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Feedback on 2 Venues

kwilkinson14kwilkinson14
1000 Comments
in New Jersey
Hello Everyone! My name is Kathleen. I am new to posting on the board. I got engaged last summer but have only recently started to seriously plan/think about wedding stuff. My fiancee and I started looking at reception places. We have really like two places in particular.

1. Water's Edge - Sea Bright
2. Ocean Place - Long Branch

I have looked at previous postings but really didn't find many comments. Has anyone attended weddings at either location? Do you have comments both good or bad? Anything would be much appreciated!! 
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Re: Feedback on 2 Venues

  • diamondx423diamondx423
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i considered waters edge but i've never been. i didn't bother to look because everyone i know that had been there said the food was either "eh" or bad.

    i know know anything about the other venue.
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  • USER876USER876
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've heard bad things about both of them.   I'd look at the breakers, crystal point, oyster point,etc
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  • rlb81rlb81
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    My cousin is getting married at Water's Edge in September. Their food is catered by Merri Makers which is also catering my wedding (Neshanic Valley) and I LOVE the food. I was at Water's Edge for a DJ Showcase last August and while it was nice, it definitely wasn't my style. I think they are so popular because they're right on the beach.
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  • felicia220felicia220 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    You are going to hear good and bad about both places.  Water's Edge, I have always gotten mixed things with them. The problem is that Merri Makers is a corp so it will not be consistent from one place to another.  Everything I have heard bad about Ocean Place was from people who went their a couple years ago.  I am getting married there and I did my food tasting (I actually did two, one before we booked and then another to pick the food for our wedding) Both times it was perfect.  I will tell you that they are very expensive and their is a fee for EVERYTHING!  But I do love the place and I get to have the beach ceremony I have always wanted.  I have been happy with almost everything so far, there will always been bumps in the road when dealing with a venue.  I would just check them both out.  
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  • ecg129ecg129
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Haha, Felicia and I have talked - and I am also getting married at Ocean Place.  Ditto everything Felicia said.
    The food tasting was AMAZING!!1 Wow!
    But...they aren't cheap and charge extra for everything! Everything! That said, we choose it because the location is wonderful! :D
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  • akmackayakmackay
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    My friend had hers at Waters Edge (and some other acquantainces are having theirs there soon) and they love the location. No complaints from them. They were booked for my day, so I didn't even look. Since they're the same caterers as PNC, I can say the food is either really good or really bad. Best shrimp cocktail ever, but horrible other things.

    I'm having my room block at Ocean Place, but didn't look there for the reception because I wanted a place where I was the only wedding, and it was expensive!

    Have you looked at Channel Club in Monmouth Beach? So far, I love everything about it there and am having my food tasting next weekend so can write more after that. All the bridal shows they have there have a full cocktail hour and the food is yum!
    *~allie~*

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  • ecg129ecg129
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Akmackay - guess that means your wedding block and my wedding block are gonna become friends ;)  Sorry if my people keep your awake all night, in advance lol.
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  • MandWNJMandWNJ
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I don't know about Water's Edge, but I did look into Ocean Place last summer. Keep in mind that I am a "one wedding at a time place" girl, so this wasn't for me. I believe there were 4 ballrooms - 2 on one side and 2 right across. The ones closest to the water share a balcony. So for someone like me who wanted to be able to have cocktail hour inside and out, I didn't like that because if those two ballrooms are both in use, the balcony is shared with another party. the hotel itself, though is very pretty..

    I also looked at the Channel Club, very pretty.  They are the same company as Primavera in Stiring. It is very pretty, right on the marina, it jsut wasn't for me. In my opinion, I didnt like that random people would be walking along the marina during the wedding, and there is a pool right next door for marina slip owners. But I'm getting married in the summer, so depending on when you are geting married this might not be an issue for you!
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  • akmackayakmackay
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_feedback-2-venues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:90Discussion:8b05c780-ed16-4855-b4c6-ba2ffa1b5cf3Post:9046da95-6bbb-453b-b871-58c79a432ed6">Re: Feedback on 2 Venues</a>:
    [QUOTE]In my opinion, I didnt like that random people would be walking along the marina during the wedding, and there is a pool right next door for marina slip owners. But I'm getting married in the summer, so depending on when you are geting married this might not be an issue for you!
    Posted by MandWNJ[/QUOTE]

    I never really thought of that- with many of the places I looked at you could have random people there- particularly if there is a restaurant connected. I guess it never occurred to me that people would be on the dock. I hope they are since that'll mean it's a nice day out! And never saw the pool... haha I've only been there during the winter though so I guess that's why. Oops!

    Edit: ecg- our weddings are a week apart. That could've been fun though!
    *~allie~*

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  • Reilly626Reilly626 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Ocean Place looks very cool, but if you have a summer wedding and cocktails outside and wedding outside be ready for tons of gawkers!  I have to admit when Im there on a Saturday Ive watched, especially the really cool Indian entrances, etc.  You will be the entertainment! Tongue out 
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  • ecg129ecg129
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Haha Ack - I see now! Oops! lol

    I expect tons of gawkers - I'm completely cool with that :)
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  • kwilkinson14kwilkinson14
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    A couple of things I should have included in my OG. My fiancée and I grew up in the Red Bank area so that's why we are looking at the Monmouth country (beach area). That being said his family has used some of the locations you are talking about.

    Channel Club
    Oyster Point
    Crystal Point

    I don't want to get married somewhere other family members have used. I want our wedding to be unique to us.

    Any other suggestions regarding places? We have looked at Avenue, McLoone's Pier House. The Avenue couldn't accommodate our number for a sit down dinner and the Pier House had a minimum we couldn't meet. Thanks for everyone's help thus far!!! I really appreciate it!
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  • MandWNJMandWNJ
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_feedback-2-venues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8b05c780-ed16-4855-b4c6-ba2ffa1b5cf3Post:52b1c89a-8177-4ec2-8bb2-007c52399bb9">Re: Feedback on 2 Venues</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Feedback on 2 Venues : I never really thought of that- with many of the places I looked at you could have random people there- particularly if there is a restaurant connected. I guess it never occurred to me that people would be on the dock. I hope they are since that'll mean it's a nice day out! And never saw the pool... haha I've only been there during the winter though so I guess that's why. Oops! Edit: ecg- our weddings are a week apart. That could've been fun though!
    Posted by akmackay[/QUOTE]

    I wouldn't have thought of it either but I was there in the summer so I couldn't help but notice! I was told  during the cocktail hour the shades will be down so you won't see the pool. And if you're getting married outside it's off to the side so it shouldn't be too bad. Just watch out for drunk gawkers on their boats! the woman that I dealt with ewas really nice and accomodating - Im sure she'll make sure people stay away, and you will have a beautiful wedding!
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  • felicia220felicia220 member
    1000 Comments Third Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_feedback-2-venues?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:8b05c780-ed16-4855-b4c6-ba2ffa1b5cf3Post:bf7523fb-5cc4-435d-a0a0-91c94d790ef2">Re: Feedback on 2 Venues</a>:
    [QUOTE] I expect tons of gawkers - I'm completely cool with that :)
    Posted by ecg129[/QUOTE]

    <div>I completely agree, mainly because there are going to be so many people at my wedding, whats a few more hundred strangers...haha I'm not quite sure I will even notice.  I plan on only being able to SEE FI as I walk down the aisle.  </div>
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  • dandb925dandb925 member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married at the Water's Edge in September.

    We looked at Windows on the Water in Sea Bright, Breakers, and the White Sands as well. I really wanted our ceremony to be on the beach and they were able to give us more than the other venues we saw.

    We booked before I came on the knot, and the reviews I were able to find on-line were decent to good (before finding reviews from the girls here). Hopefully, I luck out and the food is good the day of the wedding.

    Definitely check out the other venues everyone suggested and if you have any questions, just let me know Smile.
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  • kwilkinson14kwilkinson14
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Thanks to everyone for their feedback!
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  • curriekanacurriekana
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married at Ocean Place too.  We are doing the whole wedding outside which is really cool but I'm nervous about the weather.  I think they only do a maximum of 3 weddings at a time, but I think it's usually just 2.  Like they said, it is expensive ($145 a person) but I think it'll be worth it!  You save on limos and shuttles because everything is right there.  They are pretty accomodating and you can negotiate the prices a little.
    Yeah I don't really care about people watching.
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