The Manor vs. Highlawn Pavilion - help!

[Deleted User]

Well ladies I am recently engaged and my fiance and I have already looked at the Highlawn Pavilion in West Orange NJ, and are heading to The Manor in West Orange this weekend (my parents were married there and from what I understand The Manor is beautiful and has some great weddings and I am excited to see it, I'm sure I will love it, it also has a larger capacity and lower rates).

    I loved loved loved the Highlawn Pavilion, however it's max is 200 people (we are inviting about 225) and the room is kind of set up funny. I would love to know if anyone has been to either venues or both and what they think for a 200 person wedding. 

laura 

cvl105

My cousin got married at the Highlawn Pavilion awhile ago.  I remember the room being a weird shape.  Don't know how many people they had though, so I can't comment on space.

[Deleted User]

I am afraid of people only remembering the weird shape of the room because if it is a cloudy day that is all that Highlawn is.... a weird shaped room with no view of the city... I don't know .. I keep flip flopping... do you remember if the food was good or anything about cocktail hour? 

jess_and_paul

I've never been to a wedding at the Highlawn Pavillian, but i remember hearing the food was fantastic so we had checked it out for our wedding. The room shape killed it for me though... other than that it seemed like a great place! I felt like the people in the corners would feel all cramped. Seems like 200 would be cramped in there.

I went to a wedding at the Manor (we also checked it out for our wedding). I loved it! However they do have more than one event at a time... not sure if that's something that bothers you, as i know some brides don't like that.

Prices on both places were comparable when we were looking 2 years ago. Not sure if that's changed.

RainLaurel

I think that you'll find that the Manor will be able to better suit your needs.  You don't want to worry whether everyone will fit into the Highlawn Pavilion.  It is better to have some wiggle room with the number of people who can fit into a space.  Having said that, my best friend's parents raved about the Highlawn Pavilion after going to a wedding there.  My parents went to The Manor for a wedding and really loved it.  So, I don't think that you can go wrong in terms of food, service, etc, at either venue.  Good luck!

Danes983

I checked out the Manor it has beautiful grounds for a outdoor ceremony or cocktail hour.  I didnt go with them because I felt like it was an event factory. When I went to look there were 3 weddings going on.  Plus they said they do smaller parties too.  I didnt chose a place that did single weddings, but I chose a place where I would be more private.
Never been to highlawn, but have heard nice things. Once you go there, you will know which place is best for you.

alliecarrie41

if your guest list is larger then max capacity, you need to cut the list or cut the venue.  it's that easy. 

I <3 Seabass

Agree if your guest list is higher than max capacity then the highlawn pavillion is not for you regardless of the shape of the room.

We looked at the Manor for our wedding and also attended a wedding there earlier this year and I wasn't overly impressed. I think it's gorgeous from the outside and the one room has a beautiful area for CH if the weather is nice enough for you to be outside. And they have decent prices depending on the time of the year.

Not a fan of the inside decor, but that's definitely just a matter of personal taste. I thought the food was just OK. After all the raves I've heard about it maybe I just expected more but I think it was pretty standard/average banquet hall food. 

Never been to the highlawn so not what you mean by odd shaped. But I remember both of the rooms we looked at for the Manor were both odd shaped (i.e. not a square or rectangle).

Angie550

I went to a wedding at the HP a few years back.  I don't remember the food at all, but I do remember how awkward the room shape was and how the people in the back corners felt crappy that they were shoved back there and could not see anything.  I have never been to the Manor so I am not sure how it is, but I have heard it can be a bit of an event factory.  Have you looked at Mayfair Farms - it is right down the street from both the Manor and HP and the prices are comparable.  They host two weddings there at once, but with your guest list you would be in the top room which has more photo ops and more space.  The Wilshire Grand Hotel is also in WO and looks really nice - not sure about pricing though.  Good Luck and keep us posted.

Lolyalyssa

If you have to pick between the two go with the Manor because the ballroom is an odd shape at Highlawn.

Also, with the Manor the hotel is across the parking lot so its convienient for getting dressed, out of town guests and crashing after the wedding...

Denise91980

I never attended a wedding at either venue, however FI and I checked out both places. We did not like the shape of the room at the Highlawn or that the Manor does several weddings at a time. You may want to check out Mayfair Farms, the Atrium or Ravellos which are not far from those venues and are comparable in price....also they all have great food too

[Deleted User]

I know I either have to cut the guest list or the venue but it is not going to be such an easy decision for me.

Thank you so much for the advice everyone, very helpful! I will let you know what I think after this weekend. I didn't think Brides could be this overwhelmed this quickly!

brad1431

we thought highlawn was too small and we are looking at 130-150, also didnt like how long and narrow the dinner room was.

Is the manor the one with the really huge awesome cocktail hour room with the round bar, and a piano, but an aweful downstairs room?  It has been over a year since we looked at halls, so I might have it confused. 

zeitsev

We'll be getting married at Highlawn and couldn't be happier with our decision!  We've gone up a few times to just sit at the bar during all kinds of weather.  We feel that even during bad weather we were still happy with the atmosphere.  We're having 100 guests so it'll be a comfortable fit. 

We also looked at The Manor and thought the grounds were very beautiful but could not stomach all the chandaliers.  For the size wedding you're having, they will have more space and options.

I have heard from people who have had weddings at both places that the food is amazing!  We've eaten a few times at Highlawn over the years just at the bar and l love their desserts! 

jchristel

I checked out the Manor, but since we're inviting 230 we had to cross it off the list.  The larger ballroom holds a max of 210 and that looked very cramped to me when it was set.  I'll see if I can scan the diagram...

Reilly626

The Manor had too many weddings going on, but good prices.  Dont work with Preston, he is so creepy!