Once we picked a date, we realized we had one year and four months until we are to wed - plenty of time to plan this wedding. However I did not want to wait around and then make all the plans and also I figure the earlier we plan the better our chances to find a great reception site at a price we can afford.
To begin, we try using this wedding head hunter of sorts. You tell them your wants and budget and they schedule appointments at various places through out the city - mainly Manhattan. While I had been doing my own research online from Boston, I figure another resource cannot hurt.
Two days before we are to arrive in New York, we are emailed our appointment list. Right away I have a bad feeling about the day. All the places on the list are outside of our budget, even if we could negotiate them down. Brendan being the optimist that he is tries to convince me, the realist, to give it a shot. But to make myself feel better I try to squeeze in a visit to a place I know we can afford and could really like.
Saturday comes and we visit site #1 - Stage Six at Steiner Studios. It is located in the Brooklyn Navy yard inside Steiner Studios. This is very fitting for someone obsessed with pop culture like myself. And it is an Abigail Kirsch location so I know we would not have to worry about food or service. We begin the tour and the place is very nice and has a nice view of the water and city once you get past the industrial part of Brooklyn. Also, the neighborhood surrounding the studio lot is not the best. But luckily there is plenty of parking, valet parking. So annoyance number 1 with this place is that you have to have valet parking (albeit with a red carpet for guests to feel like a star). Now there is a HUGE parking lot available and only one event at night so the whole lot is ours and just 10 feet away from the door. But you have to have valet parking and it costs $10 per car. Even if you don't want valet parking you have to have it just like the bathroom attendant. I hate the bathroom attendant because they make me feel funny. I just want to wash my hands and I can do it myself.
After going through all the costs we are firm in the thought that we cannot afford this place. It is at this point that the most annoying and kind of sleezy aspect of their contract is revealed. They have a CPI clause in all of their contracts. On the date the contract is signed, they record the consumer price index and then record it again when the final head count is provided. If there is an increase (meaning inflation which most likely there is) they adjust the price accordingly. So - you cannot lock into any rates. While we did not want to start anything I do wonder what they would say about a client asking for the interest earned on the deposit to be deducted from the bill or a fight about the CPI clause. This to me is a perfect example of vendors taking advantage of the engaged couples. And proves how crazy the wedding industry has become.
On the way out the salesperson told us that we should tell the other reception sites that we visited an Abigail Kirsch location and notice their reaction. They will admit Abigail Kirsch is the best. Um, okay lady we'll do that.
More on the reception sites to come...
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3 comments:
I know I may sound daft, but who is Abigail Kirsch?
don't get too hung up on big names.getting references and actually sampling the food will give you a better sense of the quality of the food.
that cpi in the contract is a red flag. I've never heard of such crap.
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