I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Hi Everyone,
This is long i warn you..

First off I want to thank everyone who gave me info on these places. I really do appreciate it but its true you really have to see the places before hand and cant just go by word of mouth EVERYONE has different opinions.

I dont want to affend anyone with my opinions so let me state that they are just that.. my opinions and i hope any bride who is haveing or had there wedding at these places dont get insulted.

I hav to say i was shocked and totally disappointed with Sans Souci. It was nice inside but I always thought it was ON the water not across from it. Also that wouldnt have bothred me so much except the water you looked at was YUCKY!! Carol was very nice I do have to say and the price was decent for the amount of food but I hated the gravel parking lot, the fact that the houses around it were falling apart and that you could see two HUGE dumpsters in the back when you parked your car.

Next was Riviera.. I am in love with this place. Right now its what we are leaning to but few disagreements about the day.. He wants a satyurday night and we cant gaurentte the people. I hate afternnons and so does he so I say lets do a friday night he is afraid to many people will be inconvienceed to leave work and come to a wedding. Any opinions?

Next was Stewart Manor and it was nice and a friend of mine works ther so thats a plus but its not the riviera but it is our second choice right now.
Next week we are off to Bridgeview, North Ritz, George washington manor and fox hollow. Any opinions greatluy appreciated. And agin didnt mean to affend anyone who is gwetting married there or was married there.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Friday nights are fine. People will make it dont worry.

We originally booked Bridgeview, I love that place still. (Dont ask why cancelled)

George Wahsingtom Manor I thought very pretty, but kind of off teh beaten path. I would have hated driving there for a wedding

Been to Norht Ritz nice but not my style.

If you want beachy try Lido Bech Golf Club also on Long Beach Rd down by Lido Beach very pretty and simple. Nice grounds

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

As long as you don't have a large amount of out of town guests, a Friday night is fine. It's usually the same price as a Sat. afternoon wedding. We have a lot of out of towners, so we had to do a Sat. night.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

My Co-workers wedding was at the Riviera May of 2001 & it was beautiful. She wasn't a great planner(IMO)but they did a great job. The large room is set up a little weird-I felt bad for the people sitting to the far right, they seemed so far away. The cocktail hour was outside & lovely. the ceremony was on the water but we couldn't hear one word they said(probably needed a PA).
I looked a GW manor & ended up booking their other location, The Milleridge Cottage. GW Manor was really quiant, but out of the way.
I've never been to North Ritz, but the pictures I've seen on here look great & it's new.
I've been to Bridgeview for a political fundraiser but not a wedding & it's very pretty, but the water there isn't-it's very industrial. If you love water views try the Port Jeff Country club, I think they have the best waterviews around.
Keep us posted on your decision

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Thank you for all you input. I hope i didnt affend anyone.
Wacky- do you mind telling me about bidgeview? we are going there saturday. you can email if you dont want to post it.
Thanks

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I dont mind. Bridgeview is very pretty. THere is a smaller room inside and larger room in the tent. Its very modern and pretty. Colors are beiges and natural tones.

I heard they do a nice wedding and food and service is very good.

Price per head averages on a Sat night at about $100 pp.

Just be wary of one thing which is why I cancelled, the club opens after Memorial Day. So wedding can only be from 5-10 pm if you want a Sat or Fri.

Anything else let me know

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

We loved Riviera too!! I think you need to have a small wedding though. We are having (approx) 150 and even though they say it is fine..it would have been WAY too tight. Especially if the cocktail hour was inside. I do think that a day wedding there would be beautiful though b/c of the awesome view.

We ALMOST booked Bridgeview. We really liked it and know people who have been married there and had a great experience. I do agree that after labor day or before memorial day is best there though.

The North Ritz Club was beautiful but the most expensive of the places we saw. We ended up booking John Anthonys on the Water. This place is beautiful!! It is right on the water so spectacular veiws (better than Brideview). Like I said, we were all set to book Bridgeview until we saw this place. They offer SO MUCH fodd and extras and they were less expensive than Bridgeview and a tiny bit more than Riviera. The ONLY downside of JAs is there are 2 weddings at one time, BUT anyone that has gotten married there said there was no problem with this.
If you need any info on John ANthonys FM me. Good Luck!!

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

We had our September wedding at John Anthonys ON THE WATER. If you're looking for a great location with water views, amazing amounts and delicious food, wonderful service then this is the place. It's similar in pricing to Riviera (Riviera was my 2nd choice - I liked the place but JAs offered more in terms of food and the rooms were larger which was a primary concern for me) Check it out - I think you wont be disappointed !

EDITED: Here is a pic taken on the waterview decks outside the hall- I am slowly adding some pics (I havent added many to this site) since i finally got a new scanner.

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Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

What friday night are you planning on getting married? what about following a holiday like the friday after thanksgiving, most people are off that day..

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I could do that except I am a teacher so i really want the summer. The other idea wAS jULY 4TH IT FALLS ON A SUNDAY AND MOST PEOPLE ARE OFF ON THAT MONDAY. ANY OPINIONS ON THAT?

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Hi.

Keep in mind that 4th of July weekend is the most popular for going away on vacation.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

The Riviera is very nice. But keep in mind, once it gets dark out you really cant see and appreciate the water (at least we couldn't the night we were there). And, the cocktail hour is gorgeous on the water but if it rains, the cocktail 'room' is very small.
I have not been to the other places...sorry.

Of course I am a big fan of the North Ritz Club!
Good Luck!

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I booked the Riveria for Nov. 29th 2003. i love the place I think it is really different from anyother place.... See if they can work on the # you need to guarntee, they may be able to help...

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I see your point about the cocktail hour romm we are looking at other places.

I also see the point about not seeing the water.

I was told when we went saturday that sat night is not negotiable with numbers or price but we'll see. if i could do 135 i would in a heart beat.

Thanks everyone

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Just wanted to pipe in. Remember that it gets darker much later in July so you may be able to enjoy the water view for a little while.

As for me I visited almost every location in Nassau and a few other in LI. I orginally booked the GWM. I thought it was beautiful and unique. After going there at least 5 times I started to notice little things that bothered me ( worn rug, large garbage dumpster in the parking lot, limited room for dancing in the larger Mt Vernon room) so I changed my mind. I do think it is pretty quaint. I really love the little chapel next to the manor. Also check the Milleridge Cottage House and Carriage House. They are owned by the same company and seem to be in better condition.

The North Ritz club was nice but when I looked at the place the grounds needed repair and you had a clear view of the highway. I think they have totally renovated the ground since then and I hear from girls on the board that it looks great!

Fox Hollow is close by the North Ritz Club. I ended up booking with them. Of course I think it's great but that's just me. One thing that did bother me initially was that they have multiple weddings at a time.

Hope this helps

P.S. Don't worry about having a wedding on a Friday. The people that you most care about will make it and that's what counts.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I've been to the Riviera numerous times - both at day and at night. It is more lovely during the day because you can see the water. Other than that, it's not that great. I've never eaten a meal there because the food was always terrible. The last time we were there, (which was very recently), everyone at our table was sick the next day, and there were many other dinners that went uneaten because the food was not good. Something to keep in mind about that.

I've also been to the North Ritz Club, and while the place was beautiful, I thought the food was salty and not that wonderful. Many of us felt that way - and it was a Saturday evening wedding.

I've heard good things about SMCC, and I've never been to Sans Souci or GWM. Milleridge Cottage is very nice, and the food there is great.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

Thanks for all your input. as far as food is concerned anywhere I have an opinion that please someone give you feelings on this..

I of course want my guests to be satisfied with the food but I have never heard of anyone saying that the best meal they ever ate was at a wedding. Not saying its not important to me just making a point that you are never at least i dont think going to leave a wedding and say that was the best chicken or fish I ever had. But the fact that people got sick is really not good. i aled if we can do a food tasting and they said yes during a wedding and wewouls taste only the cocktail hour food i think thats fair.

Any opinions.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

04Bride,

I agree with you, I think the only wedding I have ever been to that I actually ate the meal was the Westbury Manor.

I think catering hall is catering hall food. I never expect the food to be awesome no matter how much people pay per head.

So if you like a place and the food is decent and the hall makes a nice presentation go for it.

Just my opinion

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I agree I'm not a big eater so I never pay that much attention to the food. There are few restaurants that have floored me with their food. Food is food not too much of a big deal to me. With that said however, you want to keep in mind that you are paying a lot of money for this food so you want it to at least be worth the money you are paying for it. Just my opinion.

Re: I saw the Sans Souci and Riviera and smcc..my opinions

I disagree that catering hall food is just catering hall food. I've had some really great meals at weddings. Food is something that people remember at your wedding. A bunch of people even told us that our wedding meal was one of the best that they've had at a wedding.

It's not fun to be a guest at a wedding and feel so hungry that you stop at McDonald's on the way home because you couldn't eat the meal that was served.