I don't think we're in Kansas anymore... (or choosing a venue.. the FINAL installment)

The seed for this venue was actually planted before we were even engaged.

The story goes that the fiance's dad was having a business dinner in Houston. He was asking the FFIL about how his family was, and he mentioned "oh well if your son ever wants to get married at the venue in his area let me know. I can help. When my Fiancee mentioned this to me, I was excited and wary at the same time. I was excited because it is a fairly unique location. I was wary because it was.....

THE ZOO !

I was excited about the idea of somewhere so unique. It was also one of the first places we went on a date, it's across the street from where he proposed, it was IN the city. There were several pluses before even visiting. My worries was that it wouldn't have the element of elegance and slight formality I was looking for.

We arrived and met with the event coordinator. She was very nice, answered all of our questions with out making it feel like she was trying to "sell" to us, and gave us a packet of all the necessary information we needed.

She showed us the several areas that are available to rent. This is the circular patio where ceremonies can be held. The arch pictured is not there normally there. There is lush trees and flowers around the whole area though.






Cocktail will be on the Africian savanna. The guests will walk a little further into the zoo and there is a patio that looks out onto the African savanna habitat where the animals will still be wandering. We can also choose to have animal encounters where zoo volunteers will bring some smaller animals for guests to pet !

The reception will be here in the great hall. It is a reception room that can fit up to 200 people. It has high wood beamed vaulted ceilings, a stone fire place, and one wall has floor to ceiling windows and sliding doors that lead out onto a patio area. It has an feel of rustic/natural but can still be dressed up quite nicely. The pricing was not crazy out of line, and was very inclusive (Linens, tables, chairs, glassware all included). I was excited !

I still wasn't completely sold however, because even though it was much more than I had hoped for in the elegance department, it was nothing in comparison to getting married at the Legion of honor. We went home and crunched the numbers for each venue, and did pro con lists. Since they each were different in the way the charged, we tried to come up with our best estimates of the price for everything we would need (space, chairs, tables, food, etc) at each venue.

It turns out the zoo to be one of the cheapest options. They also had a date that worked for us available. It took us about two weeks to make the final decision, we debated having a ceremony at the Legion of honor, with a zoo reception, pictures at the legion, or some other venue, we contemplated Wente again (although not very heavily because of the date constraints) we tinkered with many options.

In the end we decided it would be easier for everyone to have the ceremony and reception at one venue, and that it was so unique, and the room had such personality that we called them, and sent our deposit.