The Riviara

Hey everyone!

I'm new here this is my first post.

I know there has been a ton of posts on here in the past about The Riviera but i haven't seen any recent posts. I was wondering if anyone is having their wedding there and what your experience has been like. My Fiance and I went to see the Riviera a few weeks ago and really loved it. I LOVE the cocktail hour on the pier. The wedding ceremony area is also really beautiful. We had hoped to find a barn... but no such luck... however their ballroom really has a barn kind of feel with the high ceilings! The one big thing that concerns me (and my FI thinks I'm super crazy about this) is the tapestries... with the lambs. What is up with those things!! just awful awful. Our theme were going for is southern country vintage. very stylemepretty/ oncewed. So clearly those tapestries just don't go with the theme. When we went there i asked the lady we met with if we could have them taken down but she seemed none too pleased with that idea so we are going to bring our wedding planner to look at the place to see what she thinks we can do to cover those things up. Anyone else have an issue with those things?

From what i hear people seem to really love the food. i do want to try to get them to fancy up the food a little more. i really love the new trendy Hors D'Oeuvres like sliders and grilled cheese with a shot glass of tomato soup. I'm hoping they would work with me on this. Has anyone tried to get them to do anything like that?

And my last thing is were looking to have 150. i do hear it gets a bit tight in there. do you think people will feel smooshed in there with 150? I know my friends and family and they will all dance so i want it to be a fun comfortable environment.

Thanks so much =)

Hi!

Great minds must think alike because I was searching up a storm for a barn type of reception myself! The only thing I found close to it was at Martha Clara Vineyards out on the north fork. They have an actual barn to rent, but it seems not very well taken care of and it would cost a fortune to have a wedding there because there is a rental site fee and then on top of that you would have to bring in your own caterer, chairs, tables, forks, you name it. So I found the Riviera too and even though I live over an hour away (I am from Miller Place in Suffolk), I fell in love with it too. The reception part of the place totally does have a rustic feel to it and I was happy to see not everything was white like most of the places that I had found and I loved the fireplaces and wooden accents. I am getting married there on October 14, 2011 and I hope that it will still be warm enough to use the outdoor cocktail area because that is an amazing feature to the property.

They have been super nice to me from the very beginning. My FH and I were unable to go for a private food tasting so my parents went for us and they were quite impressed with the food, except for the chicken. Everything else was to die for. I didn't ask for anything custom, but they seem like they would definitely customize the menu for you.

As far as the tapestry goes, I kind of like them because they bring in an 'Old World' feel to the place, same thing with the balcony and the throne chairs that the bride/groom can sit in. My theme though is similar to yours - rustic/country/autumn. I didn't ask about the tapestries to be honest. I suppose I could drape some autumn garland over them.

I am looking to have about 125 at my wedding, and I think anything past 150 would be pushing it. They say it can hold over 200 people but I think that would be insane. I think 150 would still be a comfortable number.

My question for you is, do you know of any good photography areas around the Riviera? We are getting married at Maria Regina in Seaford and are looking for a possible location other than the church and Riviera that might be nice for some photos.

I'm a Riviera girl too. Our BM told us that the room downstairs comfortably sits about 190 max, once its over a certain number they put the DJ up in the balcony area to make more room for tables. We are having about 150 or so and its perfect. We saw it set up for 160, and there were no tables hidden in the corner or anything like that.

I don't mind the tapestries either, I like that it gives it some old world charm but still fits in with the rustic nature of the place.

As for photo locations, Massapequa Preserve is right around the corner, and there is a park that I can't remember the name of near there as well (not Burns, that has a lot of sports fields and not so much picture areas). You should ask your photog, if they have worked in the area before they might have some suggestions!

And I don't know about the custom CH options, I personally love all of the ones that they offer so I didn't change anything HTH!

ETA there is a Riviera thread somewhere that I will try to find!

When we spoke to the Riviera.. my FH (who is in the restaurant business and very picky) asked about the food and making some changes and we were told that it was 'no problem at all!'..

She said they can work with us and do anything we needed... (though we're thinking of just doing simple changes, like no mint sauce with the lamb chops... things like that)..

Other wise the food was so good, there wouldn't be too much I'd change.

I'm a Riviera girl too! They were super nice when we met with them. I asked about putting extra fairy lights in the grills below the tapestries and things like that and they had no problem. I like the tapestries though because they remind me of my grandparents home (in England!)

We chose to guarantee 150, and I'm inviting about 200. Some people seem to have issues with the back corner but I don't mind it. We're going to set up our table on the dance floor with the parents either side so we get to look out at the guests and over the water rather than have our backs to it, and I think that should ameliorate the corner issues.

I really hope it's nice out but won't be too bummed if it's not. I wanted a place that had a great second option for if it rains and I feel like that's what I found.

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Posted by bethie853

I'm a Riviera girl too! They were super nice when we met with them. I asked about putting extra fairy lights in the grills below the tapestries and things like that and they had no problem. I like the tapestries though because they remind me of my grandparents home (in England!)

We chose to guarantee 150, and I'm inviting about 200. Some people seem to have issues with the back corner but I don't mind it. We're going to set up our table on the dance floor with the parents either side so we get to look out at the guests and over the water rather than have our backs to it, and I think that should ameliorate the corner issues.

I really hope it's nice out but won't be too bummed if it's not. I wanted a place that had a great second option for if it rains and I feel like that's what I found.

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Exactly what she said LOL i dont mind the tapestries - i kinds feel like they are a part of the place and bring it all together. I'm not sure about the food but i am sure they woulde willing to work with you. I'm happy w/ everything that is there so im not changing anything (regarding the CH food) but its always worth a shot to ask.

We are inviting about 200 people as well and hoping for like 175 - that corner is a thorn in my side but if people have to sit there, they have to sit there. I only want people sitting to eat anyway - other then that they should be up on the floor.

We will be at Riviera also for alot of the same reasons you all mentioned. Our DJ has worked there many times and suggested some pipe and drape along the walls with the tapestries with some uplighting to change the feel a little. We some photos with it done and the lighthing up the walls and onto the ceiling looks incredible.

We are inviting about 190 and are hoping in the 160 range. We too are going to put our table in the corner opposite the DJ facing the water and all the guests, it really opens up about 24 more seats where the B&G usually are.

We haven't had a tasting yet. We booked based on how great they were to us and just absolutely loving the whole space. We have heard only great things about the food, so we will just confirm it for ourselves as we get closer.

We have some fireworks technicians in the family so we are hoping to maybe do a show out on the peir there too. It would be a great setting for that at the end of the night.

I don't think we are really going to look to make too many changes to the menu or anything. Just might use some lighting to further enhance the great feel the room gives. Every other place we went to paled in comparison, for our tastes at least. It combines the coziness of the old style house with the greatness of an outdoor water front CH. Weather permitting, we are going to have a steel drummer and almost a summer dockside party feel for the CH.

oh yeah, and as far as pictures go, we have been looking for the same thing. We live close by in Lindenhurst and will be getting married in Copiague. There is a little park on the canal in Amityville on the south side of Merrick Road right at Ocean Avenue. It has beautiful gardens, a dockside, a pergola and some great looking benches.

You can google map it, except the photo is in the winter and it just looks like someone's back yard. We will be stopping there between the church and the recep.

Love everything about it! Went there 2x with FMIL and then brought FH with me and he fell in love as well. The food was awesome!!! We went during a Sunday wedding and ate in the office. Making notes on all the stuff we def. want for our wedding 4/8/11.

I do know they are pretty accommodating with just about anything so it doesn't hurt to ask. I think bringing your coordinator with ideas is the best way to go about it so it doesn't seem like your just walking around picking things you don't like. If you have your him/her with you, you're just setting the space to be exactly what you want on your day.

We're inviting 212 and hoping for 170 or less (fingers crossed). It will be pretty tight in there and I wasn't too happy with maybe having to seat people in the back corner, but if we do, it will be a table of friends and we're going to add an extra waiter to the table to give them a lil extra attention with drinks and stuff. Didn't think of moving our table to the dance floor. That seems like a good idea. Thanks!

Cocktail hour was another concern for us because the room only sits about 100 and I know I hate nothing more then walking around with a plate of food, a drink and my purse under my arm at a cocktail hour, so I'm praying for good weather so people can sit outside too. We have a back up plan though... we're getting a tent for the tables right outside the cocktail hour room so if it is raining, they can still go outside and eat.

YAY Riviera Brides!!!!!!!!