I went to two places in Long Island yesterday... Swan Club and Venetian Yacht Club.
I was dead set on booking with Beckwith but then I saw that at SC I could afford an evening wedding with only a minimum of 75 ppl. I dont think I have ever seen this. The price I was quoted was $98 pp for a Saturday night in September 2009 and this includes a vienesse table.
I really wanted a beach wedding but I cant afford an evening wedding and I cant meet the minimum. SC gives us the option but I wont have the beach theme.
My questions is...Has anyone negotiated a lower price with the RH...especially SC?
When we went to the tour I noticed there werent any chair coverings...I really think that chair covers make a difference and that adds at least $3 pp for the reception along then if you add another $3 for the ceremony (I will see if I can get double duty chair covers)...
But I wanted to hear some advice and if anyone is willing to share there cost info it would be really appreciated.
Thanks
cammolax23
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Re: Swan Club Question
I think all places are negotiable to an extent. Since you are booking so far out, they might not be so inclined to drop the price. It can never hurt to ask but dont be so set with them, They might be more inclined to throw things in as opposed to dropping the price.. But you should def go with what your heart thinks. Which place would you prefer. You should weigh out the options and see overall which place is going to be the best for your money. If spending another $5 or $6 pp is going to be a world of difference for you to get the place of your dreams then I say go for it!! you only do it once!!! Best of Luck
wundmoretime
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Re: Swan Club Question
If money and a small count are important to you, then you and I are in the same place. My wedding is in Sept of this year. We wanted an evening wedding and no-less, a Sat. night for a decent price. We are looking to have 75-100 people. After going to FH 2 brother's wedding last year-one a Sat and one a Sun evening, we saw the difference and definetely wanted a Sat. night. We checked 5-6 places before settling with our hall. They outbeat everyone. They advertise by word of mouth to keep prices down. They allow you to switch things in your package-options. We choose the chair covers over martinis. We are paying about $75 pp, 1/2 that for kids and vendors. We got a pretty big package-called the Dutchess which includes cocktail hour and reception. We also got him to through in the cake, vienese plate (put on each table) and the chocolate fountain! I have heard nothing but good things from people when I tell them where we are having the reception. FM for more info.
Brooklynbride
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Re: Swan Club Question
Were you able to do a food tasting at the Swan Club? Is food important to you? The reason I post these questions is because the Swan Club was the first place we visited, but when we tasted the food, it was a deal breaker for us. Everybody has a different taste in food and opinions. Some brides love the SC food and others weren't impressed. To each its own and it does not mean they are wrong. My advice will be ...besides price...food.
Just Cindy
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We havent done a food tasting. What was wrong with the food?
wundmoretime
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Re: Swan Club Question
I agree the food is important but can you sample b4hand? I knew someone who got married at my RH and loved it. So that helped in my decision as well as the price. I was never offerred to taste anything, just shown the menu offerings.
hyphenbride
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Re: Swan Club Question
I'm booked with the SC and we loved the food we tried at the tasting.
Just to let you know.
cmc
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Re: Swan Club Question
I was married at the swan club a little over a year ago. I loved the food and got many compliments from guests. They did a great job. Our reception was in the largest room. I think there are still a few pics in my bio.
Posted by cszlaien
I went to two places in Long Island yesterday... Swan Club and Venetian Yacht Club.
I was dead set on booking with Beckwith but then I saw that at SC I could afford an evening wedding with only a minimum of 75 ppl. I dont think I have ever seen this. The price I was quoted was $98 pp for a Saturday night in September 2009 and this includes a vienesse table.
I really wanted a beach wedding but I cant afford an evening wedding and I cant meet the minimum. SC gives us the option but I wont have the beach theme.
My questions is...Has anyone negotiated a lower price with the RH...especially SC?
When we went to the tour I noticed there werent any chair coverings...I really think that chair covers make a difference and that adds at least $3 pp for the reception along then if you add another $3 for the ceremony (I will see if I can get double duty chair covers)...
But I wanted to hear some advice and if anyone is willing to share there cost info it would be really appreciated.
Thanks
disneefan
Posted:
Member since
Re: Swan Club Question
My fiance and I were originally going to book at the Swan Club. We went and spoke with a banquet manager (Jordana) and I was disappointed with what they were offering. When we tried to negotiate with her she would not budge. She did not have the best people skills and we were very turned off. Everything I asked for, (like another dish or two at the cocktail hour,) she said no to.
The room where you have the ceremony in is the same room you have the cocktail hour so the chaffing pans are already set up with a tablecloth over them as you are walking down the aisle. I asked her if we could put a screen or something to block it and she said no.
They don't offer food tastings per say. You have to go during lunch hours during the week only. You and your fiance can eat for free but everyone else you bring has to pay and the food they offer during the lunch hour is not the same that is offered during an affair.
Anyway, needlesstosay, we were not happy with them and took our business elsewhere.
hyphenbride
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Re: Swan Club Question
Posted by disneefan
My fiance and I were originally going to book at the Swan Club. We went and spoke with a banquet manager (Jordana) and I was disappointed with what they were offering. When we tried to negotiate with her she would not budge. She did not have the best people skills and we were very turned off. Everything I asked for, (like another dish or two at the cocktail hour,) she said no to.
The room where you have the ceremony in is the same room you have the cocktail hour so the chaffing pans are already set up with a tablecloth over them as you are walking down the aisle. I asked her if we could put a screen or something to block it and she said no.
They don't offer food tastings per say. You have to go during lunch hours during the week only. You and your fiance can eat for free but everyone else you bring has to pay and the food they offer during the lunch hour is not the same that is offered during an affair.
Anyway, needlesstosay, we were not happy with them and took our business elsewhere.
I had a completely different experience from you! I loved Jordana and thought that she was 100% wonderful. She really wanted to work with me to get a menu I would be happy with because I don't eat meat and really worked with us. I don't think everything was negotiable, and that's fine.
The room where the ceremony is is NOT the same as where the CH room would be (this may vary with what room/time/etc that you're looking at, but I know that they recently built another room for CHs). The ceremony room is GORGEOUS--it's a separate building that has windows all around. It gives you the feel of the outdoors without the mosquitoes or the cold! The CH would be outdoors in nice weather and in a nice bar/lounge if it was too cold (this obviously varies with the size of your party).
The lunch as a food tasting is true. They make you a great lunch for free. I went with my mom and they made me a special vegeterian option and my mom got something that was on the menu. Basically the menu is very similar to the dinner menu. I'd be surprised if they wouldn't cook you one of the entrees that you were thinking of, though. They also said FH and his father could come at a later date (we are planning from a distance, so we went separately to check out RHs).
Just a very different experience.
ilovedave1119
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Re: Swan Club Question
I have also had nothing but a great experienct with the SC. I have yet to go for a food tasting, but I have been to other events at the SC and I have never been disappointed with the food. I know that the room I am having my reception in is different from the CH, but I do not know if that differs depending on the room you book.
You can definitely talk to them about concerns that you have with the package and ask about things you may want and if it's possible to include or work with you on how much extra $$ it would cost.
Also, have you searched reviews? there are a few in the Brides Review section...
HTH!
hyphenbride
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Re: Swan Club Question
You have FM
SusanAdam
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Re: Swan Club Question
I just had my wedding there two months ago. I had nothing but great experiences with the SC from the planning process through my wedding day. My wedding was amazing. I got nothing but rave reviews from my guests about the service and especially the food. I kept hearing from people that it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding.
My ceremony was in the same room as the cocktail hour because I was in the Garden Room. If you are in one of the other two rooms your cocktail hour room is in another place. Although I didn't like the way this sounded, the switch over was so fast that no one really noticed anything and you don't see any of it in my photos or video.
I'm currently working on my review, but if anyone has any questions FM me.
amytee
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Re: Swan Club Question
I had my wedding a the SC 3 months ago and had an excellent experience. the food was great, service great, location great! See my REVIEW for pictures & more details.
~edited for spelling
firefox101
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Re: Swan Club Question
When I went to the Swan Club I loved the gardens but I didn't like the fact that the ceremony room turned in to the cocktail hour and they had the food on stand by. I liked the camelot room but there is 165 person minimum that I couldn't meet.
KarinAmanda
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Re: Swan Club Question
check out the swan club thread on the 08 board, ive bumped it for you - might have some more advice, answers etc. good luck!!!
ilovedave1119
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bump...
FuTuRe MrS MaZz
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Re: Swan Club Question
I thought Jordana was great! She answered any questions I had before I was able to ask any! She def had great people skills... Sometimes the way people come off to another is b/c the way someone else is coming off towards them.... You never know... I believe their price is really amazing for everything you get and am very happy with them so far!....
BTW, my ceremony is actually OUTDOORS on the 'patio', my CH room is the one connected to the Camelot room, and recpetion is Camelot room...
FuTuRe MrS MaZz
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Re: Swan Club Question
Posted by firefox101
When I went to the Swan Club I loved the gardens but I didn't like the fact that the ceremony room turned in to the cocktail hour and they had the food on stand by. I liked the camelot room but there is 165 person minimum that I couldn't meet.
i didnt care for that either... they were tryin to convince us to go with the garden room, but FH was insistent on going 'big dog' and gettin camelot.... we got them to drop to 150 for that room actually... not that big of a diff but anything helps!
Ann 52409
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Re: Swan Club Question
I didn't negotiate a higher price but, I did choose a holiday weekend to get a better price. We went to the food tasting and we thought the food was great. Come to the showcase this Thursday so you can see everything for yourself
