Receptions at Mohonk Mountain House?

[Deleted User]

Hi All, My family has visited Mohonk Mountain House numerous times and we have the best memories from our trips there.  I would LOVE to get married at Mohonk but I don't know how I can ask my guests to pay the exorbitant room rates.  I know there are other hotels in the area but my issue is in order to get the larger Main Dining room, I have to guarantee a certain amount of rooms.  So, do I plan my wedding at the place I've always wanted to get married at or stop and accept the fact that it's way too much to ask of people?  Thanks for your help! I'm having the hardest time choosing a venue

Lasairiona

Check out your local board for feedback. Honestly though, it seems rather strange that you can't use the banquet room without guaranteeing that your guests actually stay there overnight. That is not how the majority of hotels work. But I can also understand wanting to get married somewhere that has great memories for you. In the end, you have to decide what works best for you. In the current economy, not everyone has money they can hand over like that, especially if it's extremely expensive. The fact that you're having issues with the cost is a red flag to look for other venues without odd restrictions and that won't cost your guests near as much.

TnJBonnell

Its so hard with OT guests and the way the economy is. Pretty much all my guests are out of town. The hotel we are booking the reception with doesnt require them to stay they but they do provide us 15 rooms with a discount, but even with the discount its kinda expensive. So, I looked up hotels close by that are cheaper for them to stay in. Try to talk to the hotel. Let them know the situation and see if it really is needed for them to stay there. GL

bellebride116

I definitely know where you are coming from. We are getting married at the resort of our dreams and the "discounted" guest rate is still really expensive for people. We ended up doing it anyway and to our surprise a lot of guests are actually staying at the hotel. Those who aren't are just choosing a nearby, less expensive hotel.  Are you talking about the Mohonk Mountain House in the Hudson Valley, NY? If so that place is like a destination in its own so a lot of your guests might really enjoy it and see it's worth it. The only thing that's odd is that the place is making you guarantee the rooms for the main dining room. I would try to negotiate it so that even if you have to guarantee rooms it be a very low number.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for the advice everyone, much appreciated! Yes, I'm referring to Mohonk Mountain House and I totally agree that it's well worth the money (all meals included, use of the spa, ground etc) but I'm obviously biased as I've loved the place for years.  But I definitely need to strap on my bargaining hat and get down to business- they're asking us to guarantee 75 rooms for our 200 person wedding because we'd like to use their main dining room for a nightime reception so it would be unavailable to hotel guests for dinner.  Just don't know if that's possible or fair...guess I'll see how the negotiations go.Thanks again!