Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

My FH and I have been engaged only a short time- it'll be 4 weeks this coming Saturday. Two days before we got engaged we bought a house and will be moving in September 1. I'm still in the phase of throwing around different ideas for receptions. 4 weeks ago, I definately wanted a big affair, but now I'm thinking that I might want something more low key. My MOH mentioned to me the other day that maybe we would want to rent out a restaurant for our reception. I know its mostly going to be our close family and friends (its going to be around 75-100 people). It could also be everything that I've always wanted in a wedding.

I was wondering if any of you had either been to a reception at a restaurant or are having your reception at a restaurant. What kind of advice could you give me?

Thanks!
-Liz

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

I am not sure how much $ you want to spend. But Daniel, one of the top restaurants in NYC (beautiful food and decor) does private parties. It is absolutely amazing!! I am sure it is really expensive and I am not sure how many people they can accomodate. But its worth checking out.

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

my friend went to a reception at a restaurant and she said it was great

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

we are having ours at a restaurant - Louis XVI

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

If we could do it all over again, we would have considered something small, casual in a resteraunt setting. We went to this resteruant in Sea Cliff called Allison's and knew we would have loved to have had it there....just close family & friends. Would have saved us a bundle of money and still been very nice.

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

wow! that restaurant looks so cool!

If you dont mind me asking, around how much per person is it?

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

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Posted by DecBride04

If we could do it all over again, we would have considered something small, casual in a resteraunt setting. We went to this resteruant in Sea Cliff called Allison's and knew we would have loved to have had it there....just close family & friends. Would have saved us a bundle of money and still been very nice.

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Yeah, I think that small and casual is how we're going to end up going. This is completely fine with us. The house we're moving into needs some updating...so at this point, its like 'new kitchen, or wedding?' To me, the actual marriage is more important to me than the reception. But dont get me wrong, I do want some celebrating! :)

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

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Posted by trnity44

wow! that restaurant looks so cool!

If you dont mind me asking, around how much per person is it?

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as of 2003 it started at $125/person if you begin before 5:00 pm on a Saturday, I don't know how flexible they are on other days...

the food is great, but surrounding location leaves much to be desired. we are having ~100 people and had a really hard time finding a place flexible with time and minimum requirement (we guaranteed 80). our church is about a 20 minute drive from the reception...

ETA: if the church wasn't in LI, we would have looked into restaurants in Manhattan...

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

if you want a manhattan wedding, check out ELEVEN MADISON PARK, overlooking Madison park-stunning interior, the most amazing food, and incredible service. i am biased, i work for the company-but recently won some very prestigious restaurant awards for them, and you can rent the whole place out-martha stwewart ad for them ran last month.

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

Bunnymoneky- is it expensive?

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

You didn't mention what area you're from or where you'd like to have it, but FH and would've looked into the Mill Pond House, a restaurant on the water in Centerport if we didn't have so many people (200+). The food is fabulous, the view is beautiful, and its nice and cozy.

Another restaurant we might've considered is in West Islip, just off Robert Moses Causeway...called The Bridge.

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

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Posted by am470

I am not sure how much $ you want to spend. But Daniel, one of the top restaurants in NYC (beautiful food and decor) does private parties. It is absolutely amazing!! I am sure it is really expensive and I am not sure how many people they can accomodate. But its worth checking out.

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VERY EXPENSIVE.........

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

you could have a low key wedding at a catering hall with these prices for a restaurant i would rather pay for a catering hall and just have under 100 people attend

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

My best friend had a simple wedding at the Glen Cove Country Club. There was no dancing but that's not her style. I thought it was beautiful and very inexpensive. Great setting too!

Re: Thinking of a casual wedding...Need suggestions

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Posted by leniedar

you could have a low key wedding at a catering hall with these prices for a restaurant i would rather pay for a catering hall and just have under 100 people attend

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She's right - you will probably get more for your money at a catering hall and a lot of them have rooms for smaller parties (Jericho Terrace,Sunset Harbor, Swan Club, Watermill, Meadow Club, The Metropolitan among others), but check for restaurants with private rooms for parties. I know Villa Monaco in West Islip has one - don't know how many people it holds, but the food is really good. There's also a place in Northport for smaller parties - the Crestwood.