When it came time for my fiance and I to choose venues (less than two days after we got engaged), I knew that I wanted one church. And one church only.
Polk County hosts some very beautiful churches, but I've always envisioned a white chapel for my wedding. After scouring the web for venues for several months before I was even engaged (I wanted to be ready!), I found the perfect church. It happens to be in the city of Homeland and owned by Polk County.
It's also a great value. The cost of using it for the wedding and rehearsal was $250.
It's very difficult to find professional photographers who have shot weddings here, but it's gorgeous. When I went in for the first time and closed the door behind me, it felt so sacred and I was impressed by its simplistic beauty.
The reception venue was a little harder to come up with on a small budget. With country clubs, hotel ballrooms, even public community rooms ranging out of my budget, I started to get a little bit frustrated. I almost decided to bite the bullet and shell out some big bucks for a total un-inspirational space. The City of Lakeland was having an event on our date, so they wouldn't rent any of the 1920s inspired space we looked at.
But, this spend thrift girl didn't give up.
Okay, that's NOT true. Total lie. My fiance, flipping through the piles of venue info I'd printed, picked out one he really liked, even though it was totally out of our price range.
"Let's just go and see it," he said. Not willing to be a Bridezilla, I figured it wouldn't hurt to check it out. Lake Mirror Tower has a banquet room on the bottom floor. As soon as walked in, I wanted it. Tall ceilings, arched windows and 20s inspired light fixtures gave it train-station feeling. The only problem: the price.
The building, above the first floor, has been converted to apartments. My fiance has a couple of friends who live there. After looking through the brochure, we saw the clause that a resident can rent it without a deposit and for a much smaller price! We leaned on our connections and found a friend who would be willing to help us out. So, we had a venue and for the perfect price.
