I must say, it has been an interesting experience. Seeing each location and what they had to offer, actually it surprised all of us. I was expecting to be underwhelmed in some places, and naturally, less likely to pick them. However, pictures cannot show the real size of some venues like the Chateau Lake Louise ballroom, or show how cramped and drab some famous places like the Post Hotel can be.
As I'd hoped, we managed to get our selection down to two venues. I figured that it would be between Buffalo Mountain Lodge and Silvertip Golf Course. Both have unique offerings and pros and cons not found in the other.
Buffalo Mountain was quaint and quiet. Nestled perfectly in a wooded area of Tunnel Mountain, the drive up was memorable. We took the first exit up from the highway and drove through the winding path to the Lodge. The main check-in area had a huge deer antler chandelier as you walked in and the people at front reception were very pleasant to speak with. We didn't wait long and proceeded to walk from the main Lodge to the Wapiti Longhouse- the potential venue.
Truthfully, my first impression of the space wasn't great. The "wine cellar" was just a handful of half-empty cabinets containing a mixture of wine. I do prefer it over a blank and empty room, but it was a small space with little pizzazz. The woman that was providing the tour informed us that we would likely be tight to try and fit the 90 + guests we have currently on our list, even though the space boasts a 99 person capacity. She recommended that we would be much more comfortable with less than 80 people. We asked more of our questions, poked around, then proceed to walk up the stairs to the main reception space.
The actual reception room was much better. The room had very high ceilings and lots of exposed wood. The view from the top floor was better, providing a glance of Cascade mountain between the high trees. It was about 9:00 in the morning, but the lighting was beautiful. We walked about, looking at the large stone fireplace and lighting suspended above. If you asked Jen or Ryan what colour the walls are, they probably couldn't tell you. I honestly, couldn't stop staring at them: hideous dusty rose, straight out of 1980. The colour worked okay tone wise with the warm coloured wood, but it certainly left a slightly bitter thought for the location. Other than the wall colour though, the space was nice. It has new wooden floors and lots of natural light. The only concern that all three of us shared was the size. Again, the woman informed us that we could fit 99 people in there, but it would be best not to. That would certainly be something to keep in mind.
On the complete opposite spectrum there was Silvertip. We arrived at Silvertip for our last appointment of the day. The sun was setting and it was a pleasant and quiet drive up the trail to the golf course. The area had a ton of wildlife (as my sister called it, a deer conference). We drove past plenty of parking (a major plus) and parked in front of three large buildings. We took a quick walk around outside and admired the amazing view. We were surrounded by mountains, and the area could provide great wedding photos with little relocation or effort. We entered the dining center and waited to meet with our contact. Frankly, the wait was a little long, but they were hosting a wedding that very night, so it was a pleasant surprise after the wait.
The woman greeted us and brought us to the Pavilion, Silvertip's wedding reception space. We entered through a large side door and instantly we could see being married there. The whole room was decorated and set for a lovely 110 person reception. More modern than we would prefer, but impressive, nonetheless. The room had spectacular wooden ceilings with large rounded iron lights with candles in them. The room was painted white, but in unison with the rustic ceiling, the room felt old-world European. We both loved it.
Where we were both crestfallen, was the price. Unfortunately, the difference in cost between both venues is substantial Not enough to deter us from attempting to make a deal, but enough to create some doubt. The other downfall was the lack of attached, on-site accommodations for our guests. The attached hotel is where Buffalo Mountain flourished. The rustic and romantic rooms only added to the atmosphere of Buffalo Mountain, whereas we'd be stuck at a separate (although very nice) hotel across the highway from Silvertip.
Why does this have to be so hard? We're lucky in the sense that either way, we'll have a beautiful wedding in a very nice location, however we're so confused as to what we want. I wish that there was a perfect location, one that had the whole package: reception and ceremony site, wonderful accommodations and a price point that we (and our families) feel is reasonable. I know it's unrealistic to have it all, but you can't blame a girl from trying.
Overall, I think we both know in our guts that Silvertip is the place we want to be married, we just need to negotiate a better starting price point. I certainly know that'll help us feel more confident with the decision. We checked out the hotel we would be staying at, the Grande Rockies Resort. It's modern and boasts a ton of luxuries and amenities, it's just the travel between the locations that we dislike.
So yet again we head back to the mountains to see Silvertip and Buffalo Mountain Lodge this weekend. We'll see what impressions our parents get this time and maybe that'll help cement our choice. Either way, a decision must be made.
Wish us luck!
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