Newly engaged - HELP!! Venues in South Jersey

SoontobeMrsSchmitt · September 2012

I'm newly engaged (5 wonderful days) & my fiance & I have already looked at 3 venues. We weren't overly impressed with any one in particular. We saw Auletto's in Deptford (around the corner from our home), but we have heard from a few ppl that the food is so so. Then we went to Nicolsi carterers (we loved Al) - I am not a huge fan of a few things: the actual look of the building & the chair covers (is that too picky)? Lastly, we went to the Palace in Blackwood - I won't lie we both thought it smelled! We have 2 venues left with appointments - The Lakeside Manor in Gibbsboro & Brigalias in Sicklerville. Am I being too picky? Has anyone heard anything about any of those places??

Thanks!

allychase · September 2012

I visited Brigalia's, they have a BEATIFUL outdoor area, but depending how many guests you have and how much you're willing to spend, it's a little overpriced. I say that because I visited Lucien's Manor before Brigalia's and was quoted 75/pp for 25 passes hors' dourves at cocktail hour along with a hibachi station, pasta station and more, unlimited entrees at dinner, open bar, huuuge dessert display, and cake included.

Brigalia's 75/pp offer only allowed me 3 passed hors' dourves and NO stations at cocktail hour. The room they wanted us in reminded me of an old grandmas house. Our room at Lucien's is BEAUTIFUL (look at my sig pic) and out of all the places we visited- Holiday Inn Swedesboro, Venice Plaza, Brigalias, Bradford estate, and Greate bay country club, it was the best value for our money. I'd recommend checking them out.

The bradford estate was very beautiful, but had a high minimum for friday night weddings and the only way we'd be able to afford them was having a Sunday wedding-not doable. So, all depends on your budget and what day you wish to get married.

I'm getting married on a friday in April so it's cheaper, May/June and Sept/October are very expensive wherever you go. And of course Saturdays cost more money where ever you are also.

sunnyRN · September 2012

There's always the Camden County Boathouse in Pennsauken. It's right on the Cooper River. FI and I were going to get married there but just decided to elope and go to Hawaii. We had a tasting with Due Amici (one of the caterers for the Boathouse) and were very pleased with them. Good luck with the wedding planning!!!

OliveOilsMom · September 2012

I am a Brigalias bride. The whole place, inside and out are beautifully kept. The food is absolutley delisious! The include many things with your price including the cake and centerpieces. There is also no price difference between a buffet or sit down dinner, which is a rarity!

But I've attended a wedding at Luciens and the appetizers during cocktail hour were soggy and the dinner arrived at the table luke warm. Not the best way to entertain guests.

allychase · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_south-new-jersey_newly-engaged-help-venues-in-south-jersey?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:128Discussion:b6927cf6-5033-4dfe-99f6-b337416c9c31Post:1bbec3f3-6e0e-4d3e-81cf-d74b55ecf3d5">Re: Newly engaged - HELP!! Venues in South Jersey</a>:
[QUOTE]I am a Brigalias bride. The whole place, inside and out are beautifully kept. The food is absolutley delisious! The include many things with your price including the cake and centerpieces. There is also no price difference between a buffet or sit down dinner, which is a rarity! But I've attended a wedding at Luciens and the appetizers during cocktail hour were soggy and the dinner arrived at the table luke warm. Not the best way to entertain guests.
Posted by OliveOilsMom[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>Ah well you're the only person who's said anything bad about the food. And I don't think 3 hors dourves at cocktail hour in a huge room that would be completely empty is a good way to entertain guests either.</div><div>
</div><div>I can make snarky, sideways comments too :)</div><div>
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</div><div>
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OliveOilsMom · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_south-new-jersey_newly-engaged-help-venues-in-south-jersey?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:128Discussion:b6927cf6-5033-4dfe-99f6-b337416c9c31Post:e49eb7c9-45a6-4c4c-a781-10eef2fdc58a">Re: Newly engaged - HELP!! Venues in South Jersey</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Newly engaged - HELP!! Venues in South Jersey : Ah well you're the only person who's said anything bad about the food. <strong>And I don't think 3 hors dourves at cocktail hour in a huge room that would be completely empty is a good way to entertain guests either.</strong> I can make snarky, sideways comments too :)
Posted by allychase[/QUOTE]

But this is where you are wrong. You pick a few passed appetizers and then they also fill your room with their other standard apps. Including meats and cheeses, pepperoni bread, tempora battered veggies, etc. Many of my guests took dinner in a doggy bag because they ate so much at cocktail hour and I didn't even have the highest package!

I was just offering OP my personal expierence at Luciens, just like you are offering your personal opinion on Brigalias. Take it snarky if you want, I was just telling the truth.

Love11506 · September 2012

I will be going to a wedding october 19th at lake side manor so I could tell you after that! Also I do think that you have to provide your own alcohol at the lake side manor

melissamalicea · September 2012

We booked with Lucien's Manor for October 2014 and we're paying $100/pp for the Venetian Room (smaller rooms are a bit cheaper). After checking out the Merion, the Mansion in Voorhees, Lucien's and Brigalia's, we felt like we got the most for our money at Lucien's. There is so much food offered at cocktail hour, seconds on the main entrees, and beautiful grounds for pictures. Whenever I tell someone where my wedding is, they rave about how beautiful it is there and how delicious their food is. It was a toss up between Brigalia's and Lucien's, as Brigalia's main room was beautiful and had a cozy feel to it. They do offer centerpieces, but I wouldn't have used them, as they are not my style. I've heard good things about Brigalia's cocktail hour, but I had a few people tell me that the main course was just okay. That played a big role in my decision too, because I don't want people to leave my reception hungry. Definitely check out Lucien's!

jangbeh24.defunct635761171605148292 · September 2012

IM also a Luciens Bride. IM getting a lot for my money and even if you heard dinner was not warm enough, let them know. My wedding is November 9, I already had my tasting. The food was good and it was served buffet style so it was not hot and i made sure to let them know of that. Even our priest told us their food are good and not to worry!

allychase · September 2012

In Response to Re:Newly engaged HELP!! Venues in South Jersey:[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Newly engaged HELP!! Venues in South Jersey:In Response to Re: Newly engaged HELP!! Venues in South Jersey : Ah well you're the only person who's said anything bad about the food. And I don't think 3 hors dourves at cocktail hour in a huge room that would be completely empty is a good way to entertain guests either. I can make snarky, sideways comments too :Posted by allychaseBut this is where you are wrong.nbsp; You pick a few passed appetizers and then they also fill your room with their other standard apps.nbsp; Including meats and cheeses, pepperoni bread, tempora battered veggies, etc.nbsp; Many of my guests took dinner in a doggy bag because they ate so much at cocktail hour and I didn't even have the highest package!I was just offering OP my personal expierence at Luciens, just like you are offering your personal opinion on Brigalias.nbsp; Take it snarky if you want, I was just telling the truth. Posted by OliveOilsMom[/QUOTE]

That wasn't what they told us... When we went through the cocktail room my FI said, so with the middle package, the one in our budget, there won't be anything on these tables because we're only having three passed hors dourves ? She said, that's correct. She said they would put some decorations on those tables. I THINK there may have been the table with the lunch meats and cheese on it, but that was all. It just wasn't enough food for that huge room. Idk, whatever, as long as we're both happy with our venues

Jaqcap17 · September 2012

Brigalias is becoming extremely popular and I think they have made some changes to their menu and what they offer since you booked your wedding Olive.

I am a Mansion Bride....my sales rep really worked with us and he helped us to create our own package for $100 per head on a Sat night. We're having two action stations, a veggie and cheese station and 10 butlered apps at our cocktail hour and then a sit down dinner. I went with the Mansion because I really hated how Brigalias was in the middle of nothing and not really close to many hotels (we have several out of town guests) and I really did not like that Lucien's is right on top of a cemetery. I think they all offer pretty similar menus but it's really just what feels right for you. Good Luck in your search!!!!

SoontobeMrsSchmitt · September 2012

We just booked brigalias yesterday for 92013!! Tina was so sweet after our tour on Saturday she had us come back gave us 7 containers of food to try at home they had 2 weddings there was no where for a formal tasting! We cannot wait to get married there I'm already suggesting them to anyone who will listen : they are running a special and we got everything including the FULL cocktail for 101pp that's after tax gratuity. Lucien's wasn't an option for me. I've been to a few weddings there's. One the food was out of this world the others it was so so. I think it all depends on the day that could truly happen anywhere. One of my closest friends is getting married at Lucien's as well so that played a factor. I didnt want to come in book her venue for before her wedding she's having a long engagement! Thanks ladies good luck to all of you :

Kello4221 · September 2012

Check out the Madison in Riverside. The banquet room was built last year so its brand new, the food is amazing (it's a nice restaurant before being a banquet hall so its a priority to them), and the staff was amazing. I dropped the dessert bar (except the cake) and cut a few apps and was in the price ranges listed above.

cmp121811 · September 2012

I went to a wedding at Lucien's this summer and the cocktail hour was amazing but the dinner was just okay, nothing special. And my fianc had a dirty fork at his setting, but the waiter was super nice when we asked for a new one. I went to a bridal show at Aulettos but I wasn't impressed and I think they're too pricey for what you get.

KayCee85 · October 2012

Ive been to them all, and Brigalias-- hands down-- has the BEST food! Food was amazing, and thats saying a lot for a wedding venue.

sevein8 · October 2012

Not sure what your looking for but you can try Aloft. People are great and more importantly so is the food . Not your typical wedding venue but very hip and fun.

Newly engaged - HELP!! Venues in South Jersey

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