Brides Helping Brides ™ - Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

WishfulRinne Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:32 PM

Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Hello my fellow Brides!

I need your honest, blunt, opinions please. I have been engaged for about a year now. There have been many disagreements concerning the reception between my Fn and I. We will be paying for the wedding by ourselves and he does not agree with spending 20k or more on one day. In fact he wants to spend the smallest amount of money as possible. I partly agree with him however, part of me wants my dream wedding :(

I have searched the web insanly trying to find the most costly reception site on Long Island. This has left me with nothing. Of course we would like to get married in July (most expensive month) and would have between 100-150 guests. The day does not matter...I was wishing for 2009(I know I need to get moving)

My question is if you could share with me your cheap reception site finds, web surfing tips, areas to cut back etc. I would really appreciate your help. I have literally made myself crazy looking online.

Just to add a little soft spot to this...I was the girl that said she would never get married...I wanted to support myself...blah,blah LOL. The day I met my FN, I knew he was the one. He changed my mind and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with him:)

Any comments, help would be greatly appreciated.

baba022 Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:37 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Check out Arianna Waterfalls!! They have a great deal which includes everything!! DJ Flowers limos...etc. My cousin is on a really tight budget and I think for 15k she is getting everything!! And the place is really nice!!!

http://www.arianawaterfall.com/

I know the riveria in massapequa is also pretty reasonable...but def check out the website above!!

dedecakes Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:40 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Well, the best place to cut back is on guests. Would you consider having a destination wedding (on a beach)? It is usually a lot cheaper (and less guests). If a destination wedding is out of the question, you should check out The Metropolitan in Glen Cove. They seemed to give me the best price. It was like 70 dollars a person. I'm not sure if that is still too much.

Autumnbride03 Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:40 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

well, to be honest you would probably find much better deals if you were willing to get married in the off season (Dec-March). This would make it a little easier to obtain your 'dream wedding' as well.

I'm not really sure what to suggest... maybe Brentwood Country Club? I know they do all-inclusive type deals there... maybe you could fit it into your budget.

If you have a relative or friend with a nice yard you could always have it catered at your house- I know someone who got married last weekend at his father's house in the backyard and it was actually very pretty! It had all the elements of a wedding (formal, catered, flowers, etc etc) and they probably didn't spend much at all.

mls282 Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:43 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

If you want to do it for under $20K that is tough with 100-150 people but possible. I would say your best bet is to do the all inclusive places:
Brentwood Country Club
Arianna Waterfall

I cant remember the others off hand. They include packages with just about everything you need. It will cost $15K with everything. I am getting married on a Sunday and at place that is relatively inexpensive but when all is said and done the RH only accounts for about 50% of the all of the expenses so its deceiving. So mine is going to end up over 30K.
UGH!
All inclusive is the best way with your budget.

WishfulRinne Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:47 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Thanks for all your comments! I will def check out ariana and brentwood. I have heard of their all inclusive as well.
I wanted to get married in the off season because I knew it would be cheaper too...but the man that doesn't want to pay didn't go for that lol.

Again thanks and I will make an appionttment to check out those places:)

lanamanitta Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:48 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

For halls, I don't have as many suggestions as the other girls, but for other money saving tips, here we go:

Invitations and ceremony stuff -- www.annsbridalbargains.com (cheap cheap cheap, and it's even 30 bucks for addressing the envelopes, which you can do yourself otherwise)

They also have favors on that site, but you DON'T need them . . . . you can put some candies, wrapped and tied, and no one will fault you for not going nuts with favors!!! Or, you can give away your CP's to someone at each table and forego favors altogether. I mean, we all do it, but we don't have to, and I'm pretty sure I would enjoy a wedding just as much without leaving with something!

Don't do Save the Dates
Don't do a formal rehearsal dinner -- rehearse and head to a pizza place, or better yet, get your beauty sleep!!

Accessories -- ebay, ebay, ebay (veils, jewelry, favors, even your GOWN can come from ebay . . . you can find anything on there!!!)

And there are 'all-inclusive' companies that do photog and DJ, even flowers, for great prices. Get low centerpieces, and have a SMALL bridal party, with any girls carrying a couple of long-stemmed lillies instead of a big bo-k.

No video, big savings, and most people watch it once or twice and never again.

DJ, not band.

Thursday night, Friday night, Sunday afternoon.

If i think of other ideas, I'll update . . . .

You can do it for less, but you shouldn't not do it. It's important to you and you don't want to be regretful, because you only do it once, god willing!!!!!!!

LnF0405 Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:49 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

also check out Brentwood Country club, they have an all inclusive package... Another way to cut xcurneris bby doing stuff yourself such as invitation, favors and all that... IF oyu want to cut corners with flowers do your own centerpieces (like candlas ) instead of flowers.. Also dont have a big bridal party

JoanneAndJustin Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:53 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Try Milleridge Carriage House I got a very reasonable price from them, and if you're willing to do a Thursday or a Sunday I'm sure it would come down even more. Knights of Columbus might be a good thing to check out, also try Verdi's in Westbury...

We're leaning towards a MOH and BM with no other attendants... I am an only child and FH is from FL...

Cut out limos especially if you're having the RH & ceremony in the same place.

Do a candle only or silk flower centerpiece.

lanamanitta Posted: Jul 23, 2008 10:59 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Posted by windyBride33

Try Milleridge Carriage House I got a very reasonable price from them, and if you're willing to do a Thursday or a Sunday I'm sure it would come down even more. Knights of Columbus might be a good thing to check out, also try Verdi's in Westbury...

We're leaning towards a MOH and BM with no other attendants... I am an only child and FH is from FL...

Cut out limos especially if you're having the RH & ceremony in the same place.

Do a candle only or silk flower centerpiece.

OH YEAH!!! I forgot!!

No limos . . . . you don't need them, especially if you have a small BP. I am SURE that if you want a 'chauffeur' someone with a nice big SUV will be more than happy to provide transportation, if you even need it . . . . It can be cheaper to get married at a church than the hall, but not always, so if you can do it at the hall, go for it and eliminate that issue altogether!!

Looking back at the suggestions, if you took all of them, you're taking about 10-15 grand -- maybe more -- off of the price of my wedding, which will put you into a good range . . .and which make me wonder what the hell I was thinking!!!!

Kruzlover Posted: Jul 23, 2008 11:06 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Another great way to save money - NEGOTIATE your butt off!

Budget EVERYTHING out first, then go to each vendor with a target budget in mind and tell them up front that this is what you have to spend and ask if they can do anything with that. Reception Halls will negotiate prices for off season or low-occupancy days of the week like a Thursday night or Friday afternoon. People sometimes don't think you can make vendors come down on price but you CAN!

MrsZtoBe Posted: Jul 23, 2008 11:27 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

You have FM

apriladam9206 Posted: Jul 23, 2008 11:38 PM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

we got married at brentwood. totally worth the $

Kimbalina Posted: Jul 24, 2008 06:50 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Welcome to LiWeddings and Happy Planning

dazies1011 Posted: Jul 24, 2008 07:12 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Stewart Manor CC
The Riviera in Massapequa
The Coral House
Also either try for Saturday Day or Sunday Day or Thursday nights.
I am doing a thursday night in the summer, it was cheaper then a friday night in the winter.

deb08 Posted: Jul 24, 2008 08:09 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

I would second the brentwood cc.
They have all in one pkgs (food, photos, flowers,invites,limos ect...) and it is very nice there.

I believe there is a bride you just got married there in the past month or so and has a wonderful review up check it out.

hogie2be Posted: Jul 24, 2008 08:23 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

Mediteranean Manor in Patchogue does a package as does Windows on the Lake in Ronkonkoma- I've been to a wedding there it was nice!

Definately do as much as you can stand to do on your own.

And ask close family members (If it is not too uncomfortable) to help! You could always let one little birdy know of your situation and they can tell the rest. You never know who would rather help you create the wedding than give you their gift later! My aunt is paying for my wedding dress! My FH's parents were giving us a large money gift because they're not really helping- but are giving it us when we need it to pay for things ahead of time!

stephanienyc2002 Posted: Jul 24, 2008 08:50 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

You can def do it. I wouldn't cut the guests first b/c guests usually cover their plate and you might make your $$ back on that. what you won't get back is flowers, limos, invites, an expensive wedding gown etc.... so that would be where you have to get creative. def thing about a destination wedding b/c i priced them out all inclusive at $10K but you won't have everyone there, but the important ppl usually find the $ and time to go.

I may be totally wrong about this but I disagree with walking in to a vendor and saying i'm willing to spend $200 on a centerpiece or my budget is 5K w/o knowing how much they go for first. I don't really understand that. what does my budget have to do with how much things cost?
i would ask what are the most affordable options, they'll give you a price, make an offer and WALK. they'll always call back and try to get your business and might meet you where you want to be. JMO
i made this mistake with flowers and said $300 per CP was my budget in the beginning and all of a sudden a bunch of roses was $300, callas were $300, no matter what i chose it was 300. it's BS. they should tell you how much each CPs are and give you options in various price ranges.

No matter if you have one flower or 500 at a table your wedding is going to be beautiful and everyone will love it. stay in the budget that both of you are comfortable in and you'll avoid probs down the road. i suggest to try and go with a modern minimalist look and that way you can make things sparse but stylish and save $$$

Almostawife Posted: Jul 24, 2008 09:03 AM

Re: Long Island Bride in DESPERATE NEED of your advice!!!

I help plan parties through work at various catering halls and being teachers we really try to keep the cost down. If you try one of these on a Sunday afternoon you might find it affordable.

I would suggest lower end catering halls such as:

Cafe on the Green
The Sterling in Bethpage
Stewart Manor in Massapequa
Ambrosia in Farmingdale
La Piazza in Merrick
Dominico's in Levittown
Knights of Columbus in Oceanside & Seaford are suppose to be very nice
If you know people in the local local fire dept if the room is really nice.
Do you know someone who lives in a condo with a large rec room that can be rented?
Coral House
Swan Club
Thatched cottage has a winter package (100 pp for $10,000 all inclusive)

Also, you can do a buffet instead of a sit down dinner and I'm not talking a continuous cocktail hour I'm saying just a buffet. With cold displays for cocktail hour.

I definitly think it can be done but you need to stay away from the traditional wedding catering halls and more into the basic catering halls that do corporate events. Your not paying for the astetics but you can still have a fun and wonderful party.

Also, forget the flowers use candles and rose petals as centerpieces. You can get these fairly inexpensive at christmas tree shops, BBB, Michaels, etc. with coupons.