Reception Hall Help =)

klosack Posted: Jan 05, 2011 11:51 AM

Reception Hall Help =)

Hi everyone-- congratulations to you all!

I needed some opinions and info on the following halls. Any advice would be so appreciated!

1. Fox Hollow- We visited this one and I really liked it for our winter wedding. The only concern is the small dance floor in the Winter Garden Room. What really drew me to this place was the hotel right next door, which we will def. be using for guests who live out of town.

2. Stewart Manor CC- Just viewed online and it had the same cozy feel as Fox Hollow, but I wasn't blown away by the menu. Also, are there any hotels nearby.

3. The Riviera- the one room on the website looks so great! I wasn't sure bout the hotel situation, or the price.

Thanks again!

HSsweethearts Posted: Jan 05, 2011 12:10 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I've only been to a wedding at FH out of the 3, but I did consider SMCC for our wedding and I looked at Riviera.

So at FH it's absolutely beautiful especially in the winter. The Winter garden dance floor isn't that snmall consdiering the size of the room BUT what I found annoying is the shape of the room. I was all the way in the back, so i had to walk the entire length of the room to get to the bar/dance floor. The CH was good and FH's food was good, but my salmon was overcooked to the point of being completely inedible and was cold. I guess that happens when you're cooking for so many people though. The room was absolutely stunning and cozy though.

Riviera is very nice and also cozy and beautiful for winter and prices are very reasonable. Our major minus was the indoor CH room. It's very small, has long tables and to us looked like a cafeteria. You also have to walk through the ballroom to get to it, so there's no element of surprise. It's a beautiful place though. For us, it was just too small for our party.
ETA: Hotels - for SMCC you can use whatever hotels they use for Sandcastle. The GC hotel is closest I think, but anything in GC would be fine and there are a few.

I don't know about Riviera

Chanwich Posted: Jan 05, 2011 01:09 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I am getting married at the Riviera, so I am totally biased :) It is gorgeous there, we are planning on getting married outside. I agree that the indoor CH room could get cramped depending on how many people you have, but for our guest list it was perfect! They say it fits up to 200, but for us our 140 guestlist will allow for a lot more room. Their ballroom is beautiful and has a rustic feel to it which is exactly what we wanted. The food there is amazing, and every one of the BM's that we've worked with there has been awesome. They threw in lots of stuff for us for free too! I love it there!!!

FM me if you have any other questions about it!
We also looked at Stewart Manor, but were turned off that during the summer the pools are open and people are just walking around outside in their bathing suits. But it really is a nice place and the BM that we talked to was really nice!

ETA: For hotels, we booked one in garden city and are busing people to the Riviera (its about 15 min) but I hear that they redid the best western in massapequa and that its a lot better than it used to be!

FutureMrsDe Posted: Jan 05, 2011 01:12 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I think if you are picking out of those 3 i would choose the riviera.
The fox hollow is beautiful but my sister got married in that room and it is a little tight on the dance floor. What about the new room they are opening?

the ballroom for stuart manor is beautiful but there is a very small cocktail space that really does not seem to accommodate that many people. if you are having a wedding on the small side it is worth looking at though. there is a beautiful fire place in the room and there is alot of wood.

rosatemp Posted: Jan 05, 2011 01:22 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I am getting married at the FH and im very excited..we have the garden terrace room its the biggest room..the benefit is the hotel that we get to stay there that night as well

klosack Posted: Jan 05, 2011 09:47 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

Thanks so much- good luck and congratulations!

klosack Posted: Jan 05, 2011 09:48 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

We have a smaller guest list, around 120s, so mabe the CH won't be too bad.

Thanks for the help! Does the hotel you booked provide a shuttle or did you book a bus yourself?

chliekm Posted: Jan 05, 2011 10:01 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I think I liked Fox Hollow the best if you like the dance floor in the middle and the grounds are beautiful. I went to see the Riviera and the room is not a square/rectangle so I'm not sure what it would be like for the guests who are stuck in the back tables. It could be weird for dancing as well depending on how you set it up. I didn't see the other one, but Fox Hollow was one of my final choices.

good luck!

rendel Posted: Jan 05, 2011 10:11 PM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

the chateau has a hotel next to it also, all the other rhs have hotels that are like 5-10 min way

chliekm Posted: Jan 06, 2011 06:43 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

We loved Foxhollow. We are expecting over 200 guests and would need the Garden Room. The major problem for us - there is not bathroom on that floor. My Grandmother is wheelchair bound and would not be able to do the steps. Their answer was to keep her coat nearby - take her outside - get int he elevator and then she would be able to use the bathroom. This is unacceptable. Otherwise it is a beautiful venue.

fdnybride163 Posted: Jan 06, 2011 07:48 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

i will FM you about Fox hollow

the other places are nice, but I have never been to a wedding.

My friends got married at Rivera about 6 yrs ago and it was very nice

Chanwich Posted: Jan 06, 2011 09:19 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

Posted by klosack

We have a smaller guest list, around 120s, so mabe the CH won't be too bad.

Thanks for the help! Does the hotel you booked provide a shuttle or did you book a bus yourself?

The one we went with (hampton inn) doesn't provide a shuttle, so we provided one. But I know the La Quinta right down the road does provide a shuttle if you fill a certain number of rooms there. HTH!

Bree71584 Posted: Jan 06, 2011 09:36 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

we we're torn between the Fox Hollow Winter Garden Pavillion and The Riveria - what really made are decision clear was doing a tasting at both The Riveria's food was just not very good while the Fox Hollow on the other hand is also a restaurant known for their food and it shows the food was incredible plus when i broke down what each place was offering for really very similar prices you get a much better quality at FH in my opinion better cuts of steak more gourmet than Riveria, even though Riveria is breathtakingly beautiful

FutureMrsGTL Posted: Jan 06, 2011 10:04 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I went to Riviera.. its VERY nice there.. the room is beautiful and has a really different look.. and great prices!

Ive never been to SMCC

I'm not a fan of Fox Hollow at all..FM me if you want more info

HTH

TapTapGal Posted: Jan 06, 2011 11:02 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I'm a Stewart Manor Country Club bride & I love the venue. I love the look and feel of the place - it feels more like a home than a reception hall. I also like that we are allowed to personalize the space to make it even more intimate and meaningful. I also love that the colors and materials - wood beams, etc - work so well for fall/winter weddings. James and June are a treasure and so wonderful to work with, and are exceedingly patient with all my calls and questions HTH! Feel free to FM me if you have any other questions

WeezyGirl2354 Posted: Jan 06, 2011 11:32 AM

Re: Reception Hall Help =)

I'm a Riviera bride so I am bias - we are using the Courtyard Marriott in Farmingdale for our hotel block. They run a shuttle to and from the Riviera when you have 10 or more rooms booked in your block.

It's about 10 minutes away from the Riviera and has TONS of stuff around for your OOT guests.

My experience with them has been amazing - the date we were so set on was already booked the day we went but we switched b/c we couldnt see our wedding at any other place.

I can't say anything about the other place though, im sorry.