Any Tower's brides get a call about the outdoor courtyard

i2012do · May 2012

So I got an email today, and this is all up in the air and nothing to "freak out about yet (I'm trying not to)...and I think its all very in the beginning stages etc.

but apparently, the guy the runs the towers, that no one ever hears from said he no longer wants a bar outside.
I know that a girl that works at the towers is on here, and I don't want to put her in a sticky situation. But I am super peeved that I am hearing it from vendors of mine- and NOT from Kate.

anyway- I am wondering if anyone else has heard this. Right now its all up in the air, but I might end up having to give up my open bar for the cocktail hour or paying for more people to take drink orders- which is so strange I think at a cocktail hour- and I am really annoyed.
It's not hte END of the world, its just an hour- but I'm upset because its throwing off my plans to have all kinds of RI themed drinks and it will mean some things I bought will go to waste.

OceanStBride · May 2012

My wedding is there next weekend and I haven't heard anything about that. I'd be super annoyed though to not here it directly from the Towers. The only rule I know of re: alcohol outside is no glass containers. I know that's not much of a help sorry!

i2012do · May 2012

Congrats on your wedding ! I am sure if it was going into effect next weekend you would have heard lol.
I can't wait to hear the reviews and see photos. I stalk Towers brides online all the time to try to find photos.

bean6687 · May 2012

Hi ladies. I Just found out about this too last weekend and apparently it is not just a decision of Dave O., but rather a law that there cannot be liquor served within a town park - I am not sure why it was never like that before and why they are starting immediately. I am sorry to hear that you have not heard from Kate personally, but I will check it out on Saturday.

i2012do · May 2012

thanks my caterer told me and she said she'd see kate on saturday too and ask about it -thanks for checking

I am totall bs about this and upset.

The courtyard is rented for a "private" event so I think that we would just need to obtain a private license or permit to serve alcohol?
Just liek public people aren't allowed on the courtyard anyway. That makes sense to me...but I have no idea about this.
What about colt state park? Lincoln park? You can serve liquor there- you just have to obtain a permit.
This makes no sense to me. If this was 6 months ago I would have changed my venue over this.
It's nearly impossible to get in touch with Kate and so I am hoping that she contacts everyone asap. I am sure she is trying to get a lot of information on it.

OceanStBride · May 2012

i2012do - I sent you a private message.

i2012do · May 2012

PM'd you back. I am glad that I ahve someone to vent w this about lol

lebonbrown · May 2012

My reception is at the Towers in September. We booked it last July, and on the last page of the "Rules and Guidelines for Private Use" entitled "Draft Policy for Casinio Courtyard as of 5/17/11", rule #4 states "Alcohol service by waitstaff only. Must be served in plastic. No outside service bar."

My fiance and I met with Kate a couple of weekends ago, and when I inquired about this, she explained it was a decision made by the town that since the courtyard is a public park, as bean6687 correctly pointed out, they do not want a bar set up outside.

That being said, she stated that all of the caterers that work with the Towers are aware of this rule (it has been in effect for a year) and have been able to work around it. She suggested, and we agreed, that this would be a perfect time for a passed signature cocktail or two.

I was disappointed at first also, but in the scheme of things, the cocktail hour is such a short period of time, and the idea of cocktails passed on trays sounds pretty classy to me!

I hope you are able to find a solution that works best for you!

i2012do · May 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_rhode-island_any-towers-brides-get-a-call-about-the-outdoor-courtyard?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:122Discussion:5fae4a9a-323a-44a9-b25f-84f3982f4210Post:5fbf7b09-3d59-424e-ac4f-ecb22d6d4423">Re: Any Tower's brides get a call about the outdoor courtyard</a>:
[QUOTE]My reception is at the Towers in September. We booked it last July, and on the last page of the "Rules and Guidelines for Private Use" entitled "Draft Policy for Casinio Courtyard as of 5/17/11", rule #4 states "Alcohol service by waitstaff only. Must be served in plastic. No outside service bar." My fiance and I met with Kate a couple of weekends ago, and when I inquired about this, she explained it was a decision made by the town that since the courtyard is a public park, as bean6687 correctly pointed out, they do not want a bar set up outside. That being said, she stated that all of the caterers that work with the Towers are aware of this rule (it has been in effect for a year) and have been able to work around it. She suggested, and we agreed, that this would be a perfect time for a passed signature cocktail or two. I was disappointed at first also, but in the scheme of things, the cocktail hour is such a short period of time, and the idea of cocktails passed on trays sounds pretty classy to me! I hope you are able to find a solution that works best for you!
Posted by lebonbrown[/QUOTE]

This is very interesting. My contract does not Say that. Our contact is from 2010,
Serving cocktails on a tray is going to have to be ok for me...even though we are paying for a full bar. My caterer is hoping we can work something out on the cost.
It's too bad that in all the conversations that I had this was NEVER once mentioned to me. I wouldn't have wasted money on all the extras that i planned for cocktail hr.

OceanStBride · May 2012

My contract doesn't say that either. We signed it early 2011. What's interesting is that caterers have been aware of this rule. We have a pretty popular RI/MA caterer that does a ton of weddings at the Towers and they were not aware of this until they were contacted last week about it.
I'm trying not to stress and hope for the best. Is it the end of the world if we can't have an open bar on the patio? No. But this is definitely not be handled correctly by the council. But I also haven't planned things specifically for the cocktail hour - I would definitely be super annoyed if I had (i2012do).

Caitlin613 · May 2012

Hi Ladies,
I talked to my caterer and they said this has always been the policy at the Towers. She said they usually have the bar set up on the first floor during cocktail hour, so guests just need to step inside to get their drink.

Hope this helps!

Any Tower's brides get a call about the outdoor courtyard

Re: Any Tower's brides get a call about the outdoor courtyard

Choose Another Board

Search Boards