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Recent opinions of Newark Club or Highlawn Pavilion?

majesty318majesty318 member
Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
in New Jersey
Since we are trying to get married in about 7 months, we've been all over the place with venues - kind of just seeing who has a reasonable date and who wants to give us a good deal for it being short notice. Does anyone have recent experience as guest or bride with either of these venues? When I search, everything is like 2 years old :(

We both loved the Newark Club but just want some firsthand info. Highlawn, I am not sold at all but they gave us a ridiculous deal and my FI loved it.
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Re: Recent opinions of Newark Club or Highlawn Pavilion?

  • mellyD2014mellyD2014 member
    100 Love Its 100 Comments Second Anniversary Name Dropper
    My fiance and I looked at highlawn a few weeks ago. We really hated the set up of the room and were disappointed that cocktail hour was such a small room (we have a huge amount of people to plan for though (225), so this may not be an issue for you!). I loved the view and loved the outdoor patio, but didn't like that for an evening wedding we wouldn't have access to anything on the main floor since the restaurant is running as normal. The deals were good, the view is incredible, and I loved the park with the gorgeous gazebo right outside. I think you would have gorgeous photos there, and as long as you don't mind sharing the building with people have dinner, it's not a bad venue.
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  • majesty318majesty318 member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    Yeah, I had the same feeling about the set up of the room. I also didn't like the bathroom - perhaps I am crazy but I check out the bathrooms at all the venues! We will have 150-170 so I am not sure if the cocktail room size would be an issue. My fiancé loves it so I wish I did, but I just don't :(
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  • vazquejavazqueja member
    10 Comments Second Anniversary
    I'm getting married at the Newark Club in February! SO excited for it. Loved the venue and Artie is so great. Sorry i dont really have much info on it as I havent gotten married yet! lol
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  • Kris10_NJKris10_NJ member
    Fifth Anniversary 10 Comments Name Dropper
    My fiance and I also looked at the Highlawn recently.  The shape of the upstairs room they use is a little bit odd.  It's a "T" shape, so everyone has a great view of NYC since the "T-arms" are lined with big windows, however, tables at the outer corners have no view of the dance floor, which is "body" of the T shape. The bridal suite, or bridal "closet" as Paul called it, really is that - bathroom & vanity.  Not a big deal if you don't plan of using it.  We just felt it was a little small for us (about 175). I did think the views were incredible, the setting in Eagle Rock Reservation is quite lovely, and the prices were reasonable.  I hear the food is quite good too - FI was in a wedding there a few years back. 
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  • RMMJSRMMJS member
    100 Comments First Anniversary
    I went to a wedding at the Highlawn a little under a year ago.  It was seriously one of the worst weddings I had ever been to.  They had about 160 guests, however, cocktail hour probably had about 20 chairs (no joke) as like pp said, the ch room is very tight. The Viennese was a total joke.   Food and service were nothing memorable.  Based on that wedding, I would never suggest that place.  I was so concerned, that I contacted the Manor (where I had my reception) that same night raising my concerns that I saw there.  
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  • majesty318majesty318 member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    Thanks everyone...we actually ended up taking both of these out of the running. Newark was too expensive and my parents were concerned some of our relatives would be scared off by the idea of Newark. Highlawn, I just really didn't like the room or décor.
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  • FutureMrsN3312FutureMrsN3312 member
    500 Love Its 500 Comments Third Anniversary Name Dropper
    majesty318 said:
    Thanks everyone...we actually ended up taking both of these out of the running. Newark was too expensive and my parents were concerned some of our relatives would be scared off by the idea of Newark. Highlawn, I just really didn't like the room or décor.
    I read online last week that one of the high schools (I want to say James Caldwell) decided to not have their prom there this year because of all the incidents in Newark.  (if that's the real reason who knows) The main concern was that a lot of students drive to themselves to prom and parking was far from the facility.   They felt the students were at risk having to walk the streets of Newark late at night.

    (I've never been to the Newark club so I don't have a first hand experience to go by.)
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  • vazquejavazqueja member
    10 Comments Second Anniversary
    edited October 2013
    Lol I read that article also. But The Newark Club does offer valet parking for weddings.

    Did you look at any other venues? When we were looking we also looked at The Berkley Plaza and Hamilton Park Hotel which were cheaper than Newark Club.

    We were def considering HPH but then saw the newark club and fell in love
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  • majesty318majesty318 member
    Knottie Warrior 100 Love Its 100 Comments First Answer
    We actually looked at 13 venues... I have no idea if that is normal or not, but we did, and now we are down to 4. We're deciding this weekend or my fiancé may leave me, LOL
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  • SM xoSM xo member
    10 Comments Name Dropper First Anniversary
    The Newark Club is beautiful but The Knot has them at $-$$.... they priced me starting at $18K for a Sunday wedding on a holiday (which is usually cheaper) that is def. more than $-$$ in my opinion.
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