The Mill or the Channel Club...please HELP need your input!!!

Re: The Mill or the Channel Club...please HELP need your input!!!

• agu101 member

  

  April 2012

  I've been to both, so here's my input.  If you want beach-themed, I'd say go for Channel Club.  You're right across the street from the beach and you have a beautiful waterfront view.  I heard it was recently renovated, so I'm not sure what it looks like these days.  When we looked at it I recall kind of a dark carpeting in the room, which kind of took away from the brightness of the room.  Personally if I wasn't in school in October I would have loved to have had my wedding then.  The weather is still nice and no people are on the beach, which makes taking picures more intimate.

  
  

  The Mill is definitely beatiful, but I do agree it is not a "beach" themed place.  When we went to a friends wedding there a few years ago the cocktail hour was indoors, but honestly I wouldn't have known if there was an outside option or not.  I will say July is a very quick turnaround- you'd have to get a rush order on your dress and find vendors ASAP.  It's not impossible, but in this area vendors book up well over a year in advance.  A wedding coordinator will be helpful because they'll be able to hook you up and negotiate good prices because it is such short notice.

  
  

  Not sure what your budget is, but if you want beachy, check out Mallard Island or Bonnet Island, however I will warn you they are $$$.

  
  

  Good luck and your wedding will be beautiful no matter where you have it!

  

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• mss274 member

  

  April 2012

  There are two other venues you could consider as well: 
  
  Ocean Place in Long Branch- has lots of options, you can have the outside patio, indoor rooms, and on the beach.
  Water's Edge in Sea Bright 
  
  I think early October would be fine for the beach.

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• GiGiV2012 member

  

  April 2012 edited April 2012

  I have never been to The Mill so I can't speak of it.
   
  I've been to The Channel Club for a wedding last summer. I actually thought the downstairs space that they use for cocktail hour was much nicer than the upstairs. I don't like the fact that they don't have elevators for older guests and I guess I wasn't thrilled with the wood look. I did, however, like the fact that near the bar were those shelves that you can personalize with candles and family photos. I didn't think the ceiling was low but I dunno..I'm not crazy about the place.

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• Melvin7712 member

  

  April 2012

  We looked at many of the places that you mentioned.  At first glance, we liked the Channel Club.  After visiting it again, 2 more times, we started to think that the upstairs room looked dated and that the dancefloor was a little ackward with the pillars surrounding it.  We also didn't like that there wasn't an elevator for guests.  Last summer when we were looking, an elevator didn't seem like a big deal at first...but the more we thought about it, it could potentially be very embarassing for a family member or friend to have to be carried up the stairs by staff.  We decided against Channel Club -- the more people that I have mentioned it to, the happier I am that we did so.

  
  

  We actually ended up booking The Mill for this July.  We love it there!  Everytime we go back, we know more and more that it was the right choice for us.  We booked the downstairs room for cocktail hour and the upstairs room for dinner.  We also wanted an indoor/outdoor experience.  We are still using a semi-beachy theme (many brides there do, too) and we are taking beach pictures nearby.  Based on everyone's reactions when we tell them where our wedding reception will be, we know it was the right choice.  

  
  

  Good luck making your decision!

  

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• danilynn72 member

  

  April 2012

  Hi there,
  
  Just sent you a PM asking a very important question.
  
  Thanks,
  Danielle
  
  
  
  
  In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_the-mill-or-the-channel-clubplease-help-need-your-input?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:90Discussion:af05f570-0aef-47da-b41a-96a80896c44aPost:8de46fcb-8917-4937-94f8-fb178ef88f3a">Re: The Mill or the Channel Club...please HELP need your input!!!</a>:
  [QUOTE]We looked at many of the places that you mentioned.  At first glance, we liked the Channel Club.  After visiting it again, 2 more times, we started to think that the upstairs room looked dated and that the dancefloor was a little ackward with the pillars surrounding it.  We also didn't like that there wasn't an elevator for guests.  Last summer when we were looking, an elevator didn't seem like a big deal at first...but the more we thought about it, it could potentially be very embarassing for a family member or friend to have to be carried up the stairs by staff.  We decided against Channel Club -- the more people that I have mentioned it to, the happier I am that we did so. We actually ended up booking The Mill for this July.  We love it there!  Everytime we go back, we know more and more that it was the right choice for us.  We booked the downstairs room for cocktail hour and the upstairs room for dinner.  We also wanted an indoor/outdoor experience.  We are still using a semi-beachy theme (many brides there do, too) and we are taking beach pictures nearby.  Based on everyone's reactions when we tell them where our wedding reception will be, we know it was the right choice.   Good luck making your decision!
  Posted by Melvin7712[/QUOTE]

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• lnf616 member

  

  April 2012

  McLoones in Sea Bright is on the Riverside of the water, but absolutely beautiful!  Prices are reasonable too.

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• onwingsofnight member

  

  September 2012 edited September 2012

  Stay out of the Shadowbrook and don't use the Channel Club either!  Shadowbrook destroyed my wedding day and friends just got married at the Channel Club and it was just as bad!  The food was raw, the service was terrible and the bartender said F--- You to the groom when he asked for a round of shots!  WHO DOES THAT?!?!?!?!  AND there was an odor under our table like that of sour milk or vomit.  That really makes you want to eat!  Don't know if you want to travel at all, but Vanity Faire in Lakewood, NJ does an exceptional wedding, as does the Ramada Inn in Toms River.  (Believe it or not!!)

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