Posted by GoingNutty
I have never been to Russos, but have been to both Fox Hollow and Jericho Terrace... I would definetly chose Fox Hollow over Jericho-- it is more elegant, the food is more elaborate and the service is much better. That's just the experiences that I had while I was there!
We went to Fox Hollow and there were weddings so we saw the video presentation. We both liked the valet parking and tipped the guys. They had on cute blue vests.
FI liked Fox Hollow much better than me. I liked Milleridge Cottage. We were pushed toward the Garden Terrace for a 160 minimum. We looked around a little and I was turned off since we were shown a wedding in progress. Neither of us was dressed properly so I would not go in and FI had on sweats so he stayed away too. Also, the BM was pushy - FI thought cocky since he knows the room is really nice for the price. He also turned me off by showing us a contract for 10/05 at $120 pp to prove that Feb was half price I guess - as if I thought he was lying? I would be pissed if he showed a stranger my contract!
The place does not have the same appeal for February as summer though and the price we can work with it for Jan - Feb 2006.
BM was very pushy and tried to get us to book that second. One date open is my dad's birthday which I happened to say out loud to FI and the BM tried to make us book it. He then stepped out to let us talk and tried to get us to book again, which was part of the reason I guess he showed me some other bride's contract for $120 pp for 10/05. He kept saying I am giving you $51 pp and you don't want to book. That cocky attitude annoyed me. FI thought it was okay since the BM was offering a nice 'product' and could afford to be a little cocky. But still, trying to rush us into a date in January as if it could be booked at any second was just irritating.
We got a price of $51 pp. FI really liked the video and said he wanted Fox Hollow over Milleridge Cottage. His family business is property management so he thought that Milleridge was not modern enough. I loved Milleridge so I hated Fox Hollow. I kept telling FI that he could not like the place since he only saw it in a video. He had not even seen it and it could be just good editing. LOL Plus, I had attended a ceremony/reception there and did not care for the Briar Fox room which would be used for our cocktail hour.
We next went to Swan Club and neither of us liked it. We ended up calling Fox Hollow to ask to see the Garden Terrace room the next morning before any wedding. We were invited back that night instead and ended up waiting (and drinking) in the restaurant until they were set up for the next wedding. About 6:45 or so we were taken to the Garden Terrace while the party that was being set up was ?. I have no idea where they were but they were not in the room. The prior bride was leaving the bridal suite (beautiful purple callas I might add) and I was allowed to check out the Garden Terrace bridal suite. It is really nice. The room was beautiful too. I had to admit that it was much nicer than Milleridge Cottage. There is even a fire place in the Garden Terrace bridal suite. It can fit maybe 15 people? I hope the bride from the day wedding was not upset that we peeked in. If so, sorry about that. I was told it was empty.
We then went down to Briar Fox (where I had been for a prior wedding in 2002). I like the way Fox Hollow is set up so the brides do not ever see each other. I had not even realized until that day that there was another part of Fox Hollow. I never bothered to check it out when I was at the last wedding. That is important to FI. I thought he would like Milleridge for that reason but he was put off by the decor. During the Milleridge tour Debra said something about it being 16th century and he said but it's the 21st century. LOL
Fox Hollow is in the top 2 but I am concerned about the centerpieces. I saw some beautiful high ones for the party we viewed but they only offer $10 credit per table if the house florist is used. What am I supposed to do with $160 for flowers for 160 guests?
We visited Floral Terrace. They have a nice ceremony room and a fabulous ballroom!!! It is very different and the dance floor is elevated. And FI's big issue was solved - Floral Terrace is a one wedding at a time place. I was concerned that it's on a main road and right at the highway. There was no wedding today so no valets were outside. However, they have valet parking (underground) and the price was $60pp ++ on 2/19/2006 in the afternoon with a 125 guarantee. Marilyn was really nice. They also do not have tastings - owned by same people as Sandcastle. The bridal suite is HUGE and very nice. There is even a groom's suite which FI liked. They too have a 75% cancellation fee.
We next went to Jericho Terrace at 249 Jericho Turnpike since I thought it was down the block from Floral Terrace - 250 Jericho Turnpike. It is actually a few miles away.
We pulled up and both loved it immediatley. It is 'gated' by some stone work. Once we went inside we were more impressed. The place is gorgeous. The service was excellent too. We met with Mike and he gave us a tour and we had lunch in his office. John, the waiter for lunch, was also very nice. FI took note that John waited until I finished talking about whatever it was to FI and then John asked if I needed anything before he walked away. FI said most waiters drop the food and run off. LOL (I never did that when I was a waitress but it was not at a catering hall).
We thought the service was really great. We were in Mike's office viewing photo albums and eating and people knocked (and waited for an answer) before coming in. Even the waiter who was serving us in the office did that. Not that we were doing anything all that private but I liked that little touch.
For the smaller room we would need to guarantee 125 but once I saw the larger ballroom in pictures -- I wanted it. That will be a guarantee of 150. There are 4 fireplaces, an indoor fish pond, nice gardens and plenty of places for pictures. Plus, if it is not too cold or raining, we would take pics outside.
The price we got is $55 pp ++ including a grilled shrimp station at the cocktail hour and whatever else we can create. We get to totally create the entire menu or pick items from the menu that Mike showed us. We also get 2 bridal attendants, valet parking, a 4 tier cake, cocktail centerpieces and some other things I can't recall right now.
Jericho Terrace has a showcase on Wednesday and we plan to go. I want to see the ballroom and bridal suite that we want in person since Mike could not show it to us today - there was a wedding going on.
We even toured the kitchen and met the staff at Jericho. It was very clean. I saw the tomato sauce being made for that night's party as well as filet mignon uncut and some of the fruit carvings. I also went into one of the refrigerator's and saw fresh mozzarella - made on site. It was really good too. I had the pasta, creme brulee, super fresh raspberries and some other cocktail items for lunch. I took photos too. Although it's 2 weddings at once, it was so separated and the timing is staggered so we would not run into the other bride. We would pick 11:30 - 5 or 12:30 - 6.
There is also a waiting are for guests who arrive early which I liked. The guests at Fox Hollow (still a contender) waited upstairs in the restaurant - same place we waited to take the tour.
Mike Closs is great. FI really liked him alot. The funny thing is when we did not find Jericho Terrace a few blocks from Floral Terrace, we started to just skip it. I'm so glad we didn't. I really disliked the BM at Fox Hollow. He was pushy and borderline rude.
We then went off to Chateau Briand. We liked it but Jericho Terrace won us over with the windows and skylights. Chateau Briand also had a lot of parties going on at once. There were two weddings across the hall from each other and we were able to peek into BOTH of them. That is the second time I was allowed to go into someone else's wedding and I would be pissed if a stranger was allowed to peek into my wedding. We were also given a video to take home. Oh yeah, we saw the kitchen through the windowed area by all of the plaques/awards.
It's cool that the bride and groom enter the ballroom through the floor. I thought that was at Floral Terrace or Russo's.
I was being a bit finicky after Jericho Terrace and got annoyed that I was not offered a drink for nearly 20 minutes while we waited for the BM to finish with a prior tour at Chateau Briand. I was offered a drink seconds after I complained to FI about the service not being as good as Jericho. We took the tour and thought it was a little too dark. They are renovating (carpets and bathrooms) and will be done of 9/15/04. But the renovations will not brighten up the place. Windows are important to me since I want an afternoon wedding.
I think we are picking Jericho Terrace but that decision will made later this week. FI liked the Garden Terrace at Fox Hollow and today he said he really like Jericho Terrace. More than one wedding was his BIG issue but he said he did not care that Jericho had 2 weddings at a time since it was such an elegant place. Oh yeah, for Jericho Terrace brides, Mike said he is putting in a gazebo where the valet booth currently stands. It will be done after high season ends and will take up about 4 parking spaces that are now beside the valet booth. FI also liked the payment schedule at Jericho - $500 deposit and then a minimum of $500 a month (if we have that many months to go) until 50% is paid with the balance due 10 days before the wedding date. Floral Terrace payment plans is $500 deposit, $1500, $1500, $2500, $2500 in lump sums.
