rotate :( )

Now a almost dry brush effect with the cream color from the inside of The Inn.

Now was time for the orbital sander to give it the unique aged look as if the fencing had survived many paintings.

Here it is after the sanding and post poly stain to further enhance the aged effect along with protection (sorry it's sideways...it refuses to rotate :( )

A little sisal rope detail to add to the rustic nature of the piece.



All Finished and ready to be used!!!

It has already been a fabulous addition to several weddings and I can't wait to post pro pictures as it gets many years of use. So don't be afraid to reuse & recycle...you never know what gem you could create.