Calling all Rhody brides

[Hudson_Hawk]

Hey all,
So the bf and I are pretty close to deciding on where our reception location is going to be--The Towers in Naragansett. The problem is, we don''t have a ceremony location. Now, I know this seems like a silly question (considering the Towers is right on the water), but do you have any ideas for nice ceremony locations in that area. I''m hoping for walking distance from the Towers. I know the Coast Guard House is right next door, and I think they have gardens. Do you know if they rent out the gardens for ceremonies? Is there space at the Towers for a ceremony as well as a cocktail reception? How about the beach, do we need a permit to do the ceremony on the beach?

Thanks ladies!

HH

 

[So_happy]

Hey Did I tell you that''s where my reception is??

There is a gazebo on the green right next to the Towers. $25 for permit. Lot''s of Towers brides use the gazebo as you can literally walk between them. We wanted to but our wedding is in August and the ceremony will take place at a time when there are still just too many people around on thier Harleys, in thier bikinis, in thier surfer shorts etc.lol. We wanted a bit more privacy.

Coast Guard House does not have a garden. They are literally on a cliff and have a deck that is covered with a bright blue tarp. I asked if they could remove it but they can''t.

I would love to have the ceremony on the beach right there, too, but we got so into our Park that I didn''t pursue it at all. Plus, the people factor would still be present.

I hear Roger Williams Park is popular and very scenic. We may get our engagement pics done there.

We ended up choosing Wilcox Park in Westerly for our ceremony. It''s a multi-acre flower and tree garden next to the public library down there. It has a lake and trees with pink blossoms (waiting to hear if they are actually cherry blossoms) and is just gorgeous. We like the contrast of the garden with the oceanscape at the recption.

Any other questions, I''d be glad to try to answer!!!
Congrats on choosing a place

 

[So_happy]

and yes, you could have the ceremony in the Towers as well if you want!! We are if there is rain

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

We live in Warwick so RWP would be our natural first choice however I''m actually going to be wife no. 2

and my bf''s first marriage took place there so just on principle that''s out of the question. How far is Westerly from Naragansett?

We''re not so concerned about the people factor. We''re looking for a very simple casual reception. The beach wedding''s I''ve been to in the past have been on public beaches and usually people are pretty respectful of the area used for the ceremony. That''s not to say there won''t be curious bystanders but that''s fine (as long as they don''t crash the reception!). I think we''d go with the beach over the gazebo though.

Did you actually look at the CGH? What''s it like inside?

 

[So_happy]

Well, the gazebo is on a green in the center of the whole beach scene. It''s not like this place that''s tucked away. It''s more like a focal point. A roadway encircles it. So you will literally have cars encircling you. The people will probably be very respectful, but the cars have to get where thier going. I live 2 blocks back from the Towers and this Gazebo (convieient, huh?

) and so I LIVE the people traffic that becomes my neighborhood. lol.

Yes, we actually wanted to get married and have the reception all at the CGH. We love thier food there! And they are SO affordable. Alas, we strayed from our budget to the adjacent Towers because CGH only allows weddings on Saturdays from 11-4 and we definitley want a reception that takes place at night. But, oh my gosh.....affordable??!!!! It would propbably be 1/2 of what the Towers is costing us and that''s for some higher end menu items!

And the other reason I didn''t go with CGH is because at the time they were about to go under renovations but the owner could not telll me what would be done or what color carpet they were choosing etc. They were also tearing down one of thier decks. I just felt too uneasy about getting on board with that with so many variables up in the air at the time. However, I hear from The Knot that the renovations look fantastic and even better than before so check them out!! Now that those are done, I can see how the CGH would be a real contender It''s sort of an all-in-one package which is great. You wouldn''t have to outsource for food, linens, alchohol, service etc. And they have a dance floor.

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

Are you saying that after all of the costs added up for the Towers the full package deal for the CGH is still less? Wow, I thought the RI-discounted price for the towers was pretty darn good.

 

[ellaila]

Date: 4/25/2007 10:44:49 AM
Author: So_happy
Well, the gazebo is on a green in the center of the whole beach scene. It''s not like this place that''s tucked away. It''s more like a focal point. A roadway encircles it. So you will literally have cars encircling you. The people will probably be very respectful, but the cars have to get where thier going. I live 2 blocks back from the Towers and this Gazebo (convieient, huh?

) and so I LIVE the people traffic that becomes my neighborhood. lol.

Yes, we actually wanted to get married and have the reception all at the CGH. We love thier food there! And they are SO affordable. Alas, we strayed from our budget to the adjacent Towers because CGH only allows weddings on Saturdays from 11-4 and we definitley want a reception that takes place at night. But, oh my gosh.....affordable??!!!! It would propbably be 1/2 of what the Towers is costing us and that''s for some higher end menu items!

And the other reason I didn''t go with CGH is because at the time they were about to go under renovations but the owner could not telll me what would be done or what color carpet they were choosing etc. They were also tearing down one of thier decks. I just felt too uneasy about getting on board with that with so many variables up in the air at the time. However, I hear from The Knot that the renovations look fantastic and even better than before so check them out!! Now that those are done, I can see how the CGH would be a real contender It''s sort of an all-in-one package which is great. You wouldn''t have to outsource for food, linens, alchohol, service etc. And they have a dance floor.

Funny you say that because I was just about to reply that I think the Coast Guard House is in serious need of updating! I went to URI (grad in 93 -- wow, so long ago now!) and also lived right nearby (right across from the Pier Shops on Brown St), and I love that area! Hubby and I got engaged in Newport and wanted a RI wedding, so I definitely considered the CGH but then when we went to check it out, I was shocked that it looked exactly the same as it did when I lived there -- 15 years ago!! So I''m glad to hear that they''re finally coming into the 2000s

By the way, if you''re looking for rehearsal dinner places, we had ours at Table 28 in East Greenwich, and it was awesome! It''s right on the water, and it''s very modern inside, and the food was delish

http://www.table28.com/ That area is a bit weird to drive to, but the restaurant itself is really nice!

I can''t wait to see photos of your Towers weddings!!

 

[basil]

Sorry, HH, I can''t help!

I''m such a typical Rhode Islander that since I lived in East Providence, Warwick was a far drive for me and I''ve probably never even been to that area of Narragansett!

We really wanted to stay in the east bay, so we sort of limited our search to there.

 

[So_happy]

Date: 4/25/2007 10:50:18 AM
Author: Hudson_Hawk
Are you saying that after all of the costs added up for the Towers the full package deal for the CGH is still less? Wow, I thought the RI-discounted price for the towers was pretty darn good.

It''s going to be cheaper because they do not charge a rental fee on top of food costs. The Towers charges the rental fee plus you have to hire a caterer etc. So, right off, you''re saving the amount of the rental fee.

 

[So_happy]

Date: 4/25/2007 10:58:35 AM
Author: ellaila

Date: 4/25/2007 10:44:49 AM
Author: So_happy
Well, the gazebo is on a green in the center of the whole beach scene. It''s not like this place that''s tucked away. It''s more like a focal point. A roadway encircles it. So you will literally have cars encircling you. The people will probably be very respectful, but the cars have to get where thier going. I live 2 blocks back from the Towers and this Gazebo (convieient, huh?

) and so I LIVE the people traffic that becomes my neighborhood. lol.

Yes, we actually wanted to get married and have the reception all at the CGH. We love thier food there! And they are SO affordable. Alas, we strayed from our budget to the adjacent Towers because CGH only allows weddings on Saturdays from 11-4 and we definitley want a reception that takes place at night. But, oh my gosh.....affordable??!!!! It would propbably be 1/2 of what the Towers is costing us and that''s for some higher end menu items!

And the other reason I didn''t go with CGH is because at the time they were about to go under renovations but the owner could not telll me what would be done or what color carpet they were choosing etc. They were also tearing down one of thier decks. I just felt too uneasy about getting on board with that with so many variables up in the air at the time. However, I hear from The Knot that the renovations look fantastic and even better than before so check them out!! Now that those are done, I can see how the CGH would be a real contender It''s sort of an all-in-one package which is great. You wouldn''t have to outsource for food, linens, alchohol, service etc. And they have a dance floor.

Funny you say that because I was just about to reply that I think the Coast Guard House is in serious need of updating! I went to URI (grad in 93 -- wow, so long ago now!) and also lived right nearby (right across from the Pier Shops on Brown St), and I love that area! Hubby and I got engaged in Newport and wanted a RI wedding, so I definitely considered the CGH but then when we went to check it out, I was shocked that it looked exactly the same as it did when I lived there -- 15 years ago!! So I''m glad to hear that they''re finally coming into the 2000s

By the way, if you''re looking for rehearsal dinner places, we had ours at Table 28 in East Greenwich, and it was awesome! It''s right on the water, and it''s very modern inside, and the food was delish

http://www.table28.com/ That area is a bit weird to drive to, but the restaurant itself is really nice!

I can''t wait to see photos of your Towers weddings!!

I agree. I would have booked the CGH for it''s incredible view and thier prices but I have to admit thier decor was a bit dark and moody (dark woods and maroon carpeting and marron window treatments). It looked better when they put the white linens on the tables but it still looked frumpy-ish. Not horrible. But just not modern. I havn''t seen it since they renovated as I believe they may not be open to public just yet. This work has literally just been finished like 2 weeks ago. I am excited to see it though

 

[Hudson_Hawk]

So bummed

The resident discount for the Towers is for Naragansett residents ONLY. I thought it was for RI residents in general