The (unofficial) decision came on December 23 (Happy Festivus!) when we visited another venue, Ruby Hill Golf Course. In the word of my future mother-in-law: "OMG, this place is gorgeous." And was it! The drive up alone is breathtaking as you wind your way up a little hill littered with mulit-million dollar homes that could easily be rented out for a wedding reception (the thought crossed my mind). Upon walking into the golf club, you find yourself in the area where the ceremony would
take place. We would be married under a skylit dome before the banister of the grand staircase. At the base of the stairs is the reception hall which is lined with columns and windows providing a view to the luscious green course. Connected to the hall is a bar and lounge which evokes the feeling of a rustic log cabin. Right outside is the primary location for the ceremony. They really pushed this spot to us, but with a summer wedding, we just don't think that out in the heat is the best setting. All in all, the grounds and venue are beautiful, and the staircase is perfect for a "Cinderella Wedding."But something just drew us back to the Palm. After our trip to Ruby Hill, we swung by the Event Center (literally a half mile away) to take a quick look inside, just for comparison. Jules and I made a brief survey around the place and silently smiled at each other. This place just clicked with us. We knew this is where we want to get married.
Ultimately, while we had lists of what we wanted in a venue, what made our decision was the overall ambiance of the Palm. We could envision our wedding here, not just another wedding at a cookie-cutter site. We love the barrels on all sides of the rooms, the idea of tea lights everywhere, the romance of getting married at a winery instead of a country club. We can envision a million awesome photo opportunities, and we think our guests will truly enjoy the entire experience. Plus (and this is a big one), we have heard nothing but wonderful reviews about the Palm, both from guests of past parties and from former brides. Those references tell us that we will have an unforgettable experience and a perfect wedding.
So after all the research, the visits, the meetings, the tours, on December 26th (Happy Kwankzaa!), Julie and I booked our wedding at the Palm Event Center for July 9, 2011. Julie's parents were with us through the entire process, from tours to that first down payment, so it was fitting that we all got to celebrate with a nice dinner that evening. We worked with Mackenzie, the most adorable wedding coordinator you can imagine (Julie's words), and we look forward to working with her throughout the next year and a half. The Palm offers a wedding coordinator service for rehearsal and day-of coordination for only $250, so we are gladly taking advantage of having someone available to put out any fires that (will inevitably) arise.The Palm provides an incredible list of amenities for brides and grooms who book their special day there (do I sound like a wedding expert yet?), including:
Day of Event:
• Bridal Party and Vendor Access to Property 2 Hours Prior to Event for Photos and Set-UpWe feel that this package suits our needs exactly, especially the 4 hours of open bar, which we know both our brothers (and Matt Frankel) will appreciate. Since the venue is on a winery, we are of course limited to drinking only their wines, so we all ventured over for a tasting "just to make sure we like them..." And the wines were great! We're proud to have our guests enjoy Mitchell Katz wines; plus, as an added bonus, guests can go for their own tasting in the mini-wine region of Pleasanton during their weekend in the Bay Area, should they need some entertainment before or after the wedding.
• 5 Hours of Event Time (i.e. guests on the property, which includes ceremony time)
• Access 2 Hours Prior to Event to Dressing Room with Floor Length Mirrors
• 1 Staff Member per 15-25 Guests (depending on style of service)
• 1 Bartender per 100 Adult Guests
• Team of Palm Management and Banquet Staff to Detail and Execute Event
• Set-Up and Break-Down of Included Equipment
• Choice of Ivory or White Floor-Length Linen
• Choice of Ivory or White Napkins with Standard Napkin Fold
• Glassware, Flatware, and China (excluding specialty items)
• Black Banquet Chairs
• Choice of Family Style, Buffet, or Sit-Down Food Service. All Service Styles Include House Appetizer Table, Choice of One Served Salad, Choice of Two Seasonal Entrees, Chef’s Choice of Two Starches and Seasonal Vegetables, and Palm Breads.
- Family Style and Buffet Include Both Seasonal Entrees for Each Guest
- Saturday Package Includes Choice of 3 Passed Appetizers from Seasonal Menu
• One Toast Pour of Sparkling Wine or Sparkling Cider Per Guest
• One Pour of Red or White Dinner Wine Per Guest
• 4 Consecutive Hours of Open Bar to Include Palm Signature Drink, Mitchell Katz Wine, Mitchell Katz Sparkling Wine, Non-Alcohol Beverages (sodas and juice), House Tap Beer, Standard Mixers, and Hard Liquor (no shots or doubles) From Your Selected Beverage Package. Bar Opens After Ceremony or Upon Guests Arrival for Offsite Ceremony Weddings.
• Cake Cutting Service
• Coffee and Hot Tea Buffet Served After Dinner Service
If we had to name some problems with the venue, Julie and I would agree that the location, while gorgeous and perfect for a wedding, is far from any airports. With so many out of town guests, we realize that Pleasanton is less than ideal, even with three airport options (Oakland, San Jose, and San Francisco) in the vicinity. Cab rides will be costly, but I'm hoping we can arrange some kind of shuttle system among the people we know in the area to avoid forcing our guests to incur extra fees on top of the hotel and the flights. Otherwise, this location is truly idyllic, and we can't wait to start planning the rest of the event!
Next post: Introducing our pastor and our first Christmas together
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