Regatta Place or Easton Beach Rotunda?

dekvakk

My fiance and I are trying to plan a wedding in Newport, RI.  We don't have an official date yet, but are looking at summer 2013.  Is anybody familiar with/can offer details about, either the Regatta Place or Easton Beach Rotunda?  Thanks!

lyns1282

With the Eastons Beach Rotunda, I believe you have to do alot of the work.  In other words, you basically get a blank canvas.  I am not sure what is included.  But the view is nice.  At the same time, you have to remember, that it is beach season in the summer, so the beach will still be open. 
I have had friends get married at the Regatta Place and said it was beautiful.  I contacted them for information and they responded right back to me with options, so definitely look into them,  They ended up being out of my price range unfortunately.

RoyalOrient

I am a bit bias because I was married at Easton Beach Rotunda. We choose the venue for some obvious reasons....

1. Budget Friendly - one of the most affordable places to get married in Newport! 

2. Location - one of the few venues where you can get married right on the beach! The venue location was also close to hotels (The Chanler) restaurants (Atlantic Beach Club) and other attractions like The Cliff Walks. This was great for our out of town guests staying in the area.

3. The View - Wrap around deck with sweeping seaside views of the Atlantic ocean. 

4. Amenities - Unlike other venues, the rotunda included tables (different sizes including round/long tables) plus garden chairs for both the reception and ceremony. They also included an arch trellis for the ceremony and a 1 hr rental of the carousel was included too. Ample Free parking and a closed off area for caterers to set up.

5. Freedom & Flexibility - As a type A bride, I wanted to choose my own caterer, supply my own alcohol and hire whoever I wanted - I did not have to hire a vendor from their Preferred Vendor's List. The coordinator and staff were also very easy to work with and they were pretty responsive too. There were no hidden fees either. The rental rate fee, a refundable damage deposit and (inexpensive) insurance were the only required fees. I was able to turn the blank canvas of the rotunda into our dream wedding. 

Our Wedding

https://picasaweb.google.com/acromony/WedProPixs

dberrett

Like RoyalOrient, I, too, am biased, but towards Regatta Place as we were married there last October.
It can be budget friendly if you do a Sunday wedding like we did, and they're really willing to work with your budget. I liked it b/c it was essentially "one stop shopping" so there was less for me to coordinate. They have a great menu and the food was delicious. The view overlooking Newport harbor is spectacular and loans itself to some great photos! It's a really unique venue. The permanent tent is nice b/c weather isn't as much of an issue, and the complimentary valet parking is a nice touch. The tent is simply elegant, and doesn't need much to spruce it up b/c honestly, the view does it all. There's the Hyatt just around the corner for a hotel, but it can be pricey, so we rented a few taxis to ship people back and forth to other hotels nearby. My husband and I did our grand departure on a local launch, aka water taxi, which was really fun! The fee includes tables, chairs, and linens, so I didn't have to worry about that. Though I did rent burgundy runners from a rental company to spruce it up and tie it in to our theme. They only offer white or ivory linens.
I see you're in Boston, so here's my recommendation: come down for a drive by. I'm not sure of the Rotunda itself, but I know you can walk around the outside of the building to get a feel for it. As for Regatta Place, I know that if you stop by in the AM (before any functions happen) you can walk around the premises and even in the tent. By doing this you're getting a feel for each place and one may feel totally right, and one totally wrong. Kind of like picking a house or college - you just know!
Good luck!

RoyalOrient

^ I must also confess if I didn't have to serve authentic Asian cuisine, The Regatta Place would have been a close second - that or the Atlantic Beach Club which is also another no frills venue that is one-stop shop. You can't really go wrong with any of these venues, just a matter of personal preference. All 3 are worth a look!