Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

What was it like?

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

In NYC? Went to an office Xmas party there several years ago (gosh, I think it was five years ago!) and it was really nice, pretty room, good food.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Yes, the one in NYC. I was wondereing what the weddings are like there. It's supposed to be really nice.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

My aunt and uncle said it was the best wedding that they have ever been too. They live in NYC and are very pretentious, so for them to say that it must have been amazing. But the wedding must have been over 5 years ago.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

the Essex house is a wonderful place to have a wedding. I been to a few there and it's absolutely gorgeous. The food is excellent, the room is beautiful and the they had the perfect number of waiters per table. Then again, in the city it's all union so you get what you pay for...which why it's a plus for city weddings. Not to offend anyone getting married in LI....but outside of the city, you're being serviced by HS kids as oppossed to the city, where it's knowledgeable waiters who have been doing this for years.

If you're looking to get married in the city, another wonderful place is the Yale Club (across from GCS)...Bridgewaters...Tribeca Rooftop....the 500 fifth club (although they lost their lease andwill be turning into another Cipriani's).

Jill

PS....please don't be offended LI bride's, just stating the obvious.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

No offense taken- but we got married at the Carlyle on the Island- and although we didn't have union servers- our servers were white glove, very professional and left no need unmet. We had 3 servers per table. I think a lot of the brides would beg to differ with you. PLUS not every bride on her can afford a NYC wedding.

With that said:

I think the Essex House is wonderful- albeit very expensive.

What about Gustavinos under the 59th St Bridge? I heard they were trying to up their catering business?

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

My best friend went to a wedding there and wished it was her own.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Did you think that there was enough food at the Essex house?

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Hmm - I think this varies A LOT by what each couple ordered. What do they offer? I went to a St. Regis wedding and they had passed hors and a salmon station, appetizer, one choice dinner, and dessert and it was fine. I know everyone on LI and in NJ expect to eat like they have never eaten before and I think it is so fun to go to a wedding like that but if you really love somewhere that is very pricey, I think people will be fine. I have noticed that at the two weddings I have been to with just 6 passed hors. I felt like there was no food and the guests were asking each other where the food was. So I would advise against less than 8 passed hors, but you don't need 15 stations. BTW (I'm not sure if it is you also, in which case this isn't helpful) but someone just asked about the hotel on theknot new york and it got great reviews as well.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Thank you for your help. I believe that you get

1 10 passed hors,
2. 4 stations
3. Appetizer/salad
4. Choice of 2 entrees
5. Petit fours dessert.

I have a feeling that there may be not as much food as other places but as far as quality of food, it seems like its very gourmet top notch. Well it better be.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Sometimes it is about quality not quantity.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

DH's parents were married there 32 years ago....and back then it was one of the highest priced wedding venues. People are STILL talking about their wedding like it was yesterday. Lavish to the ends of the earth, but still elegant and tasteful. We priced it when we were hall shopping, and were quoted...are ya sitting?

$350 per person for a Saturday night in the OFF months. We got a list to die for of what was included. They even threw in a few things because of the sentimentality of our request...wanting to get married where our parents did. It is world reknowned for food and service, so you absolutely can not go wrong.

We opted out of having our wedding there, and just stayed there,overlooking Central Park on our wedding night, and the night after. It was absolutely amazing...


ETA: Jill I have to disagree with your statement Not to offend anyone getting married in LI....but outside of the city, you're being serviced by HS kids as oppossed to the city, where it's knowledgeable waiters who have been doing this for years....our service was postively top notch on LI....and there are plenty of young waiters in NYC working at the Essex House...

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

We are having a small wedding probably 110, so it suits our needs. What kind of things did they throw in?

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Just a note-Harrison House in Glen Cove is union, the waiter's/waitresses are older and have been doing it for years. No offense to the above statement, it just wasn't completely accurate.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

I will try and dig up the list and FM it to you. Can you wait until later tonight for it? The banquet managers are REALLY nice too.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

I would really appreciate that, its really kind of you.

So where did you end up getting married?

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

I think the prices at the Essex are a little less than at the St Regis - but both astronically expensive. Both top notch places but not work even looking into unless you can afford it. (b/c everything else will pale in comparison)

If you do have that sort of budget, you might want to consider some less convential options that Restaraunt Associates runs like


the musuem of natural history


the planeterium


Rock Center

There are other big catering companies that do the catering for other famous sites but i cant remember the name of them.

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

LOL....perhaps I should have clarified it a bit more.
Sorry
Yes, Harrison house staff is older...but I'll leave it at that. One of the main reasons why the city is more expensive is because of alot of union involvement. The waiters in the city are making over $100,000 a year. They receive a percentage on what the final cost is of the party. The employees outside of the city are not paid the same way. Granted few do pay more than the typical hall....like the Carlyle, Carltun, Harrison, Flowerfields, (maybe) The Hamlet, Oheka...etc....but there are plenty more that have the staff for the weekend, make a few bucks....as in Fow Hollow, Westbury, actually any Scotto run hall, Jericho Terrace, Floral Terrace, Sand Castle, etc....
My point was more on emphasizing the....hmmmmm....how do I word it....kinda hard too....but the commitment to the care....actually that doesn't even sound right. But there is a difference in $100,000 and $75 for the night.

I appreciate the discussion....seriously....I definitely don't want anyone to be offended.

Jill

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

I wasnt aware of the union vs. non union issue but new york city locations are more expensive because that space is at a premium. Whereas there could be a several acre campus to even a budget reception hall in LI, a loft space that takes up a fraction of the size would cost 10x more to maintain in NYC. Also - NYC locations are forced to make money on more than just weddings - so their decor tends to be more contempary and up to date for social and business functions of all kinds. That adds up to another expense. And in the same vein, these locations run parties more than 1-2/week, so they must have full time staff on hand as opposed to mostly weekend workers in LI.

(And im not really sure why this is but you rarely see the 'chandelier, mirrored, carpeted' sort of reception hall in NYC and you rarely see a 'sun filled loft' type space in LI. But taht is a whole other issue)

Re: Has anyone ever been to a wedding at the Essex house?

Well put Sonic...