I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I just read a thread on BHB that said the people who own Villa Lombardi's took over the management of The Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills (my reception site).

I am very sad about this b/c they are planning a MAJOR renovation, and I feel like the place where I celebrated my wedding will no longer exist. I know I probably sound like a fool, but I am very sentimental and DH and I had hoped to go back to the PJCC for our anniversaries, and now it will look NOTHING like it did the day we got married.

I know places have to do updates, in order to keep up with the demands of modern brides - but a major renovation will change the entire look of the place - indoors AND outdoors. I feel like I'm losing a precious memory to us....I mean, I half expected a change - but not until several years from now!

How would all of you feel if your reception site was closed/remodeled/torn down/etc.?

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I would definately be upset too. One of the things we are looking forward too in years to come is that we will be able to go to our hall (which is really a restaurant) and celebrate our anniversary.

Hopefully they won't change it too much and you'll still be able to get the same feel you did at your wedding.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I don't you are being silly at all. A whole new life began for you at the PJCC so I think it's natural that to be a little sad about it changing.

I know I would be a little sad if our reception place was changed into something else.

Maybe you & DH can go there for a romantic dinner before anything changes?

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I can understand your feelings. But I would wait and see the final result before getting too upset. They may redo everything, but it could just be an update and not necessarily a design change.

Either way, it will always be a special place to the two of you, regardless of what it looks like!

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

You're certainly not being silly .. I can totally understand .. and would be feeling the same way if this happened to John Anthonys on the Water.

But I can relate to this ..

not too long after our wedding, the place we bought our invitations from closed .. and I found that sad .. I am totally sentimental .. maybe too much ..

PLUS...

Bridal Suite of Bay Shore burned down .. and that's where I found my dress .. had my fittings .. got the girl's dresses .. this was heartbreaking to me .. eventhough I knew I'd probably never be shopping there again .. just the fact that a place that held such special memories was gone .. I was very sad. And yes, they are still in business, but the store is gone. It's depressing thinking about it.

And reception sites closing/changing hands .. that is something I've thought about .. because I knew someone whose reception was at the Galaxy, which changed hands and ended up being The Vanderbilt .. now it's changing again .. into an OTB.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I would be sad too!!!!

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

That's ok Claud! At least you can actually go to your reception site for dinner. We can't do that at all since The Meadow Club does not serve dinner. We're hoping someone we know gets married there just so we can go to a wedding there ourselves!

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I got married at PJCC in March, never really thought about going back for anniversaries though. One of our favorite restaurants pastapasta is in PJ, so I figured that would be our anniversary spot. There are so many cute places in PJCC, just make one of them yours!

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I agree with Lisa ... hopefully, they will not make major renovations, but even if they do, it is still the place you got married, it just changed a bit. Just like you are still the same woman when you got married, you just changed a little bit too. We all go through changes ... some are more immediate then others, some are happy, some are sad, some are unexpected, but all are constructive and lasting.

But to answer your question ... I would still be a bit upset if the WM was sold and renovated. I would probably recite the Serenity prayer at first. But if I thought about it, I'd know that when we celebrate our anniversary, we celebrate the meaning behind our commitment vs. the place we made the commitment. I would also twist the situation around and think that some couples will be divorced but their hall will still be intact and some couples will be happy forever but a new building will be in their hall's place. I'd take the latter.

Plus ... you will always have your video!!!

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

You're not silly at all!!! I agree with Lisa and Cira though... no matter what, it's STILL the place where you were married, and it will ALWAYS be special.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

Not silly at all!!

Is there anyway you can go back and have dinner there before they make the changes?

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I would be upset too, especially if this happened soon after the wedding

I think dinner there would be a great idea....

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

It's totally understandable! My best friends reception site was destroyed ONE WEEK after her wedding. Someone had bought it about a month before their wedding, and they closed it the day after her wedding, 6 days later, it was plowed to the ground and condos were built on the site!

You have so many wonderful memories, and so many photos of the way it was. Also, while the decor may change...the basic structure will be the same. Try not to let it effect you too much, although I know it's hard! Thank goodness for photos and video....

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

You are not being silly at all
I would too be upset if CB were changing.
Hopefully it won't be too major, and you could still go back there for anniversaries and have fond memories.
At least you will always have your pictures

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

Kel, I am sorry to tell you this, but I just read that JA's is filing for Chapter 11.

I got married at JA's last May and I am in shock right now.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

OMG, Denise...I am shocked to hear that about JA's! Are you sure that is true?

Thanks everyone, for understanding and for making me feel like I'm not a total lunatic for feeling sad about PJCC. I told Jeff last night, and his face immediately saddened....I almost started to cry b/c I realized that he had the same thoughts that I did. Two sentimental fools, what can we say?

We did go back there for our anniversary this year, and it was nice, but we couldn't take any pictures on the grounds b/c it was pouring rain outside. From the post that I read last night, it really sounds like the place will be made completely different - structurally - not just cosmetically. I think that is what bothers me SO MUCH. We chose the place b/c it was elegant and understated, and I just fear that the owners of Villa Lombardi's will turn it into everything we didn't want our reception site to be - marble, mirrors and crystal chandeliers

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

its true about JA's. There was another thread on it linking to the newsday article. Don't think JA's is going anywhere but they did file Chapter 11.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

I also feel this way about PJCC. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was really sad when I heard what VL had won the contract and would be making lots of changes.

Re: I am so upset - do you think I'm being silly?

Well, then .. I guess we pretty much put the whammy on just about everyone, didn't we .. invitation place, bridal shop .... now this about John Anthony's .. I guess they really were giving out too much for the money!!


But seriously, this does make me sad, and I do hope they come out of it okay .. they truly are an amazing place .. with amazing food and everything.