The Eternal Quest for a Reception Venue

Several weeks ago, I was convinced the wedding was off.  Not because of any issues between myself and Mr. JeffMemorial.  No no, we were great!  

I called Super Bridesmaid on the verge of tears.  Okay, I am lying.  I was completely beside myself.  I looked like a well rehearsed cryface mess, fresh off the set of The Hills. Something had come up.  We're paying for the wedding ourselves, and our budget had to be completely gutted by something unforseen.

It wasn't just that we didn't have enough money for the caterer or perhaps the ceremony... it was everything.  And it wasn't that we couldn't have the wedding we had initially envisioned; we were worried about being able to get married at all.

Super Bridesmaid told me to calm down, take a breath or five.  She would get back in touch with me.  

I plopped down on bench and said okay.  Minutes later I got an email from her.  She outlined that while we couldn't do the Church, there are plenty of places in Washington DC where we wouldn't have to pay a crazy fee. What about a Memorial?  She said all we needed was a permit fee. (Thus our Jefferson Memorial wedding was born, as my previous posts and moniker imply.)

As for the reception, she had an idea. LOCAL 16, a fabulous restaurant with an open air deck bar, as well as a private room.  In addition, we didn't have to pay a rental fee.  All we have to do is pay for the food.  

A few weeks back, Mr. JeffMemorial, Super Bridesmaid, a few friends, and myself went to Local 16.  Lucky me, a bloggy friend was having an engagement party there, as well, so I was able to try some of the food.

Private room.




Other angle of room.




Other part of room that leads to...





...the outdoor bar. Shared with other patrons, but a nice little getaway for guests.





The staff we have dealt with have been more than helpful.  The prices are ridiculously reasonable.  The whole thing for under $2k, that's including use of room, partial open bar for the guests and a five hour reception.  

Also the food is to die for! (And they make a white sangria so I won't ruin my dress!)

The setting is lush and unique and really fits with throwing a true DC wedding.  A ceremony at Jefferson Memorial, followed by a community haunt reception venue.  It's one they won't forget hopefully.

What still gets me, once again, is how we gutted our budget but are having the wedding we REALLY want under this new revised baby budget, although I was sad to let go of the Art Gallery reception idea... one of many versions of our wedding, heh.

So even when you're down and out, you can still have a great reception.  I can't wait for October 10th, 2009!  I can just totally see us dancing there and having a wonderful laid back time with our friends.

Also, don't let the pictures fool you!  They're in the middle of renovating parts of the room, adding more windows... hooray natural lighting!  

Now onto my next challenge. Can one throw a successful iPod wedding?