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Between two venues...help! New Haven Lawn Club vs. The Riverview

JaiCruz212JaiCruz212 member
First Comment
in Connecticut
Hello-
I have toured 11 different venue sites throughout CT and have narrowed it down to The New Haven Lawn Club or The Riverview (Simsbury).  Has anyone been to a wedding at either one of these venues?? My biggest concerns are the food and service.  Both of these venues have their charm and elegance but I can't really tell much about the true experience without actually attending an event.

Any feedback would be most appreciated.
Thank you so much in advance!
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Re: Between two venues...help! New Haven Lawn Club vs. The Riverview

  • ZoeTheDogZoeTheDog
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Wow the buildings are SOOO different!!  I can't believe you are down to these two only haha. 

    I've been to the Riverview and I'm booked for Sept 2010 at NHLC.  So clearly I'm going to be partial. 

    My post on the Riverview included a part about how the first wedding to end got kicked the F out of the building - I mean the server took my half-full water out from under me before the clock even struck 11p.  The other wedding that ended later was treated much better at the end of the night (yes I was at both, if you are desperate I will find you the post lol).  Both weddings had issues with lodging - Simbury Inn gave them both the run around on group rates until a few weeks before.  Some people stayed at the Farmington Marriott which I found to be exceptional for a Marriott, very well done.  Overall, the food was good, the bartenders were good. 

    The reason I fell in love with NHLC is because there is NO other building like it anywhere.  We both love the history.  I grew up on the water and FI desperately wanted to have our reception on the water, but that whole idea flew out the window when we saw this place.  Christine is AMAZING - even at her busiest times, it's never more than a day that we have to wait for an email or answer to a question.  The tasting (which you only get to do if you are booked there) was unreal.  The amount of work that goes into that tasting alone is beyond anything I ever saw working at catering hall in the rich part of Long Island for 6 years. 

    I'll stop now...hope that helps, and I'll try to find my review of Riverview from last month for you.

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  • ZoeTheDogZoeTheDog
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Also read a little bit more into the board because I posted about NHLC earlier today. 
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  • JaiCruz212JaiCruz212 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Oh thank you so much for your post. I know I couldn't of picked two places more opposite..lol.
    One of the main things that is bugging me about the Riverview is that they offer no tasting and you just have to trust the food is good.  I  have spoken with Christine a few times and she seems fantastic and detailed.  She is the midst of planning her own wedding so we had a few laughs over that as well.  The food really is as good as it sounds on paper though?? If we book,  the tasting would be in September. 
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  • runtomeruntome
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Oh I love the Lawn Club!! I didn't pick it because of logistics, but a friend of mine who just got engaged is thinking about it now!
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  • jrobertinejrobertine member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    You can also check out reviews at www.weddingwire.com
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  • ZoeTheDogZoeTheDog
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_between-two-venueshelp-new-haven-lawn-club-vs-riverview?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:b77aeb22-ea0d-4722-a56a-5134344c10b9Post:3056ad98-ad8e-44a0-95cd-2e4cda656770">Re: Between two venues...help! New Haven Lawn Club vs. The Riverview</a>:
    [QUOTE]Oh thank you so much for your post. I know I couldn't of picked two places more opposite..lol. One of the main things that is bugging me about the Riverview is that they offer no tasting and you just have to trust the food is good.  I  have spoken with Christine a few times and she seems fantastic and detailed.  She is the midst of planning her own wedding so we had a few laughs over that as well.  The food really is as good as it sounds on paper though?? If we book,  the tasting would be in September. 
    Posted by JaiCruz212[/QUOTE]

    I will tell you the Riverview food was good, overall.  Cocktail hour was way better than dinner though. 

    The NHLC tasting was phenomenal, like I previously mentioned already lol.  Believe it or not, the stuffed chicken that we are serving was the best - even better than the meat!  It was to die for.  FI, who can't get enough red meat, was like, "Put me down for chicken now!" at the tasting back in November. 
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  • ZoeTheDogZoeTheDog
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I found my disgustingly long review of the two Riverview weddings, I will PM it to you! 
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  • Allison546Allison546
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011

    Since these two places are so far away from eachother, I might make the deciding factor where you live and which place is more convenient to you and your guests....
    Good luck!

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  • elmcity brideelmcity bride
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i'm also partial i am booked for nov 2010 at NHLC
    my issue with the riverview was that there can be two weddings there at the same time. this might sound bridezilla-esque but on my wedding day i do not want to see another bride in my venue. i've been to weddings where they have two weddings and they are perfectly wonderful and amazing and the brides don't even see each other. i think at the riverview the rooms are far apart so it's not like you'll see each other much but that was my personal thing.

    also about the NHLC you have the place theentire day, meaning no other events so you can park there / leave stuff there earlier and all around be able to have control of hte whole place on your day.
    that wasmy big pro to that AND of course how beautiful and a "different" kind of venue it felt.

    ditto the comments on the tasting it was awesome, but it was more than the tasting they actually set up tables in your colors so you can see how diff linens look and diff color chivari chairs etc. i would never have known that i didnt like the white chivari with the white linens if i didnt go to the tasting..
    Riverview i went to a wedding there that was very nice they even had negotiated a martini bar for the cocktail hour which was fun (for ex at hte NHLC that is an extra that costs up to $12 per person if you want that so thats a con to the NHLC, getting a sig drink or any extras are pricey)

    ok i think i'm babbling on i hope this helps and YES this is VERY bias as I'm a lawn club bride :)
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  • anaeser1anaeser1
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Well, i'm booked at the Riverview in October. I've heard amazing reviews of the food from some of the most high-brow people I know. The cake tasting was great as well. And they stagger times of weddings so that in fact, you don't see any other brides. If I do catch sight of a random guest, maybe it would bug me, but it's not like we're sharing anything and i probably will be having too much fun to care, really. I liked the fact that The Riverview was built by a reputable group of wedding venues and I know they can get it done right.

    Having said all this, I've never been to the NHLC because i live in Nothern CT...
    Go with your gut, on your special day, it won't steer you wrong!


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  • JaiCruz212JaiCruz212 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thank you so much everyone for your feedback. My fiance and I are going back to CT in a couple of week to tour each place again and make our decision.  Fingers crossed we put down a deposit that day and have our venue and official date. 

    Can't wait to continue this journey....still waiting for all the 'fun' to begin..lol.
    I'll let you know what we decide.

    Thanks so much again!

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  • ZoeTheDogZoeTheDog
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_connecticut_between-two-venueshelp-new-haven-lawn-club-vs-riverview?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:65Discussion:b77aeb22-ea0d-4722-a56a-5134344c10b9Post:62d13d4d-d1bd-4af2-83fe-6de5590a96ea">Re: Between two venues...help! New Haven Lawn Club vs. The Riverview</a>:
    [QUOTE]i think at the riverview the rooms are far apart so it's not like you'll see each other much but that was my personal thing.
    Posted by elmcity bride[/QUOTE]

    Nope they are right next to one another. 
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  • KellyJayDKellyJayD
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I wouldn't say the rooms are right next to eachother I mean same main entrance to building but one ballroom is on the right one is on the left. Once you are on your side you can't see anyone else. They have seperate bathrooms and everything.

    I am getting married at the riverview in October and I really like everything about it so far. The only drawback no food tasting but I as well have heard good things about there food. The cake  tasting was yummy and our coordinator Stephanie is great!
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