Crisis averted, until the next one

So we have done the seemingly impossible..... found and booked a wedding venue.

After much consideration we decided to go with a local venue, the stress of filling rooms at a hotel was an uncertainty we weren't willing to deal with. After looking at some venues we went with Morrells in Northcliff.

Pros of Morrells

This is one of the most impeccably decorated and maintained places I have had the luck to pass through. The style exactly matches my aesthetic (french country) and the staff are friendly, professional and helpful.

The chapel is non-denominational.

There is a flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces making for a very fluid event and nice to haves like a cigar bar, piano room, rose garden and a bar covered in old war love letters.

We haven't tasted the food but have heard fantastic reviews, all catering is done in house and the wine list is impressive.

Lastly, they cater for many of a brides concerns in house. With décor, flowers, food, drinks and entertainment sorted out it leaves us to arrive in pretty outfits, make sure there is someone to marry us and that our guests know where to go.

Cons of Morrells

As expected, a full-service venue like this does not come cheap. The venue hire and staff costs are some of the highest we have seen and with the need to use their in-house florist, flower and décor costs could escalate quickly.

The venue is located on quite a busy road in Northcliff, once you are inside you can barely here it, but you can't help that feel if it was situated down a quiet street it would be even more idyllic.

Despite this it was definitely the place we wanted to have a party with our nearest and dearest and dance the night away next to a vintage rocking horse.

What next you ask

With a lovely stationery designer, Tash Chapman at Bridesign we have our engagement party invites out. A casual affair at a cafe on a peach farm, peaches champagne and giggles!

We have our photographer booked.

We both have an idea what we want to look like but still need to find the dress/outfit without breaking the bank.

Then its downhill to the fun stuff, booking honeymoon, tasting menus, choosing cake and picking flowers

Hoping the wedding expo next weekend has some great ideas for us.

From a very happy but exhausted

Maczar bride

Sleepless nights and 100 emails

After my last post our happy wedding planning has promptly been turned on its head. Our wedding venue decided that they no longer want to hold weddings and will be conducting the last ones in April next year.

So feeling like we had exhausted the options in Clarens. We had to go back to the drawing board. I am still quite keen on the idea of a destination wedding and having seen Joburg prices, thought I would look in the Midlands.

Midlands premier venue

Hartford House is a truly spectacular place. Wonderful gardens, rooms, food, atmosphere.... everything really.

So imagine my surprise when their venue hire came in at R20 000 (for weddings between 50 and 80) guests. R22 000 including the use of the chapel. Unlike many other venues this included tables and chairs (you would think that would be a no brainer but apparently not), staff, linens, cutlery, candelabras and on the day co-ordination! What an incredible deal :) The chef, who is consistently in the best chefs in the country was accommodating and lovely. The problem here comes in with the need to take all 15 suites for the Friday and Saturday night. At a cost of around R5 000 per couple this is out of the reach of many of our guests and with only 50 adults expected almost every guest would need to take a room. If 4 or 5 rooms stay empty though this makes the venue unaffordable for us.

Closer to home

To do a full recon I investigated venues in Gauteng. Being the ever so slighty fussy person I am, we have a few criteria that are really important to us. Nice plated meal, chapel, single wedding venue. Having only 50-60 guests we thought this would be achievable. Not that easy!!!

I looked through every list of wedding venues I could find. I ruled out any venues we didn't like the connotations around (ex friend, ex partner etc). Then I checked the minimum and maximum number of guests they would accommodate. This removed about 70% of the venues. Then I checked for multiple weddings, this removed an additional 10%. Then I checked for the possibility to do plated meals, another 10% down. The last 10% which met our needs I checked availability (for a booking 14 months in advance). I am left with 4 potential venues, none of which I am sure about availability as they have not yet responded to my emails and only half have chapels (not a super idea with Jhb summer thunderstorms).

The Joburg contenders then are The Herford Country Hotel, De Hoek, Morrells and Vivere. Venue hire varies in price (lowest De Hoek at R16 000, highest Morrells at R34 000) but with different pricing and options for food and what's included in that price.

So now what to do?

The temptation to extend our honeymoon and just get married on a beach in the Maldives is awfully tempting....

But ultimately, I want to have a day to spend with my family and closest friends and celebrate the start of our marriage.

Tough decisions to make on our side....... Who said planning a wedding was easy?