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So lost :(

diskrisdiskris
First Comment
in New Jersey
I got engaged 10/17/10 and I haven't really started anything yet for my wedding. We are trying to find a venue, but I requested info from dozens of places with only replies from about 6. The food is very important to us. We are going to have around 200 people. We like the menus at The Manor in West Orange, The English Manor, Doolan's Shore Club, and The Hamilton Park Hotel. We haven't visited any of them yet, but I am really interested in other people's opinions of these places. If the food is bad the place is definitely out. Also any other suggestions for venues would be great because I am getting worried that I don't have a venue book for a May 27, 2012 wedding. Our families keep saying we need a place booked ASAP, but I don't want to book someplace that ended up being horrible for someone else.
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Re: So lost :(

  • Reilly626Reilly626 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The Grand Summit Hotel., my venue- check it out, wonderful food! And I can go for dinner whenever I want too.. dont worry you've got plenty of time. One thing at a time.
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  • mbcdefgmbcdefg member
    10000 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    You still have lots of time to book a May 2012 wedding, so don't worry too much.

    It's better to call the places and make an appointment, rather than request info from them. You'll get much better results that way. A lot of places aren't great at responding to calls or e-mails, plus they will give you an info packet if you meet in person.

    But it'll help us suggest places for you if you tell us what you want to spend, and what area of the state you're looking in. A lot of places will say, "Oh yeah, sure, we can do $90 per person!" and then you get there and that's the price for, like, a Wednesday afternoon in February. So if you give us an idea of your budget and the area you want to stay within, we can be more helpful.

    Our reception was at The Tides Estate in North Haledon, and we were very happy with it and we got a lot of compliments from our guests. We also considered Bridgewater Manor in Bridgewater, and Costa Del Sol in Union.
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  • cutiepie12702cutiepie12702
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married at the Crystal Ballroom at the Radisson in Freehold. I've heard RAVE reviews about the food there, the cocktail hour in particular is something I've heard people really go on about. Food is extremely important to us as well. The ballroom can fit up to 300 people and was just redone two years ago so it's up to date and modern with huge chandeliers. The pictures online really don't do it justice. We have about 60% of guests from out of state, so we really liked the idea of there being a hotel on site too so we didn't have to worry about people getting from one place to another. They are also very reasonably priced.
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  • gymchick05gymchick05
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are having our wedding at the Hamilton Park Hotel and the food really is outstanding. We had our tasting already and there really wasnt anything I didnt love, and I am very picky. I have also heard the food at the Manor is great as well, so you probably cant go wrong. We looked at the Manor and liked it, but I was thrilled w/ 3 weddings at a time and the bridal suite was very small. I think, cant remember now, that where the bathrooms were compared to the room was a bit of  weird layout, but I could be thinking of somewhere else. And we loved the idea of two full bars in the ballroom vs some places only offering 1, which creates more of a wait.

    I love w/ our place that it is one wedding at a time (one wedding per day!) and the people there are amazing to work with. It also has more of a modern feel, which we liked more than some of the more vctorian looking banquet halls. I'm not familair w/ the other places you looked at, but will agree as well that the upstairs room at the Tides is beautiful as well and I have heard the food is very good there as well
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  • diamondx423diamondx423
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Doolans Shore Club is disgusting. Bugs everywhere and their remodel wasnt nearly the overhaul that place needed.

    English Manor is very nice, heard the food was great. I'm getting married at Crystal Point Yacht Club and we've been there a few times for different events and each time I've loved the food.
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  • Nikki83185Nikki83185 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are getting married at The English Manor, I have heard good things about the food and our tasting was great. We have been working with Nancy Bradley...I suggest you call and schedule a tour and a tasting.

    Dont worry too much...you still have time! :) We booked one year prior
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  • RosannFellRosannFell
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Try the Venetian....that is where we are booked and the food is supposed to be AMAZING.  Good luck!  You have a little time but don't wait too long!
    I couldn't tell you the day that I fell in love...but fall I did...head over heels in fact...Can't wait until I marry the love of my life.
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  • sgdc2011sgdc2011 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The Primavera Regency in Stirling.. EXCELLENT Food!
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  • cindy91788cindy91788
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Out of the places you listed, the only one we visited (and I was in a wedding there too) is The Manor, and we didn't like it at all.
    Since you are looking in the area though, have you checked out The Richfield Regency in Verona? That is where we are getting married.. I've heard nothing but great things about it.
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  • mariaNryan mariaNryan
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    IN that area you should check the atrium

    We are getting Married at the tides.... All Ive heard was wonderful things on the food
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  • kozacskozacs member
    Third Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am getting married at the Atrium and haven't done a tasting yet, but everything is supposed to be amazing.  They have tastings every Wed. evening so you can call and make an apptointment!
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  • K&J64K&J64 member
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would try McCloone's down the shore or The English Manor.

    Up North my favorites for food are The Grand Summit, The Mansion at Brettonwoods, Perona Farms, The Imperia, or Seasons. I've heard the food at The Manor in W.O. is really good, but I'm not a fan of their decor, it's a bit too much for me personally.

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  • diskrisdiskris
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Wow!!! Thank you all for your replies! I feel like I have to have a venue booked by December 31st otherwise I am screwed!!!

    Okay Doolan's is out. I don't like bugs! I had a feeling it wasn't going to be too nice because in one of the pictures it looks like that the hotel pool is outside the window to the ballroom. We said we would give it a try, but no...not anymore!

    I wasn't too thrilled with the Manor because they could have up to 3 weddings. It was more of the food that was attracting us and someone told me that she always has to go to their Sunday buffets for family events all the time and the food is not good. Obviously a different setting though.

    We have 4 appointments this weekend. None with the ones I listed though haha!

    We are going to see the Bethwood and Berkeley Plaza on Saturday, and The Imperia and the Waterside on Sunday.

    I think The Imperia will be out because someone told me their prices are over $150.

    We are looking to spend no more than $130/person, but that will have to be for a pretty spectacular place. The Waterside told me $120 for my date if I have a certain amount of people which I met. It is on the Hudson River with the NYC skyline behind the ballroom. I am okay with that because of the location and the backdrop obviously.

    I am hoping to have someplace with a hotel within walking distance. I liked the idea of the Hamilton Park Hotel because it is a hotel. The only thing I didn't like was that there was a bad review on weddingwire. They said that they would definitely have their wedding their again, but that their maitr'd wasn't the best. He was taking drinks out of people's hands and cutting people off at the bar. I don't see us having horribly drunk people at our wedding, but I would be pissed if that happened at my wedding. 

    I hope to make appointments with Hamilton Park Hotel and The English Manor. I also have a lot of people telling me about the South Gate Manor. Does anyone know how their prices are?

    I also don't have a specific area either. I know this might sound really dumb, but I don't really want my wedding in a hotel ballroom. I am a dance teacher and I guess after being in ballrooms all the time for dance competitions they aren't appealing to me. 

    Ahhhh so much info! haha!

    Thanks again!
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  • gymchick05gymchick05
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hi diskris- Just wanted to tell you, I booked Hamilton Park...that review was my only concern too haha. I asked about that and the alcohol policy, etc. They basically told me in the years they have been doing weddings only two individuals ever have been cut off. I met the maitre'd in the review at the tasting and he seemed super nice. There are a ton of raving reviews and only one bad review. To be honest, almost every vendor, hotel Ive ever booked, vacation Ive ever booked, etc has one unhappy person that posts a review. But since that is the only bad review out of a large amount (i think its close to 50), I wouldnt let that turn you off. I will tell you, they do not allow shots there (at the downstairs bar you can do as many as you want), but lots of wedding venues dont allow shots when I asked around- they were just the only ones who were upfront and told us about it (I think cause Kate is in the same age group, she thinks that way haha).

    Anyway, not trying to sell you on it at all, but dont let that one negative review turn you off. I have a large amount of heavy drinkers in our friend group and I was ensured (unless someone was passed out or something haha) that they dont cut them off. And after seeing how some of them were at our Halloween party I am no very thankful they cannot do shots at the wedding! haha

    Please let me know what you think of Waterside. I wanted to look there because I really wanted a NYC view, but it was way too far from our church.
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  • diskrisdiskris
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks gymchick! That helps me a little bit knowing that you met with them and spoke to them about it. I will let you know about Waterside. How are the rooms at the Hamilton Park Hotel?
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