Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:18 PM

Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

need your opinions...I'm trying to decided between the two. Both are beautiful and elegant, both have good food (I'm assuming and going on reviews)

for the GCH I got the BM down to 174 pp (including the tax and tip) for a Jan 10 wedding in the Societe room. With the full menu, nothing taken off. Also he is giving us the pent house suite for the night of the wedding. (a friend of a friend has a hook up at the GCH)

as for for the Royalton, i got a quote for a December 09 wedding for 172 pp (including tax & tip) I haven't been to see the Royalton yet but my best friend is getting married there in March and she absolutely loves it...we have the same taste. I have an appt to see it on Sunday. Plus, i've seen the pics and read only good reviews.

My FH LOVES the Garden City Hotel and just wants to book it now and he doesn't want to go see the Royalton on sunday but I'm torn b/c I feel like I would be getting more 'stuff' at the Royalton (but I don't know yet b/c I haven't seen the menu yet) than the GCH but its the GCH (!!!) and I feel like the BM is really giving us a good price and we shouldn't pass it up.

edit-What we would be getting at GCH is 8 passed hor dourves (hot or cold mix), 1 or 2 pastas station- I can't remember, 2 meat carving stations, 2 hot chafing dishes....thats it for cocktail hour
dinner would be salad/app combo, choice of two entrees for dinner, dessert and the cake.
*I feel like thats not enough food, what do you think?

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

futuremrsfab Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:22 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

I havent been to the Royalton- but I love the GC hotel- plus since your best friend is getting married at the Royalton, it might be nice to do something different

KittyGags Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:25 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

GCH

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:27 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

She doesnt care, we are getting married a year apart. Plus, different friends and fam. Won't be the same pple attending.

Kristina2009 Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:34 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

i would go with the GCH

jayepyt Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:36 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

gch

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:41 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

[oops.

he gives me butterflies Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:49 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

they both have a different look. gch has murals on the walls, royalton doesnt. personally i like the royalton better, it seems more intimate and classier on the inside. drag your fh, it doesnt hurt to look.

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:52 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Posted by he gives me butterflies

they both have a different look. gch has murals on the walls, royalton doesnt. personally i like the royalton better, it seems more intimate and classier on the inside. drag your fh, it doesnt hurt to look.

are you getting married there?

msabla1 Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:52 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

I got married at the Royalton!!!! LOVED IT!!!

All of our guests said it was 'the best wedding ever' Full menu, full cocktail hour plus cake and dessert (we didn't do vieneese because I wanted to keep everyone dancing).

FM me and you can access my online wedding proofs if that helps

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:55 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Posted by msabla1

I got married at the Royalton!!!! LOVED IT!!!

All of our guests said it was 'the best wedding ever' Full menu, full cocktail hour plus cake and dessert (we didn't do vieneese because I wanted to keep everyone dancing).

FM me and you can access my online wedding proofs if that helps

what does a full cocktail hour consist of there? I'm trying to compare menus but I have no idea what the Royalton offers....

msabla1 Posted: Nov 25, 2008 04:59 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Whatever you want: we had fried calamari, pasta station, carving station, tuscan table, eggplant rollatini, veal marsala, 18 pass arounds. They will go over it face to face when you do the food tasting.

elysemichelle Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:00 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Have you checked out Carlyle on the Green? Im getting married there, and it is on the same level as those 2! you should def take a look there, do all your research before making your final decision.

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:06 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Posted by elysemichelle

Have you checked out Carlyle on the Green? Im getting married there, and it is on the same level as those 2! you should def take a look there, do all your research before making your final decision.

was it about the same price?

Soon_to_be_Stanek Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:06 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Posted by msabla1

Whatever you want: we had fried calamari, pasta station, carving station, tuscan table, eggplant rollatini, veal marsala, 18 pass arounds. They will go over it face to face when you do the food tasting.

and you didnt have to pay extra for all that???

KerriJohnS Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:09 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Hi!
You really should just go to the Royalton to see it. The menu is COMPLETELY customized. When i went they gave me sample menus... you can literally have anything you wanted. My contract is for 12 to 18 different passed or derves (Im not even going to try to spell that). and multiple stations.... along with customized drinks, an ice luge, and you have a choice of 3 or 4 entrees. Also, the viennese hour was included. That's all I can think of at the moment. I don't have the sample menus or my contract on me right now... but i will totally take a look at it and get back to you. The wedding cake is included in the price also.... and ive seen pics of their cakes... they are really nice and i hear the baker really works with you on it too. Another good thing... the tips were included ... so that's one less thing to worry about on the big day!
I found the Royalton to be very classy yet cozy even for a big wedding. I REALLY shopped around at different RH's and NOTHING compared to the royalton. You guys should go see it then decide.
I've never been to the GCH... so I don't know too much about it. It's on my hotel list though!
The only thing that you should be aware of is the royalton has you sign a contract that also states you use one of 2 florists... stefans or spitz and peck. Both are a little on the pricy side. I hear you can buy out of that option though and book your own florist. In a way though... it made my florist hunting very simple... and it was nice that they knew the royalton inside and out. They knew where every single table or surface area was... and what needed to go where.

elysemichelle Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:10 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

Yes the pricing is actually exactly just about the same! i was surprised myself when i went in there. They told me they cut their prices cuz they know people are struggling, but are still offering the same things which i was thrilled about!!!! Def call and make an apt!! I highly recommend Cynthia, shes my sales rep there :)

KerriJohnS Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:12 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

For me... the royalton didn't charge extra for the things most other RH's charge extra for.

There's magazines on RH's and it really lists all details, including pics, prices, sample menu, etc. That's what I used to figure out where to look.

msabla1 Posted: Nov 25, 2008 05:13 PM

Re: Royalton vs. Garden City Hotel

No nothing extra. That's what you find in a cocktail hour anyway. The only thing extra is sushi which I didn't want anyway. Everything is customized to your liking. Just tell them what you want.