Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 06:20 PM

Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Hello, I am fairly new to this website and i am going to see watermill caterers, but i am wondering should i go see Coral house and verdi's @ westbury or go see Crestwood Manor, I live in Queens ny and they are all far from me. Do you think a 50 minute drive from the church to the reception is too much!

Thanks

jwleewedding Posted: Mar 12, 2010 06:25 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

In all honesty, this decision is up to you. It's your wedding day so you need to decide what will make you happy. Pick a place because you love it, not because of distance or elegance, etc. I'm also from queens, and I'm having my wedding in long island, about 50 mins from where I live and even longer for some of my guests, but if my guests really want to attend my wedding, the distance won't matter.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you end up picking!

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 06:28 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Thank you for your help that is true and some of my guests will be traveling more than 50 minutes but do you inform them of the distance just so they can be aware!

jwleewedding Posted: Mar 12, 2010 06:45 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

yes. when you send our your save the dates, they usually place just the city of the location, ie, i'm having mine at bourne mansion and on my STD's, i wrote Oakdale, New York, so that they have a general idea.

on my actual invitation, i'm going to put the full address and probably include a directions card in it so no one gets lost.

if you are having your ceremony at a different place than your reception, then just make sure that you allot enough time for them to travel from one location to the next.

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 07:10 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it! I wish i had my reception place all figured out like you lol

KerriJohnS Posted: Mar 12, 2010 07:12 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

I'd try for all. First for me was beauty and elegance then second was distance. But I wouldn't want it to be too far either.

jwleewedding Posted: Mar 12, 2010 07:22 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Posted by Kassidy72

Thanks so much for your help. I really appreciate it! I wish i had my reception place all figured out like you lol

you're so welcome! and just think... 50 mins really isn't that long of a drive.. most of us spend more than 50 mins every morning just trying to commute to work!

AugustBridein09 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 07:26 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

I would go see as many reception halls as possible and book one based on whats best for you & your FH not the distance for your guests....people that want to be at your wedding will put in the effort.

oldladybride Posted: Mar 12, 2010 08:52 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

If you are thinking 50 mins is the time it will take to go from Queens to watermill - - I think it will be longer than that.

when you are considering the amount of time to get to the RH you should also consider what day and time you'll be driving since that could drastically impact the time - - Friday evening would be much longer due to rush hour traffic etc.

I think you should also think about your guests ages and if you have alot of older people coming (or wanting them to attend), a long drive, especially going home after partying ,might be a bit hard on them.

There are so many nice places that you should be able to find just what you want without a long haul on the highway.

FutureMrsG Posted: Mar 12, 2010 08:55 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

From Queens to the Watermill is more then 50 minutes on a Friday night. It would probably take about that on a Saturday or a Sunday. In the end it is up to you but it is a PITA to sit in traffic all dressed up and on LI you never know traffic is so unpredictable. Personally I would pick something closer but in the end it is YOUR day.

jwleewedding Posted: Mar 12, 2010 09:42 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

i say just plan accordingly in regards to the traffic, and like someone had mentioned earlier, if you do have some older guest, maybe just make sure that they are riding with someone who is younger and can take them home or try to make arrangements for them, possibly stay overnight at the RH (some usually have rooms) and then have brunch the next day and then head back when traffic is less hectic.

Melvin1297 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 10:23 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Watermill was our second choice but you should check out Westbury Manor. Its closer to Queens and has a homey old mansion type feel. FH used to work in the wedding business and the service and food is great. We are so excited to have our wedding there. Take a look! Good Luck

Tomlaur0808 Posted: Mar 12, 2010 11:19 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

I would def keep distance in the forefront of your mind. I had initially wanted to have our reception out east - but w/the church being in Nassau County - I knew we would lose so much travel time for pictures. I wouldnt look beyond your 50 min radius unless you can have at least a few hours between ceremony & reception to give you ample time to take pics as well as giving your guests time in case there's traffic....JMHO

Good Luck whatever you decide!!

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 05:33 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

thank you so very much for your help i actually made an appointment to see westbury manor tommorow.

allornil Posted: Mar 16, 2010 05:36 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

honestly, if your guests want to share your day, they'll go wherever you ask.

I agree though, the watermill could take forever to get to from queens.

And I also agree about westbury manor. It;s beautiful.

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 06:14 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

hmm i have another dilema on my hands now!!! my FH will only see 3 places with me for now or ever so ihave to pick my places carefully but i have to be conscience of price and distance. Please give me your input on the 3 you would pick keep in mind i live in queens.
Here we go
Douglaston Manor
Westbury Manor (going to see tomm)
Watermill Caterers
Verid's of Westbury
Crestwood Manor

I have not seen any of these places yet and many of them are far but online they are gorgeous or if anyone has any other ideas thanks its for a party of 75guest dont want to pay more than $75 per person for a sat afternoon reception . Thank you!!!

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 06:16 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Also does any one know of any nice bridal shops that specialize in long sleeve wedding dresses or can attache sleeves or have nice jacket attachment. thanks

pjc92980 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 06:34 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

Ive been to watermill & westbury manor and I def think westbury manor is an excellent choice! The price is reasonable (about $80pp) and the place is beautiful inside & out. Plus, I am from queens too and know the commute to Westbury Manor is much quicker then to the Watermill.
You may want to check into crest hollow, i found their pricing to be the best.
Ive heard great things about douglaston manor but didnt look into it because it could not accommodate my size wedding
hth

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 06:44 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

thank you, i think crest hollow priced me quite expensively but i will double check.

Kassidy72 Posted: Mar 16, 2010 06:48 PM

Re: Need help choosing a reception hall. Do i go for beauty and elegance or distance

crest hollow told me i needed at least 120 or 100 people. and i dont' have the means for all those people unless they quote me 60 per person which i doubt.