Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted? For example, outside gardens, etc.

I've been to Floral Terrace, El Caribe and Marina Del Rey. So far the only hall I have reaaaaaaallllly like has been Marina Del Rey, but I'm not to crazy about the room (not sure what it is). El Caribe has tons and tons of food and the rooms are nice, but hate the location and the fact that it has no outside garden and that the rooms are side by side...I'd like my guests to walk a little in order tto get to the next room for my reception... Anyways, tell me your experience in booking a hall. Did you book on the spot or go back 10 times before you booked? And how may halls did you look at? Did you fall in love with your hall or are there things you overlooked?
Thanks again.

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I booked it on the spot. It was the third hall we went to, but I still went to two more the next day to make sure. We loved it. The only thing I don't like about it is the staircase carpeting and wallpaper in the entrance. I think it's ugly.

In your case, if you don't like the room, I would keep looking. That would be huge to me. You'll be in it all night, so you might as well like it!

Here's a pic of my ugly staircase. Eww!!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I booked our hall on the spot. The only thing I wasnt CRAZY about was there was not a large outdoor space for pictures BUT I was getting married in February and considered myself lucky if I was even going to be able to take pics outside. Plus all the photographers I had met said the way the garden was arranged it would seem alot larger in the photos.
There are soooooooo many halls on LI I wouldnt settle!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

My hall was the third one we booked (had problems with 2 other ones...3rd time's the charm) and about the 15th we saw. We loved it from the moment we walked, but more importantly, we loved our BM and the way they treated us. At first I wasn't crazy about our room, but the lovely LP went and took pics and I loved it...now I can't imagine having had my reception in any other room. There are so many factors when choosing a hall: location, price, service, food, etc. make sure they all feel right to you before booking!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I looked at 35+ places and still have no idea. I wanted a loft-like space, with a outdoors and good views. Price and minimum guest count play a huge factor. I think that the important thing is I dont have to go look at anymore new places (I think I covered them all) but just decided between a handful. I didnt fall in love with one in particular - well except one but way out of my price range!

Taking other people might give you a better perspective

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

Did you consider the distance of the hall and where your guests are travelling from? I'm debating going to go see Villa Lombardi's/Giorgio's and Majestic Garden because of the distance. Also, I'm afraid that I'll probably end up really looking something miles away and then having everyone tell me it's a bad idea...including my FI. They do have a point about distance because people will want to drink and then people may leave early because they have to travel. How would you handle this?

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

i'm not crazy about all the brass at crest hollow--- my room doesn't have too much of it. the price was right and i wasn't too picky about being the only event. i love the gardens and wanted my wedding on labor day weekend, which is what i got. so in a way, i compromised on a few things...

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I loved every single thing and had different things I found 'wrong' with other places, thats why I stuck with my hall.

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

We booked our one and only hall we visited...we just felt it was perfect for us...still do...probably ALWAYS will too.

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

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Posted by Rina

Did you consider the distance of the hall and where your guests are travelling from? I'm debating going to go see Villa Lombardi's/Giorgio's and Majestic Garden because of the distance. Also, I'm afraid that I'll probably end up really looking something miles away and then having everyone tell me it's a bad idea...including my FI. They do have a point about distance because people will want to drink and then people may leave early because they have to travel. How would you handle this?

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We took distance into consideration when thinking about halls we wanted to look at but honestly if we fell in love with a hall that was a little further away then expected... I would have probably booked it anyway.
Not everyone lives in the same area... there are always some people who have to travel. Its a given. People who want to be there for your day will be no matter WHERE it is. Those are the only important people as well!!

Plus alot of people car pool to weddings anyway. I had relatives on both sides of our families who had to drive a bit to get to our reception, and the only reason they left early was b/c it was snowing!!! Or else they would have been fine staying till the end.
and I know you are not looking to book a winter month so I don't think that is a concern for you!!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

we booked on the spot! i fell in love immediately with the NRC. other halls i went to i liked and considered but when i walked into the NRC i got the 'this is where i'm getting married' feeling. go with your gut

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

We booked ours on the spot. We went into about 10 places before we found our place. We both fell in love with it, we 'just knew' in a sense this was our place. We walked in and right out of 2 places because we knew right away there was no way we were booking there!!! After getting wined and dined at Jericho Terrace so to speak (and mind you we just walked in without an appt) I didn't want to look anymore. That and the BM was very personable, a true sweetheart (Anthony Petronella) and never made us feel rushed like other places. He took his time, explained everything, even took us back into the kitchen!! (How many places will show you how clean their kitchen is?)

We absolutely LOVE everything about our hall and even more so that we may get the chance to have our ceremony in the Dome room with our 75-100 guests!!!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

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Posted by 103005FallBride

We booked our one and only hall we visited...we just felt it was perfect for us...still do...probably ALWAYS will too.

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I felt the same way about Westbury Manor. It just called to us. Something about the way some of the floorboards squeaked and the fact that the street lamps that line the driveway and garden area are really gaslit.

We are going to dinner at WM on Monday 6/20 to celebrate our one year anniversary and I am SO excited to go back!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

NRC was the fifth place I looked at. I saw a total of seven halls. I actually had that 'this is where I see myself getting married' feeling at Land's End almost a week before I saw NRC, but FH and I ultimately decided against Land's End because it's quite far from where most of our friends and family live. Since we're getting married at night and most people will have to work the next day, I didn't want people leaving our wedding early to head home and get ready for work. We want everyone to party right up until the very last song!

I saw NRC twice before booking - first by myself, then with FH. The first time I loved everything about it except for the fact that it was right on Jericho Tpke. I was worried about our ceremony being interrupted by car horns or police sirens. When I went back with FH, though, everything just seemed perfect. The noise from Jericho Tpke. was nowhere near as loud as I had remembered it, so I felt much better. I began picturing our wedding there, and I almost teared up at one point. FH just loved it there, and at that point we knew we found 'our place'.

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I booked one the 2nd time. I absolutely loved evrtyhing about NRC. It met every single one of our criteria

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

I booked on the spot at the Watermill... The only thing I would change is my time.. My cocktail hour starts at 7:30 and I wish it started at 6:30!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

The Swan Club was the first one we saw...but we saw 9 others after it and always compared them the Swan Club.

I don't think every hall is perfect...you just have to choose which is right for you and your FI...

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

We booked ours on the spot!! We had 2 other appointments that day but after seeing the first one and what they were offering, we booked it and called the other 2 places and cancelled our appointments!!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

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Posted by Rina

Did you consider the distance of the hall and where your guests are travelling from? I'm debating going to go see Villa Lombardi's/Giorgio's and Majestic Garden because of the distance. Also, I'm afraid that I'll probably end up really looking something miles away and then having everyone tell me it's a bad idea...including my FI. They do have a point about distance because people will want to drink and then people may leave early because they have to travel. How would you handle this?

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Our reception is 50 miles from our church! Ther have been some comments but who cares!

Re: Do you love everything about your hall when you first booked and would you book a hall if it lacked a few things you wanted?

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Posted by Rina

Did you consider the distance of the hall and where your guests are travelling from? I'm debating going to go see Villa Lombardi's/Giorgio's and Majestic Garden because of the distance. Also, I'm afraid that I'll probably end up really looking something miles away and then having everyone tell me it's a bad idea...including my FI. They do have a point about distance because people will want to drink and then people may leave early because they have to travel. How would you handle this?

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For me, absolutely.

I have a lot from Jersey (FH's side) and I wanted to make sure that they didn't have to travel a LONG distance to get to the wedding - whether it was for the weekend or just the night. Therefore, we never looked at anyplace further than eastern nassau. But even that, to us, was far.

My church is in South Nassau so that's a little stretch from the Floral Terrace. Hopefully they'll come. If not, oh well. I'll be there.

But the reception - I did not want my guests leaving at midnight from Suffolk or Eastern Nassau and trying to get back to Jersey or else where.

The floral terrace rocked for me because it's down the road from the Cross Island and boom bam, they are over the Throggs in no time.

I'm biased but the Floral T's ballroom is amazing. I didn't like the FT at first but FH loved it. I went back twice more to see it and taste the food - and ended up loving it.