Scouting out the Wedding Halls

Josh and I took all day last Monday to go scouting for a reception hall. The sad part about it was that we took all day (about 10 hours) and went to 12 different places. But it was good to see the super expensive ($89.95 per plate plus 18% service fee and 6.75% tax) down to the super cheap ($16.95 per plate plus 13% service fee and 7% tax).

Being a Photographer myself, I knew that the place needed to look beautiful, and the ideal place would have a rounded staircase. My mom and I went to about 4 places last night Monties, Angelo's, Villa Nova, West Diplomat, and The Empress Banquets. The last place (Empress)wasn't on our list because they closed at 7:30. We went to Villa Nova first, they were very nice and seemed as if they would "make a deal" for us. West Diplomat was very elegant but the hall was much longer than wide so everything would be spread out too far. When to Angelo's as soon as we walked in I knew why they charged $16.95 a plate. LOL.

This is how it got weird, I can't explain it other than God is so amazing! My mom and I went to Monties (York Rd. In Bensenville) and it was so beautiful, gold everywhere, and the head table was on a platform, everything was so elegant and perfect but something just didn't feel right about it. It had everything I wanted but it just didn't feel right there, and my mom felt it too, we sat in the car thinking if we like it then why do we feel like this. But God always provides for his sheep. We were then driving home and we stopped in the Empress Banquets (Lake St. In Addison). (Click the link here ---> http://www.empressbanquets.com/) It was about 8:00 and they closed at 7:30, but what the heck may as well check it out, the worst could be that they are indeed closed. We walk in and I feel overjoyed and very excited about what I see, this place was better than Montie's!

The owner Gus talked to us about the Halls and showed it to us, once I saw it I fell in love with it and I knew that was the place for me! My mom could feel it too, and was going to put the deposit down right then and there, there were 2 other groups of people coming in today to do a food tasting for weddings on Aug 20th, and most likely they would book and then we would have nothing. So, we asked him if he would stay for 15 more minutes so we can get my dad and Josh (who was at my house at the moment) and bring them by to see this beautiful place. He agreed.

We drove home so fast picked up Josh, and Dad and drove back, once my dad saw it he went to put the deposit down as well, and Josh had to say "Hey, can I see the menu please" My parents got so excited about this place that they forgot to ask Josh. LOL. Josh didn't mind too much because my parents are paying for the whole reception (as their gift) and Josh loved the place as well.

Woo Woo!!!