WEDDING VENUE QUESTIONS

bride2be7711 · February 2014

Hey i just recently got engaged and was wondering if anyone could give me any insight on a few venues. I made appts to look at the grove, seasons, addison park, rockleigh, gramercy at lakeside manor, above, the brownstone, and southgate. Can anyone give me any info on these places as far as pricing, food, service etc. i would greatly appreciate it!!

JoanE2012 · February 2014

I don't have any specific info, but I'm sure if you also put those venue names in the search, you'll see previous threads that may contain info. Just don't reply to a really old thread because those people are usually not around anymore.

Also, I found most venues were willing to give pricing info over the phone. You don't want to waste your time (and they don't want to waste theirs!) with a meeting for a venue that you can't afford. Good luck!

bride2be7711 · February 2014

Thank u so much!

silver0319 · February 2014

I second what @JoanE2012 said.

I contacted most of the venues I visited via email, and spoke with a few over the phone. I did end up visiting one venue that wouldn't provide me with pricing via phone or email, because it was one of our top choices.

By getting pricing and menus ahead of time, we were able to shorten our list of venues to visit.

olleb4 · February 2014

To answer your initial question - Seasons was around $150 plus service and tax, and minimum guest count for the downstairs room is around 175 people (upstairs $130 for minimum 130 people). We walked into the Grove and off the bat he told us a minimum of 200 people for any Friday, Saturday or Sunday so we thanked him and walked out. I would actually do the opposite what PPs said. Because we wanted to get married within the year of getting engaged I went to venues regardless of what they told me over the phone or email because if your date is not booked yet they're willing to negotiate to book it. Of course if you're booking 2015 you don't have bargaining power. Visiting allllll of these places also helped me to indefinitely rule out places I wasn't a fan of or didn't like the people when visiting so that later I wouldn't wonder "what if" like many people book.

bride2be7711 · February 2014

Thank u @futuremrspa .. Where did u wind up booking? @maidoftoy thank u so much!... Im getting married in 2016.. Want to do a june wedding-- what about u?

mellyD2014 · February 2014

I know Addison park is about 220pp on a Saturday night in the Sept/Oct time frame. I thought that was incredibly overpriced; the building is stunning but it sits on an area of HWY 35 that is a total cluster in terms of traffic; there's serious road construction all around it and the grounds are nothing special. They had great customer service, though.

Brownstone is great in terms of price - they quoted us around 110pp on a Saturday in Sept/Oct (which tends to be the high season, so prices shouldn't get too much more) but they really do work with every budget. It's a pretty place, but we went to a free tasting and the food was half good and half only okay.

Southgate - I've been to a few shows here; very pretty space, but unfortunately I don't have a lot of info.

Good luck!

We ended up choosing the Crystal Plaza on a Friday night in September... they were wonderful; worked with our budget and gave us everything we wanted and more. I agree with PPs - most places will give you a general price range over the phone, so don't go out to the places that aren't in your budget. We made that mistake and fell in love with a place totally out of our price range. It sucked!

MsVeronicaG · February 2014

I just booked Seasons for 2015. After some negotiating, we got $95 pp, the upstairs room with a minimum of 140 people on a Sunday night. The downstairs room required at least 175 people and we were quoted $130 pp. The outside may not be as phenomenal as some other venues but the food has always been fantastic for all the events I've attended.

I tried to get an appointment with the Brownstone and they were very snooty and unaccommodating over the phone/email so I never visited. I heard the rooms are gorgeous but the food is so so.

I found prices vary depending on the day of the week, the time of the reception (late morning/early afternoon reception vs. evening reception) and time of the year. From my experience, Sunday -Thursdays, the earlier receptions and November - February have the best pricing.

Good luck venue hunting!!

bride2be7711 · February 2014

thank you ladies for your feedback! @msveronicag @mellyd2014

@msveronicag good luck !! did they tell you the pricing at the seasons on a friday or saturday night? I'm also looking for june --which i know is a peak wedding season and prob expensive lol… i have an appt at the brownstone monday-- i heard mixed reviews so we shall see…. !

@maidoftroy o wow 6 years congrats!! ill take as much advice as i can get lol where did u get married?

rainbows0215 · February 2014

I went to a bridal shower t the Brownstone I enjoyed the food

majesty318 · February 2014

bride2be7711 we looked at Seasons. We were booking under a year so supposedly it was a deal - $135 pp for a Saturday night in April, upstairs room, with a guarantee of 150 people.

shannyb41 · February 2014

I attended a wedding at The Grove and the food was AWESOME. That's really my only relevant input. haha

MsVeronicaG · February 2014

@bride2be7711 - Thanks! I didn't ask for prices for Friday or Saturday because my fi and I had a certain date in mind. They did tell me their price per person doesn't change seasonally like most other venues.

Oh and I heard from my future SIL that the food at the Brownstone was delicious when she was there for a wedding! If you have time, I'd love to hear how your venue search goes!

bride2be7711 · February 2014

@majesty318 o wow not too bad hopefully prices r still the same lol @shannyb41-- lol yea i heard the food at the grove was really good.. I cant seem to find someone eho knows pricing ugh! And thats the last place alon with seasons im going to look at at the end of march! I shouldve made appts sooner @msveronicag thank u! - going to look at 5 places this week and up and coming weekend .. I will let u know how it goes! Btw do these places let u test taste the food at these appts? I know seasons doesnt but what bout the others?

Kris10_NJ · February 2014

We looked at The Grove. It is an outstanding place, but in the end after cost-benefit analysis (lol) we decided not to go with it. We went in Sept or Oct and were looking for May/June or Sept/Oct 2014. We actually got some competitive pricing for some dats that weren't booked yet ($119pp for Fri Memorial weekend) but since you are looking now for June 2016, you won't have the same bargaining power. They quoted us $229pp for a Sat in Sept/Oct with a 225 min + $21% grat & 7%tax. I would imagine pricing would be similar for a Sat in June. That was way more than we were looking to spend / invite! For a Friday Sept/Oct it was $169 & 175 min. They probably had the highest gratuity rate of all the places we looked. Hope that helps! I didn't taste any of the food at any of our initial looking appointment, I think that comes usually after you book the place.

futuremrscrystal · February 2014

@bride2be7711 we are having our reception at Addison Park in August 2014. We are paying 175pp tax and gratuity included. Our wedding is on a Sunday

bride2be7711 · February 2014

Thank u @kris10_nj for your feedback!! Where did you wind up booking? @futuremrscrystal thank you.. Did u find out about a friday or saturday?

bride2be7711 · February 2014

@msveronicag i just got back from my appt at the brownstone and i did not like the place 1 bit. The food seems like it would be good but i think that was his main selling point. The place is very outdated and located in a horrible neighborhood. The brownstone is out for us-- cant wait for the other appts lol

beachbabe7885 · February 2014

My FI and I are getting married at South Gate. We went to a food tasting there and the food was AMAZING! We are doing a stations dinner, so it will take up the whole room and we will have the building to ourselves for the night. They have been great to work with so far-very nice and accommodating! The prices were really great too! $130 (plus tax and tip) for a Friday in October, and that includes 2 action dessert stations and egg sandwiches to go!

StacyMorena · March 2014

My fiance and I are getting married at the South Gate on 5/31/14 and they have been a pleasure to work with. For a Sat in May we are at 125 p/p with a very plentiful cocktail hour and a sit down dinner. They are def willing to workwith you on prices/menus....they threw in a few stations, etc to make our day that much better! I am really looking forward having the place all to ourselves for the day as well.

WEDDING VENUE QUESTIONS

Re: WEDDING VENUE QUESTIONS

Choose Another Board

Search Boards