Yesterday we went down to the shore to visit two waterfront places. One was the one I posted about last time with beautiful online pictures ("Place A"), and the other was a last-minute find where we made an appointment just so we wouldn't "waste" the trip down to the shore (let's call this "Place B").
Place A was an incredible disappointment. Not only do they have three weddings going on at once, with shared bathrooms and crisscrossing paths that would make it very confusing, it was also situated on a very narrow channel, with a very prominent and ugly bridge in the background. And a parking lot directly outside the main windows. Cars galore! The one gazebo was at the very end of a narrow garden path - pretty, but unaccessible from the inside, and with three weddings going on, who gets to take pictures in it with the good light? Not to mention, the sun sets the wrong way, over the bridge, so there go the romantic sunset shots. When we walked into the downstairs ballroom, it smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, to which I am very sensitive. I stopped dead in my tracks. Fiance asked about the smell, and the lady giving us the tour said: "This is a non-smoking facility." Heh- yeah. I was utterly disappointed. I'm not going to put up pictures of the place - I didn't even bother taking them.
Place B, on the other hand, was a serendipitous find! It's private, with all the rooms facing a western sunset, a wide channel, and a beautiful dock with all these gorgeous boats docked in the background.
The cocktail hour room is just as beautiful (actually, even more so) than the party room. Centerpiece flowers on pedestals are included, but we are free to bring our own. The bars are premium, and very prominent (which fiance likes a lot).
The ceremony would take place outside in a private garden surrounded by hedges and flower rows. Fiance, I, and the rabbi would be under a (supplied) canopy on the dock, with the marina behind us.
There's a lot of private open air for the reception. Even if it were to rain, there is a narrow strip of overhang, so we could still get outdoor pictures. The cocktail hour room is downstairs, right next to the private garden where the reception would occur, so we can go in and out to take pictures and mingle throughout the cocktail hour.
They have some beautiful areas inside that look great for a faux-studio portrait. They have corners that look like formal parlors and staircases and mirrors that make for great shots.
The food is... overwhelming. Soooo much food. And we read some good reviews online about the quality of the food and place both. As we met with the manager and maitre'd, they were setting up for another wedding at night. It was great, because they took the alloted time to talk to us, and then promptly kicked us out as soon as they needed space for the party - great, because they're courteous to talk to us. Even better, because they will kick us out in favor of the people having the party - a very good thing for when we'd have the party there. On our way out, the father of the bride stopped us and said: "I just want you to know, these people are incredible to work with." And the price is perfect for us!
So... I think we have a new winner. :) :) :) Fiance is going back to check it out again with his parents this week, and then there will be a bridal show there in two weeks. Unfortunately, since it's on a Tuesday, I can't make it, but fiance, fiance's parents, and my mother will be able to go back, taste the food, and see it all dressed up. (My father has to teach late that night - schade!) So.... winner!! We still like the country club, except I like the view and the beach/state park photo option along with the marina and sunset view here much better. After all, in twenty years, all that will be left is the pictures, right?
And and and... they have a beach-themed cake! Chocolate seashells and brown sugar scattered around it to make it look like seashells on a beach, on top of the cake. Que adorable!!!
The only caveat is that the appearance of the sky is so heavily dependent on weather. It can be splendid and spectacular and surreal and sublime... or it can be just gray and blah. It all depends. Good thing the inside is just as beautiful for the wedding.
On another note - if we're having a beach-themed wedding, we might have to ease up on the Asian theme a bit. I still want tea favors, though, and a friend had a great idea - instead of the tacky mugs I really want, but are in truth a bit too tacky for a mostly-formal wedding, she suggested Asian teacups, like the kind you get a restaurant. Awesome! I found some that might work, and they're quite reasonably priced! I'm so excited!!!!
Price of teacups: $10.67/dozen = $0.89 each
Number of teacups needed: 132 (approximately 125 guests, we're assuming now, so we'd get 11 dozen)
Total price for teacups: $117.37. Not bad!!!
* * * * * * * *
Place A was an incredible disappointment. Not only do they have three weddings going on at once, with shared bathrooms and crisscrossing paths that would make it very confusing, it was also situated on a very narrow channel, with a very prominent and ugly bridge in the background. And a parking lot directly outside the main windows. Cars galore! The one gazebo was at the very end of a narrow garden path - pretty, but unaccessible from the inside, and with three weddings going on, who gets to take pictures in it with the good light? Not to mention, the sun sets the wrong way, over the bridge, so there go the romantic sunset shots. When we walked into the downstairs ballroom, it smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, to which I am very sensitive. I stopped dead in my tracks. Fiance asked about the smell, and the lady giving us the tour said: "This is a non-smoking facility." Heh- yeah. I was utterly disappointed. I'm not going to put up pictures of the place - I didn't even bother taking them.
* * * * * * * *
Place B, on the other hand, was a serendipitous find! It's private, with all the rooms facing a western sunset, a wide channel, and a beautiful dock with all these gorgeous boats docked in the background.
The cocktail hour room is just as beautiful (actually, even more so) than the party room. Centerpiece flowers on pedestals are included, but we are free to bring our own. The bars are premium, and very prominent (which fiance likes a lot).
The ceremony would take place outside in a private garden surrounded by hedges and flower rows. Fiance, I, and the rabbi would be under a (supplied) canopy on the dock, with the marina behind us.
There's a lot of private open air for the reception. Even if it were to rain, there is a narrow strip of overhang, so we could still get outdoor pictures. The cocktail hour room is downstairs, right next to the private garden where the reception would occur, so we can go in and out to take pictures and mingle throughout the cocktail hour.
They have some beautiful areas inside that look great for a faux-studio portrait. They have corners that look like formal parlors and staircases and mirrors that make for great shots.
The food is... overwhelming. Soooo much food. And we read some good reviews online about the quality of the food and place both. As we met with the manager and maitre'd, they were setting up for another wedding at night. It was great, because they took the alloted time to talk to us, and then promptly kicked us out as soon as they needed space for the party - great, because they're courteous to talk to us. Even better, because they will kick us out in favor of the people having the party - a very good thing for when we'd have the party there. On our way out, the father of the bride stopped us and said: "I just want you to know, these people are incredible to work with." And the price is perfect for us!So... I think we have a new winner. :) :) :) Fiance is going back to check it out again with his parents this week, and then there will be a bridal show there in two weeks. Unfortunately, since it's on a Tuesday, I can't make it, but fiance, fiance's parents, and my mother will be able to go back, taste the food, and see it all dressed up. (My father has to teach late that night - schade!) So.... winner!! We still like the country club, except I like the view and the beach/state park photo option along with the marina and sunset view here much better. After all, in twenty years, all that will be left is the pictures, right?
And and and... they have a beach-themed cake! Chocolate seashells and brown sugar scattered around it to make it look like seashells on a beach, on top of the cake. Que adorable!!!
The only caveat is that the appearance of the sky is so heavily dependent on weather. It can be splendid and spectacular and surreal and sublime... or it can be just gray and blah. It all depends. Good thing the inside is just as beautiful for the wedding.
____oOOo__@_@__oOOo____
__*__
__*__
On another note - if we're having a beach-themed wedding, we might have to ease up on the Asian theme a bit. I still want tea favors, though, and a friend had a great idea - instead of the tacky mugs I really want, but are in truth a bit too tacky for a mostly-formal wedding, she suggested Asian teacups, like the kind you get a restaurant. Awesome! I found some that might work, and they're quite reasonably priced! I'm so excited!!!!
Price of teacups: $10.67/dozen = $0.89 each
Number of teacups needed: 132 (approximately 125 guests, we're assuming now, so we'd get 11 dozen)
Total price for teacups: $117.37. Not bad!!!
