Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

rockandroll322 Posted: Dec 29, 2011 01:02 AM

Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

I really need your help. I live in LA, am getting married in NY (I'm from Long Island), and am awful with this stuff. I was home for xmas, saw the Chateau Briand - liked it a lot, but felt it was too salesy/cookie cutter. It really could just be I haven't dealt with true NYers in a while, but what were your thoughts on it?

Is it a good thing that they are super pros at it? I know there would be a second wedding during the day we want - would we really not run into each other?

I'm also considering the Sands, but I've heard terrible things. Has management changed recently? Our wedding would be in March of 2013.

Thanks for your help!

Bride2012 Posted: Dec 29, 2011 04:43 AM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Is it The Sands at Lido Beach? I saw it and I really liked it. But then I came home and looked at reviews and hesitant about booking here. Have you seen the place? It has nice lighting effect, is one wedding at a time. I was impressed with the place. It is pretty large. Nice bathroom. Wedding ceremony outside and can take pictures on the water which seem to come out really nice. The prices are good too.I don't know if this really helps?

micheleelyse Posted: Dec 29, 2011 01:40 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Which Sands? There's one in Lido Beach and one in Atlantic Beach. FH and I visited the one in Lido Beach ... it was the first place we went to. It was taken over by new management recently, and they redid a bunch of the interior, but the location and exterior aren't great. You have to enter from a parkway, but to do so you need to drive through a chain-link fence and pass a toll booth, like you're going to the beach. It seemed tacky. The outside of the building looks very outdated ... but they might redo this before March 2013. The inside is nice. They redid the cocktail hour room, and it's gorgeous. The outdoor area in the back is really nice too. But the bridal suite is TINY ... I feel like you'd be lucky to get 5 people in there! And we weren't thrilled with the reception room. There's a stage up front where the DJ or band would set up, and it just seemed a little tacky to me, having the DJ up on stage. But the price was really good ... they quoted us $85/person for a Saturday in October. But you get what you pay for ... HTH!

LBCJRS1125 Posted: Dec 30, 2011 06:24 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Do a search of the boards for threads on the sands at lido and you will see a lot of negative feedback...also check theknot.com...the guy ther over sells and under delivers....don't trust him with a once in a lifetime event!

Courtz Posted: Dec 30, 2011 06:48 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Posted by rockandroll322

I really need your help. I live in LA, am getting married in NY (I'm from Long Island), and am awful with this stuff. I was home for xmas, saw the Chateau Briand - liked it a lot, but felt it was too salesy/cookie cutter. It really could just be I haven't dealt with true NYers in a while, but what were your thoughts on it?

Is it a good thing that they are super pros at it? I know there would be a second wedding during the day we want - would we really not run into each other?

I'm also considering the Sands, but I've heard terrible things. Has management changed recently? Our wedding would be in March of 2013.

Thanks for your help!

I personally know the caterer at The Sands (Atlantic) I think Mgt did change at LIDO, I always thought Atlantic was a little nicer but I may be bias. LOL

Bride2Be78 Posted: Dec 30, 2011 07:59 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Chateau Briand is nice. The room looks great with uplighting and the food was awesome. My fave was cocktail hr. If you get married in the summer they have cocktail hr outside and it has a South Beach feel. HTH!!

lgreiner Posted: Dec 30, 2011 08:00 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

I love Chateau Briand. Once you get in there it doesn't look so 'cookie cutter.'

LeeKyle Posted: Dec 31, 2011 12:00 AM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Chateau Briand is very nice and food is very good. My sister got married here a few years ago. They planned on an outdoor wedding and 5 minutes before it started pouring outside. The staff was great with changing the ceremony over to indoors. If you are having a big wedding, the cocktail hour room has a lot of seating(one thing my sister loved about it). And if I remember correctly the dance floor was a decent size. HTH

S00n2beWifey Posted: Jan 01, 2012 01:32 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

FH had his Christmas party at Chateau Briand and it was really nice!!! GL!

kimmaymb20 Posted: Jan 01, 2012 01:47 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

Chateau briand is nitcookie cutter. They went above and beyond for my wedding. The staff is amazing andthe food was outstanding. All my guests raved and still rave about how amazing our wedding .,

Alicia213 Posted: Feb 01, 2012 05:07 PM

Re: Reviews/Comments/Thoughts on The Sands or Chateau Briand?

I was reading through the thread and wanted to post my 2-cents. I chose the Sands on Lido Beach for my wedding in September. Went a friends wedding there a couple months ago, and to tell you the truth, i was really impressed. Once I considered all the great things she told me about the planning leading up to the event, and coupled them with the great food and really clean and large rooms, i was hooked. i don't know about a guy who leads people on... the lady i dealt with was super nice and helpful. very professional and knowledgeable. (i even got to say hello to the chef who came out to see how i like the food!)

i'm really happy with my choice. hopefully you will be, too.