Insight on Venues?

Hi Ladies!
I'm not that active on these boards but I'm a real bride! Check out my profile info, I have a wedding blog...real bride!

Anyway, we've been engaged since Valentines of this year and have been searching nonstop for venues since. We don't currently live in the city so do not have the luxury of going when we please to look at venues. Thus far we have been back twice and visited four venues both to utter disappointment.
I've been researching online and contacting venues non stop for the past 9 months. I probably have quotes from 4 dozen or more venues. No Joke.

We are coming back next week for thanksgiving and have set 3 appointments to visit venues. And 3-4 we will be doing drivebys basically to offer us more flexibility in timing.

The three we are visiting are Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO, Orchard Hills at Old Westbury Gardens (yes they host weddings now! ) and Vanderbilit at Dowling.
Drivebys include Inn at New Hyde Park, Milleridge Inn (looking at the cottage) and Glen Cove Mansion.

Any insight to food, coordinators, experiences with hosting or being to events at the locations are greatly appreciated.

We are looking for a venue that can host ceremony & reception for roughly 120 guests and have grounds for pictures as well. Any suggestions are also welcomed! If we don't find something this trip back I'm seriously about to reconsider the whole big wedding.

Thanks ever so much!

Re: Insight on Venues?

The Inn at New Hyde Park is wonderful, from the staff to the decor to the food. I do not have anything negative to say about the Inn. The only problem you may have, is that the Inn requires high minimum's. Not sure about day weddings though. Mine was 150 on a Sunday evening. HTH. - Good luck!

Re: Insight on Venues?

I can go on and on for days about how wonderful the Milleridge Cottage is. It's also the best food you'll ever, ever eat, if that's important to you. We had 107 (minimum was 100 -- I expected closer to 125, but got a lot of No's from our 176 invited) and the room was perfect. Can fit tons more easily, but didn't feel too empty either.

We did our ceremony in the atrium room, and then a grand entrance into the cocktail hour down the stairs to bubbles. I loved it.

Good luck with your search! Feel free to FM if you have any specific questions!

Re: Insight on Venues?

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Posted by I Love Paolo

The Inn at New Hyde Park is wonderful, from the staff to the decor to the food. I do not have anything negative to say about the Inn. The only problem you may have, is that the Inn requires high minimum's. Not sure about day weddings though. Mine was 150 on a Sunday evening. HTH. - Good luck!

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I agree, Im getting married at the Inn and fell in love with it the first time I walked it. If you are willing to do a day wedding they may be a good option for you. You can also check out larkfield manor, I think they have lower minimums and the price was very good.

Re: Insight on Venues?

I would check the Bride's Review boards. They are extremely helpful!

Re: Insight on Venues?

I live a block away from the Galapagos Art Space!! I had no idea they did weddings. DUMBO is amazing and has the most amazing views. That would be such an awesome wedding venue!!

I had my engagement party at the Millergidge Inn and it was amazing. It wasn't in the cottage, but the food and service was incredible. I also got my centerpieces through their florist and they were really pretty and very reasonably priced.

FH and I looked at Glen Cove Mansion. It is absolutely gorgeous! The ballroom is perfect for 125. I would have chosen Glen Cove Mansion if our guest list was a little smaller.

Good luck!!

Re: Insight on Venues?

We had my sister's bridal shower at the Inn at New Hyde Park. It was wonderful. Beautiful, great service, terrific food. I would have loved to get married there, but we are having a big wedding, and it was out of our budget. Milleridge Cottage was the next place we looked, and we booked the next day. I like the hominess of the Cottage. It's old fashioned, but warm and inviting. One of the things I'm most excited about is taking pictures in the Village. The shops are adorable, and should make for unique photos. There are flower beds surrounding the atrium of the Cottage as well, where lots of people take pics. HTH.

Re: Insight on Venues?

Thanks for all the insights ladies!
Please keep 'em coming!

Jordy,
Have you been inside Galapagos before? It's pretty freaking cool; from what we can see from pictures online. It's pretty much the opposite of all the other places we are going to check out! Hehe. We'll see.

Re: Insight on Venues?

Yeah I've been to Galapagos for their art shows, which is why I'm surprised they do weddings. Its such a cool place and you can't beat the views. You could even have your ceremony at Fulton Ferry Park depending on the time of year. Such an awesome idea!!! Let me know how it goes

Re: Insight on Venues?

We go to check out these venues this week!

Wish us luck, please!

Re: Insight on Venues?

good luck!! (sorry i know nothing about LI venues)

Re: Insight on Venues?

I suggest East Wind, DeSeversky, Smithtown Landing and Port Jeff Country Club.

Re: Insight on Venues?

Have you considered Wave Hill in Riverdale? The price is a little steep, but in reviewing your list, you might be pleased with what they have to offer there. My friend was married there and it's just magnificent.

Re: Insight on Venues?

I recommend the Royalton Mansion in Roslyn if you are looking into a place that has grounds for pics, a small mansion, reception on site and the most amazing food.

Re: Insight on Venues?

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Posted by Almostawife

I recommend the Royalton Mansion in Roslyn if you are looking into a place that has grounds for pics, a small mansion, reception on site and the most amazing food.

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Hi!
Would you be able to tell me how many weddings are hosted at one time?
Also, is it the kind of place we can drive by or is it only open by appointment to look at?
Thanks!

Re: Insight on Venues?

They only do one wedding at a time.

You can get married in the gardens or on the patio

You can have an outdoor cocktail hour

You can spend the night in the bridal suite

Most beautiful ballroom

Completely customized wedding (no selecting from different columns)

Restaurant quality food, any alcohol you want, any cake you want..all custom

They're pretty flexible if you call you can usually get in to see them (I don't think Mondays is the best day)

You can see some pics in my album. I had 200 at my wedding there but they do anything you want.

BTW -- don't let the outside decieve you. We almost left after pulling up because it was a little older looking than I wanted but once you go inside and see the ballroom.. it will change your mind

Re: Insight on Venues?

Thank you!

I like the fact that the menu is really customizable; that is something we really do want. I'll have to see if they can pull a quote together for us and set up a appointment last minute! If not we can always just drive by to see the grounds, it's super close to all the other venues we are checking out.

RE: Wave Hill
I do love how beautiful Wave Hill looks in pictures. But, from the limited knowledge I have of Great Performances (the sole caterer) I think the catering will def be more than we hope to spend.
That said, I'm jealous of the brides getting married there!

Re: Insight on Venues?

I had researched the Galapagos Art Space in Dumbo on the Internet and via phone as well, but it was not what we were lookig for.

If you are going to be over there, I suggest walking across the street to Bubby's. It is a great unique restaurant that also host parties. We so wanted to have it there but it was a little out of our price range. The food is great, and they have their menus on their website.

Re: Insight on Venues?

Milleridge Cottage is beautiful and its not just cause I'm having my reception there :o ) The Rivera is also beautiful and I think they have one wedding at a time as well

Re: Insight on Venues?

Hi Ladies!
Because ya'll were so helpful I just wanted to give you an update. We went to look at the venues over Thanksgiving week. We had two appointments on Wednesday, one with Vanderbilt and one with Galapagos.
We tried to do a drive by of Old Westbury because vendors were suppose to be setting up for a event on Friday. But got there too late and the gates were closed.

We also tried to do a drive by of Milleridge but could NOT find it for the life of us with directions and map on my iPhone. We drove around in circles for so long and made us so late for our Galapagos appointment, we just said screw it.

We liked both Galapagos and Vanderbilt.

Galapagos is definitely very edgy and trendy, DUMBO is amazing and I'm so surprised at how much it has changed. It's a great space and I love that they are a soon to be LEED venue. But, we felt the space was kinda small. Didn't really like having our ceremony at a public park. And didn't really think our family would 'get it'.

Vanderbilt. We liked it! Jennifer is great and put us to ease. We liked how many different spaces there were; it seems like the event will flow really well. The ceremony option is gorgeous; right on the bay.
So as of now we are talking with Vanderbilt, negotiating pricing, making sure we can make menu changes that we want before committing.

Thank you all!

Please shoot me an FM if you are booked with Vanderbilt for a upcoming wedding. Would love to get insight on what was promised vs what was actually done. How much you were able to change menu etc.

P.S. We went to have lunch at Bubby's because I've heard so much great things about them. Honestly, not that impressed. The food was good but not [i]great[/i] and the prices were kinda $$$.