Hey ladies I am new to the site and recently engaged. I have set a tentative date for August 1, 2009.

I have viewed 3 venues and have 2 more this week. I am optimistic that I will be able to make a choice by the weekend, thus conquering the "venue feat"

Anyway, I look forward to getting/giving sound advice.

Welcome to BOB. Good luck with the venues. I called around to a million places and they were all uber expensive. We actually ended up changing our date because the one venue we did find wasn't available on our wedding date. I am glad we did that first before we signed any other vendors or we would have had a big mess. So from my experience, book the venue, they start with the others. Best of luck with all your planning and we are here for any advice or opions you need. You might even snag a few good ideas from the boards here, I know I have.

Thank you my dear! I am so excited to plan this wedding, especially because I could truly never imagine being with another person. I am looking forward to viewing the venue tomorrow, this is it, it overlooks the Mississippi

That place is gorgeous let us know if it works for you.

I went and saw it today. It is stunning. And also unlike the rest of the venues it is "bare" so I can decorate it the way I want. It overlooks the Mississippi and I can have it for the whole day 7am-midnight.
I haven't booked it yet, but she is holding it for me.

To rent the place it's $1900. Which include security, a coordinator, and the facility for the entire day.
But I will have to go through separate vendors for everything else. She gave me a list of preferred vendors which I will most likely use since they are familiar with the venue.

We will probably get suites at the Hilton across the street so that we can get ready there and just walk "home" after.
I need to find a "reasonably" priced caterer, I want to pay like $30-35 per head.

That place sounds great but call the other vendors first to see what it is going to cost to rent everything.

Also it sounds like this place my solve your guest list problem because it has security.. Bonus

man, i know what your going though, my man and i been though so many my head still hurts. we finally came down 2 places. were going to see them again with my parents. hehe i love this one place and my man likes the other.