Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Original post by DrBeLLaRoSe

Feb 22, 2005 08:15 PM

I need to have my wedding on a sat in june of 2006. i have been to tons of catering halls, but nothing has seemed just right yet. I always thought my wedding would be soo special... but a lot of the catering halls seem so blah, corny, tacky. Some of the ones that are decent are very expensive for what they are offering. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to pick a hall? am i running out of time?
Here are some of my picks so far...
--Westbury Manor... very cute, but not as posh and glamourous as i had always imagined. but i like the outdoor area.
--Villa lombardi... my mom luvs it there(says the food is great), the price was the lowest out of all the ones i am considering. overall good package. I liked the big cocktail room. Place was big and pretty. But i dont like the 'fake villa' environment... everything is pretty and clean and new, but seems somehow manufactured.
--Glen Island Harbour Club... this is the latest one i visited. My fiance and i luved the water and the boats... inside was ok--nice clean very pretty... but not glamourous either. We dont know anything about the food or the service. The price was a little bit higher than the rest. But so far we really liked this one.
--Tavern on the green... this one is more my style.. i luv the city, luv that we are in central park. The room is ok, everything is luxurious. Pricetag not sooo bad. but food seems to be kinda minimal and i heard that it was really bad (from a friend and from restaurant reviews on the internet). Nothing was tacky.
--Flowerfield... my fiance luved this one. The cocktail room is nice, luved the bridal suite and the grooms lounge. However it is way out of the way and hard to get to. Nothing there seems very expensive or luxurious. Price to me seems way high for the quality of the room and the location.
--Harrison house at glen cove--- seemed to be nice --- had the high class look i was going for. Price is high and i am worried about the food and the service.
--Oheka Castle=== my favorite of course! Should i just beg my parents and suck up the big cost? is a wedding really worth all this money? Is there anything out there that is better?

Please help... i am so confused and this is making my engagement period sooo stressful.
Thanx for those of you who read this long post.

gNi1125 Posted: Feb 23, 2005 12:37 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Honestly, I didn't even realize I had picked. I went to see about I think 6 halls and realized I was comparing them all to the first one I visited. That's how I knew.

psf80 Posted: Feb 23, 2005 12:39 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

I just knew it when I saw it. We visited A LOT of places, from temples to halls to gardens, but when we saw our place, we just knew. Keep looking. There are so many wonderful places out there, you'll know it when you see it. I truly believe that.

beautyq115 Posted: Feb 23, 2005 04:01 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

How do you feel about them?? What is your gut telling you??

myasmom Posted: Feb 23, 2005 08:11 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Its sounds like you need to hire a wedding planner who could possibly help recommend venues that you might like.

lilacwine Posted: Feb 23, 2005 08:19 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

We chose ours based on cost, location, lack of shine and that it's one wedding at a time.

Have you considered some of the hotels in manhattan, such as the Roosevelt Hotel?

laborday06 Posted: Feb 23, 2005 08:38 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Giorgio's Giorgio's Giorgio's!!! I'm very biased, but the place is AMAZING! It's located on the North Fork of LI and the view is breathtaking. It's one wedding at a time and the service and food are wonderful.

I'll FM you more details!

dkwife Posted: Feb 23, 2005 08:53 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Posted by prncssrachel

Have you tried the Bourne?

I was going to ask the same thing

o17range Posted: Feb 23, 2005 09:25 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

With everything you said, I would only recommend checking out a few other options. Obviously we don't know ALL your preferences, but since there are so many choices in LI/Westchester/NYC, I wouldn't 'settle' on anything! You'll find the right place--let us know if you need more suggestions! Good Luck!

catherine Posted: Feb 23, 2005 09:40 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

We picked ours b/c it was a brand new place which is absolutely beautiful! And b/c no one will have been there before. Also we got preopening prices which was good too. I knew that were I wanted my reception the minute i saw it. We still looked around, but to me nothing compared!!!! (That's just my opinion though!!)

jeanla4c Posted: Feb 23, 2005 09:42 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Well always wanted to have my wedding on the water and not many places were still available for a Saturday in July when we got engaged in August....found two places we liked (parents sending info and pictures since we are in VA) and made our decision before even seeing Chateau La Mer in person. Haven't regretted it since...we have been up there now. OH and the deciding factor for FI was they had scallops wrapped in bacon for cocktail hour YOu'll find a place that is right. Good Luck!

leighdvm Posted: Feb 23, 2005 09:44 AM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

As soon as we walked in, we just KNEW!! After we tasted the food, it was a done deal!!

pressured Posted: Feb 23, 2005 12:37 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

I had the same problem.
but when you go into a catering hall and can't find any flaws with it. Then your decision is made for you.

LaurenluvsTJ Posted: Feb 23, 2005 05:58 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

It just 'felt right' to me. Both myself, my FH, and my mom all felt it when we went to westbury manor, and we booked it the next day.

Marisa M Posted: Feb 23, 2005 06:12 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

I've heard great things about Giorgio's but have never been there.
Go and look @ the Watermill. I fought my FH on it b/c my cousin got married there and for as much as I loved it, didn't want to have my wedding @ the same place. - Until I looked at all of the other places and felt exactly the way you do.......I LOVED the Bourne Mansion, but it was too small for me. So we went to the Watermill and once I walked around, it was the only place I was able to start picturing MY wedding and what I would do flower wise, gown wise, etc......
The Watermill has a very rich and warm feel to it. - Deep mahagony moldings, very stately - and it won't kill your checkbook. You may love it and you may hate it - But it can't hurt to check it out !!
Good Luck !

snowprincess805 Posted: Feb 23, 2005 06:14 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

look at the bourne mansion - it is really pretty -very elegant great drive into it

stacy&joe Posted: Feb 23, 2005 06:22 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

If you're trying out east, then try the East Wind. Food is so so so good, and the place is just beautiful. But then, I am partial.

DrBeLLaRoSe Posted: Feb 23, 2005 09:45 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

can anyone tell me how far away Bourne mansion is from queens? thank you :)

keep posting please u guys are really helping!

jennymac Posted: Feb 23, 2005 10:31 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

I would look into more country clubs and stuff based on what you are saying. You can definately find something classic in your price range. Check out the vanderbilt mansion and anything by lessings. The Creek on the north shore is also very nice.

nov.bride Posted: Feb 23, 2005 10:38 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

If you love the city and you love the water- check out the Waters Edge in Long Island CityWaters Edge
Its a really nice place-

GLen Island is an excellent choice as well, we've been to weddings there and they were very nice

ETA_ I feel your pain, but when you find your hall- you will know. Its weird but true. YOu will obsess over it until you leave a deposit (@least thats what I did )

FTRBRIDE Posted: Feb 23, 2005 11:08 PM

Re: Help!!! how did u pick a catering hall?

Like all of the other girls, I'm very partial to my hall...and it happens to be one that you looked at (Harrison House). I have been to a lot of catering halls on LI for various parties and I knew that I definately wasn't interested in any of the placed I had already been. I did a lot of research online before even stepping into any catering halls, and narrowed it down to 3 that I would go visit- Harrison House, Atlantica and Flowerfield. They were all in the same price range. We walked into Flowerfields and immediately knew it wasn't for us- we excused oursevles a few minutes into the tour as to not waste anybody's time. We liked Atlantica, but then we saw the Harrison House and LOVED it. Actually, FH had his prom there (oddly enough, I know) so he already knew he liked it. They have won numerous culinary awards. If you're uncertain, you should ask for a tasting before you sign a contract- see if they will accomodate you.