My experience at a wedding at The Vineyards 9/24/11
Let me begin by saying that it is a LONG trip to and from Aquebogue, and after getting home at 3:30, I am simply exhausted. But it was a fun night, and I tried to remember as much as possible and use the details that I obtained through reading and posting on LIW.
As far as transportation, my friend had a coach bus make 3 stops along the way to pick up guests who didn't want to drive the 75 miles out to the Peconic Bay area. The bus was comfortable, cool and my friend provided refreshments and a movie (Bridesmaids) for the ride. I wish I remembered the bus company name, but the driver was incredibly nice and even cracked some jokes along the way. Our final destination before getting to The Vineyards was the Riverhead Hilton, where more guests were picked up from the lobby. My only complaint about the ride was that one guest made the driver stop twice to get cigarettes, and we almost missed the outside ceremony!
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The Ceremony was outside by the vineyards, and it was gorgeous. My friend and her husband performed a ritual where they combine two colors of sand into an hourglass, symbolizing the two of them adding their unique qualities to the marriage. It was a 15 min ceremony, followed by the cocktail hour, which was in an enclosed deck. Despite the fact that there were ceiling fans, the number of guests and outside humidity made it very uncomfortable. The tables and chairs were on top of each other, and my FH remarked that we would have to 'revise' our own CH to ensure that guests would not be packed in. The food was nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed the sushi and tuna rolls.
The reception was in an air-conditioned (thank God!) room next to the deck, with a beautiful white marble dance floor. Unfortunately, the bride's side was squished in, and to get up to dance/use the bathroom or get a drink, the two people next to me had to get up and walk onto the edge of the dancefloor. We noticed that the groom's side by the photobooth and the staircase had a LOT more room, so this is a critique of table arrangement, not the space itself. My friend hired a DJ along with a drummer, and they were excellent.
Food
I ordered the Red Snapper, which came breaded with zucchini and mashed potatoes. Food was excellent
All in all, I had a great time despite issues with space. The staff were also very friendy. Had I not joined LIW, I probably wouldn't be so critical. If you're going to get married at The Vineyards, make sure you talk to your BM about seating arrangements.
As far as transportation, my friend had a coach bus make 3 stops along the way to pick up guests who didn't want to drive the 75 miles out to the Peconic Bay area. The bus was comfortable, cool and my friend provided refreshments and a movie (Bridesmaids) for the ride. I wish I remembered the bus company name, but the driver was incredibly nice and even cracked some jokes along the way. Our final destination before getting to The Vineyards was the Riverhead Hilton, where more guests were picked up from the lobby. My only complaint about the ride was that one guest made the driver stop twice to get cigarettes, and we almost missed the outside ceremony!
The Ceremony was outside by the vineyards, and it was gorgeous. My friend and her husband performed a ritual where they combine two colors of sand into an hourglass, symbolizing the two of them adding their unique qualities to the marriage. It was a 15 min ceremony, followed by the cocktail hour, which was in an enclosed deck. Despite the fact that there were ceiling fans, the number of guests and outside humidity made it very uncomfortable. The tables and chairs were on top of each other, and my FH remarked that we would have to 'revise' our own CH to ensure that guests would not be packed in. The food was nothing spectacular, but I enjoyed the sushi and tuna rolls.
The reception was in an air-conditioned (thank God!) room next to the deck, with a beautiful white marble dance floor. Unfortunately, the bride's side was squished in, and to get up to dance/use the bathroom or get a drink, the two people next to me had to get up and walk onto the edge of the dancefloor. We noticed that the groom's side by the photobooth and the staircase had a LOT more room, so this is a critique of table arrangement, not the space itself. My friend hired a DJ along with a drummer, and they were excellent.
Food
I ordered the Red Snapper, which came breaded with zucchini and mashed potatoes. Food was excellent
All in all, I had a great time despite issues with space. The staff were also very friendy. Had I not joined LIW, I probably wouldn't be so critical. If you're going to get married at The Vineyards, make sure you talk to your BM about seating arrangements.
