I am in love with CLM and I've known for a while that it would be our top choice. However we have to be very cost conscious for ours and our parents sake, we don't want to break the bank. On Wednesday we are going to a food tasting and I would like to book asap but I want to get what I want and I have to stay within budget.
I am inviting 200 guests on a Sunday afternoon in October. There are only 2 (or 3!) extras that I really want from them. FH and I are totally desert people and really want the chocolate fountain and ice cream bar and MAYBE cheesecake station. However, we can't afford to add $15 extra pp! I think thats crazy! Also, we are not big on cake (every time i go to a wedding I see people put it aside anyway!) and I have 3 close friends that have gone to school for baking and I was hoping to have them make a small and simple cake instead. I'm wondering do you think they will allow this? Will they work with me about the desert thing? Has anyone ever gotten something 'thrown in' from CLM?
Our second choice is The Riviera although I feel it is too small. But I've heard from a few people that they 'throw things in'? AND they're less per person (by $5) to begin with but they aren't my top choice :o(
How much do you think halls cost at the bottom line (after tax & grat.)? Help girls I'm sooo worried!! How do/did you negotiate? TIA!!!
AwaitingAugust
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
most halls will throw something in if you don't want to use their cake ... but i'm not sure what. you can always try ... negotiating never hurt anyone
to bring down your cost per person, maybe you could increase your minimum, or just ask them ... they might do it anyhow.
good luck
Rosalind_75
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
my sil just got married last week at the riviera.
she had about 135 guest and imo it was just right!!
anymore would have been to tight
chipperbride
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
We went to both CLM and Riviera before booking with Jericho Terrace. Nick at CLM offered us a 'free' chocolate fountain foundation for a Saturday night in October. I don't know if this was because it was a Saturday instead of a Sunday, but maybe you can mention to them at this was offered to other couples and see what they say...
As far as the Riviera goes I loved them, but I found it way too tight for for the175-200 people we're having, they were also more expensive than CLM for the same dates, but that price included very basic centerpeices for the tables.
chipperbride
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
Sorry I meant chocolate fountain...not chocolate fountain foundation
EmilyandPeter
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
You should ask for everything you want. The worst they can say is no. If they say no ask for it at a discounted price. If you pay in cash that may also help you get some things extra. Good Luck!
bluj786
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
i love the riviera, but 200 is a lot for there. i dont know how they say they hold 220. i had 160 and it was perfect anymore than that would have been to much.
dctead
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
Posted by bluj786
i love the riviera, but 200 is a lot for there. i dont know how they say they hold 220. i had 160 and it was perfect anymore than that would have been to much.
Ita... I think between 160 and 180 is enough for the Riviera...
BUT they are excellent to work with and yes.. their 'throw in's' (at least for me) was amazing!
CaseyCase
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
I will def ask for everything I want and see what they offer. Your right, no is all they can say and I can say no as well!
The riviera did a great job when I went to a wedding there with 80 ppl and thought anymore would be tight but you guys are saying you did 160 - 200 so maybe the BM didn't lie when she said she could make it fit more! Maybe because its dark and wood it just feels smaller?
I really want CLM but now I'm also worried that they wont let make my own center pieces and have a friend do the photography because of that proof of insurance thing? UGH i forgot all about that!
Chanwich
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
You should absolutely ask for them to throw it in!! You can even tell them that your other choice RH threw in the choc fountain and the ice cream bar and see what they say. In fact, the Riviera includes an ice cream bar and they threw in the chocolate fountain (among other things) for me, so you aren't lying
The worst that can happen when you ask is that they say no. But if you aren't going to have a cake with your package, you may have some additional wiggle room!
edit for spelling
Soon2bShea
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
IMHO, as a former CLM bride, I don't think they will work with you on the desert thing. I wanted to do a cookie buffet at the end (I would be supplying the cookies), and I was told No unless it was through their house bakery.
As far as them throwing things in, they kinda made it sound like they only throw things in if I didn't meet my minimum.
jackieee
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
Posted by KBurg
IMHO, as a former CLM bride, I don't think they will work with you on the desert thing. I wanted to do a cookie buffet at the end (I would be supplying the cookies), and I was told No unless it was through their house bakery.
As far as them throwing things in, they kinda made it sound like they only throw things in if I didn't meet my minimum.
Not true for me. They threw in a lot. Talk to nick. Choch fountain was thrown in right away.
CaseyCase
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
what else did riviera throw in? Every time I dcide CLM is it I find a million reasons why Riviera might be better!!!!!
jackieee
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
Posted by CaseyCase
what else did riviera throw in? Every time I dcide CLM is it I find a million reasons why Riviera might be better!!!!!
CLM will work with you. Remember it might be tight to fit 200 in Rivera. That's the only thing I would worry about. Otherwise, they are both beautiful places that do great jobs for weddings.
Swtdreamz6
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
I am having a smaller wedding, 100 people so I never went to CLM (even though I think it is BEAUTIFUL!) but I booked with Riviera and they worked with me! I was able to get a few dollars of the Per Person Price plus a free chocolate fountain, and an upgrade during cocktail hour. Plus it already includes a suday bar, pies, cakes, cookies pastries truffles and things like that at the end. They really were great! im going to see if I can get a little more out of them as time goes on...hehe
HurricaneGirl
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
Def negotiate for what you want!! Don't take the first offer, you can say you're very interested in book, but then ask 'is there anything you can do, we really want the chocolate fountain, etc etc.'
annabellagirl
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
is the RH willing to meet you 1/2 way and help out - maybe they can cut the cost of the extras???
CaseyCase
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
I'm not a sure what they are willing to offer. i am going to negotiate on Wednesday and see what I am offered. I'm just stuck in the predicament where i feel that my first choice rh will not be willing to give me everything i want at the price my second choice rh will which makes the decision hard but i have to do some negotiating and decide what is most important to me. thanks girls and i will keep you posted.
JennandAnthony
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
i had my wedding at the riviera and got the choc fountain, cordial bar, upgrades on my ch, and some other stuff i cant really think of right now!
LoveyDovey
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Re: RH so close to booking help!
first of all clm will totally work with you
the threw in a choc fountain on our first visit there
and we were haggling a lot on our first visit
we ended up not going with them but they gave us the impression they would be easy to work with
first of all go in there with your first goal being to knock down the price, almost all halls will go down on their price
and then after you get price knocked down, ask for choc fountain and dessert station
maybe you can get 2 thrown in, but apy for third
youd prob have better chance getting choc fountain and icecream thrown in over the cheesecake thing
haggle like crazy...be willing to get up and walk away if you have to- they will prob say ok ok we can do A B or C
and tell them that X place gave you all of the above for cheaper
