Nassau County Museum of Art- Elegant Affairs

---

Posted by Kricket212

Ok ladies, don't laugh but I don't even know where that is.

---

Don't worry you aren't alone! I have no clue where that is.....

Hey!!

So I actually was REALLY interested in the Nassau County Museum of Art, which is now catered by Elegant Affairs. My Fiancée and I met with the on-site coordinator, Brooke. We told Brooke that our budget was $120 a head, which she said she could accommodate. I was thrilled when she said she would take their normal $150pp package and bring it down to $120 for us! When my Fiancée and I got the tour of the place, we both had the same reaction: 'this is IT!!!!' We both had butterflies and we practically ready to sign the dotted line….

During the meeting with Brooke, I asked several questions, all of which Brooke answered that she was sure it would be accommodated within our price, but she would just have to run it by her boss first. So after the meeting, I e-mailed Brooke everything I wanted, as she asked me to, so that she could bring it to her boss. There were several things I asked; first off, the set menu was three courses: 1-salad, 2-entrée (a choice of chicken or salmon) and 3-a cake. In my e-mail I asked if I could swap out my cake for a pasta dish, I also asked for the valet service to be included and for an extra hour on the event (with no alcohol to be served the last hour)...I know my requests were ambitious but I never expected to get the answer I got…

OH-another HUGE deal, Brooke said that in order to have the lower price, I would have to pay 50% cash, within a month, and the other 50% by Jan 1, 2009. When I told Brooke that wasn’t possible, that I couldn’t give her $25,000 over the course of two months, she said she was sure that was ok, and she was willing to give me an extension…so of course in the e-mail I asked for an extension.

After waiting THREE days for the reply e-mail, Brooke wrote back basically saying her boss was unwilling to accommodate ANYTHING!!! Not only that, but the e-mail said that Elegant Affairs would be glad to ‘swap’ a pasta for the wedding cake, but that there would be a $300 charge for the additional china!! I find that so insulting since the wedding cake is obviously much more expensive than pasta! I was so devastated that I called the manager, Laura, myself. (I deal with public relations on a regular basis, so I was extremely calm headed and collected, I don’t want you to think I was being angry and yelling or out of control) Laura immediately got defensive, telling me how the business is a great business, and they have great food, and so on, to which I replied, “You are absolutely correct, that’s why I am so upset….because I LOVED the venue, I liked the food, I WANTED to have my wedding there and I am deeply disappointed that you are completely unwilling to accommodate me in anyway.” After about a half hour of telling Laura how much I loved the venue, she finally hung up and then called me back a few moments later saying that the only thing she was willing to help me with was the budget (this being after she told me I was lucky she was even considering this, because normally if I was booking a wedding in 2010 the price would be subject two a 12% increase!). Anyway, she called back saying she would freeze the $120 per head cost for me, and give me until Sept 2009 to pay the balance…she also apologized, saying that negotiating is new for their business and she isn’t used to dealing with customers in that sort of a way.

All in all, I am still considering having my wedding there, because Brooke was so pleasant and nice, but I am EXTREMELY hesitant, since a lot of things need to be run by Laura. I think the company is used to dealing with a lot of larger corporations and people who may be a little more obnoxious (can I say that? I don’t want to offend anyone…) than I am…so my advice to anybody else looking there? If you have a budget, be CAREFUL!!! They will nickel and dime everything!! The costs can get out of control very very quickly!!

Hope this was helpful,
Jackie Q

FH and I met with Brooke a couple of weeks ago. The museum grounds were pretty, but when we visited they were littered with cars, people & exhibits for a craft fair. Brooke assured us it wouldn't be like that on our wedding day (as they set up for a very large party).

We weren't crazy about the tent with it's rusty ceiling fans & dated decor. We were also put off by Brooke. She seemed rushed, curt & had her back to us most of the time. She only spoke when we asked a question.

Afterwards, we sat in the museum's cafe (run by EA) and she showed us about 10 pictures of one wedding. We were quoted about $150 (way over budget). FH asked about a tasting & we were told we needed to book the site beforehand & put down a deposit of $2K. She assured us that 'everyone loves the food' but in the event we wanted to back out, we could get our deposit back minus a $100 'tasting fee'. What a CROCK. So I'm just supposed to take her word that all the cars, banners and people will be gone AND the food will be wonderful, at $150 a head?!(Museum's schedule takes precedence).

As she was leaving, she told us to have lunch on her. That was redeeming, we thought...until after waiting 30 minutes to get sandwiches. We realized the service AND the food stunk!

Sorry so long...just had to share

OH, and I just had to add...that $150 was BARE BONES, without any of the 'extras' they were trying to sell.