Inexpensive but nice reception site???

Well, after countless hours of reviewing our financial position, my FH and I don`t see how we can afford any of the sites that we have looked at. They all seem to be in a $65-$85/head range, not including tax & gratuity (@140 guests). I`m heartbroken because I want to have a wedding, but don`t want to go broke doing it! We also agreed that we wouldn`t take out a loan, so I don`t know what options are left (we`re paying for it ourselves). Does anyone have any recommendations? I would truly appreciate any advice!

Inexpensive but nice reception site???

We are having our reception at the Swan Club. They have great rates, and its beautiful. If u have any questions, feel free to ask. I hope this helps. You can also consider, rates are cheaper depending on the month and the day of your wedding (friday vs. sat..etc.)

Inexpensive but nice reception site???

try some of the spots with all inclusive rates ie Douglaston Manor or Windows onthe Lake

Inexpensive but nice reception site???

We paid $65 per plate INCLUDING tax and gratuity (except the Mairtr'd) at Leonard's of Great Neck for a Saturday afternoon last April. That was a 3-choice of entree sit-down dinner with a big cocktail hour and open bar. Talk to them and tell them what your budget is. If you have some flexibility on time of year, day, etc., you could always tell them that you are budgeting $45 per plate and ask what they can do. Maybe they would skip the extravagant cocktail hour and have a reduced bar - beer, wine, punch and soda only. Our cake was included in that price, and it was delicious! Keep in mind too, that by cutting it to $55 per head you've saved about $1400, so if you could trim the budget by that much somewhere else like invites, flowers, limo, dress, favors then you could apply that savings to the food if necessary. Good luck!

Inexpensive but nice reception site???

Hi - Try not to stress. As the other brides have told you, there are options out there for you. I am getting married at the Stewart Manor Country Club in Garden City. I am paying about $60/head on a Friday night (without gratuity/tax). We really wanted a Sat. night wedding, but it was just out of our budget (we are paying for the whole thing as well). Stewart Manor is great and the best part is that you're the only wedding there. Their website is www.stewartmanor.com - check them out. The prices are great and so is the food! And it is sooo true that the time of year you get married determines the price. We are December, which is less than June, but more than February. If you really want to save money, consider getting married between Jan - Mar, on a Friday night or Saturday/Sunday afternoon. There are just some sacrifices you may have to make - just consider what is most important to you. We refuse to spend a lot on flowers, which we feel will die right after. We would rather put our other budgeted money towards photos (which we still are trying to find someone we can afford!). Some people may feel differently - it's really up to you... The best of luck to you...

Other Formats

Have you thought about forgoing the traditional 5 hour cocktail and sit down dinner? Perhaps a Sunday Brunch or Sat. afternoon buffet might fit your budget and still allow you to accomodate 140 guests. You can also look at restaurants rather than reception halls. PaPa Joes in Commack has a large room for private parties and thier food is Yummy! Good Luck and Happy Planning

Other idea

Don't worry. You will find a place that doesn't require a loan. I agree that you should not get into debt for the reception. Having a Friday or Sunday reception make a difference in cost so that might be worth considering. Also, having a brunch is a really nice idea too. I am not sure how many people you want to invite. It might be worth cutting your guest list a bit too. Since we are paying for our own wedding, I told my parents that if they want to invite any friends they would have to pay for them. It was fair and they agreed. I am also not inviting those family members that I never met before but my parents want to come. That is helping me keep costs a bit closer to budget. You can try the Meadow Club in Pt. Jeff which is very nice and I have heard not very expensive. I am not sure how much it costs by LaGrange in Islip might not be too expensive and it is nice. You can also look at the Knights of Columbus, VFW or Elk clubs. There is a nice VFW hall in Bellmore. (My stepmom and Dad got married there 10 years ago)You might have to decorate yourself but that could be a lot of fun too. I know the Elks club in Smithtown is very nice inside, although I have never been to a wedding there. Try to look at the clubs in the nicer areas, they tend to be kept up really well. Also, Larkfield Manor in Northport might be worth a look. I don't know costs but I don't think it is very high per plate. Another suggestion: Don't serve filet migon, serve Prime Rib instead. Cut out a carving station from the cocktail hour. Don't do the cordial bar at the end of the night. No one will even notice. Book at DJ, instead of a band. Go with small, hand-tied bouquests instead of large ones. Use in season flowers too. Don't go crazy on centerpieces. Elegance does not have to cost a lot. You can have beautiful floating candles in a glass bowl or pillar candles with small wreaths around the candle bases. Don't give up just yet. There are tons of places to have a beautiful wedding on LI.

Other idea

Not sure if they have this sort of thing in Long Island but in Brooklyn there are places (nice places I might add) you can rent out for between 1000-2000 for the night. Then you bring a caterer so it you opt for cheaper fare you can probably have a great wedding for a lot less. Its just a lot of legwork on your part getting more vendors all together.

Thank You!

Thank you all for the wonderful suggestions posted so far! Regardless of what we decide to do, it's nice to know that I have a 'place' to come to and discuss these issues with a great group of women!

all inclusive...

we are having our reception at the Brentwood Country Club and they include everything in their price, the limos, the dj, the flowers, the photographer and video and even the invitations. they only do one wedding at a time and it is a very pretty place. e-mail me if you would like any further infomration. good luck and happy planning!

More Places

Don't get discouraged. I too had the same problem you are having with the wedding costing too much. Check out this site, http://www.cateringhall.com/HallDir/ny/LI.html they have lots of places to look at on Long Island. This is a list of almost all the caterning halls on Long Island. Keep calling like the other girls said try to vary your times a bit when asking for a quote. Also a lot of time if there is a cancellation for any reason, places tend to give the spot up for much less than their original price. Good luck! vickfl77

More Places

Try Le Cordon Bleu in Woodhaven Queens or Coral House in Long Island.

More Places

We just had our wedding at the Beach Club in Lake Ronkonkoma. It may be a bit small for 140 people, but we originally contracted for $49.95 per person plus tax and gratuity for a Sunday afternoon wedding with a full cocktail hour and dinner (3 choices). This also included top shelf liquor and all beverages, plus a 3 tier cake (ours had cannoli and chocolate mousse filling and was delicious). We added a pasta station to the cockatil hour about 3 weeks before the wedding which cost us an extra $3.00 per person. We really didn't need it because there was more than enough food. The Beach Club has beautiful grounds and the inside is lovely and very comfortable to be in. We got nothing but fantastic reviews from all our guests. The Beach Club is owned by the same people as Windows on the Lake and they did a fantastic job for us.

SWAN CLUB

Ive been to quite a few affairs there and it is great. The grounds are beautiful and the food and service is good too.

Another Place

The person who owns the Brentwood Country Club also owns a place in East Meadow Long Island called the Crystalbrook. They do the same all inclusive package that the Brentwood Country Club does but it is a little cheaper. We went to look at it but it was a little to small for our wedding. The manager there is very nice and helpful. He let us look at a price chart for the year so we could see which days and months were the cheapest.

MIddle Island Country Club

I saw an ad for $39.00/pp in Newsday. Might be worth a look.

Once again, THANK YOU!!!

I can not thank you enough for all of the wonderful responses! I`ve looked into several places that were suggested. My heart is set on the Swan Club (very reasonable and beautiful grounds). Now I need to see if they can work with me a little more on the price...I`ve heard that holidays are usually less expensive, so I`ll try that as well!

? for Kimberleeg @ the Swan Club

Hello. Thank you so much for your response! The Swan Club is by far my first choice (very reasonable and beautiful grounds). But I still need to work on the price a bit. Would you mind telling me how much you are paying per person? Also, when are you having it (month? day? afternoon or evening?). And who did you speak to? I've heard that sometimes a holiday is less expensive, so I'm going to ask about that as well. Thank you again for your help, and Congratulations & Best of Luck!

? for Kimberleeg @ the Swan Club

We are having our wedding November 14, 2003...its on a Friday night. we are paying 60 per person plus service charge. I do hear that holidays are less, and also daytime is less. I spoke with Paul Trunz. we wanted sat, but friday night is less expensive. they also have a less minimum of people compared to other places. congrats to you also and if u have anymore questions feel free to ask me

? for Kimberleeg @ the Swan Club

when I was looking in the Spring for next summer - a Saturday afternoon was 57pp and maybe 60-70 for sat night.