Scouting Adventure
Posted
Monday, January 14, 2008 1:23 AM
So I just had to write about my reception scouting adventure. After working 5 12 hr shifts in a row, I used my dayoff to check out 5 different hotels. I was still getting over a cough so I spent a lot of the day coughing, which made it hard to have a conversation.
My first stop was the Wyndham on I-Drive. It was such a beautiful place. They had a lagoon outside (perfect for pics) and a beautiful lawn where most mostly choose to do the ceremony. The area had palm trees and was beautiful. The ballrooms were also pretty. I was happy with the way everything went at the first visit. One thing I liked is that the wedding package included sooo much stuff, like the wedding night suite, breakfast in bed, and champagne and strawberries.
I had about an hour until the next appointment, so like a dummy, I sat in my car with the air on for 20 minutes. Well, I went to start the car and it wouldn't start. I knew it was my battery. Lucky for me, FI's job was only 10 minutes away and his boss was cool with him leaving for a little while to help me out. FI was there within a few minutes, jumped my car, and had a few minutes to look at the pix I took at the Wyndham. I made it just in time for my 2nd appointment (Embassy Suites I-Drive).
The lady was nice but didn't seem to know a whole lot (the lady in charge of weddings is out on maternity leave). I didn't like the way the ceremony site was in the middle of the atrium for all the hotel guests to witness. Also, the flooring looked cheap and yucky. Plus, the wedding packages only applied to those with 100 guests or more, so although it was cheaper, by the time I added in the dance floor, chair covers, bows, etc etc, it wouldn't be much cheaper.
Next I went to Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista. This hotel was much nicer than it's counterpart on I-Drive. But they didn't have good places for the ceremony. The lady even said they don't do many ceremonies. I felt it was a little overpriced for what they offered. They also couldn't offer me a package because I need at least 100 guests.
The 4th stop was Best Western Lake Buena Vista Resort. I got there and the wedding person didn't answer her phone so the girl at the desk left a voicemail and said she would try to call her again. She must have forgotten, because when the wedding coordinator showed up 15 minutes later, she said she found out I was there after she checked her messages. The outdoor gazebo was not impressive. The reception site was on the 18th floor. Great view! But the actual room was not appealing. It seemed so small, even though the brochure said it could fir about 80-90 people. I didn't bother to take many pictures at this place because I knew it wouldn't make the cut. The lady who helped me also wasn't as personable as the others I had met.
My last stop was the Royal Plaza, just across the street. I was excited about this place bc a fellow Central FL knottie is having her reception here and recommended it. Well, the guy at the desk didn't speak such great English. I told him who I was looking for, he made a call and said she wasn't around and sent me over to this deli, which wasn't open. The lady at the deli said the person I was looking for wasn't there but I could wait. So I sat and read a wedding planning book for about 20 minutes. Finally I got up. I decided to take myself on a tour. I took pictures of the pool area and found the ceremony area (outside by a fountain). I looked inside a couple ballrooms and took some pictures. It was a very nice hotel. Too bad I didn't get to speak with anyone. Finally I left. After being on I-4 for about 5 minutes, Erin from RP called to ask if I was coming. I told her I had just left and told her how I told the staff I was looking for her. She apologized profusely. There must have been a communication problem. She gave me her email address, which I wrote down while I was driving down I-4. I emailed her the next day and she hasn't emailed me back yet!
So I spoke to FI about my top 2 choices. I love the Wyndham. He thinks we need to look at other places, I guess for a better price. So I emailed a couple other places, but seriously I think I chose places that were nice and within our budget. I don't want anything crappy but I know my limits (no Grand Bohemian obviously).
I really want to book the place already bc I already know who I want for the a lot of the vendors. Of course I don't want to rush too much because I want to make a good decision. But I usually know what I want and make painless decisions.
Hopefully by the end of January we will make the final decision on the reception site...