One definite drawback to planning a wedding in a new city that has seasons is that it’s really difficult to see past the bleak, cold, rainy winter and envision places as they will look in the summer. I tried, but it just wasn’t happening at this place. Bummer because the location was great.
Fiddlehead Joe’s is right under the Burrard Street Bridge and across from Granville Island. It has a funny name, but we were seriously impressed by the food, especially the scallop salad (and I don’t even like scallops) and their pasta of the day. I really wish that pasta dish was a regular menu item, because I think I’d go there weekly to eat it. Not only did the manager meet with us, but the chef came out to talk to us too. They treated us really well and seemed really willing to do whatever we wanted. How fun would it be to not be restricted by pre-set menus and instead be able to work with the chef to create the perfect meal? The buyout for the entire restaurant would have been between $5-$7K, but they would have included stuff like the cost of flowers into that if we needed help spending that amount.
The main drawback (besides have “Fiddlehead Joe’s” on the wedding invitations) was the size of the place. Just a little too small for a party our size. They do have doors that they leave open to the patio in the summer, but I couldn’t picture it. It was dark and freezing when we were there and I couldn’t envision it any other way.
One really great place to have a reception is the False Creek Yacht Club. We never did taste the food, but the view was amazing. The whole room has floor to ceiling glass windows and there is an outdoor deck. See the Burrard Street Bridge on the left? You can see English Bay beyond the bridge. *Tip* If you book early for the HSBC Celebration of Light you will have a perfect view from this venue.
One big plus about this place is the dance floor. The rental rate is $900 and includes the waitstaff. You pick whatever food you want. I don’t think that there was a minimum. However, we weren’t really feeling the decor. Picky, picky, I know.
Here are some other places that we considered in the False Creek area:
Nu (music starts playing when you go to the site) is located in the same building as the False Creek Yacht Club.
The Sandbar looks like a good option if you are a smaller group as their private room holds only up to 30 people.
Monk McQueens is nearby and has a $10,000 buyout for Saturday night and $8,000 for Sunday. A little rich for our blood. Other places to check out if you are a high roller, C (more music playing) and Bridges.
Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts does receptions and they also do cakes and off-site catering.
On the other end of Granville Island, you’ll find Dockside Restaurant of the Granville Island Hotel. Virginia is the sales manager and was one of the nicest people that we met with.
Still after all that, we hadn’t found the right place for us…
Totally agree on the lack of venues, we ended up going with Brix in Yaletown, mostly for great food as that was VERY important to us, and I love the decor and the fact that we still have a private outdoor ceremony all in one location. Might be worth taking a look at, but may be a little pricey for the number of people you’re having. We are having 80ish so the minimum buyout fits us well, thank goodness!
I know it seems really bleak, grey, and cold right now, but trust me the summers are beautiful!! You’ll be wearing your flip-flops in no time!
@MrsJones: I’ve heard good things about Brix and I’ve seen some really cool photos from that venue. Good choice!
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Mrs. Gingerbread, Vancouver
Age and Occupation: 32, Psychologist
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Software Engineer
Engagement Date: Sometime in the fall of 2004
Wedding Date: July, 2008
Blogging Since: March 24, 2008
Venue: Rainforest wedding, beachfront restaurant reception
About Me: I recently moved to Canada from Southern California. Trying to plan a wedding in a new city, not to mention a new country, is tough, but the fact that we can get legally married here more than makes up for it! The wedding will be an opportunity for most of our family and friends to see our new city for the first time so it will be both a wedding and a reunion. Besides my future wife, I am also madly in love with a good bargain, Swedish pastries, Tivo, and my two dogs and calico cat (in no particular order).
Tell me about it! I live in Vancouver as well and the lack of venues that can fit the correct amount of numbers and isn’t ugly (I’m picky with the decor as well) is rather depressing.
Good luck with the hunt!