It's finally starting to happen!!!!!

We started looking for venues!!!!!!! On Tuesday I went to The Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park. I loved it as soon as I drove up and saw the front of the club. I met with Jacquelyn who was WONDERFUL! There were things that I liked as well as things that were deal breakers. I loved the view from the upstairs rooms. It showed how beautiful the golf course and gazebo area looked. I could only imagine how it would look in the spring/summer. The prices were very reasonable also. The things I didn't like were the ugly carpet and the fact that they can have up to 3 weddings at the same time. My fiance doesn't ask for much, but he really wanted our wedding to be the only wedding at the venue. After I left there, I went to Silver Lake Country Club in Orland Park. I HATED IT. It reminded me of a park district community center. Also, the man who showed me around was the worst ever. He wasn't very friendly or even excited to sell me the venue. So SLCC is a big fat NO!

Yesterday, my mom took the day off of work to go with me to look at venues in Joliet. I fell in love with 2 out of 3! The first place we went to was The Joliet Union Station- Ballroom. I loved everything about it! The colors were neutral on everything from the floor to the walls to the chairs. They only have 1 wedding at a time so the whole place is ours! We even have the option to get married outside on the balcony overlooking the downtown area. The only thing I didn't like was that if by chance we have to have the ceremony inside, it will be in the same room as the reception. It would be OK if the place wasn't so small and had some sort of cocktail reception area. However, if the weather is nice outside, people can stand on the balcony for the cocktail hour. We'll see!!!!! I was very impressed with the service. The lady that showed us around was SOOOO nice! She was very accommodating and willing to help us out in any way she could.

After we left there, we went to the Patrick Haley Mansion. HANDS DOWN..the best place yet! I LOVED IT. I loved the fact that we would have the whole mansion for the night. I was laughing the whole time because it looked like a house on a plantation in the south.... But after we went in and saw the ballroom it was it perfect for me. It is BEAUTIFUL and all white. It looked the same as the train station set up (they are owned by the same company) but it was on a much larger scale! The dance floor was HUGE and there was lots of room for people to walk around. There is a beautiful garden area where we can have an outdoor wedding, complete with fountains and lights. If the weather is yucky, they can move it into the area that is the dance floor. I wouldn't mind having the reception in the same area at this venue because it is so big. The best part for me was that the food is prepared in the Mansion. I also liked the fact that we are allowed to bring in framed pictures to put all over the mansion to make it more OUR home. I am so in love with this place!!!

So since we were in the area, we went to the Jacob Henry Mansion to look around. I absolutely hated it. I was so ugly! Carpet, walls, decorations everything was tacky! I won't really give more details lol. The one thing I liked about the venue was that they had an old church on location. It was beautiful! Stain glass windows, pipe organ and a huge pulpit. I loved it. The best part was that we could rent the church without having to use the mansion!!!

So in the end....we decided that if we could swing the numbers, the Mansion is number 1! If we can't afford that, we will do the ceremony at the church and then drive to the Union Station. I absolutely love these two venues!!!! We will be looking around places in the city next week and hopefully make a decision in the next 2 weeks! Ahhhhhhhhhhh It's finally coming together!

That is all.......