Help! Just started the Venue search! Need some recommendations!

Grlwrhythm

Hi all!

Can anyone give me a yes or no about the following places?

Woodbridge Renaissance on route 1 in Iselin, NJ. (We can't find reviews of the food)

Rosewood in Woodbridge

Imperia in Somerset


Any other recommendations of venues in Middlesex or Somerset County welcomed!

Thanks,

Christine

HobokensFury

The only one I've ever been to was the rosewood. It was very pretty inside but it shares the parking lot with a dry cleaner and Chinese restaurant so that may bother you. I also found the food very very salty.

k8888

The Imperia is beautiful... don't know about the food, though. 

Woodbridge Renaissance is way too expensive for what you get, but that's just my opinion.

Also check out Ariana's in Woodbridge... they've done a lot in renovations lately and I always hear good things about their food.  The surrounding area is not the nicest, but the inside is pretty.

I'm having my wedding at the Bridgewater Manor.  So far, so good.

JoeAnne2013

Based on your selections Pines Manor would be in a similar price range and definitely has good food and right across the street is Crowne Plaza for your guests to stay! Crowne Plaza also holds receptions/ceremonies, the pricing is not bad there either but I didn't try the food.

JoeAnne2013

Gran Centurions in Clark had a decent main ballroom (need to secure an guaranteed 120 person minimum in season) with good food and the owner was great to work with. I would not recommend the two other rooms they offer though. Pricing is pretty low as well.

carolannp05

I am having my wedding at the Imperia.  So far my experience has been great.  We are using the room with the patio and it's really lovely.  We booked with Alrene and she has been super helpful as we're planning this wedding from out of state.  There are a ton of great food options, though we haven't been able to do a tasting.  Also, I think the pricing is great for a central NJ location.

mpaone24

The Rosewood is nice, and we were considering it.  The Pines Manor was way too pricey for us and the lady who helped us didn't seem like she wanted to.  She rubbed us the wrong way.  Bridgewater Manor was ok, but we weren't impressed.  The guy who helped us brought us into a room that had a party going on and it didn't sit well with us.  

mrsR12

We only saw Rosewood from your list and wasn't impressed with the low ceiling in the rooms we saw.  

sorry no other suggestions for that area.  

Grlwrhythm

Thank you ladies! This is all very helpful. 

At this point, I think it's going to be between Ariana's Grand and the Imperia. 

Although there were things I liked about the Rosewood, like the bridal suite, I also did not like the low ceilings. I also didn't love the set up of the room. I prefer when the tables are surrounding the dance floor. 

Any more advice is greatly appreciated!

Christine

carolbee

I am getting married at Ariana's next weekend - they are great to deal with!  Let me know if I can help - my shower was at their SI place (The Loft) and it was amazing!

Do you know anyone who was married there?

Grlwrhythm

Oh that's great! You're probably getting married on my birthday (the 14th). I unfortunately don't know anyone who has had their reception there, until now! If we choose Ariana's, I will definitely be coming to you with questions, etc.! Please share with me how everything goes. And, congrats!

Grlwrhythm

So, we haven't officially booked yet, but it is looking like we will be going with Ariana's Grand in Woodbridge. Anyone have any final suggestions, thoughts, etc about this venue?! 

Also, if you had or attended a wedding there, where did the guests stay? I'm not thrilled with the Fairfield Marriott or Crowne Plaza that they recommend. The hotels are fine but I'd prefer a different overall location. I am probably going to reach out to other hotels in the Woodbridge/Edison area to see if they provide shuttles. 

Thanks!!!!

Christine

stk29251

{ines Manor sounds and looks great from their website, although I can't seem to find them on theknot. Has anyone else had any recent exerience with them??? The only reviews i've really found mention the saltiness of the food, but I'm curious since it looks wonderful and seems to convenient being right across from a hotel. 


In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_help-just-started-the-venue-search-need-some-recommendations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:f16be078-894a-43de-afdb-a978c1d34172Post:97307ae0-b3cf-4991-b0d3-e085cbb91a5d">Re: Help! Just started the Venue search! Need some recommendations!</a>:
[QUOTE]Based on your selections Pines Manor would be in a similar price range and definitely has good food and right across the street is Crowne Plaza for your guests to stay! Crowne Plaza also holds receptions/ceremonies, the pricing is not bad there either but I didn't try the food.
Posted by JoeAnne2013[/QUOTE]

carolbee

Hi - we didn't get a chance to post our reviews but Ariana's was amazing - everything was absolutely perfect and so many people said it was the best wedding they ever went to.  The food and service was fabulous and the venue is beautiful!  They were also very nice to deal with!  Good luck!

Grlwrhythm

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_help-just-started-the-venue-search-need-some-recommendations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:f16be078-894a-43de-afdb-a978c1d34172Post:ce85ede4-b7ef-4c69-81ae-3b4490594241">Re: Help! Just started the Venue search! Need some recommendations!</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi - we didn't get a chance to post our reviews but Ariana's was amazing - everything was absolutely perfect and so many people said it was the best wedding they ever went to.  The food and service was fabulous and the venue is beautiful!  They were also very nice to deal with!  Good luck!
Posted by carolbee[/QUOTE]

<div>
</div><div>Thank you! We are having our tasting this Wednesday. I've heard too many good things about it. I also really liked it right away. Thanks again!!</div><div>
</div><div>Christine :)</div>

lundyd98

Hello,

We just went to both locations, Ariana's Loft in SI & Ariana's Grand in Woodbridge. We LOVED the Woodbridge location & are strongly considering signing a contract w/ them once we go for the tasting next Wednesday.  Iv'e seen alot of mixed reviews in regards to not so great food, or unprofessional service & even stealings from the bridal suite. Some of them are older posts, but a few are as recent as April 2012. Mostly though, i think Iv'e seen good things and with the exception of the james Ward Manor in Westfield, this is the nicest looking venue Iv'e seen so far (seen about 10 places). We love the outside and the inside of the cocktail room which is the room more suitable for a wedding of 100 guests. However, since there is a grand ballroom and cocktail room, they do host more than one event at a time contrary to whats advertised. I was told that as long as I secure my date first, I will have first priority to the adjoining courtyard outside on the date of my event. Any other recent feedback?

Grlwrhythm

<div>Hi!</div><div>
</div><div>We just booked at Ariana's last night! We are so excited. We booked it for November 2, 2013. The food was absolutely delicious so I'm sure you will love it too!! When are you looking to book? </div><div>
</div><div>Christine :)</div><div>
</div><div>
</div>In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_help-just-started-the-venue-search-need-some-recommendations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:f16be078-894a-43de-afdb-a978c1d34172Post:acf3a3c7-eac7-4f71-86f6-1cb6257d9a29">Ariana's Grand</a>:
[QUOTE]Hello, We just went to both locations, Ariana's Loft in SI & Ariana's Grand in Woodbridge. We LOVED the Woodbridge location & are strongly considering signing a contract w/ them once we go for the tasting next Wednesday.  Iv'e seen alot of mixed reviews in regards to not so great food, or unprofessional service & even stealings from the bridal suite. Some of them are older posts, but a few are as recent as April 2012. Mostly though, i think Iv'e seen good things and with the exception of the james Ward Manor in Westfield, this is the nicest looking venue Iv'e seen so far (seen about 10 places). We love the outside and the inside of the cocktail room which is the room more suitable for a wedding of 100 guests. However, since there is a grand ballroom and cocktail room, they do host more than one event at a time contrary to whats advertised. I was told that as long as I secure my date first, I will have first priority to the adjoining courtyard outside on the date of my event. Any other recent feedback?
Posted by lundyd98[/QUOTE]

lundyd98

We are looking to book for August 10, 2013. Oh I saw some people having a tasting there last night in the main ball room- maybe that was you. I feel such a sense of relief after having seen that place. i hope I will like the food because I loved the place and I'm so tired of looking at venues at this point. I'm ready to move on to the next step; photographers & videographers! Any suggestions? Does anyone know anything about renting a wedding dress? i have NO desire to keep a wedding dress once the wedding is over!


In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_help-just-started-the-venue-search-need-some-recommendations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:f16be078-894a-43de-afdb-a978c1d34172Post:af651e01-5641-4c35-bee4-c554f204f968">Re: Ariana's Grand</a>:
[QUOTE]Hi! We just booked at Ariana's last night! We are so excited. We booked it for November 2, 2013. The food was absolutely delicious so I'm sure you will love it too!! When are you looking to book?  Christine :) In Response to Ariana's Grand :
Posted by Grlwrhythm[/QUOTE]

carolbee

Hi - some of the unfavorable postings made me nervous too.  However, I did always look at the reviews and the number of vendors that we reviewed by a single poster.  If there was one one, I thought it was most likely a disgrunted employee or a competitor.   I could be wrong, but I did hold onto that. 

We are still receiving compliments. 

As far as I know, it is still one wedding at a time!

Good luck!