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Looking for a venue

jegiovanjegiovan
First Comment
in Rhode Island
I just got engaged and have no clue what to do. My sis told me to look for a venue 1st. We are planning on about 300 guests. I would appreciate any comments about the following venues: Belle Mer, Newport Hyatt, Providence Biltmore, or Providence Westin. Thanks!
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Re: Looking for a venue

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    devcippsdevcipps
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Congrats on your engagement! Once you book your venue the rest of the stuff seems to quickly fall into place. I personally am not getting married at any of the above venues but Belle Mer, Hyatt, and the Biltmore seem to get alot of amazing reviews on here. Belle Mer is absolutely stunning. I have gone to three law school balls at the Westin and I must say I found the food to be pretty bad. That could be because the school didn't pay for the highest quality option but you could just tell that they leave it under the heat lamps for too long and by the time it came out it was just overly dry and last year it was just cold. Good luck with all your planning!
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    CassieDsoontobeKCassieDsoontobeK member
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    edited December 2011
    I did the Newport search and ended up settling on Oceancliff.  Love the feel, the hospitality, and well everything about it.  Beware of Belle Mer...they are now doing the wedding planning thing.   Your minimum is extremely high but you can book vendors through them...that is at like a 45% mark up.   We're having our rehearsal dinner at the Hyatt...staff is great and it's beautiful.  I'd just visit.  You'll know where you feel most comfortable.
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    SummerBoston10SummerBoston10
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    edited December 2011
    I am getting married at Belle Mer!!  I love it there. PP is correct that Belle Mer wil do the event planning for you but the markup is 30%, not 45%.  Since you are having a big wedding you would have no problem meeting their minimum and would probably not even need to book many, if any, vendors through them.  I am getting married at the Island House (which is the smaller part) on a Sunday of a holiday weekend and our minimum is $30,000. 

     I didn't look at the Hyatt but have stayed there many times.  The hotel ballroom wedding wasn't for me but the ballroom there is really nice and has ocean views with a nice deck. 

    I looked at OceanCliff and it is a totally different place.  Much more old school traditional than somewhere like Belle Mer.  I personally felt that it was dated and that some of the finishes were looking rather worn.  It is very expensive.  The minimum for a Saturday night wedding was over $40,000 food and beverage only.  Belle Mer's minimum can include other vendors like florist, band, etc.

    I also looked at Castle Hill and loved it but I just fell in love with the modern sleek space at Belle Mer.  It reminded us of South Beach and we LOVE South Beach so it was perfect for us as a couple. 
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    Island_Bride2011Island_Bride2011 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Isn't there some taxes on the Belle Mer markup?  I know someone that was quoted $4500 for a service she knew was $3000 because the vendor has prices on their website.  $1500 markup on a $3K service is full 50% markup.  I personally think that's just insane.  I mean, wedding planners typically take 18-20%.  

    Also, some of the point of hiring a wedding planner is to receive discounts or preferred rates from other vendors.  A planner goes to bat for the couple to get the best price, not markup 30, 40 or 50%  

    What exactly do they do to aid you in "planning" that justifies that big markup?  What do they do that's different from your coordinator at other venues?  

    I love the way Belle Mer looks, but I've ruled them out due to the policy.  it just sounds like too much of a headache.  
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    RoyalOrientRoyalOrient member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I agree Belle Mer is absolutely gorgeous but their shady business practice is just a major turn off. I think Rosecliff, Regatta Place, Newport Hyatt , Ocean cliff, Glen Manor offer pretty stunning settings. I also love Squantum Association and the Towers in Narragansett.
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    CassieDsoontobeKCassieDsoontobeK member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Wow!  So if cost is an issue, you may want to consider timing.  We wanted a Sunday morning event.  Our minimum at Ocean Cliff is $10K, it would have been $30K at Belle Mer.
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    devcippsdevcipps
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I also want to point out that you should explain on the phone when booking appointments you are looking for a place that can accomodate 300 people. I'm getting married at Glen Manor and i'm pretty sure they won't do a wedding of that size. All of the places you suggested would likely accomodate a wedding of that  size. Squantom and the Towers would also probably be too small.
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    RoyalOrientRoyalOrient member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Hmmmm I missed that guest list count. 300 does make it more challenging to find a venue. I'm sure most hotels can hold 300. What about the Biltmore in Providence?
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    SummerBoston10SummerBoston10
    First Comment Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://newport.weddings.com/main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_looking-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:85c4e5d8-7a24-44b9-bff3-25da0b3a8bb1Post:39408c98-14a0-4b63-bd0d-a8de58ba02e4">Re: Looking for a venue</a>:
    [QUOTE]I agree Belle Mer is absolutely gorgeous but their shady business practice is just a major turn off. I think Rosecliff, Regatta Place, Newport Hyatt , Ocean cliff, Glen Manor offer pretty stunning settings. I also love Squantum Association and the Towers in Narragansett.
    Posted by RoyalOrient[/QUOTE]

    I don't get how their business practice is shady?  My contract specifically states that the markup will not exceed 30%. 

    To answer the other posters queston about what type of wedding planning they will do, they will do whatever you want them to do.  I have chosen to do most things on my own but I did hire my band through them because I would not meet my minimum if i didn't.  Other than that I am handling most of it on my own. 

    If you hire a vendor through them, and count the value of that service toward your minimum, Belle Mer will do everything related to that vendor.  They sign the contract, pay the deposit, tip the vendor, pay for the vendor's meals and handle all communication with that vendor regarding what time they will show up, set up, etc.

    I will tell you why Belle Mer and their Event Minimum system works for some people.  I am having a small wedding, probably around 85-90 people but I have a decent budget of around $50K.  On a $50K budget, I cannot afford a $40K food and beverage minimum that a place like Oceancliff wanted for a Sat night/Sun night of a holiday weekend.  Not to mention, $40K on food and beverage for 90 people is ridiculous.  A place like Belle Mer lets you spend whatever money you want to on food/bev and then lets you count all of your other vendors bills towards that minimum, provided you book through them with the markup.  I get that I am paying slightly more for my band becuase I booked through Belle Mer (23% markup to be exact), but it is worth it to me to pay that and have my wedding at Belle Mer.  Plus they will tip them and feed them.  I agree, its not for everyone though. 
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    umasskdomeumasskdome member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_looking-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:122Discussion:85c4e5d8-7a24-44b9-bff3-25da0b3a8bb1Post:3d50db00-71a7-4037-b235-2fef7f2f4f0f">Re: Looking for a venue</a>:
    [QUOTE]Wow!  So if cost is an issue, you may want to consider timing.  We wanted a Sunday morning event.  Our minimum at Ocean Cliff is $10K, it would have been $30K at Belle Mer.
    Posted by CassieDsoontobeK[/QUOTE]

    <div>
    </div><div>One thing to keep in mind is that the pricing may depend on which room at Belle Mer and the time of year.  I am having a Sunday morning wedding in the Island House (on a holiday weekend) and my minimum is only $12K.  </div>
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    CassieDsoontobeKCassieDsoontobeK member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Just an apology to the initial poster...people seem to be really getting hostile.  Personally, I was turned off by Belle Mer's approach and fell in love with the atmosphere elsewhere, hence my suggestion to visit locations and choose which feels best for you.  I didn't realize this was a competition or venue-dogging thread.   So back to the original comment:  congratulations on your recent engagement.   Have a great time visiting venues and make sure to ask all of the questions that matter to you.  Please excuse the tones of this thread that have escalated, I've never seen that on theknot.com before, especially on this board.  Personally, I'm a bit turned off and hope it does not continue.  I was genuinely passing on my reactions and experiences.  Good luck with your planning and have fun!!!
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    SummerBoston10SummerBoston10
    First Comment Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://newport.weddings.com/main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_looking-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:122Discussion:85c4e5d8-7a24-44b9-bff3-25da0b3a8bb1Post:cdff7bef-43c5-4611-a7fb-43a2d73d82ca">Re: Looking for a venue</a>:
    [QUOTE]Just an apology to the initial poster...people seem to be really getting hostile.  Personally, I was turned off by Belle Mer's approach and fell in love with the atmosphere elsewhere, hence my suggestion to visit locations and choose which feels best for you.  I didn't realize this was a competition or venue-dogging thread.   So back to the original comment:  congratulations on your recent engagement.   Have a great time visiting venues and make sure to ask all of the questions that matter to you.  Please excuse the tones of this thread that have escalated, I've never seen that on theknot.com before, especially on this board.  Personally, I'm a bit turned off and hope it does not continue.  I was genuinely passing on my reactions and experiences.  Good luck with your planning and have fun!!!
    Posted by CassieDsoontobeK[/QUOTE]

    I don't think that this thread is hostile at all!!  I think it is informative. 

    I was trying to dispell some myths about Belle Mer because the poster asked about that venue by name and what some posters said was simply not true. 
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    feblovefeblove member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    The Bilmore I don't believe will hold 300, the Westin will and so will The Crowne Plaza in Warwick . I am not sure on the Newport venues, I did not site tour them.
    Good Luck
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    RoyalOrientRoyalOrient member
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Comment
    edited December 2011
    SummerBostonBride - Relax, I'm not attacking your venue. People who are having smaller receptions or on an off season/weekday/morning reception maybe able to get out of Belle Mer's minimum no problem but for most brides who have a big guest list on a Saturday night during the busy wedding season, there are high minimums and huge vendor mark ups. Like someone said above, a 30% mark up is one thing but 50% mark up is crazy! Correct me if I'm wrong but that doesn't include the 26% tax and gratuity. However if money is no objection than you have nothing to worry about but for someone who has a larger guest count like me those marks up add up to thousands of dollars more. That's more than I like to spend when I know that the cost/fee is alot lower. If that isn't shady than I don't know what is...

    btw I didn't realize this was a competition either.

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    SummerBoston10SummerBoston10
    First Comment Combo Breaker First Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_looking-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:122Discussion:85c4e5d8-7a24-44b9-bff3-25da0b3a8bb1Post:20644022-af22-4fd8-be0b-138d675aca10">Re: Looking for a venue</a>:
    [QUOTE]SummerBostonBride - Relax, I'm not attacking your venue. People who are having smaller receptions or on an off season/weekday/morning reception maybe able to get out of Belle Mer's minimum no problem but for most brides who have a big guest list on a Saturday night during the busy wedding season, there are high minimums and huge vendor mark ups. Like someone said above, a 30% mark up is one thing but 50% mark up is crazy! Correct me if I'm wrong but that doesn't include the 26% tax and gratuity. However if money is no objection than you have nothing to worry about but for someone who has a larger guest count like me those marks up add up to thousands of dollars more. That's more than I like to spend when I know that the cost/fee is alot lower. If that isn't shady than I don't know what is... btw I didn't realize this was a competition either.
    Posted by RoyalOrient[/QUOTE]

    I agree that 50% is ridiculous and I would NEVER pay that.  I asked about the markup before booking and had the "not to exceed 30%" put in my contract because that was something I was really concerned with about Belle Mer.

    As far as tax and gratuity.....Yes the 18% admin fee is charged on the cost of your vendors and so is tax.  BUT, they have a reseller's certficiate so you don't pay tax twice. 

    The reason I said it wasn't shady is because it isn't a secret.  You know what you are getting when you sign the contract. 

    There are many other awesome venues out there.  I could never afford Belle Mer if I had a large guest list and I definitely would have found another great venue such as some of the others discussed in this thread.  I just don't like seeing inaccurate things posted about any venue or vendor so I was trying to clear them up, thats all :)
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    moshi's pawmoshi's paw
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_looking-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:122Discussion:85c4e5d8-7a24-44b9-bff3-25da0b3a8bb1Post:f4d0bec7-01c6-460a-8c33-bc68f9fb9c33">Re: Looking for a venue</a>:
    [QUOTE]The Bilmore I don't believe will hold 300, the Westin will and so will The Crowne Plaza in Warwick . I am not sure on the Newport venues, I did not site tour them. Good Luck
    Posted by feblove[/QUOTE]

    There are a few rooms at the Biltmore that will hold 300+.  I had my proms there in high school, and there were at least 500 of us in the grand ballroom and outside area, so I checked the website to make sure I wasn't hallucinating what happened many moons ago.
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    jegiovanjegiovan
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you all for some great insight and the well wishes. Good luck to all of you as well.
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