Weddingbee boards

So my never ending search for the perfect venue continues.  For the record my first choice was the Free Library of Phil. which gives you an idea about the style we are looking for,  Since the FLP is under construction for the year, we can't have our wedding there, and I've made peace with that (tears not withstanding!) Right now we are set on the Curtis Center, which has the classic, romantic - non ballroom look we were hoping to get.  Unfortunately, for whatever reason the saleswoman through the caterer (Cescaphe) keeps pushing my mom to go with Tendenza, another of thier locations.  Tendenza is a great venue, but modern and industrial looking, not classic and romantic.  It is cheaper, like $15 a head cheaper, and we could have a smaller minimum (which has been my mom's concern with the Atrium - the lowest they will bring the minimum down is to 175 - which is how many people we are inviting - so we'll end up paying for people who aren't there!)

Basically, my question is, looking at the pictures of the smaller, modern space - do you think it could be worked to fit our vision of classic romantic? 

Outside of Curtis Center:

Outside of Tendenza

Wedding at Curtis Center

Wedding at Tendenza

Sorry for all the pictures! Just need to get some opinions! (other than mine, my FI, and my mom's!)

I just went to a wedding at the curtis center and am in a wedding at tendenza in June!  I was SUPER impressed with Cescaphe-- the cocktail hour was amazing... there was never a time I didn't have a drink in my hand!  The wedding at the curtis center was 300 people but still managed to seem intimate.  I have heard complaints about acoustics in there from my DJ friends but other than some echoing during toasts it wasn't a big deal.

I think if the Curtis Center is your aesthetic Tendenza would be way too modern.  I think both are really nice but completely different,  but no harm in checking it out.

@MyFavouriteChords:  Question about the Curtis Center - do you think it would empty or too big for a wedding of 175? They like to keep the minimum at 200 because it's such a large space, but there is NO way we can have/afford 200 people.  We worked down the minimum to 175 because it's a Sunday, and it's in the winter.  But I don't want the space to feel huge. 

I've heard the same thing about echoing/sound issues.  I'm not super concerned about it, we're going to make sure to choose a DJ who has worked in the space before so they know what anticipate sound-wise.

UPDATE: We have a hold on our date, and requested the contract for the Curtis Center today (as I was considering the other venue!) so it looks like we're going with the Atrium!! yay!

@LibraryBride2013: I think they'll find a way to work it that you'll fill the space.  The dance floor was rather large and the tables when pretty far back so they will likely just have more space between the last table and the bar... I dont think it will look bad.  She also had the giant Christmas tree in there... I'm not sure how long they leave the tree up but it really adds to the space for a winter wedding.  Honestly I wish I could have afforded a place like that,  it was definitely the best wedding I have been to as a guest!

I am kind of in love with the Tendenza! I love the look and feel of it!Though I feel the Curtis Center is more closely related to the library :)

@misslyn86: Definitely check it out, if you are flexible with your date, you can get a really good deal!

@Stammie16:   i've heard nothing but AMAZING things about Cescaphe's food, but i hear it is very similar to the Merion (thats what Diane tells me at least) From what I remember from her wedding (at the Merion of course!), almost 3 years ago, there was SO much food, and it was delicious!

@smyley: The Merion is SO different now, they completely remodeled it about 4 or 5 years ago, and it's like a completely different venue.  My best friend is the pastry chef there, and she also got married there - it is pretty incredible!  The Ballroom at the Ben is one of the other venues my mom wanted me look at before decided on the Atrium, that and the Crystal Tea Room,  who both use the same caterers.  FI and I went to a wedding at the Ballroom last summer, and both thought it was great, but wasn't our favorite. Pricewise, it didn't do anything in our favor to even consider it, but it is beautiful!!

Thanks everyone for all the input, we signed the contract for the Curtis Center yesterday. Deposit sent. Done. It's really happening! :)

@LibraryBride2013  We wanted to have our reception at the library too, and were SO upset about the renovation. One of the women that worked there told us to check out The Franklin Institute—I was totally against it...it conjured up memories of 5th grade field trips and made me think of rooms filled with sticky kids and germs. We decided to look at it anyway, and it blew us away. The cocktail hour is in the exhibits (we are extending it to 1.5 hours so everyone can enjoy the play time), and the main reception is in the rotunda with the big Ben Franklin statue. The thing that really made us fall in love with the venue is all of the amazing things that can be done with the lighting. It's really elegant and classic with a little edgy twist (which was what we were going for). Also—we can keep a lot of the vintage literary details we wanted, since Ben Franklin did invent the lending library system. 

That said, The Atrium was definitely my second choice. I love how timeless and sparkly it is! I have been to a few affairs there, and you can't go wrong. Good luck and happy planning! Are you planning on bringing any literary/book elements into your day? 

@june3012:  We haven't decided if we're going to do any book/library themed elements in the wedding.  I loved your bookmark save the dates, I may have to borrow some inspiration from them for ours! We were thinking of doing a combination of quotes - from our favorite books, movies, & songs, one on each table throughout, but I don't know yet.  We haven't come a decision on that one yet!