I can''t plan this wedding!!! (Long)

[E B]

Dani,

Have you seen this company? Apparently, they book weddings in cool NYC lofts, perfect for a small, intimate wedding.

http://www.dano254.com/weddings.htm

 

[dani13]

Thanks so much, Ellaila and Ebree! You have both been so helpful....

I dont know, I am changing my mind again- I am so schizo over this wedding! It is driving me NUTS! B and I went out for dinner last night and discussed everything, especially the $$$ issue. We have a decent budget, but it might not be good enough for a NYC wedding....we could do it, but may end up with a little bit of debt, which we TOTALLY dont want. We are both very responsible when it comes to $$$ and saving for our future, and again, this is one day, and we are not planning on blowing our whole life savings on it...

There is a place around here (in NJ) that is just being built- it will be done by this fall- it will be a catering hall/restaurant etc. My FI and I went to look at the grounds and the artist's plans (back in Feb), which are all you have to go on, since it is just one big construction site as of now. The staff seemed very nice, and because this place is in pre-construction, they gave us AWESOME prices. I should mention that the artist's renderings looked beautiful- it wont be the "typical" catering hall- it is kind of modern, with really beautiful cherry wood floors, modern decor, etc. I should also mention that the owners and operators of this space are the same owners of a very elite restaurant/catering space that is in Jersey City (near NYC)- it has spectacular views of NYC, and I hear that the food/service and everything else is just amazing. So how can this place be very far from that, if it will be owned and operated by the same team of people?

Anyway, we were talking, and we know we wouldnt have the NYC views and all of the place we saw the other day, but this place in NJ is very beautiful too- it is close to where we are living now- and more importantly, they offered us such great prices- I know we are taking somewhat of a gamble since it isnt built yet- but honestly it looked so beautiful- and their other restaurant is just so beautiful- again, wouldnt this place be in line with the other space? You would think!

So, now we are confused again...we are going to look at a few other places, and then hopefully we will make a decision after we do all the math and work out the budget....AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ellaila]

Dani,

That NJ place sounds like a great option -- and planning a wedding in your own will be a lot easier than working with vendors out of state (believe me!)!

Any further thoughts/decisions on this?

 

[dani13]

Hi Ellaila-

We are going to check out a few other places for the wedding over the next couple of weeks, so we''ll see. Hopefully we''ll have a decision on this soon! How''s the planning going for you?

 

[chas0211]

Hello I am new to this discussion and am interested in getting married in NJ and that new place you mentioned sounds good...Do you have any more info on it...

And have you decided where your reception will be???

Thx

 

[dani13]

Hello!

The place that I mentioned is called Stirling Ridge. It is in the process of being built in Warren, NJ. I am not sure where you are from, but Warren is about 45 mins west of lower Manhattan. It is going to be a beautiful place. The same owners of Liberty House in Jersey City are building and operating this place. I am sure it is going to be great. However, we decided on another venue for our wedding that we fell absolutely in love with and is more convienent for all of our guests- the Tappan Hill Mansion in Westchester, NY. We are getting married there Sept 28, '07.

Here is the website for Stirling Ridge:

http://www.stirlingridgeevents.com/

Good luck!

 

[chas0211]

Thank you very much...I am in Maplewood Nj...we havent decided on a venue yet, but we know we want something small and intimate...maybe like60....

IF you dont mind me asking were the prices reasonable? the place is beautiful...

 

[dani13]

Oh no problem...well, this was a few months ago, but for a Fri night, they quoted me $115 per person, and I believe Sat was $130 p/p? But that included TONS of food,cake, etc. If you are willing to go with a Fri or Sun you will definitely save a lot of $$ and they are more willing to negotiate in general for those days...no matter which venue you choose...But your problem is going to be the # of guests attending-most places have like a 100-125 minimum, even for a Fri or Sun...

What kind of place are you looking for, and what are you looking to spend? Maybe I can help you out. We looked at so many places, so I may be able to suggest somewhere....

 

[chas0211]

well we really want something intimate and small..maybe 60-70...I really dont know..I am really trying to keep it small.....the budget is up in the air, but not big at all lol...the place is warren that you mentioned is literally 19mins from our home...I emailed them and hopefully we can go check out the premises sooner than later...

your place looks totally beautiful..the view...its spectacular....

 

[AsscherGirl]

Hey Chas,
I just wanted to let you know that my fiancee & I also looked at Stirling Ridge. We probably saw it around March/April time frame. It really is going to be a beautiful place & was really close to the top of our list for quite a while. Unfortunately, it ended up being outside of our price range.

The prices they quoted us were $130 per person for a Saturday night before taxes & gratuity. That added another 25% to the cost, so overall, it was $163 a person. The catering manager also said that when they officially opened, the prices would be going up to be about equal with the Liberty House ($160ish base plus the taxes & gratuity were extra). The minimum number of people for a Saturday night in their ballroom was 200 people also.

They are also building a smaller room with a cap of 180 people, but that won''t be ready until Sept/Oct. ''07.

For a Sunday/Friday night, they said they could do it for $115.

Getting married in NJ is such a bummer - the prices are so expensive & all of the places we looked at had at least a 100 person minimum. If you want any info. about the other places we''ve seen, just give a shout. We''ve seen 11 all together & still haven''t picked a place

 

[dani13]

Date: 8/2/2006 5:20:08 PM
Author: *~*Danielle*~*
Hey Chas,
I just wanted to let you know that my fiancee & I also looked at Stirling Ridge. We probably saw it around March/April time frame. It really is going to be a beautiful place & was really close to the top of our list for quite a while. Unfortunately, it ended up being outside of our price range.

The prices they quoted us were $130 per person for a Saturday night before taxes & gratuity. That added another 25% to the cost, so overall, it was $163 a person. The catering manager also said that when they officially opened, the prices would be going up to be about equal with the Liberty House ($160ish base plus the taxes & gratuity were extra). The minimum number of people for a Saturday night in their ballroom was 200 people also.

They are also building a smaller room with a cap of 180 people, but that won''t be ready until Sept/Oct. ''07.

For a Sunday/Friday night, they said they could do it for $115.

Getting married in NJ is such a bummer - the prices are so expensive & all of the places we looked at had at least a 100 person minimum. If you want any info. about the other places we''ve seen, just give a shout. We''ve seen 11 all together & still haven''t picked a place

Yikes, Danielle, I didnt know that you haven''t decided on a place yet...bummer! For a while I was so budget conscious, and then after awhile I just gave up, because EVERYWHERE in this area is expensive and that''s it. Its not like we don''t have the money, but I just couldn''t justify the prices. But eventually I broke down. We will only do this once, so we are going to have the traditional, expensive wedding, that''s for sure...hope its worth it in the end!
I know you are in Monmouth county, right? Have you checked out the Oyster Point Hotel or The Molly Pitcher Inn? They are both in Red Bank, which I love, and although not cheap, they (especially Molly Pitcher) are both beautiful venues which we considered...right on the Navesink river, and the prices are not as bad as up north. Maybe look into those 2 places if your interested...

 

[Gypsy]

Hmm. Well I''m in NJ-- as you know *wink*... AND I wanted a reasonable destination wedding. And well... we are having a very small 58 guest list wedding in DC now. A lunch reception (FMIL said it wouldn''t be special as it''s a lunch) and ... NO honeymoon. Not for a year anyway. SO... I UNDERSTAND!

Castle Hill is BEAUTIFUL. Know someone who is getting married there... MY GOD is it amazing. But well... she''s paying A LOT person OFF SEASON. I can''t see myself spending that much and well... one of the venues that is in our budget is the Four Seasons in DC. DC is less expensive than NJ plus it''s where we met and first lived together. For us it''s just perfect.

Is there any place within driving distance that''s special to the two of you? Someplace that''s less expensive than the area here? For FI''s family flying was a no as well... so 5 hours radius is what we considered fair. Another option is a historic building... caterers in the area can be quite reasonable-- and flexible with their pricing... if you can find someplace that will rent you their site for a good price it might be something to consider.

 

[dani13]

Date: 8/2/2006 10:12:17 PM
Author: Gypsy
Hmm. Well I''m in NJ-- as you know *wink*... AND I wanted a reasonable destination wedding. And well... we are having a very small 58 guest list wedding in DC now. A lunch reception (FMIL said it wouldn''t be special as it''s a lunch) and ... NO honeymoon. Not for a year anyway. SO... I UNDERSTAND!

Castle Hill is BEAUTIFUL. Know someone who is getting married there... MY GOD is it amazing. But well... she''s paying A LOT person OFF SEASON. I can''t see myself spending that much and well... one of the venues that is in our budget is the Four Seasons in DC. DC is less expensive than NJ plus it''s where we met and first lived together. For us it''s just perfect.

Is there any place within driving distance that''s special to the two of you? Someplace that''s less expensive than the area here? For FI''s family flying was a no as well... so 5 hours radius is what we considered fair. Another option is a historic building... caterers in the area can be quite reasonable-- and flexible with their pricing... if you can find someplace that will rent you their site for a good price it might be something to consider.

Hi Gypsy!

FI and I did find a place and set a date- we are having a big, traditional wedding at Tappan Hill Mansion in Westchester, NY, next Sept 28th...this is kind of an old thread that was brough up again by Chas, who is new here and lives in NJ and is looking for a place her her wedding....but thank you!!!
Four Seasons in DC? Nice!!! The Four Seasons is top notch whereever you go, their service is impeccable- your wedding will be fab!

 

[AsscherGirl]

Hey Dani! We actually live in Somerset County, but have looked in tons of places in Monmouth county cause we both like the beach & I just love those wedding pictures of couples on the beach near the water.

We looked at the Molly Pitcher Inn - it really is a beautiful place and I LOVE the lobby of the actual inn. But they wanted $168 (plus tax & gratuity) for Saturday night and the room is really too small for the number of guests we have.

Sometimes I think we are being too picky, but I guess my must-haves are contradicting with the amount of $$ we have available to us & how much we''re willing to spend.

In case you''re interested, these are the places we looked at:

The Atrium (West Orange)
North Maple Inn
The Mill in Spring Lake Heights
Water''s Edge in Sea Bright
The Riverhouse in Brielle
Stirling Ridge
The Palace (whoa - talk about expensive!)
Molly Pitcher Inn
McLoone''s Pier House
Bridgewater Manor
Forsgate Country Club

We have reasons for not going with each of these places (ranging from $$ cost to not liking the banquet manager or the menu), but I won''t bore you (or anyone else reading this thread!) with the details.

At some point (very soon as our desired date is rapidly approaching 9/8/07), we are going to have to compromise & just pick a place. It may not be exactly what we want or what we envisioned, but I''m sure no matter what we do, the wedding will be a great time and we will enjoy ourselves (I hope!).