Timber Frame Build - Round 2

[jk96]

Have you talked to local restaurants and caterers for food options? Do you have any bookings yet?

We have a couple caterers I would recommend and have had a few others reach out to us. Some I have heard good things from but no first hand experience.
As we move into the wedding season we will be taking notes from our wedding parties about who they used for food, dj, etc so we can compile a list to help future parties decide. As far as bookings my first one is April 14th. From that point on my Saturday's are booked until the end of November along with several Sundays. I think we have about 45 weddings booked for this year at the moment and a few already booked into 2019.

 

[EddieWalker]

Thanks. I remember the apartment, but didn't realize it was going to be so useful. From what I've learned, having a bathroom and even a shower available for the bride and bridesmaids is not very common, and I've read a lot of complaints about places that do not have it.

Here in Texas, if you charge additional for a place to sleep, there is a massive tax increase. I know people that have had to re write their contracts and advertising to say specifically that an overnight stay is free with this package, with the word "free" being in there to avoid the tax increase.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

We have a couple caterers I would recommend and have had a few others reach out to us. Some I have heard good things from but no first hand experience.
As we move into the wedding season we will be taking notes from our wedding parties about who they used for food, dj, etc so we can compile a list to help future parties decide. As far as bookings my first one is April 14th. From that point on my Saturday's are booked until the end of November along with several Sundays. I think we have about 45 weddings booked for this year at the moment and a few already booked into 2019.

Wow, fully booked already! I could ask you about a thousand questions, but I know you're busy.

 

[jk96]

Wow, fully booked already! I could ask you about a thousand questions, but I know you're busy.

Fire away. On my way down to work but will answer when I'm board and channel surfing at night.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

How many will the hall hold?

How long have you been doing this?

Is your main house out of view from the hall?

 

[prichard]

Congrats on all the bookings.

 

[jk96]

How many will the hall hold?

How long have you been doing this?

Is your main house out of view from the hall?

The main hall will hold 300 using round tables. We could get more utilizing rectangular tables if needed. One of our biggest receptions last fall had seating for 330 people. That left room for a very small dance floor. After food and a few people left they moved a few tables and chairs out to open up a larger dance floor. We have been doing this for about 14 years now. When I built the building I needed the size for my fireworks display business but only really needed all of the space for a couple months out of the year. That is the reason we split the building with the shop in back and hall in front. It allowed me to rent the front half out to generate income 10 months out of the year when I didn't need more than my back shop space. Up until this year most rentals have been receptions only, a few weddings but not many. Our main house that we built 4 years ago is about 3 miles south. After 10 years literally living at work it was not an option to build on the same property. It was time to separate work from home.

Congrats on all the bookings.

Thanks Prichard. We offered bookings this year at a reduced rate below our target price since we were booking site unseen, just a set of plans, a handshake, and a promise that it would be one of the nicest places in the area. I think having the outside wedding area finished last fall for people to see really helped. While we won't start generating the income we are hoping for until next year it allowed us to book our dates and not worry about being able to make the new higher payments on the loan.

 

[jk96]

Had a really productive day today. My wife & kids came down and helped carry boards and put on some polyurethane which really sped things up. By the way, I found that a bottle for toilet bowl cleaner works great for applying polyurethane. Doesn't have to be perfect since it's just going in the ceiling. Turn the bottle upside down to lay it on then rag it down.

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I started decking the outside porch today. Tractor had just enough reach to get the boards up there. Weather was incredible today for 1st week of February at 55 degrees. Worked most of the day in a long sleeve t-shirt. Even had some bees trying to get after my drink. By the end of the day wind started moving out of the north and temps were dropping but had a beautiful sunset to finish the day. High of 20 tomorrow. Snow coming Monday night into Tuesday so I plan to work a bit tomorrow then get some roofing paper down to protect it from the weather. My metal should be here Wednesday.

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[jk96]

Near 60 yesterday and 10 degrees today with snow. Back to the outside roof tomorrow.

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[Kyle_in_Tex]

Wow, you've been busy.

I asked about the location of the house because I've thought about a reception hall on our place. Our town could use one. But our house is here and I'm with you about having work a bit aways.

A young friend of mine just married last year. He and his wife chose a place, based on some architect's plans and not much else was even started being built. They got it for Friday, Saturday, and out by 10 am Sunday with both the wedding and reception there for a sum of $5000 (early deposit, pre-build price). His father told me on the day of the wedding, that it was now going for around $13,000.

Peach Creek Ranch

I see they offer a Sun 10am to Mon 10am package still for $5K. Seems more couples are getting married on Sundays now.