AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

Decemberbrd Posted: Jan 19, 2003 02:53 PM

AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

My fiancee and I are getting marrried in December 2004. We have visited about 13 places and have narrowed our choices down to three. We like John Anthony's, the Fox Hollow and the North Ritz. Our wedding size is going to be about 150. Any comments, experiences, suggestions would be appreciated!

Betty Posted: Jan 19, 2003 03:54 PM

Re: AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

Hi! We are getting married at John Anthonys in August. We loved it and you get so much for your money. I have never been at a wedding there myself but I've heard many great things about it from the food to the service (and I've never heard anything negative). Before we booked I called an old HS friend that had gotten married there and he LOVED it. He said I would be crazy to go anywhere else.

I hopr this helps!

I've never been to the Fox Hollow but I will be attending a wedding at the NRC in March so I'll know more about that place then.

jennbaby Posted: Jan 19, 2003 03:58 PM

Re: AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

Hi and welcome!
I called John Anthony's for an appointment to go see the place & I got the worst attitude on the phone, and it isn't the first time I heard this. I said if this is how they will treat me now, how will they treat me throughout the planning everytime I have to call?

christy Posted: Jan 19, 2003 04:08 PM

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john anthonys was rude to me in person, they gave me a lot of crap about how it was wrong to be married on good friday! So, they were out after that!

jennbaby Posted: Jan 19, 2003 04:12 PM

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christy!!!

endlessluv429 Posted: Jan 19, 2003 04:44 PM

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We are having our reception @ the North Ritz Club in Nov of 2004! They are the best in my opinion. sooooooooooooooooooo nice to deal with an reasonably prices. One wedding @ a time and the place is BEAUTIFUL! FM if you want more details!

My brother got married @ FOX HOLLOW and it was beautiful as well-only thing is that there are other things going on--they got married on a Thursday night and there was a prom going on in another room-but that doesn't bother everyone-and my bro and SIL had a great experience with them!

My aunt got married @ JOHN ANTHONYS-but that was almost 10 years ago and it was a second marriage-I remember it being really nice, but I was only 13 @ the time! sorry! hope this helps!

Betty Posted: Jan 19, 2003 04:53 PM

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John Anthonys has always been VERY nice to us both on the phone and in person. This is the first I've heard of bad experiences

NovemberSue Posted: Jan 19, 2003 04:55 PM

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We went to a wedding at John Anthony's a few years ago and the food and service were excellent.

aliasPook Posted: Jan 19, 2003 05:13 PM

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The girls there have always been very nice to me both on the phone, and in person...

karen32 Posted: Jan 19, 2003 06:15 PM

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My cousin got married at the Fox Hollow last year - it was awesome!!! The only iffy thing is that there were multiple parties/weddings going on - and you could tell - long valet lines, long bathroom lines.

My GF got married at JA's last March - everything was fabulous!!! I distinctively remember them having food and drinks out early for the BP - which I thought was cool. They also have more than one function at a time - but honesly, you can't tell - I believe they scatter the times, so you never have more than one party coming or going at the exact same time.

All in all - both of those places were awesome. Each one has a different appeal - JA has the water view, FH has the beautiful gardens. I don't think you can make a bad choice with either one.

Good Luck!!!

p&a91203 Posted: Jan 19, 2003 07:00 PM

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John Anthonys!- No doubt about it! I have been to 3 weddings there and they have all been magnificent. The food and the view alone are amazing. Good Luck!

missmmpr Posted: Jan 19, 2003 07:53 PM

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Well, I am getting married at North Ritz and have the place to myself, but I think you need to guarantee a certain number to get the whole place. I think they want you to guarantee 150 or something.

My sister got married at Fox Hollow and it was very nice.

I looked at John Anthony's and loved it, but I did not like how there is only one bathroom. If your party is upstairs you have to use the bathroom downstairs and share it with the party downstairs.
My aunt went to a wedding there and said the food was way too salty.

junebride04 Posted: Jan 20, 2003 02:17 AM

Re: AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

I would also reccommend the North Ritz Club. We are getting married there next year and out of all the places we looked at on Long Island, we thought that NRC was the best. IMO it is very elegant and I love how it is one wedding at a time. They were also very nice to deal with and we really liked their menu too. I am in love with the place - I personally love the look of the NRC better than any other place I looked at on LI.

Paiz Posted: Jan 20, 2003 08:20 AM

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We booked John Anthonys as well and have always been treated FANTASTICALLY (is that a word?). You get sooo much food for your $$$ and the view is spectacular.

I have heard great things about the NRC and Fox Hollow as well, but do not have the first hand experience that I have had with JAs.

Good luck - let us know what you pick!

Decemberbrd Posted: Jan 20, 2003 05:09 PM

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Thanks for everyone's responses....it's still a tough choice, but I will let everyone know which place we choose.

aliasPook Posted: Jan 20, 2003 05:12 PM

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Jenn524 Posted: Jan 20, 2003 05:24 PM

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We are going with the Fox Hollow. I have been to many events there and thought everything was wonderful. I was also concerned about other parties going on, but they space out when they start each party in order to cut down on long lines. I also love the grounds there and the photography room.

We saw the NRC and I thought it was very nice. I loved that it was one party at a time. I know people who went to events there and said it was great.

Kel Posted: Jan 20, 2003 06:06 PM

Re: AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

Decemberbrd,

I replied on the newlyweds board.

As for the 'attitudes' at John Anthony's, I am absolutely shocked .. during the planning stage, we dropped in on them several times, without warning, and they treated us so well each time. When we first went down there, not planning to go inside, I changed my mind and we went in .. they promplty got someone to walk us through and meet with us .. then, before we had a signed contract, we dropped in with my parents, and again, they were great .. taking us through the whole place .. no hassle, no fuss .. very courteous. A few months after we signed the contract, after I had picked out my dress with my MOH, we dropped in again, and again, not a problem .. and, finally, after a dress fitting with my bridesmaid, we again dropped in without warning .. and again .. no problems .. and they even let us go through alone. (Our dresses were from Bridal Suite of Bay Shore, so we were 'in the area')

I am so sorry there are girls out there who had such a terrible experience .. it really is a surprise to me.

Thrilled Posted: Jan 20, 2003 06:58 PM

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I say John Anthony's - I chose it because water views were extremely important to me and the vibe was what I wanted...I'm not a floral chintz kinda gal, and I was getting that feel from a lot of halls. I like that JA's has an updated, more modern feel to it. But the water and its affordability was what got it picked. Good luck with your decision....

verdila Posted: Jan 22, 2003 04:14 PM

Re: AND THEN THERE WERE THREE....

I am a sept 02 JA's bride ....let me just say they put together an amazing affair for us. From the moment we got there until the very end I felt like a queen......amazing amounts of food, delicious, my guests raved about the food and water views, the service was awesome (I had a superattentive bridal attendant but all of my guests told me the waitstaff was great) and they fed the bridal party way before cocktail started during pictures.

Things I liked about JAs:

Upstairs room - high ceilings, big windows and the lighting and the drapery on the ceiling.
Huge dance floor, I hate weddings where there is no room to dance or move around. We had 165 ppl and never once did anyone feel crowded both dancing and sitting down.
Custom menus
Great service
Bottles of wine on every table.
bar in the room in corner
water view
bathroom was not an issue (we had one in the bridal suite)
separate cocktail room
Great value - you get alot.

biggest drawback- One other function going on and one bathroom for guests. They do stagger by a half hour though.