Another Newbie!!

Original post by mls282

Jun 03, 2008 10:10 PM

Hi All!
I just got engaged on May 18th. I am very excited. Of course the problem is I live in Boston and am planning my wedding in Long Island. I want to do it next summer '09 since I work in a school and I am out of work then. I am on a strict budget about $20,000 for EVERYTHING!! I am expecting about 125 people at bare minimum. So I am looking at places about $70-85 pp before taxes. Priorities: a nice place , good food, updated decor, nice setting. I am planning to do it on a Friday night so I can afford a nicer place at a lower cost.

So if anyone out there is in this same boat please share any info you find. its so hard to plan from far away.

Thanks so much!!!!

ilonka020 Posted: Jun 04, 2008 09:22 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

welcome and congrats

evewedsjc Posted: Jun 04, 2008 09:34 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

welcome!!!!

MEMEJOR Posted: Jun 04, 2008 09:53 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

congrats & welcome to the fam

flairforfashion Posted: Jun 04, 2008 09:59 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Congrats and welcome to the insanity!

I suggest checking into booking between the months of Nov-Mar. Also, Friday night weddings are much cheaper. And, I have to go with the other girls who suggested The Riviera. My cousin got married there and I swear, it was one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever gone to.

NickandTara426 Posted: Jun 04, 2008 10:15 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

congrats! I know that Giorgio's has Sunday Brunch for 55 a head! That's a great deal! HTH

vicky1125 Posted: Jun 04, 2008 10:53 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

congrats! & welcome!

lanamanitta Posted: Jun 04, 2008 07:02 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Congrats!!! I'm a long distance planner too!!! The girls are right (as usual, you'll find!) -- Friday night is a bit of a savings, Sunday's even bigger from what I could tell. I'm a CB bride and had I picked either, the savings would have been enormous . . . . Summer's 'high time' but you can do it if you choose something other than Saturday . . . .

Good luck and we're all here to help!!

More tips to save some money:

- Low centerpieces instead of high
- Roses are one of the least expensive flowers (one florist, Burton's, charges same $$ for any flower)
- DJ w/o MC or at least, DJ instead of band
- EBAY, EBAY, EBAY for all sorts of stuff!!
- www.annsbridalbargains.com for all sorts of stuff too!!!

Kris2782 Posted: Jun 04, 2008 07:10 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Welcome and Congrats!

Def check out Larkfield Manor... we are getting married on a July Friday night there and are only paying $80 pp... AMAZING food... they just re-decorated the whole place.... ask to talk to George... hes awesome and will work with you!

Good Luck

mls282 Posted: Jun 06, 2008 08:56 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome.

All the ideas are great.

I can't take off anytime during the school year so it must be summer. The other problem is I do not want to take a chance of blizzard or something since his family and friends are all traveling from Boston. The other thing is I can get away with a Friday night but if I have it Thursday that means his friends would need to take off 2 days of work. That would be rude and I just couldn't bare to do that. They dont mind taking off a friday to make it a 3 day weekend though. I already did a survey :)

I definitely want to check out:
1. Swan Club
2. Jericho Terrace
3. Riveria
4. Douglaston Manor
5. Hamlet Wind Watch
6. Renaissance
7. Betty's Catering
8. Leonard's
9. Window's on the Lake
10. Meadow Club
11. Timberpoint
12. Lombardi's on the Sound

so far..... :)

There are soo many places... yikes!

mls282 Posted: Jun 06, 2008 09:03 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Thanks for the other tips as well. I am planning on doing low centerpieces - possibly floating candles in a decorative bowl and lots of votive candles.

I also am planning to use roses as my flowers.

So hopefully I can save some $$ these ways. I am also using a DJ. I am going to have ceremony onsite so no limos.

Hopefully I can keep it within budget.

Thanks!!!!!!!

Fall BZ 2009 Posted: Jun 06, 2008 10:29 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

YAY! CONGRATS & GOOD LUCK PLANNING!

Check out:

Marconi Manor, in ISLIP
Meditarranean Manor in PATCHOGUE
Brentwood Country Club in BRENTWOOD

HTH

IrishBrideASmiling Posted: Jun 06, 2008 10:43 PM

Re: Another Newbie!!

congrats! What kinda place are you looking for? Like a country club? art deco? on the water? golf course setting?

You can definitely do Leonards, Chateau La Mer, Swan Club on your budget and they are really nice places and you get alot for your money. I guess it really depends on what you are looking for.

ETA I checked out Leonards, Chateau La Mer, Chateau Briand, Jericho Terrace and Glen Cove Mansion for Summer 09 so if you need info, just FM me

FutureMrsG Posted: Jun 07, 2008 12:27 AM

Re: Another Newbie!!

Welcome! If you are trying to save $$$ you should think about an afternoon wedding or Jan-March...FH and I could have had the same wedding for nearly half price in March but he really wanted a summer wedding.