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I lived in Oceanside for 10 years , I have heard alot of horror stories about the Coral House , be careful!!!
CRZYCAT420...what have you heard? I have only heard good things through the girls at UW....everything has been going good so far....... Jen
I'll let you know...
A couple of years ago I went with my FH to check it out for my dad's 50th birthday surprise party. The larger room was nice with the view of the lake, but what I didn't like and FH didn't either, is that the kitchen is right near 2 rooms. You see the waiters coming in and out, other guests from other parties walking around. When we were there there was a sweet sixteen, bar mitzvah (spelling??) and a bridal shower all on the same floor. On top of that they have another floor. AND the part I hated the most was the fact that in the main entrance lobby, or whatever you want to call it, it reaked of cigarette smoke. I am so against that. The guests were allowed to smoke in the lobby area. I know we had a choice of where our guests can smoke but if you tell the Coral House you don't want guests smoking anywhere inside, other parties may allow their guests to do so. The only upside is that it is economical.
A couple of years ago I went with my FH to check it out for my dad's 50th birthday surprise party. The larger room was nice with the view of the lake, but what I didn't like and FH didn't either, is that the kitchen is right near 2 rooms. You see the waiters coming in and out, other guests from other parties walking around. When we were there there was a sweet sixteen, bar mitzvah (spelling??) and a bridal shower all on the same floor. On top of that they have another floor. AND the part I hated the most was the fact that in the main entrance lobby, or whatever you want to call it, it reaked of cigarette smoke. I am so against that. The guests were allowed to smoke in the lobby area. I know we had a choice of where our guests can smoke but if you tell the Coral House you don't want guests smoking anywhere inside, other parties may allow their guests to do so. The only upside for me is that it is economical.
Marnles, please let me know how the wedding goes....as far as the cigarette smoking goes, I don't like it either but I know I can't stop people from other parties either from walking around or smoking...I am just not allowing anyone to smoke in the room (I have asthma). As far as the cooking room, I have seen it in the back, doesn't bother me. Thank you for answering me!! Jen
I am having my wedding reception at Coral House. I have been there 3 times in the past 2 weeks, and maybe 6 times since our first visit to look around, and I never smelled smoke in the lobby, despite many large parties going on there. I did see people smoking outside.
Considering CH does numerous weddings and affairs each week, going back 2 years in the search feature for this board, I found very few negative posts about it. The negatives were small, in my opinion. And when I brought the negatives up to my coordinator at CH, she was MORE than responsive to my concerns, no matter how small.
CH has now been in business for 25 years. If they were so horrible, as someone posted, they never would have lasted. They have a clean record with the Better Business Bureau. They have had the same owner for 25 years. If you speak with the employees, many have been there for a long time (years!!). I have yet to deal with someone there with a bad attitude about their job or CH. No one has ever, EVER! been the slightest bit rude to us. Granted, that may not be the case for everyone who has gone there, however, it is MY experience there.
I don't care if people post negatives. I could probably do the same over some of the places people gush about here. You have to go and see for yourself. A coworker just booked CH after seeing 6 other places, many of which are popular on this board, because this is where she came to get ideas for catering halls. They said CH won hands down, and it wasn't just price that they sighted.
I would go so far as to say they are bending over backwards to be accommodating to us right down to the smallest detail, and it is not because we are having a huge affair...120 people tops.
If you have any questions regarding who I am working with there, or anything else about CH that I may be able to answer, please feel free to email me at [email protected].
If you look at this board realistically, you will see that places get bashed all the time. If you have made your choice based on solid research that YOU have done online and in person with your vendors, you should be happy with your decision.
I have to agree with you not because I am also having my wedding at Coral House but b/c I find people on this board can really go off sometimes on the littlest thing. I attended a wedding at huntington townhouse july of 2000 and the things that I have heard people say about the place I think this can't be the same place we went to. Last night my fiance was reading the review on huntington townhouse and he made the comment maybe b/c we were not looking for valet parking. I think people have different things they are looking for in a place. I also find that for some reason its like every single hall in long island I have heard a negative comment about. So that really makes me wonder sometimes about people's comments. I have been to some really beautiful ones that I thought were just superb not a thing to complain about and still I see people go off on things. No place is perfect. I have seen on the BBB that huntington townhouse has a lot of complaints but all these other places I haven't seen any.
Ladies,
Thank you so much for answering me, I really appreciate it. Your right people do look for different things in halls. Honestly, it doesn't bother me that I am not having valet parking or that I am not the only bride there. I know not every place is perfect and I don't expect 100% perfection either. But I am glad that I chose the Coral House for my wedding and they have been wonderful to work with so far. One last question: how is the viennese hour? Just curious whether it is worth it....they already have a lot of goodies thrown in anyway....thanks Jen
I agree with DianaL also (I am not getting married ant CH) but I have seen people rave about places that I have not been crazy about. You really need trust your own judgement. You know what they say... Different strokes for different folks :)
Just to add my 2 cents. We too are using the Coral House for our 12/15/02 wedding. We have been working with Linda Hunt there, and she is the best. I have called with everything from little questions to big questions, and all have been answered right away, and thing that I want that are out of the 'norm' there, she has worked with me on all of it.
Do a search under my name and you can read the numerous posts I've made. Kristen was very accommodating over my 9 months of planning.
I didn't get the Viennese hour because I felt it wasn't necessary. There is an abundance of food served. The cake, cookies, chocolate covered strawberries and ice cream sundaes were more than enough for my guests.
I'm not exactly sure what CRZYCAT's point was in her post. Maybe she can elaborate on the 'horror stories' she's heard so that brides-to-be can voice concerns to their banquet manager.
I'd be happy to answer any questions any of you have about Coral House.
Good luck in planning.
Hey question what chocolate covered strawberries. I don't see that on the menu selection. Please let me know I would love to have that. I am getting married there July 7 2002 and I will be picking my menu soon.
Thanks
They threw the strawberries in for me when I booked. They first offered a shrimp cocktail platter for the bridal suite but none of us eat shrimp! (except hubby) so they offered the strawberries instead.
My 11 year old nephew ate about 15 of them!
:)
I have to ask Linda about the chocolate covered strawberries....I know about the strawberries and cream in the modified venetian table....I guess I do have more then enough!! I am also working with Linda on my 2/7/04 wedding...she is an absolute joy to work with. Thank you ladies you all made me feel better!!!!!!!!!!!
Jen
I am doing my menu and linens and everything for my wedding in july at coral house and I am just wondering of some things I can ask coral house to throw in or substitute.
Thanks
I would try to ask for those chocolate covered strawberries!! I got 300 shrimp thrown in but thats b/c I couldn't have flower centerpieces. What did you pick for the main course? By the way, your getting married on a great date...my bday! :) Jen
Ok I asked for the chocolate covered strawberries but Linda said she would add some to the cookie trays. I you got the chocolate covered strawberries as an appetizer. Well we talked yesterday and she agreed to give me the personalized match books and personalized napkins. Now you just gave me a good idea. I am getting my florist to do our centerpieces so I don't need they ones coral house provides. Now I must ask her if I can get something for not using theres.
I didn't use CH centerpieces either since I wanted something different than the *freebee*. They offer a 40 cent, yes, 40 CENT per guest credit if you don't use them. We decided to use them in our cocktail hour instead since we felt we didn't want the whopping $45.00 credit! Something to consider.
BTW, I don't know what happened to those flowers, I should have requested they bring them to the bridal suite so I could have given them away.
Good for you for getting the napkins and matchbooks!!
:)
I am not sure if we posted to eachother before about this, however if you book your flowers through the CHs vendor, Wicks, and book $400 in flowers for your day, they upgrade the thrown in centerpiece for free. I am getting the upgrade, and paying for the rental of the candlabra, because I wanted the high centerpiece.
