Lake Geneva Brides - Riveria Ballroom or Horticulture Hall - reviews please

akrysl22

Hi everyone - we are looking into renting the Riveria Ballroom in Lake Geneva for a fall wedding, 2012.  I'd like to get some insight from brides who had their reception there or are planning to do so.  We're on a tight budget (10K or less), and I know you have to do a lot of work to it - so curious what you did, what your ideas are, what you absolutely needed for the venue and what you could have gone without.  Also - did you do your ceremony at the site as well?

Or, is it better to go with Horticulture Hall?

Thanks everyone for your ideas/thoughts!

jberg134

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_wisconsin_lake-geneva-brides-riveria-ballroom-horticulture-hall-reviews-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:118Discussion:3a4c8257-6a9e-404d-b92b-29b38b205c38Post:460001ee-8c71-49aa-8ddb-4c59f633fd42">Re: Lake Geneva Brides - Riveria Ballroom or Horticulture Hall - reviews please</a>:
[QUOTE]We wife and I had our wedding there and we did it for well under $10k. We didn't do much to the room other than having our DJ use LED lighting. This made the room look amazing and didn't even need decor....the lighting did it. They matched our wedding colors....so pleased with this. Check them out <a href="http://www.SmoovMusicDJ.com" rel='nofollow'>www.SmoovMusicDJ.com</a> . Good luck! :-)
Posted by johnolson1234[/QUOTE]

You have got to be related to the aforementioned dj...just an fyi-vendors are not allowed on the boards.

jackiejung

 I am finally wrapping up my final details and put a lot of time and energy into researching my vendors, so heres my opinions:

Venue
Riveria-Lake Geneva
Beautiful facility, even prettier at night looking out over the lake. When we visited it the only turn off was that we could not decorate until the DAY OF the wedding, we had to bring in our own bartender/caterer/rental people and there was almost NO parking. The only other thing that detered us was that we were responcible for the clean up.

I would highly reccommend the new (I wish it was built before we put down our deposit on a different place) Veterans Terrace in Burlington. I can not rave enough about this place. If you are looking to save money go just a tad outside the coveted Lake Geneva area; this place is new, on Echo Lake, is georgious inside and out and is all inclusive. Package comes with caterer, bartender, cake cutting, cleanup, tables and chairs...etc. Oh and you can get married on the terrace overlooking the lake!

Photographer
Katie Toman Photography from SE Wisconsin- www.katietomanphotography.com
I was absolutely thrilled to find a photographer that had a fresh photo journalistic style, offered a DVD of all the pictures and was so reasonably priced. We are getting our entire day photographer for under $2,000 AND that includes one of those fancy flush mount albums. She was great, highly recommended!

Florist
Gia Bella Flowers from Burlington- www.giabellaflowers.com
This is just a small town florist shop but Toni does some of the most creative modern arrangements I have ever seen. She is working with me to pretty much custom design my centerpieces, but just a heads up she is just a tad on the pricey side. But with flowers I think you get what you pay for. She also has a substantial list of references and extensive portfolio.

DJ
BB's Best from Waterford - www.bbsbest.com
I actually went to an event that he was dj-ing at and was blown away by how he interacted with the guests, his playlist, how versatile he was to my requests and the feedback the received on his web site.

 Hoping this was helpful.

epgrant

I am having my wedding at the Riv on 2/11/12. We got the resident rate for the ball room. I think the place is AMAZING!!! I was there with both moms and some bridesmaids and they totally refurbished it. The ceiling was redone, the lights, sound system, floors. It's beautiful. they also finally purchased round tables and normalish tan chairs. So a fall wedding, you wouldn't need to cover them. I'm not going to and we're having a winter wedding. We did have to bring in all the vendors, because all you are getting is a hall. But, this allows you to pick and choose what you want with out a minimum. we are going with Zilli's from Waukesha and a buffet. We packaged them with the alcohol also. Beer, wine, juice soda, apps, dinner, linen, cake cutting and serving, china coffee station, all for $35 a person. They are allowing us to bring in a few bottles of liquor for the VIP's of the wedding, but we don't want everyone to be smashed...or do we want to not remember the night!

I also would have to recommend Music 2 Remember. Our DJ Jason, is a reverened so he will be marrying us, and then the other dj will be doing all the music...ceremony, cocktails, dinner, and reception for around 800 dollars.

We are doing the ceremony and reception at the Riv. with about 90 minutes in between for pictures and set up. I didn't want to miss my own cocktail/social hour before dinner.

We are inviting about 300 people, including the plus one's so we are right at 10k. Tried to stay lower, but couldnt' cut the guest list. : ( Good luck!!!