Help for a new bride- UPDATE!!!!!

My best friend is getting married for the 2nd time. She is only 26 and can't really afford to have another big wedding. I am working with her and trying to find a solution to her dilemma.

She lives in the Bronx and is willing to travel a bit to get a really good price for an intimate wedding. She is very upset and still wants to have all of the special things that brides go through (cake cutting, first dance). Unfortunately, my rather large wedding is making her feel like she should go crazy and spend money she definitely does not have. Both her and her husband have been married before and have 3 children between the two of them.

I love her dearly and don't want to see her spend $30,000 that she clearly does not have. Does anyone have any suggestions on a place in the Weschester, Queens, Long Island area?

Thanks!



**UPDATE**

My friend has decided to get married in Key West!!! After some soul and pocket searching, she made a really good decision to have it on the pier there.....here is the link to the hotel:

www.westin.com/keywest

She is planning to get married in April of 07, so she has plenty of work to do. Next are the bridesmaids dresses!!!

Thanks again for all of your help!!!!!

Meadow Club in Port Jeff supposedly does a great package (flowers, limos, photog, etc) for like $10-15K, I think Brentwood Country Club does as well. I'm so happy that she found love again! Best wishes and many happy days to your friend!!

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Posted by neener1211

destination wedding??

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thats a great idea!

The girls are right, Brentwood CC and Med. Manor, and Windows on the Lake all offer wedding packages.

A destination wedding can be nice too and inexpensive depending on the # guests you're inviting.

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Posted by IlianaR

Douglaston Manor has a pkg $$8-12K . Also they were recently renovated so it looks much nicer now.

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I was just there and they don't do the package anymore ....they gave me a price of $85pp for a Saturday night in peak season- it's probably because of the renovations, their prices are higher.

The vendors they used to include in their package is all through Ariana Studios (they have flowers, dj, photo/video and also have a bridal gown shop on Jericho Tpke)....my sister used them for everything except her limo's for her wedding, and they are really inexpensive- her centerpieces were $40 a table!!! The dj was $650, photo package was about 1K (no parent albums), and video was about $800.

So even if she doesn't go with a package, check them out, I think their website is www.arianastudios.com- my sister dealt with Jeff.

Good luck to your friend!

If she is only looking to have about 80 people then the SNUFF MILL at the New York Bronx Botanical Garden is a GORGEOUS location. I don't know what her budget is, but with 80 people her price would run her under $10k (if she does 65-70 people it would obviously be less), but that includes the wedding cake and food (the caterer for the Botanical Garden is Abigail Kirsch and her food is AMAZING!!). If she shops around she can get a decent photo/video package and she doesn't really need to do elaborate floral arrangements if she has candle CP's instead. Tell her to definitely look in the Snuff Mill. I coordinated 3 weddings there and they were all very intimate and very beautiful, and they had everything any other wedding would have (maybe more because of the ambience). It's a 'one'stop shopping place to have a wedding because she doesn't need to leave the garden to take pics since the surrounding garden is breathtaking, and she can have the ceremony and Reception in the same place. They also provide you with valet parking for your guests. She can also save by not getting a limousine since she can get ready at the garden and drive in that afternoon in her own car (unless she really wants a limo or Rolls Royce to drive her there).

P.S.: The ceremony area is outside and the Bronx River (literally) runs alongside where her guests would be seated. I wish your friend all the best.

ETA: Sunday weddings are cheaper and the minimum is lower.

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Posted by tuti0907

If she is only looking to have about 80 people then the SNUFF MILL at the New York Bronx Botanical Garden is a GORGEOUS location. I don't know what her budget is, but with 80 people her price would run her under $10k (if she does 65-70 people it would obviously be less), but that includes the wedding cake and food (the caterer for the Botanical Garden is Abigail Kirsch and her food is AMAZING!!). If she shops around she can get a decent photo/video package and she doesn't really need to do elaborate floral arrangements if she has candle CP's instead. Tell her to definitely look in the Snuff Mill. I coordinated 3 weddings there and they were all very intimate and very beautiful, and they had everything any other wedding would have (maybe more because of the ambience). It's a 'one'stop shopping place to have a wedding because she doesn't need to leave the garden to take pics since the surrounding garden is breathtaking, and she can have the ceremony and Reception in the same place. They also provide you with valet parking for your guests. She can also save by not getting a limousine since she can get ready at the garden and drive in that afternoon in her own car (unless she really wants a limo or Rolls Royce to drive her there).

P.S.: The ceremony area is outside and the Bronx River (literally) runs alongside where her guests would be seated. I wish your friend all the best.

ETA: Sunday weddings are cheaper and the minimum is lower.

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Thank you for this info......I will pass this along to her, it is really helpful!!!! And thank you everyone, this means the world to me!!

Holiday Inn Plainview has a pakage deal $9999. 100 pp min. everything is included. Invitations, DJ/MC, Video, Photographer, Florist, Limo, Cake, Tuxedos plau free Bridal Suite. Or a Band if you don't want DJ/MC.

Key West is my favorite place! FM me if you want any ideas of what to do when you are there. . . i dont know much about wedding planning there but i can help with fun stuff!

that is FH's dream, to get married there - she will not be disappointed!!!!!!!

so happy that she found something that will work for her!