VENUE

jallen2800 · August 2009

Hi ladies I'm new to this board. FI and I are not getting married until July 16, 2011. We are going to look at the Riverview in Simsbury has any ever been there or knows someone who has? Thanks!

blondie157 · August 2009

i know someone who got married there, she was absolutely thrilled with them, they were very reasonable to work with. i know someone else who went to a wedding there, and was disappointed in the food...she said she actually left the night hungry, despite having eaten all her dinner

jallen2800 · August 2009

Thanks, the place is really pretty. But I would never want my guess to leave hungry. So I guess I will see on sat when we meet with them.

blondie157 · August 2009

it could just be her....shes italian, and not originally from around here...she compared it to jersey weddings, which could explain her discontent ive been to a few of those, i was fat and bloated 15 min into the cocktail hour....lobster claws at the cocktail hour are a common occurence down there

ofeliaknits · August 2009

I went there and TRIED to sign a contract with them. I think that it's a really nice place, and there are a few pros and cons. Pros: HUGE. Definitely enough space for a large wedding. Very classy and upscale-looking. Beautiful view to the river. Nice outdoor ceremony spot with the tent so it's still possible outside if it rains. I know a chef there.Cons: Too big for our needs. The location: the only hotels within 20 miles cost at least $160/night. There's a carwash next door that you can see, so it's not very private and generally not in a great area of simsbury. Though the rooms are separated, there will probably be two weddings at the same time, and only separated by a lobby and one of those folding room barriers. So here's my story:My boss's ex-fiance is a chef there and she swore that they and the whole company are willing to bargain. I didn't believe her at first, but eventually called. I happened to call their sister site, The Fox Hill Inn first. They quoted me xprice including everything: food, cake, bar, gratuity. I then called Riverview. They quoted me exactly the same price, but it didn't include the gratuity. I told her that was my max including gratuity, so she came down and agreed to the same price. I was thrilled. She seemed a little difficult on the phone, but didn't think anything of it. We scheduled our appt and were very impressed. We decided to book it. I thought that Suzie was a little pushy and kind of rude, but I just thought ok whatever, she's not going to be my wedding planner. So she emails me a "contract". I was very unhappy with it and did not think that it covered enough to protect me like a contract is supposed to do. For instance, it did not have that it included gratuity, even though this is not something they usually do and did not even say how many hors d'oeuvres, etc, I could choose. So I called up Suzie and was very pleasant and said I really need it to include this few things, please change it. She gave me a hard time and eventually said she would talk to "corporate" about it. I called her a few days later to see how it went. We had a 20 minute long conversation about it. I explained, I really need it to include just a few more minor things because I want to know that my several thousand dollar investment was totally covered. She disagreed and said "our packages don't change, so it doesn't need to include what's in our packages." I argued back, giving the example: what if you leave and jim-bob or whoever takes over your job. It doesn't say on our contract that gratuity is included, so he could say, well, it doesn't say it on here so you have to pay it. She said, no, that wouldn't happen, because somehow, by it not being there, it means I don't have to pay it. Uh...what? She actually said to me "I don't know how much simpler I can make this" in a very nasty tone. So she lost my business and pretty much told me that she was glad not to have to deal with me. No joke, I am a SERIOUSLY reasonable person and VERY down to earth. So, sorry that was long. I think you could probably have a beautiful wedding there, but since you asked, I thought that you should know about my unpleasant experience. I ended up signing with the Fox Hill Inn for about $1000 less because he's super willing to bargain. And he definitely is a salesman, but really nice about it and never rude. The setting is really different, but it fits us much better I think.

PrincessLea84 · August 2009

I tried to get information from Suzie twice and she was short/rude and would not give me any information unless I went in for a visit. I had called several places and this was the only venue that would not release anything about pricing unless I came in - that made me feel suspicious about how they run their business and in the end, I never met with her and went with a different venue. But I do know that this is a definitely a popular place for weddings...it's new and someplace different for people to have their wedding.

jallen2800 · August 2009

Thanks again for all your input ladies. I am meeting with Susie on Sat. I hope she is not to pushy b/c I just don't like that and neither does FI. Our wedding is not until 2011 so we still have some time to decide on a venue. But from what I'm hearing their rep is not to good. But we will see when we meet her.

KTnino · August 2009

I am having my wedding at the Riverview next July. They def were willing to work with us on price and gave us a "special" rate if we booked within the weekend we looked at it. You may want to make this the last place you look because you can get a discount if you book rather quickly. The place is beautiful and I am really excited about it. Also, we were able to book a hotel that does free shuttle to and from and was only a little over 100. As for the food, I have friends that have been there before and everyone was happy with the food. Hope this helps.

KTnino · August 2009

oh and I cant remember the girls name but she was sooo wonderful that I worked with i will have to go back and check my paperwork.

kls114 · August 2009

I do not know much about The Riverview but I did look into their other site The Waterview and loved it! The people are great to work with there! Although we didn't end up with them as our venue--they were extremely nice! Yay another July 2011 Bride!!! Welcome!!!!

kls114 · August 2009

Btw...come join us over on the July 2011 board!!!

newenglander2010 · August 2009

Personally, I have heard many more negative things about Riverview than positive. Mostly surrounding the food. Almost everyone I know who went to weddings there was disappointed with the food and frankly that is a big part of what people remember. It is a lovely new building, but not enough for me to spend money on for bad food. I'd recommend the Simsbury Inn. That's where we are going, we know the staff personally, and have never heard a single bad comment about that venue.

veryjudd54 · August 2009

I am also getting married at the Riverview and went to a wedding there recently. My experience has been nothing but positive...We have been working with Maureen and she was amazing when it came to the price...willing to work with us and came up with a number we were comfortable with as well as through in the Martini bar at no cost. i lovedddd the food when I was there and so far, have stopped by there on 4 different occasions (because my family was in town and they are from jersey) and each time, I was welcomed to come in, walk around, and they sent me home with some samples of the appetizer to try. I think you will always hear mixed reviews but I tried 11 different venues and ended up at The Riverview. Also, there could potentially be another wedding there but we are going to do separate times from the other wedding so we won't bump into them. You do not need to use the lobby for anything as there are other ways to leave your area so don't let that discourage you

Good luck no matter where you go!

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