Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Original post by LuckyMe

Oct 01, 2004 04:08 PM

Weddings in our families always leave someone to make comments and be judgemental(my future mother-in-law) We are still looking for the perfect hall without having to go into hock! Planning a May 2006 wedding. Please give us any suggestions you might have we already looked at a few and were not impressed at all for the money they were asking. Sans Souci--gorgeous view but very old in a run down way. Woodbury country club:turned off when we pulled in not very appealing, Swan Club: drove by and didn't care for the surroundings. As you can see Im real picky but willing to take suggestions. Went to wedding at Floral Terrace and although I didn't care for it being right on the street the wedding was unbelievable! Went to a wedding at Fox Hollow and although the outside was beautiful the room the reception was in was horrible, the food was horrible.

JLP Posted: Oct 01, 2004 11:22 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

I, too, was going to suggest The Riviera, but I'm slightly biased.

Your wedding should please you and FH. Tell your FMIL to take a hike. Someone is going to complain, as long as it isn't you or FH, who really cares?

Also, is this about out-doing someone or about getting married? I'm sure your heart is in the right place, but be careful of why you're choosing places or the way you're doing things. You might end up with a wedding that pleases everyone but yourself and that would be a real shame.

Good luck and welcome to the boards!!!!!

Bebalina Posted: Oct 01, 2004 11:36 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

During my search of halls, and I believe I visited 10 places, 3 being in New Rochelle, the rest in LI, but my top 2 faves were Crest Hollow CC, and North Ritz Club.

I suggest you check them both out.

Crest Hollow is more traditional, but still beautiful, I chose them mainly cuz they were more familiar with what I was going for...

North Ritz, I loved when I pulled up and loved everything about the place, wanted to book them, but had to see a few more places to be sure, but in the end, as great as they are, were willing to work on me with all the ideas I had in mind, decided to go for Crest Hollow, simply bc they've done what I was looking for b4....

But NRC is still spectacular.

Other places I checked out, were Woodbury CC,...thought it was really nice, but considering that one of my groomsmen is 6'9', ceilings were too low for his giantness...
same with Westbury Manor.

Villa Lombardi's was great too, but I decided it was too far for my guests, had to stick to Nassau.

For the life of me I can't think of other places I went to right now, maybe cuz it's 11:30 and I'm tired now

But I suggest you pick up a copy of Wedding Sites and Services and check info on halls...

or go to their website.

www.weddingsitesandservices.com

You're lucky you found this website while you're in search of ur hall...I discovered LIW after I booked my hall...

But I also suggest reading the brides review board to see what brides have said of their experience with vendors.

I wish you the best of luck in your search...and I agree with the girls here,
you gotta be careful how you respond to your opinion on halls here, remember maybe what you didn't like others did, hence why they booked...and just make sure you and your FH love the place. And agree with their service. As far as making your wedding better then the last, the hall is not the only factor in this...little details for the wedding make it different or better. You'll get lots of ideas from LIW....we love sharing ideas....we're a little family...we share with each other, just not with our cousins or friends getting married around the same time as us!

Best of luck to you!1

nov.bride Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:01 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

I don't know what you can spend but here's my 2 cents:

Oheka Castle- every person who gets married there has awesome pics (never been there personally,but place looks amazing.

Glen Island in New Rochelle- Wow- top
notch100%

The Waters Edge in Long Island City is BEAUTIFUL with a NYC view and great food - I know its pretty pricey though. Went to a christening there. Wow

Terrace on the Park- loved the cocktail hour room and the ballrooms are really nice. They put a lot of $$$$$ into that place.

I love the Floral Terrace but I am partial to it b/c thats where we booked. Fell in love with the ballroom- can accomadate large party very well as well as seating for all during cocktail hour.

A lot of couples here use the Westbury Manor. I haven;t been there yet.

The Marina Del Rey in Throggs Neck used to be amazing as well, haven't been to a wedding there in a few years.

allure Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:04 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Russo's

LuckyMe Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:08 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

My opinions are my opinions they aren't meant to put down anyone else's decisions. I am looking for others opinions in halls they either had parties in or went to see. If someone has been somewhere and the food was horrible I want to know. If the staff was rude I want to know. If the decor was tacky I want to know. As far as me out doing my last family wedding or it being my wedding, I explained in the beginning it's not really about out doing anyone, it's about minimalizing my future mother in laws complaints. The last wedding I went to was unreal and she still found something to tear apart. I wish all who are planning their weddings and who have booked the best experiences possible but as we all know it doesn't always turn out that way and I would just like to know what people think.

allure Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:10 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Like I said
Russo's On The Bay

LuckyMe Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:24 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

I grew up around Russos' and my brother is getting married there next year. I kinda want to have my own thing. That would be for me as if I was trying to redo his. It is beautiful though and the food is great. I actually went to a sweet 16 there when they first opened too, back when it was only one room. LOL

lilacwine Posted: Oct 02, 2004 12:27 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Thatched Cottage. One wedding at a time (with another non-wedding party), beautiful outdoor CH area.

I didn't choose it because their prices weren't competitive with 'true' one-wedding-at-a-time places. But, that's just me.

Nora101004 Posted: Oct 03, 2004 09:12 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Where was this unreal wedding?

At Chatau La Mer the bride and groom arrive on a boat. Its very cool. The food is great, as is the view and the offer the guests seconds if they want.

I don't know much about the Thatched Cottage except it has a very nice view and they are right next to the fire house so you might hear the alarms.

alexlynn7 Posted: Oct 03, 2004 09:47 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Posted by antoinette72

My opinions are my opinions they aren't meant to put down anyone else's decisions. I am looking for others opinions in halls they either had parties in or went to see. If someone has been somewhere and the food was horrible I want to know. If the staff was rude I want to know. If the decor was tacky I want to know. As far as me out doing my last family wedding or it being my wedding, I explained in the beginning it's not really about out doing anyone, it's about minimalizing my future mother in laws complaints. The last wedding I went to was unreal and she still found something to tear apart. I wish all who are planning their weddings and who have booked the best experiences possible but as we all know it doesn't always turn out that way and I would just like to know what people think.

about FMIL, i think your wedding planning (and your future life with her) will run much more smoothly if you just accept the fact that she is ALWAYS going to find something to complain about. this way you will always be prepared for it and, when it happens, you can let it roll off you. cause if she's a complainer, then even if you have the most perfect wedding EVER, she is still going to find SOMETHING. and i would hate to see that ruin your day (if she tells you right then) or your perception of your day (if she blasts the wedding after the fact)!

about the halls, i think we can all give you our opinions, but everyone has different experiences and sometimes at even the best places things can go wrong... for example, i went to a wedding at the carltun a few years back, and though it was beautiful, a bunch of us got food poisoning afterwards. my best friend went to a wedding at oheka recently and said that her whole table's food was ice cold. and these are top-notch places!!! but sometimes s**t happens and it's beyond your control...

just my 2 cents... sorry to babble

LuckyMe Posted: Oct 03, 2004 09:47 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

It was at the Floral Terrace. The food was great, the service could've been better though. The rooms were beautiful. You come in to a waiting room with a waterfall and champagne and strawberries being served, then you go to the second floor for the cocktail hour, the displays were fabulous and so was the food, then you go up to the third floor to the reception. All the extras like passing out sherbert in ice cream cones in between courses. Evereything was just amazing. I just didn't like it being right off the street.

Nora101004 Posted: Oct 03, 2004 10:32 AM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

That does sound a little hard to top on a budget. I would try Chatau La Mer and ask them if they could do some upgrades like the ones you mentioned. My sister got married there and the food was really great.

JacnRob729 Posted: Oct 03, 2004 02:24 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

what about lands end...its beautiful

angelbear217 Posted: Oct 03, 2004 02:35 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

I noticed East Wind hasn't been suggested. It is beautiful and not too expensive. We looked at North Ritz Club and although we thought it was a beautiful place and the food was awesome, we couldn't afford it for the number of people we have (about 200). But, check out East Wind. They pride themselves on good service and an elegant atmosphere. good luck with whatever you choose.

LuckyMe Posted: Oct 03, 2004 04:19 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Thank you for all the suggestions. I'll try both of them, and as long as your okay with the hall being right on a main street, The Floral Terrace from what I've seen in bridal magazines and my boyfriends cousin whose wedding it was I went to there it's more reasonable then most. I also had a friend who booked there but wound up canceling her wedding altogether but said the same.

aceangel Posted: Oct 03, 2004 05:00 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Flowerfields!

aceangel Posted: Oct 03, 2004 05:00 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

it was way out of my budget but it was gorgeous!

BlondeJD Posted: Oct 03, 2004 05:04 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

You might want to give Glen Island (which is my hall) a try. It's not in LI, it's in Westchester but only about 35 min from the Garden City area. It's very impressive when you arrive because you drive up a small winding road and the only thing at the end is Glen Island. Here's the website: Glen Island

AndreaLMT Posted: Oct 03, 2004 05:29 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Have you looked into Atlantica?
It's on the water, a unique setting...
I'm not sure what your budget is, it can be quite pricey in May, but here's the website if you want to take a look... Atlantica

MrsJ Posted: Oct 03, 2004 07:12 PM

Re: Need to out do last family wedding! Need a hall!

Just wondering...why do you have to 'out do' the last family wedding? Isn't the day about you and FH getting married? Not a contest to see who can throw a better party? Don't take it the wrong way...I'm just surprised at the post line.