Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Original post by MeladoriDawn

Mar 22, 2004 10:17 AM

Hi everyone,

I like many other newbies have been reading your posts and using them to guide me in the right direction. You guys have been on the money so far. But I still haven't found 'the place'! So, I've decided to make my first post because I feel like I must be missing something.

In LI (Nassau), I've visited:
Swan Club - unprofessional, grounds A+
Sans Souci - great, but tight
Harbor Club - bankruptcy problems?!?! nice otherwise.
Woodbury CC - a step up from the swan, again nice grounds, lots of space, but something shady about the staff
North Ritz Club - so beautiful and modern, a bit big gor my # of guests
George Washington Manor - nice for a brunch or day wedding, kind of country with eh food.

Impossible Mission?
115 guests (125 to stretch it if need be) Sunday PM $75-95pp
1-2 weddings at a time
Want something elegant, not all events in the same room, some nice grounds at least, a separate chapel area would be great. Between April/October of '05

I'm thinking of moving the search north to New Rochelle in Westchester. Fountainhead, Surf Club, VIP, and Glenn Island look really nice and sound like they have good food. But are they in my price range???

Is there anyone with Westchester exp. they can share or know any more LI (Nassau) places? Any help would be wonderful b/c this is driving me nuts and I may drive up to Westchester today but is it worth it? Please post or FM me if you have any ideas...If you have any questions about the places I've seen I'd be happy to share too!

xjulietx Posted: Mar 22, 2004 11:28 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Check out the Scotto Brothers places (Westbury Manor, Fox Hollow and Chateau Briand). They all have there rooms to accomodate different size weddings (though I don't think they ever have three weddings at the same time) and great service.

mcc101 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 11:36 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

You should check out the Vanderblt Mansion in Oakdale, LI

darly Posted: Mar 22, 2004 11:38 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Did you try The Metrolpolitan??
It's about $100 pp once you add on all the add ons...
They have a guarantee of 120-125
The food is terrific!

jcdesignz Posted: Mar 22, 2004 12:11 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

MeladoriDawn

YOu have FM

kgermano Posted: Mar 22, 2004 01:02 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Hi There
Well I have been to the Surf Club in New Rochelle. My cousin had her reception there last Oct. I have to say the grounds were amazing. You drive up through this long driveway with these beautiful waterfalls. Anyway the cocktail hour and dinner were huge and the food was good. Now I don't know how much she paid, but she did do a Friday night in Oct. Since it looks so beautiful it doesn't hurt to get a price quote.
Also what about Suffolk, there are so many places out there. I booked the Meadow Club, it was affordable and such a huge menu. Good Luck!!

sabella5804 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 01:43 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Check out The View on the Hudson. I think they would be willing to work within your price range for a Sunday.

Their website isn't the best, but if you go to www.weddingsitesandservices.com and click on Westchester/Rockland, you will find it there.

We are getting married there in about 6 weeks. I think the place is gorgeous and it is honestly one of the largest base menus I have seen anywhere.

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck!

MeladoriDawn Posted: Mar 22, 2004 01:48 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

About The View...

Is there a nice indoor ceremony space? I didn't see one in the virtual tour...

nylisa Posted: Mar 22, 2004 01:50 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Check out the Manor East . They can definately help you with what you are looking for and willing to spend.

sabella5804 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 02:03 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

If you want the ceremony indoors, they use the reception room. However, they can do the ceremony outdoors, right on the water (which is what I have my fingers crossed for!).

Another big plus for me is that it is truly one wedding at a time...

nferrandi Posted: Mar 22, 2004 02:04 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think any of the New Rochelle places you mentioned are in your price range. I live in Westchester and most of the places around here are a lot more expensive than most of the places I saw in LI. There are a few places you can check though: Rudy's Beau Rivage, The Riverview and Antuns. I think those are all in your range. Good luck!

B2BMay04 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 02:12 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

OK this is going to be a baised but I think that the Westbury Manor might be what you are looking for. Seems you are having a wedding the same size as mine. Of all the places we went to (there were many!) we loved WBM.

The reasons were
1) Impecable service and food.
Do a search on this site you will see many raves from past brides
2) The garden room (for a smaller wedding guarantee is 110) is just as beautiful as the Manor room (for larger weddings) You get the library room adjacent to the garden room for your party which is gorgeous.
3) The gardens are beautiful at the WBM. Great picture opportunities.
4) If it rains there is a small studio for pictures on site
5) Price is right in your range. You get a lot of food for your money.

With any Scotto property you can't go wrong.

www.scottobrothers.com

Good Luck with the search

MeladoriDawn Posted: Mar 22, 2004 02:28 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Well I'm off to see the 3 I mentioned after dinner.

For a Sunday night in April, I know I may be stretching it but if I can get for offpeak what others do for peak, have a nice ceremony, and keep my pp under $100 I will be happy.

Georgia16 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 05:22 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I am having my reception at surf club in new rochelle. It is a beautiful place but the only way we could afford it is on a Sunday. They have two rooms, 1 large and 1 smaller. I have booked the larger room but have seen both. They are both beautiful.
Good Luck!

janwinterbridejoy Posted: Mar 22, 2004 05:28 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Posted by nferrandi

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I don't think any of the New Rochelle places you mentioned are in your price range. I live in Westchester and most of the places around here are a lot more expensive than most of the places I saw in LI. There are a few places you can check though: Rudy's Beau Rivage, The Riverview and Antuns. I think those are all in your range. Good luck!

i agree. my cousin got married at surf club and my banquet manager at my hall is now the gm and that is a very expensive place. also my friend is looking in those places and has a lil more of a budget and so far she hasnt been able to find something. i hope you have better luck then she is.

fallinlove04 Posted: Mar 22, 2004 06:01 PM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

i would definitely check out the fox hollow. i am partial to it, but it really is pretty. i have heard many wonderful things about it....good luck!!!

oakslady Posted: Mar 23, 2004 01:34 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

why are you not looking in suffolk and instead going to westchester ? there are alot of really nice place in suffolk - Miller Place Inn - Riverhead Polish Hall, Villa Lombardi's, Huntington Townhouse, ( i can go on and on ... )

MeladoriDawn Posted: Mar 23, 2004 09:30 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I live in NYC so the outer limits of Nassau (1 hour or so) is the furthest I want to deal with. Suffolk is too far. The places I am looking at in Westchester turn out to be just under 1 hour from the southern part of the city.

I know there are lots of pretty places in suffolk (there's a lot more land out there!) but it's not for me. I gotta draw the line somewhere!!! Or else I'll be driven even more crazy :)

Westchester worked out well yesterday. It's not cheap, but it's doable and the places are really pretty. We'll see.

I'm actually going to take some of your suggestion and visit those places I missed (Riviera, Westbury, Fox Hollow...) I'll let you know how the saga progresses...

Finding a hall is hard enough, but finding one with a pretty chapel space for inclement weather is horrendous!!!

Annemarie13 Posted: Mar 23, 2004 09:38 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I got married at Glen ISland this New Years Eve. If you want more information, please FM me.

september2004 Posted: Mar 23, 2004 10:19 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

Posted by MeladoriDawn
Finding a hall is hard enough, but finding one with a pretty chapel space for inclement weather is horrendous!!!

i agree with you...

i am so happy our church is so pretty, it will hopefully make up for what our hall is lacking...

jessnyc711 Posted: Mar 23, 2004 10:41 AM

Re: Giving up on finding an elegant place on LI, looking to Westchester - advice?

I would seriously reconsider North Ritz Club, I think 120 guests will be very comfortable there, I don't think it's too big. I'm having 100 guests there. You will have the whole place for your event, it's very very elegant, I looked all over LI and went up to New Rochelle, and I felt that the North Ritz decor and flow of rooms were the most pleasant. some of my guests are also coming from the city and Westchester and the location I felt was not that far. I went to Glen Island and VIP, I thought VIP was very nice, Glen Island is on the pricey side. But I liked North Ritz over both of them....