Watermill

Hi everyone! My fiancée and I got engaged on June 30, 2010 and we recently started looking at wedding venues. I want to get married at a venue with nice gardens, either on Long Island or in Westchester. I like the Swan Club, but it's out, b/c my really close cousin got married there last September, pllusss my fiancée married his first wife there. (I don't want or need any bad joo joo!) I really want to get married in June 2011.

We checked out the Westbury Manor last weekend, and I liked the grounds and the outdoor cocktail area, but I wasn't 100% sold on the rooms. Plus I don't like how so many weddings are going on at the same time.

Today we checked out the Watermill, Coindre Hall and the Woodlands. I loooveeeddd the Watermill. The grounds at Westbury Manor are much nicer, but I really love the rooms at the Watermill, esp. the Chapel room. (Oh, I should mention we're looking to have between 100 and 120 guests.) We met with Frank and he was super nice. I do wish it had more flowers, but I can live with it, esp. since the rooms are so nice. I do need to go back and try the food, though.

Coindre Hall . .. erm, let's just say it's not for me. Personally, I thought it was overpriced and could use a good cleaning and some renovating. But that's me.

The Woodlands was very nice, too, but I wasn't crazy (again) about the gardens and the fact that they have a restaurant and golfers outside that you can see during the cocktail hour.

We have appointments to check out the Bronx Botanical Gardens and Snug Harbor next weekend. Unfortunately, I don't think we're going to be able to swing a June wedding at the Bronx Botanical Gardens finance-wise. Snug Harbor is more doable monetarily, and would have the gardens I'm looking for, but I am afraid it will be hard for our guests to get to (mostly coming from Queens and the Bronx).

So I'm quite leaning towards the Watermill. Can people please tell me about their experiences there? Both as a guest and as a bride? Also, I am open to suggestions for venues with nice gardens, good food, and elegant decor a la Watermill. And I'd prefer a place that does only 1 or 2 weddings at a time. Oh, I should also say that my fiancée was unable to make the appointments today, so I have to go back with him to make sure he likes it, too! (Though I'm sure he'd love the Watermill.)

Thanks, ladies, in advance for your input. This is my first post as a bride. I joined this site last year when I was the MOH at my cousin's wedding and I'm so excited to be using this site as a bride now!

My brother got married at The Watermill in Dec 2008. It was a snowy day so we weren't outside at all. The inside was gorgeous. It was decorated for Christmas and it looked beautiful. In my searching it was highly recommended to me by many people but bc my brother got married there, I wanted something different.
I honestly don't remember the food but I remember the presentation in the cocktail hour was GREAT!
They had their ceremony there which was really nice. It was downstairs & it was alot nicer than I thought it would be at a reception hall.
I can't say a bad thing about the Watermill!
Good luck

Thanks for the words of encouragement, Kerri! Congratulations to you, too! I see you got engaged not long before I did I checked out your venue, too, and wow, it looks beautiful online. Do they have gardens there? All the best, Stephanie

Stephanie:
You're lucky to be getting married in 2011. I wish!! We had to put it off a bit to be sure we could afford everything. Congrats to you too! The North Ritz does have a garden....actually the whole back outside area is gorgeous! pond, waterfall, trees, gazebo. I'm just hoping for the good weather Thanks Stephanie & happy planning

I booked with the Watermill a couple of months ago. I'm working with Bob and he is absolutely great! Any questions or concerns I may have he works with me and was great working with the price when we booked. We are having about 250 guests so we have the Vanderbilt room. CROSSING FINGERS we will be getting married outside (May wedding).
They are constantly having bridal expos there so I would join their mailing list and they'll send you information about when they are. The food is absolutely fantastic and the service and presentation is AWESOME!!! :)

Me and the FH are actually going in two weeks for a food tasting there. FM me and I'll let you know how it goes!

Thanks, Lenee! Please do let me know what you think

I m getting married there next month. I m working with Bob, who has been great and very helpful.

I got engaged four months ago so I didn't have time to visit many venues. The Watermill was the first one that I saw and I just fell in love with it. I love their gardens, they are gorgeous. I also went to the Swan Club, Westbury Manor ( which I liked it but the rooms are too dark ) and the Fox Hollow, which is nice too but i want to get married outdoor and their outdoor area is very close to the highway.

Many of my guests have been there before and I haven't heard any bad review.

Good luck :)

Thanks, Beatriz! Did you try the food before you booked?

Someone suggested the Inn at New Hyde Park and I'd like to go check that out as well. Want to go one night during the week and then I can go back on Saturday to the Watermill with Greg so he can check it out and so we can taste the food.

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Posted by sruizaroo

Thanks, Beatriz! Did you try the food before you booked?

Someone suggested the Inn at New Hyde Park and I'd like to go check that out as well. Want to go one night during the week and then I can go back on Saturday to the Watermill with Greg so he can check it out and so we can taste the food.

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FH wanted the watermill too.. He LOVED it. It was his top favorite. Until we went to the INN!!!

That is a picture of the back of Woodbury Country Club.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aka_kath/1711688729/in/photostream/

Does the Watermill have Gardens? I've been to about a thousand weddings there and I know they have the outside cocktail hour space that is really pretty but I don't think they have a huge garden area. The only thing I can think of is off to the side where the watermill itself is near that bridge and then on the other side where they set up outdoor ceremonies.

I think the Inn at New Hyde Park is multiple parties....not multiple weddings...but they have more than one room.

Watermill is really nice. I have been to events there and the food was excellent.

Woodbury CC doesnt necessarily have 'gardens' but they have beautiful grounds. It is definitely worth checking out. Also...maybe Flowerfields? Not sure what their minimum is for June, but their grounds are amazing. And the cocktail room is like nothing youve ever seen. Definitely worth a look.

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Posted by JTG4EVER

Woodbury CC doesnt necessarily have 'gardens' but they have beautiful grounds. It is definitely worth checking out. Also...maybe Flowerfields? Not sure what their minimum is for June, but their grounds are amazing. And the cocktail room is like nothing youve ever seen. Definitely worth a look.

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Completely forgot about Flowerfields!! Gorgeous!!!

Vineyard Caterers has beautiful grounds but I'm not sure if it's too far out east for you. If it isn't giorgio's also has beautiful grounds or perhaps the Carltun.

I also looked at the Watermill and loved the rooms but couldn't handle more than one wedding at a time. I also heard some complaints that brides got kicked out of the bridal suite when the next wedding came in.

The Watermill, Fox Hollow and Westbury Manor were my top 3 choices (price pp varied within $10 difference).

The menu and taste of the food are very impt to my FH and I, so we chose Westbury Manor because they have an extensive cocktail hour and when we went to our taste testing their food was amazing! I still love all three RH's, we just like WM's food best.

Based on your post it seems that the ballroom is the most impt to you... my advice would be start with your favorite rooms and work from there.

Good Luck