Venue help! Afforable price

Rivcarol2 · February 2015

Hello all I am planning my wedding for may 2016. I have been to various places but I'm trying to get a better price. I am not having open bar. Any recommendations for an affordable but beautiful venue? I have my heart set on The Tides and Rockleighs Country Club who have given me the best prices so far but I want to see my other options. Any suggestions?

ohmrs2014 · February 2015

In order to help, we need a little bit more information. How many people? What is your budget? Are you open to a Friday or Sunday wedding? What is your budget? May is a very popular wedding month so there is also a good chance that the prices you have received are going to be the best you can get.

Rivcarol2 · February 2015

We are having between 150 - 175 people. They are charging 114 a plate, but thats without alcohol which is not a big difference from the original price with alcohol. I am looking for spend around 80+tax and grat.p/p because I am flexible with the dates and I am not having open bar. One of the places gave it to me for 80 but I was not too crazy about the location which was the Graycliff.

TaTrToT45 · February 2015

Northern NJ, Central or South? Are u willing to have a wedding at a hotel? If so try Versailles, Sterling, Crystal Ballrooms. You can also try places in Toms River ( Clarion Hotel) or Atlantis Ballroom. My fiancé and I booked The Sterling our friends who are getting married a month before us are getting married at Versailles and we've been to a wedding at the Clarion back in September it was very nice.

majesty318 · February 2015

Honestly, I think the not having an open bar may be what is making things difficult. Most weddings in NJ have open bar. Venues will always get more money for open bar and therefore are going to be less willing to book something at a lower price when they can find someone else for that date who will pay for open bar (meaning pay more).

I would suggest looking into brunch or afternoon. For evening, try booking closer to your date, when the venues kind of just have to take what they can get.

Rivcarol2 · February 2015

I am very flexible with the time and the day of the wedding. The price was higher at first for the The Tides but they took off $20 just eliminating the open bar. Rockleighs only took $5 off the price. These prices were for a Saturday morning/afternon wedding, which was cheaper than a friday evening surprisingly. Is there any other places near North Jersey that would be willing to work a better price, maybe around 80 p/p because the minimum most of the places are taking is 150 people which is not the problem but I just want to stay within my budget.

love0208 · February 2015

Your flexibility with the time and day will help you....Did you take a look at Seasons in Washington? it is about 15 minutes from the venue you mentioned....

I am having my wedding at the Primavera Regency in Stirling, NJ, food is awesome and they do one wedding at a time...

I know Galloping Hill in Union would definitely work in your price range.. they have 2 locations one is a golf course but it is in Union, I don't know if that is too far...

Another place that has good rates is Pantagis in Scotch Plains...beautiful venue and prices are reasonable...

The Brownstone in Paterson, New Jersey.....

ohmrs2014 · February 2015

I had my wedding at the Brownstone and for the amount of food, the price was worth it and they are flexible with their menus and pricing.

Knottie88299842 · February 2015

If you are willing to look a little south then The Sterling Ballroom in Tinton Falls will give you a big bang for your buck.

Pantagis is doing a $45 pp booking special on a limited menu. But you still get all of your courses. The Brownstone has lots of flexibility because they book so many events at once.

What month is your wedding? We were also looking at The Tides. I know for a January or Feb wedding their price was $75 per person, no matter the minimum, no matter the upstairs or downstairs.

If budget is your biggest concern but you can't adjust your guest list, you want a non-winter wedding, the majority if your guests live in NJ (won't have to travel much), and you are planning at least over a year our, have you considered a Thursday? Prices drop drastically on Thursdays because it's considered off-season. You could have a summer wedding on a Thursday night... give your guests at least 1 years notice and in a month like June, July or August, they could turn it into a long summer weekend. PLUS many vendors give winter discounts for Thursday weddings.

My FI and I were having the same struggle... we wanted something in the $85 pp range before taxes, but we found we could get the best rates for a Thursday. It all depends on how lavish you want the wedding to be.. from there, consider ALL of your options.

ohmrs2014 · February 2015

I would be careful with a Thursday wedding. Just like a Friday wedding, it can be an inconvenience to your guests, even with a years notice for work purposes. I would anticipate more declines for a Thursday wedding.

Jenn7778 · February 2015

@love0208‌ I am getting married at Primavera also! Best wedding food I have ever had and they give you so much for your money!

When is your wedding?

Knottie88299842 · February 2015

Also forgot about the Westwood in Garwood.

The NJ Bride magazine has a great listing of A LOT of venues by county and price range in the back. I'd grab a copy and look to narrow options from there.

And yes, I should add if you do consider a Thursday wedding, check to be sure everyone can make it. I think the expected declines is a myth though... everyone I know who has done the Thursday option has had a great turnout and very receptive response. They feel the same if it were a Friday or Sunday wedding. And yes, some may argue that people will wind up on taking two days off instead of one, but again, in July, no one has been bothered by this because gives them a long summer weekend.

I've even gotten the opinions of outsiders and not a single person shot down the idea, and I have some very blunt, honest friends. So yes, be careful to check with everyone before hand as a courtesy if you do consider that Thursday route. (For all brides considering Thursdays, not just the one inquiring

)

love0208 · February 2015

@ Jenn7778, Yes I so agree we were literally rolling out of the tasting!! My wedding is on May 10th !! When is yours ??!!

Jenn7778 · February 2015

@love0208 we were the same way after the taster! I was stuffed for 2 days. Lol. We are getting married November 7!!! I can't wait!

Rivcarol2 · February 2015

@love0208 @knottie88299842 @jenn7778 Thank you so much for the information. Thursdays would be a bit of an inconvenience because we have a lot of people coming from out of town. I could definitely do a friday or sunday though.

Our date is weekend of May 21st or May28th. We wanted to do it in March but again a lot of the people who are coming out of town cannot make it for that date and its people who are in the bridal party like the groom's mother and brother so it would be beneficial for May or summer time.

I had my food tasting the other day at the Tides, to be quite honest the food wasn't as good as I though it was going to be. so I will be looking into other places definitely if I am going to have to pay 90 pp.

but I am still setting my budget to $80

Knottie88299842 · February 2015

Have you looked into the Brownstone? From what I hear they are VERY accommodating to budget brides. Partly because they host multiple events at the same time. Their food is good and it is pretty. It's not The Tides pretty, but still lovely and could be an option.

The Manor is West Orange is another option. I think they are around $90 a person for certain seasons. I have their pricing information if you want me to email it to you.

Have you considered a non-traditional wedding venue, like a restaurant?

Rivcarol2 · February 2015

@knottie889299842 I have been multiple parties at the Brownstone house kinda because of family and friends. I wanted to kinda have a different venue than them. The tides was giving me for $90 a plate as well. I really want to talk to Tito again to see if he will take it for $80 pp.

If you can send the Manor information that would be great!!

Rivcarol1017@hotmail.com

I wouldn't mind a restaurant but it would need to be big enough to fit 150-175 guests.

Knottie88299842 · February 2015

Also reach out to Frungillo Caterers. They have a place called Oakside Mansion that's very, very reasonably priced and their food is awesome. They have multiple venues. Since they are a caterer you can easily opt out of the bar package. And customize the menu so it fits your budget. They have a lot of options. We looked into them as well.

The Oakside Mansion might not look as nice online but I drive past it all the time and it actually is very very pretty. You never know!

Venue help! Afforable price

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