Turns out very hard.

Especially when you 1) have a full time job, 2) work at the north end of downtown T.O while your fiancé works closer to home in the ‘burbs and 3) not many event managers work evenings to meet with you. It makes it even harder when you want to try and space the bookings out a tad so your fiancé doesn’t think you’re crazier than he already knows you are. 5 venues on a Saturday – not really gonna cut it. So we’ve been visiting maybe one or two during the week and then one on the weekend, and I’ve seen a couple on my own, but that’s not really efficient.

I just haven’t been blown away by anything, and when I am, the cost is ENOURMOUS! I just want to have a location that we can get married at, have our pics taken at AND have the reception. We want to have a somewhat intimate cocktail reception with our close friends and family. I want yummy food, great tunes and my guests to dance and mingle all night.

Most of the places we’ve seen have been either far too traditional, too expensive, or just not what I had in mind… I just can’t picture myself getting married in a banquet hall, even though one of them has a super cool new lounge. I’m finding some of the trendier places are just rentals of the space and you have to take care of finding the caterer, tables, chairs, linens, etc. I’m sorry, but that’s just too much work and extra money (you should see some of the rental fees – you’d think you’d get the moon for those costs!).

I find that while I know it’s our day, I’m really trying to please everyone… not too far away from our hometown, accessible to hotels, golf course nearby, plenty of bathrooms (this is important to me as a girl, as a frequent wedding guest – location and # of bathrooms is important – esp if you’re competing with other weddings).

So far we’ve looked at the Glen Erin Inn, McMichael Art Gallery, The Royalton (super-cool lounge), Old Mill, Millcroft Inn, and Rattlesnake and Eagles Nest golf courses. We’re off to see Edgewater in the Stoney Creek this weekend (prob too far), the Royal Botanical Gardens, Terrace on the Green and a visit to the new golf course in Brampton – Turnberry.

But how far is too far to drive? Especially when you’re doing an early evening ceremony on a Friday – should you worry about that? Or just go with a reasonable drive (no more than 45 mins-1hour for most of your guests)? And hotels, is a 10-15 min drive to the nearest hotel ok?

Questions, questions and more questions. This bride thing is tough and I’ve barely started!