Hi Brides! I have been looking for a venue with a scenic view. Right now we are between Lake Valhalla and Lake Mohawk. We are looking at Fall 2018 wedding of about 185-190 people...perhaps a little less, but no less than around 175. (side note 10 of these are children, mentioning for seating concerns at Lake Valhalla).
I really loved Lake Mohawk's ballroom, bridal suite, and the feeling of the boardwalk. I also loved the adorable little town it's nestled in. The drawback from Lake Mohawk is that the cake is not included. I didn't think anything of this until I started getting quotes of $2500. I had the idea of a small done-up cake and sheet cake for the rest of the guests, but it is still a couple of hundred dollars to over a grand I was not anticipating. That being said, I wanted to add on a "to-go" station at the end of the night, which is very important to me and may have to be cut there because of a cake. I am also concerned about the ceremony and everyone being able to hear out on the boardwalk. Lastly, I am concerned about hotels and transportation. We were not given great information on shuttles and hotel booking and I am worried I will be looking at another couple grand in having party buses running back and forth. ---Has anyone had a wedding here and could offer some advice on negotiating with them on either getting the price down for cake or getting a "to-go" station included?
Now Lake Valhalla has, what I think, is an even more beautiful view and I can have a ceremony right on the water with a wireless mic provided! My biggest concern is space. They provide oblong tables that seat 10-14, which I HATE. I also put the chairs out around a table and no way I would put more than 10 people to a table and even then someone gets shafted on leg room. I am also worried about the bathrooms, with only three stalls in the ladies room and one unisex one. I figured I could tell my bridal party and their guests to use the bridal suite bathroom upstairs in an attempt to avoid lines. I really do not want people remember my wedding as waiting in a line and being crammed against the wall. Has anyone had a larger wedding here? I already figured out how to get around the separation of rooms...I think it will actually be less awkward because we would have 12 tables in the front and 7 in the back, so those 7 will not feel horrible about being alone back there...we will move the sweetheart table back further as well. How did the bathroom situation pan out? Would a venue like this allow me to rent my own tables? Did people on the dance floor bump into people sitting and eating?
Thanks for any advice/tips. It's greatly appreciated!