The Manor West Orange

lynzandgreg

So I have been to three venues so far. My wedding is not until 2012, but I am looking now because I like to be prepared and if I see something I truly love I am going to book it. But anyway... what are people's thoughts about The Manor in West Orange. I LOVED it! I met with Preston who seemed to be very nice and knowledgeable about the place. We are going to have an outside ceremony, 120 people, and a Friday afternoon in June. He quoted me $90 pp which includes the ceremony fee. I have never had the food and if anyone else got married there I would greatly appreciate some feedback.

Reilly626

OMG Preston scared us, he was soooo creeepy!  The food there was good when I went to a party there.  Personally too many events going on at once, I wanted a venue where all attention was on my event and the decor wasnt us.  A lot of girls on here use them and would rec. them.  But Preston was a big turn off for us- to each his own!

lynzandgreg

My MOH didn't like him either. I didn't mind him. The date we would be having our wedding we would be the only event going on. But you are right though the decor is very "out there" in your face.

jrgoogrl

I'm getting married there in April! If the weather is nice it will be an outside ceremony. Which room are you looking at? We met with Rolf, he wonderful! Very helpful and accommodating.

peaches85

I'm getting married and having my reception at The Manor next July and there are several other girls on the board who are using The Manor as well.

I've been working with Rolf (I have no clue who Preston is) and couldn't be happier.  And, personally, I love the decor... especially in the Imperial Room where we'll be having our reception.  The grounds are gorgeous and the food is phenomenal! 

DMLJ

The food is great-- -I have eaten there, gone to a wedding, and am having my wedding there too.  Let me know if you have questions... my wedding is next month.

lynzandgreg

I was looking at the Regency Room. I really love it because my FI and I are in our own little area and the dance floor is set back pretty far which I liked. If you all don't mind me asking how much are you paying pp there?

allforyou

I have eaten there for dinner before and it was good. Their lobster bisque is amazing!!

Just beware, you said you would be the only event that day, but your wedding isn't unitl 2012. There is plenty of time for another event to be booked (another wedding, corporate event, or even a prom- you did say you were getting married in june). I don't want to sound negative. It is just something to think about.

I hate the idea of having two weddings going on at once, but I am sure the Manor has had a lot of experience with this and there isn't anything to worry about.

DMLJ

I think the base for a sunday night was 86 but we added lobster to the CH so that upped the price a bit.

lynzandgreg

allforyou- thanks for the tip.

Since we want a Friday afternoon wedding, the guy I met with said he has been there for 15 years and has only had 4 other Friday afternoon weddings. I think he said they wouldn't book another wedding during the afternoon.

Julephenia

We met with two people, one of whom was Preston, I believe.

Both times we were completely turned off. Our first person (James, I think) showed us what he said would be the back-up ceremony space for bad weather - Preston said, "Only if it isn't booked". The only room available for our date made it clear that several other weddings/events were going on, and there was no willingness to engage with us on a personal level.

However, it is a very popular place on this board, and we may simply have a case of clashing personalities. It is a very beautiful venue.

Lolyalyssa

IMO its a great value for what you get for the money in that area and I hear the food is good.  If the 85 per head is your price range its a good value because every where else in the area for that price doesn't compare as far as the food IMO.

lynzandgreg

Julephenia- wow! I felt very comfortable there. I guess it was because Preston looks a little like my FFIL lol!!  I agree the "plan B" room wasn't as nice as I would have hoped
but I loved everything else. It just has that "Old English" charm which I love.

gibribuz

We are having our reception in the Regency room in December.  We have never eaten there but heard good things about the place.  We worked with Preston when we booked and at first he seemed a little creepy but I got over it and he was fine.  FI thought he was a nice guy. 

I agree with pps about keeping in mind that there might be other events.  Fridays in June are prime dates for proms. 

lynzandgreg

Thanks for the feedback.

 My FI both work in schools so that is why we chose a later date in June because school would be out by then.

maddie7

Preston was very odd... the way he talked, something was off.  I've been to an event there, the food is good.  But what we didnt like when we were there was that while your party is going on, you could see the bride and groom outside doing pics from another wedding.  We started to ignore our event and watch others.  I didnt want that for my day. 2012 is far off, of course they will book other events. Also, didnt like that you had to go downstairs to use the bathrooms.  But the prices were fair and I think that is why so many girls go with them.  Good luck, its your choice!

kasabby

I have been to two weddings there and thought the food was great.

tracey0916

I'm getting married at the Manor in November.  I met with Preston and agree that he was a little creepy but he was still very nice and knowledgable.  FIs family are all HUGE fans of the Manor and my sister had recently been to a wedding there that she was RAVING about at the time we went looking, so that probably helped sway us a little.  FI and I both actually had our proms there as well (way way back in the day) LOL.  From what Preston said, they don't do proms there anymore specifically because they wanted to focus on their wedding business and didn't want to upset the brides.  I haven't heard a single bad thing about the food.  I love the decor but again thats a personal preference.  I brought my four year old son there and he said it was the most amazingly beautiful place for us all to get married - that was the clincher for me.

eeponine

We're having our reception there this November, and I am SO excited! FI absolutely loved everything about it, particularly the menu options.  It probably helped that the venue we had visited earlier in the day was hideous though, ha. 

I think that we have spoken with both Rolf and Preston, and while I wasn't necessarily impressed with their presentation skills, neither of them really creeped me out. 

Tracey, when in November? We're the 12th.

tracey0916

I'm on the 6th.  I'll let you know how it goes!!  LOL

rutgersgirl82

wow i didn't realize just how many manor brides there are on this board. 

we're getting married there this october (10/23) in the imperial room and we couldn't be happier about it, i just got this feeling when we were there and loved it

ps.... i never met this preston character, we only met w/ jimmy 

lynzandgreg

haha... Preston was really not bad at all. He was very sarcastic and I am very sarcastic so I guess our personalities mixed well.

rutgersgirl- I got that same exact feeling when I went there.

I have appointments with Dolce, Bretton Woods, The Brownstone, and Windsor Gardens tomorrow.