I think we've (I've) decided!
Sunol Valley Golf Club was our first choice, but they are booked for both of our potential dates. Now that we have a confirmed date, that place is totally out of the running.
Wedgewood Banquets seemed like a good deal, but my inner control freak couldn't come to grips with not being able to choose my vendors. Not to sound like a bridezilla, but I want it the way I (we) want it. I don't want to be held hostage to chosen vendors. Easier, of course. My desire for control wins out. Plus they don't let you try the food. I find something just wrong with that picture.
I decided that I didn't want to have our reception at a hotel. I like the idea of the pretty landscape, especially in the summer since the sun will be setting a lot later. According to sunrisesunset.com, the sun should set around 8:30pm that day. So that ruled out the hotels. Plus, they tended to be overall more expensive, except that they give your guests a discount on lodging. Great for out of town people, no big deal for locals.
After our engagement session and the miniature golfing, I really liked the idea of having our reception at a golf club. It sets a nice scene for photos and is a lot more picturesque than the beige walls of a hotel. So it came down to two options. I felt that we should stay in the East Bay for it's relative distance from the church and the drive for all the guests. Plus, the East Bay tended to be less expensive than its Silicon Valley counterpart.
Dublin Ranch Golf Club is set in the hills of a newer housing development and very pretty. My main concern was the max capacity. I think we're looking at 150+ guests, but still under 180. They can hold 160 + dancefloor or 180 with the dancefloor outside. This could pose an issue. The wedding event manager is super nice and from the reviews I've read, very helpful.
Castlewood Country Club was probably the most picturesque location. Located in the hills of Pleasanton, right on the border of Sunol, it's up in richville. That was initially one of my concerns, that it was too fancy. But that's been dispelled after many round and cost analyses. I figured out that it wasn't that much more expensive and it would be on par with Dublin Ranch. The grounds are beautiful and so is the building. It has a nice cocktail area that leads into the ballroom.
After hemming and hawing over these two choices, we (I) decided on Castlewood. It's not finalized yet, but they do have our date open. And, in the long run, we won't owe fists full of money until next year. Time for saving some moola!
I will post pictures once I find them.
