I am new to this site, and there are a lot of great resources here. Can't wait to dig through them. I am trying to plan a wedding for next fall, and I am having SUCH a hard time finding somewhere to have the wedding. I don't care for the traditional Long Island Catering Hall - I have been to so many weddings like this, and I never feel that they are worth what the couple pays for them.
I think they feel impersonal, and the food is never great. I was wondering if someone knew of a venue (not further east than Riverhead, say), where we could rent out the space and bring our own catering. I don't want something ornate at all. I just want something pretty, laid back, and fairly elegant (kinda like me). I was thinking along the lines of a barn or something like that, but I have no idea!
I know finding a caterer will be challenging, but FH and I are very very into food, and I would actually think about having a wedding at a restaurant with amazing food if we didn't have a fairly large (175) guest list and we also really do want to have a big dance party.
Thanks!
Chanwich
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Well the Hallockville Museum Farm has a big barn that you can rent out, and its in Riverhead. There's also the Queens County Farm Museum that also rents out, I think thats near Floral Park? Not sure but they both have a website, if you google them you can find them! There's also Atlantis Marine World Aquarium out in Riverhead, I don't know if they let you bring in your own catering, but it certainly would be different!! Good luck!
Espo22
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
I think everybody does have very different styles, and its ok to want something different and non-traditional, do what you like best. But a little rude to say that what your friends paid for their weddings were not worth it at all lol, or the fact that alot of girls on here have also done the traditional type of place
but if you want more unique try the foundry, the metropolitan building in LIC, old field club will also be more what youre looking for
MEMEJOR
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
i didnt want traditional either... that is why i am doing my at tribeca rooftop... its like ahuge loft in nyc
Almostawife
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Try the Royalton. I did not want a catering hall. But dealing with outside caterers and all the other stuff to put a wedding together somewhere different was just too burdensome.
The Royalton is elegant, cozy, beautiful, and excellent location.
www.theroyaltonmansion.com
skinny237
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Posted by Espo22
I think everybody does have very different styles, and its ok to want something different and non-traditional, do what you like best. But a little rude to say that what your friends paid for their weddings were not worth it at all lol, or the fact that alot of girls on here have also done the traditional type of place.....
jme78
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
I am sorry I don't want to be rude at all!!
- and I have had a great time at traditional weddings - its just not worth it to me, I should have said- I don't have a huge budget and i do want to look into buying a house, so I can't spend $200/pp for a Saturday night affair, though I have gone to beautiful weddings where my friends have done just that.
Its a very personal decision! I am just looking to have something a little different. I would have a destination wedding if my mother wouldn't kill me.
pa56
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
How about the botanical gardens? Or a destination wedding in the caribbean?
Almostawife
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I think you will find when you want something 'different' it's going to cost a lot and that is why a lot of girls go with traditional catering halls. When you start looking into unusual places, that require outside catering, many require site fee anywhere from $1,000 - $5,000 just to allow you to use their facilities and then you have to bring in every piece of china, glass, lighting, alcohol, bartenders, catering, etc.
One place, I had to pay for every car to be valet, security fees, site fees, etc. It gets very costly this way.
MrsGRod09
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
How about in a hotel banquet room where you can bring your own catered food?
skinny237
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Posted by jme78
I am sorry I don't want to be rude at all!!
- and I have had a great time at traditional weddings - its just not worth it to me, I should have said- I don't have a huge budget and i do want to look into buying a house, so I can't spend $200/pp for a Saturday night affair, though I have gone to beautiful weddings where my friends have done just that.
Its a very personal decision! I am just looking to have something a little different. I would have a destination wedding if my mother wouldn't kill me.
Thanks for clarifying. Just be careful how you say things. Every1 has their own preferences----just try to express them in ways where it doesn't put down other people's preferences. You're new----you'll get used to things on here. Best of luck with your planning. There are lots of people who go with a reception hall because it can actually be less expensive than other 'more unique' places. U can always put your personal touch on things to make it more unique. I went to a wedding at Thatched Cottage over the summer----it was gorgeous and they have all kinds of great packages. Just something to consider.
MitziandAndrew
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
I have to say that we are getting married at the Queens County Farm Museum. One of the many reasons is because I thought it would be more economical but honestly it is coming out MORE expensive than doing it at a catering hall. Usually, anything CUSTOM is expensive. I am still doing it at the farm just because of my love of nature and animals. If not, I would join the catering hall wagon. Everyone has there own idea of a perfect wedding and we all need to respect that, whether it be right or wrong in your eyes.
-Blessings to all the brides to be, whether they are getting married in a farm, barn, basement church, temple, catering hall, mansion, backyard etc.!
jme78
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
I've only been engaged for a month and I am already stressing out about the wedding and the budget.
I want to keep everything under 35k. I am hoping this is possible. The reason I was hoping for something a little different is that I thought it would be cheaper. I went to 2 weddings in November, and one actually was fantastic, but it was at the Inn at New Hyde Park, and while the food was actually very delicious, I don't think its 'me'. And I am pretty sure at both weddings I was at, the cost was close to 200pp.
I guess I'll just have to hit the pavement and see what is out there.
The more that I look through threads, the more my head is spinning!
MitziandAndrew
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
What my FH and I did... we picked a day out of the week to only talk and do wedding things. Wedding & Wine Wednesdays. During the week I usually research and bring it to the table on wednesdays. I choose things we would both like, then we both make a final decision. In the end I am still happy because I chose all of them from the start. If he happens to complain that he doesnt like any of my choices. I say then he can search for the things himself, which they don't like to do. Ha!
nifheim
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
unique = $$$$ try bellport playhouse we were looking into it but after trying to figure out a caterer/linens/table/lights/chairs etc we knew it wasn't going to fit our budget. People mentioned the farms, college's have nice facilities.
KimiDanny1010
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Posted by nifheim
unique = $$$$ try bellport playhouse we were looking into it but after trying to figure out a caterer/linens/table/lights/chairs etc we knew it wasn't going to fit our budget. People mentioned the farms, college's have nice facilities.
I agree with you.. i was first looking into site fee rentals.. and after you add all the other things you need it comes out the same as any catering hall !!
NapaValleyGirl
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
You can try vineyards. Macari,Bedel, Raphael and The Old Field are a few places I can think of off the top of my head. There are tons of vineyards our there where you can work with outside caterers though it is alot of work and you have to bring in alot of outside vendors.
Hallockville Barn and Queens County Farm are two farm locations to look into.
You can look into renting a mansion. I know that there is Bailey's Arboretum on the North Shore in Nassau. There is also the Nassau County Museum of Art.
If you're into the city, you can look at penthouses to rent like Loft 11 and Manhattan Penthouse.
Camroy
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
Cost is going to play a big factor. There is a list on this website that has catering halls that you can search through. Also if you click here you'll find some others not on that list.
I didn't look at too many places but think that out of the ones that I saw the de Seversky Center and the Nassau County Museum of Art may be of interest to you. You could also try contacting a catering company and see what venues they recommend.
Also, take the threads with a grain of salt. They can make you feel overwhelmed sometimes but are a wonderful resource. Use them for ideas, feedback, reviews, and then formulate your own opinion and make your decisions. Best of luck to you!
M_J
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I was in the same mindset and when it came to cost felt pushed into the venues I have been to numerous times. I felt like I compromised with something different - The Metropolitan in Glen Cove. I think it also depends on where you live. We are in Suffolk and many of our friends.family were not too familar with The Met which made it unique for us. Happy Hunting!
dmb922
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Re: Non Traditional Reception Locations?
HI-
I was looking for the exact thing as you when I started. I saw some ppl recommended Rapheal's vineyards.. I called there when I was planning.... she gave me a site fee of something really really high. That did not include any food. I also looked at Deserverky's and it is def. unique and different. They too have a site fee, not near as much as the other one. (I think 1-2 thousand) and the prices are well over $100 pp. I looked into a few places that I could cater in food and after the fees for rental equiptment, plus food-- it didn't save me too much money and I had to do a lot of the planning on my own, which unfortunately I didn't have much time to do.
I ended up choosing an old mansion that only has one wedding at a time. I think that is different than a catering hall, but may not be what your looking for.
Good Luck-- you will find the perfect place for your wedding!!
