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north jersey reception location venues needed. please help!

ddinerddiner member
10 Comments
in New Jersey
hello fellow soon to be brides and grooms!  we need your help finding more reception caterning halls/country clubs/etc. Our only slight issue is that we will have a MAX of 125 people, and many of the locations we have seen have a min of 150.  We would like a sunday afternoon (4:30 pm -onward) wedding in north NJ, and are finding that our guest list of 125 is falling short.  We would like to stay below $150 per person (not including tax and tip).  While a view of the NY skyline would be nice, its not a must.   

Here's what we are looking for (non negotiable):
1)super high ceiling in the ballroom - we love the openness they give, and will absolutely not consider locations with standard (12 foot high) ceilings
2)amazing food - we love full viennese tables! and this being a jewish wedding, food is VERY important =D
3) classy decor - we like simple vs ornate.
4) beautiful indoor ceremony room.  We are planning to get married in Aug 2012 and do NOT want our guests to sweat to death outside. 

Here's the places we have already seen:
Il Villaggio
Il Tulipano
Rockleigh Country Club
The Grove
Crystal Plaza
Florentine Gardens

is there anything we are missing???  please help! Thank you all in advance!!
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Re: north jersey reception location venues needed. please help!

  • 37 Butter Knives37 Butter Knives member
    Fourth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Look into my venue, Orange Lawn Tennis Club - unfussy elegance, and it has those high ceilings you want. I wrote a review here: http://northjersey.weddings.com/main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-jersey_venue-review-orange-lawn-tennis-club-south-orange

    For us, it was perfect in every way. But you would have to make some adjustments to your very strict criteria.

    • On-site ceremonies tend to be held outside, with the ballroom as a backup. There's no chapel or dedicated ceremony room. I must say I'm glad you recognize that outdoor ceremonies in New Jersey can be uncomfortable for guests at the height of the summer!
    • You may be able to have an event around the $150 mark, but if you want a full-blown cocktail hour, that could be in the neighborhood of $200 (it may be less for a Sunday ... definitely ask). And I don't think they offer Viennese. The food quality should remain very high, even though they're working with a new chef now.
    • You can have an event for 125 guests, but you won't have access to all of the clubhouse for cocktail hour. That takes a 150 guest minimum.

    I know you bolded "non-negotiable", but unless you built your own reception venue, it's going to be very difficult to find something that upholds all your criteria in New Jersey. Hopefully you'll find a place that comes close!
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  • giantsgirl12giantsgirl12
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Valley Regency!
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  • buttrflyahbuttrflyah member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Try the Seasons in Washington Township.  A Sunday afternoon should be about $90pp before tax & gratuity and the Veinnese table is $15 extra pp.   The ceremony is held in the ballroom.  They have 2 rooms - the main ballroom has a minimum of 175 people but we were told they would do 125 for a day wedding.  You can probably get them even lower.  No NYC skyline, but its gorgeous!
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  • gymchick05gymchick05
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would highly recommend my venue and I think it meets all your criteria except the skyline view. We are getting married at Hamilton Park Hotel. The ballroom is simple and modern and very elegant. The ceiling are incredibly high and the food is outstanding. Our minimum on a Saturday evening is 125, so you may be able to get an even lower minimum on a Sunday. The cost is around $123pp before tax/gart (about $156pp inclusive) and I believe its an extra $10-$15pp for the Vienesse hour, so it would fit in your budget nicely. And the best part is that being its a hotel, guests dont have to worry about shuttles, you can have an afterparty on site if you want, and you even get the presidential suite!  Here are some photos I recently found of a wedding there (they have very few photos on the website and what they do show is outdated) http://www.weddingaces.com/2011/01/real-wedding-hamilton-park-hotel-conference-center-florham-park-new-jersey/
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  • jesmall127jesmall127 member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Westmount Country Club.  For the smaller ballroom, the minimum on a Friday night is 150 (and Saturday night is 175), so it might be above your max but it doesn't hurt to call and ask.  The rooms are very modern and classy and do have a beautiful view (though not of NYC).  And you can taste the food on your first visit!

    (We also looked at Hyatt in JC and Liberty House when we thought we wanted a NYC view - I know LH will be above $150 and Hyatt might be.  Hyatt doesn't have a minimum number of people, just a minimum amount of money so that may work to your advantage.  They both have amazing views, but you will not get as much food (or the same quality) as compared to other venues on your list.)
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  • banolebanole
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We''re  getting married at The Manor and since the odds of getting married outside in the middle of November are slim to none, our ceremony will be in another beutiful room right nixt to the reception room.
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  • schrutebeetsschrutebeets
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Try Nanina's in the Park, Park Savoy, The Villas at Mountain Lake, and Pleasantdale Chateau.
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  • BigWebbBigWebb
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    The Chart House in Weehawken
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  • christineashleychristineashley member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am having my reception at The Liberty House and I negotiated with her down to $150 pp for a Saturday night. Gorgeous view! We didn't cut out a lot of food either to bring it down to that price...
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  • michellemac14michellemac14
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Macaluso's... gorgeous ballroom... high ceilings... def BELOW your budget... you can get the main ballroom with a 125 min...
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  • michelle221michelle221 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments First Answer
    edited December 2011
    I second SEASONS, you will be VERY happy with what they have to offer!
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