Does anyone have any ideas for a reception at an unusual location, and opinions on food at such a location...more or less expensive than a hall? I am trying to pull off this wedding as cheap as possible (but nice too!) I just dont have the money for 60$+ PP, and 100 people (possibly) I mean I want nice photos too and a good DJ. I could cust costs in other places too, but I really want to try to keep costs down all around. I was thinking gardens or state/county parks, museums or something like that. I watch that show on TLC 'for better and for worse' and they find these amazing locations with food included and I'm like...wow I need to do that!
oakslady
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Re: unusual reception locations.
suffolk county parks - town beach ( brookhaven has a nice picnic area at cedar beach) try calling an inn or b&b they usually have beautiful grounds and can accomodate small weddings how about a restaurant ? something small can probably be rented out for the day on a friday ... you could always do a tent in the backyard too i was to a wedding like that and it was lovely
darly
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Re: unusual reception locations.
My sister got married at (we call it) Mills Pond House right across from Flowerfields. It is a historic house in St. James that has an amazing lawn - it was then (4 yrs. ago) $1500. site fee and you contract all the stuff yourself. It was amazing. We had a tent and the caterer was great http://www.eleganteating.com/
It was a garden party and if I tell you how inexpensive it was, you would be shocked...
I think now you have to order toilets, but the ones they have now are great and you get attendants to maintain and hand out towels during the party... At some of the wineries that have $7500 site fees they have the same toilets...
I would have my wedding there but we already did that...
Brandalina
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Try the Queens County Farm Museum. The website is www.queensfarm.org. The site rental fee is low [$600 for 4 hours], but you do have to bring in your own caterer, tables, chairs, etc. If you shop around, you can find an inexpensive caterer. When we were looking we found Corinne's Catering--They were inexpensive [very willing to work within our low budget!] and they could also handle all the rentals. Their website is www.corinnescatering.com.
Good luck!!
BoogieDownBride
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Isn't there an aquarium in Suffolk that does weddings? That's pretty unusual.....
JimmysBride
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Re: unusual reception locations.
You know, alot of those shows take place in the south or midwest where a regular catering hall is $20pp anyway. I don't know if they've ever done one, but I'd love to see them pull off a $5000 wedding in NY with 100 guests. I don't really know, but I would think it would be more expensive to have a wedding in one of those unique types of locations on LI because of all the rentals you have to bring in (not just tables and chairs, but linens, silverware, dinnerware, outdoor bathrooms, etc) not to mention hiring a caterer.
A friend of mine did something similar this past August. She had her reception in a vacant cathedral in Manhattan. Yes, she ended up paying only $60pp but many, many things went wrong. There was no A/C for one, the caterer was not staffed enough to handle her 300 guests, and more.
Do careful research if you really want to do this and tally up all those extra costs. Before you know it, you could be paying a regular reception hall price anyway.
I would instead recommend that you choose an off-season month and a Friday night or Sat/Sun afternoon and have your wedding at a regular reception site. Alot of places give steep discounts (you can probably get less than $60pp) for those times and months. You might be surprised. And you'd get the same exact wedding that someone else is paying $100pp for in Sept! Good Luck!
JimmysBride
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Posted by BoogieDownBride
Isn't there an aquarium in Suffolk that does weddings? That's pretty unusual.....
Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead but they charge regular catering hall prices also.
djkatscan
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Yeah, they do charge regular prices. I went to an event there and it was real nice though. I hear you all on the rentals. FH wants a tent in FPIL's house, but with all the rentals it would be alot! I said to him do you want to have a BBQ and eat off plastic plates? He says 'yup' hmm maybe not such a bad idea...LOL. I may just have to rethink all this stuff. I want good music, and alchohol to keep everyone happy. I want nice pics. Flowers are not that important to me, what I want is so simple and prolly inexpensive. aybe I should rethink the whole formal sit down thing and go with something a little more informal. Argggg... this is so hard!
B2BMay04
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Are you open to Manasquan NJ? I had my e-party in a river boat on everyone loved it. I did a Sunday brunch. They are still talking about it and the party was a year ago September 2002.
They definitely have weddings. If you do a buffet it would keeps the cost down.
www.riverboattour.com
Or go to the PA boarder. My cousin had her wedding at the Stroudsmoor Inn. It was very nice and I know they paid nothing next to what we are paying. The wedding was very nice and it is an inn so your guests can stay there or at the Hampton Inn which is 5 minutes away and a great hotel for the price. Unfortuanately in NY to get a price of $60 PP is not likely.
Good Luck!
endlessluv429
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Re: unusual reception locations.
check out the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium thread from today. I just posted pics from a wedding I went to there. It was definetely unique!
jenny2penny
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Posted by endlessluv429
check out the Atlantis Marine World Aquarium thread from today. I just posted pics from a wedding I went to there. It was definetely unique!
It's unique, but costly.
If you are looking for unique, but ona budget and smaller guest list I would suggest investigating restaurants you might like. I had a hard time finding unusual park-like, water locations while staying on a budget. Many parks/beaches require you provide everything, including bathrooms, and many won't let you set up a tent or have alcohol, if they evern let you use their grounds.
edit: That is why I laugh at the show 'for better or worse' because you definetly need a professional coordinator to be able to pull of a $5,000 wedding in such great locations. (and most are in california where the weather is always perfect for outdoors)
djkatscan
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Well I may have found a place. I went to the association (for rentals of the hall where my Mom and I live) and its cheap, but they will not do private parties during the week! So then I wnet to the Steer Sellar, in ridge, to ask about catering. My dad had thrown a wedding party for my brother and had them cater it a while back. (they did the Vegas Brittney Ppears thing an got thier wedding rings at a pawn shop LOL but they are still married LMAO) They serve the food and clean up and everything. They can rent the Shoreham Country club on a customers behalf. I guess they have some sort of contract there or something. The rental is a set amount (2500$???) no matter how many people, and it cannot be in use by residents of the village for that day. But since it is so far in advance at this time it may be do-able. They have a BB-Q buffet at 11$pp!...yummy! my FH loves burgers and chicken so I know he will be cool w/ that! I would have to sit with the owner and go over the numbers first. From what I hear from him, the place is really nice, right on the water and one whole wall is all glass that overlooks the sound, and a gazebo and garden on the side too. He told me to go down there and check it out before I talked to him about the numbers. So I am doing that tommorow. I'm also making an appt w/ the Bridal Suite in Bayshore to look at dresses on Fri...yay! So everyone from what I hear Bridal Outlet in Bayshore is nice? I thought I read a thread about is and it was good. And has anyone heard anything or seen the Shoreham Country club?
nferrandi
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Have you considered having just a cocktail party? It would be something like an extended cocktail hour (maybe 3 hours). That would help keep costs down and you could probably afford to have it at a catering hall. Maybe you could do it somewhere on the beach and have a calypso band instead of a DJ. I'm having one for my cocktail hour because my place is on the water. I'm sure everyone would appreciate the fact that it's non-traditional.
june262004
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Re: unusual reception locations.
My neighbor had a tent in the backyard it was a great wedding!
djkatscan
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Well I really want food, and I have specific songs I need to be played so thats out too. But I do appresiate the ideas! I have to carry out the theme, so if a hall is out of the question, so be it.
2003OCT10
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Re: unusual reception locations.
YOU HAVE FM!!!!
2003OCT10
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Re: unusual reception locations.
DO NOT SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN WHAT YOU WANT!!!!
I DID MY WEDDING ON A 10K BUDGET AND PULLED IT OFF.. I honestly think that all the ladies that are spending over 20K on their wedding are NUTS! (JMHO) I actually did a poll.. I cant find it right now buit I will post the thread if I find it on budgets.. there is a lot of people that spent over 50K on their wedding!!
There is not one thing that I went without on my wedding day. I had everything I could have ever dreamed... and more! There is honestly nothing that I went without on our wedding day. I think it just depends how much research you are willing to do, or have the time to do.
Poll # 1 goes from 10-31K!!!!! Poll # 2 starts at 30-35K!!!!!
djkatscan
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Re: unusual reception locations.
Well I am the type to make lists and things and plan EVERYTHING! my FH and my family are going to Fla on Feb 12th, and I have stuff packed already, and a list of things that are still needed to pack and such. I guess I'm a control freek! After a week and a half of being engaged, I bought a wedding planning book with software included (wedding kit for dummies LOL) and a journal for notes and stuff, for when I'm out and about. I was hoping to do alot of the decorations myself. I'm kinda 'martha stewart' like that. My FH joked today, he wants to find out when she is in court next ,and run up to her and beg her to help us w/ the wedding. LMAO! He says he wants to have someone else plan the wedding. I was like...someone else? Who's planning it??...ME! LOL I think he just doesnt want to hear about MY planning it.
