~ St. John Inn ~

Let me preface this section & all vendor reviews with the fact that obviously we are all unique. Some things that are important to one person may not be as important to someone else. I’m merely sharing my experience with vendors I’ve researched and/or met with. I absolutely welcome you to share your experience with the following vendors as well so brides to be can see a variety of opinions and perspectives. If I missed something you would like to see added to this section or want a vendor reviewed please shoot me an email ~ Thanks a bunch!

On Site Ceremony Location: Yes! Features a beautiful church right inside St. Johns…you have to be Roman Catholic to be married here and there is a 6 month marriage prep program to be completed prior to saying “I Do”…although if you are Catholic, I’m sure you were already very well aware of this :0)

Ceremony Fee: I didn’t see one listed although I would inquire about it…

Venue Rental Fee: Included with your price per plate!

Min. Requirements: Special Occasion Package ~ ???; Regal Ballroom Package ~ 100 guests

Hors D’oeuvres: Included in Special Occasion & Regal Ballroom package! Included is good!

Plate Range: Special Occasion Package $75~$91 per person; Regal Ballroom Package $65 per person subject to limitations. January~April, this package is available in all ballrooms on Friday, Saturday or Sunday and May~December it’s limited to 2 ballrooms and the Grande Ballroom is only available for either a Friday or Sunday wedding.

Beverages and Bartenders: Included in both packages! Upgrades, of course, are available.

Cake Cutting Fee: Included in Special Occasion Package; Regal Ballroom Package didn’t indicate one way or another so inquire!

Sweet Treats: Delicious displays or individuals treats from $5~$17 per person

Bonus!: The good news is that this place is huge and feels like it never ends as you walk through it. So, with the possibility of having other weddings the same day as yours, you will be less likely to run into one another. There are several ballrooms to choose from ranging in sizes to accommodate your peeps and the Atrium features an all glass ceiling which is super beautiful with an open feeling. The walls are all brick and have some greenery displayed which makes decorating a breeze. The ballrooms were also attractive with chandeliers and drapery around the windows. Very elegant. Having the reception in the hotel is a double bonus for you and your guests not having to drive elsewhere. Plus, the bride and grooms accomodations are included. Champagne toasts, 2 entree choices and butler passed hors d’eouvres are nice touches included with the pricing as well. The hotel is super classy too. It’s got an old classy feel with a modern twist.

The Kicker: 21% Gratuity. Ouch. The church is amazing too…I’m just not Catholic so I guess I can’t get married there. Maybe in another life. Overall, I really liked St. John Inn but our experience walking through the venue was not so pleasant. We didn’t have an appointment but there were several other couples walking around as well. They said it was OK to mingle through the rooms but they didn’t even offer us a brochure with pricing! I had to ask for it. While a minor detail…it left me feeling like they could care less if I considered them for my wedding. Maybe the girl was having a bad day…I have those too from time to time.

Other Tid Bits: Assorted displays are also available for you to dazzle your guests with ranging from $150~$595 per display which accomodates 35 guests so you’ll have to purchase enough for everyone. Remember to share! Late night goodies also available to the tune of $4~$6 per person.

The Blow:(Please note mock prices are intended to provide a general, very general idea of cost. Obviously, depending on what you and your honey bunny decide to do, the price will vary accordingly on every factor you can think of. And, prices are subject to change with each venue. Prices below are a general idea of what a wedding would cost here based on the wedding Kyle and I are planning. Thanks!) 

*We would have picked the Atrium for our reception so pricing will be based off of the Special Occasion Package but obviously, you can do it for less with the Regal Ballroom Package and since I’m not sure what the minimums are for this particular package…I’ll do it based on my wedding which is for 130 peeps.

 ~ 130 guests ~
$9750 2 Entrée’s @ $75
$600 Vege Display (based on 4 displays)
$650 Dessert
$520 Late Night Snack
Plus Gratuity and Tax and you are looking at $14,630.40

Did you attend a wedding here? Or consider this venue yourself? Write Your Own Review!

~ Pine Knob Carriage House ~

Let me preface this section & all vendor reviews with the fact that obviously we are all unique. Some things that are important to one person may not be as important to someone else. I’m merely sharing my experience with vendors I’ve researched and/or met with. I absolutely welcome you to share your experience with the following vendors as well so brides to be can see a variety of opinions and perspectives. If I missed something you would like to see added to this section or want a vendor reviewed please shoot me an email ~ Thanks a bunch!

On Site Ceremony Location: YES! Overlooking Pine Knob Golf Course you can get married in the pavilion just outside the carriage house.

Ceremony Fee: $650 which includes set up of their chairs

Venue Rental Fee: Venue rental is included with the dinner price per person…see below…

Rental Time: 6 1/2 hours which doesn’t start until after your ceremony

Min. Requirements: Friday/Sunday Night ~ 100 guests; Saturday Night ~ 150 guests

Hors D’oeuvres: Priced per hor d’oeuvre $1.95~$2.75 each and butler passed. Displays range $6.95~$8.95.

Plate Range: One price for everything! Friday/Sunday is $71 per person. Saturday is $76 per person. Their classic sit down dinner includes choice of 1 entrée, 2 sides, salad, pasta and rolls. If you go buffet style you get your choice of 2 entrées, 4 sides plus the salad, pasta and rolls.

Beverages and Bartenders: 5 1/2 Hour Standard Bar Included!!! Plus, options available to upgrade your bar to premium or supreme.

Cake Cutting Fee: $0.95 per person (Free if you go the cupcake route!)

Sweet Treats: Desserts by the dozen for $29. I believe they have a display of fruit/pastries for $16.95 per person if I’m reading my notes correctly! Various cakes, cheesecake (yum!), etc. available and priced according to what you pick.

Bonus!: GRATUITY IS INCLUDED!!! This place is great and the people are super duper easy to work with. Just as charming as Pine Knob Mansion, the carriage house is set up so you get the entire place for your wedding. When you walk in, there is a room off to the side for mingling and cocktails which is also where the bar is located. Walk into the dining room and you’ve got tons of room for your wedding and dance floor. The entire place is surrounded by windows so its nice and bright inside.

The Kicker: Well, I’m getting married down the street so it’s hard to find much to critique on the Carriage House and Mansion. Getting married in the pavillion is nice because you get to be outside and you and your guests will be covered from the sun being a bother. Some people may prefer to be completely outside though for their confessions of love to one another. If so, check out the review for Pine Knob Mansion…its just down the street from the Carriage House. Dual entree’s with the sit down style dinner will require another $10.95 per person. Umm…thats all I’ve got. I’m stumped…the place is great.

Other Tid Bits: Shuttle buses are available from some of the local hotels to bring your guests back and forth to the venue. I still have to call and see about pricing but I think if you have enough rooms booked they may provide the shuttle for free! Perfect if you have a lot of out of towners or party like a rock star guests. Plus, book it right and Pine Knob offers some discounted days at $69 per person. Late night snacks available from $2.95~$5.95.

The Blow:

(Please note mock prices are intended to provide a general, very general idea of cost. Obviously, depending on what you and your honey bunny decide to do, the price will vary accordingly on every factor you can think of. And, prices are subject to change with each venue. Prices below are a general idea of what a wedding would cost here based on the wedding Kyle and I are planning. Thanks!) 

*The brochures indicate a service charge for hor d’oeuvres/dessert although I’m not sure what that is exactly…just an fyi!

Friday Night ~ 100 guest minimum
$650 Ceremony
$695 Fruit Display *
$7,100 Venue Rental/Food & Drink Service/Gratuity
$95 Cake Fee
$725 Dessert (based on 25 dozen) *
Ok, add tax and your total tab for this venue is $9,820.90

Saturday Night ~ 150 guest minimum
$650 Ceremony
$1,042.50 Fruit Display *
$11,400 Venue Rental/Food & Drink Service/Gratuity
$142.50 Cake Fee
$1,015 Dessert (based on 35 dozen) *
Add tax and your total tab is $15,105

Did you attend a wedding here? Or consider this venue yourself? Write your own review!

~ Meadowbrook Mansion ~

Let me preface this section & all vendor reviews with the fact that obviously we are all unique. Some things that are important to one person may not be as important to someone else. I’m merely sharing my experience with vendors I’ve researched and/or met with. I absolutely welcome you to share your experience with the following vendors as well so other brides can see a variety of opinions and perspectives. If I missed something you would like to see added to this section or want a vendor reviewed please shoot me an email ~ Thanks a bunch!

On Site Ceremony Location: Yes! Two lovely gardens outside or get married in the mansion itself!

Ceremony Fee: See venue rental fee

Venue Rental Fee: Meadowbrook-I love you but your prices are all over the charts (keep reading, you’ll see what I mean). Rental fee includes exclusive use of the mansion and ranges anywhere from $2,000-$6,500 depending on the month & day of your wedding.

Rental Time: 6 hours

Min. Requirements: Again, varies depending on the month & day of your wedding. Bear with me…Friday, Saturday & Sunday weddings January~March is 50 guests. Friday & Sunday April~December is 90 guests. Saturday April~May~October~November is 90 guests. Saturday June~September & December is 150 guests.

Hors D’oeuvres: Butler passed with 2 package choices ranging from $10.50~$12.25 per person. Reception displays are also available i.e. fruit display, cheese display, bruschetta table, etc. which range from $5~$9 per person.

Plate Range: Soup $7-$9 per person, Salad $7~$8 per person, Main Course $35~$52 

Beverages and Bartenders: Choose from wine, beer and soda, a standard label or premium label bar. Seriously, there is WAY too much breakdown by price here so to get an idea check out my mock pricing below with a standard label bar which is the mid-range of price between the three choices.

Cake Cutting Fee: $2 per person

Sweet Treats: Individual desserts $7~$10, Displays $15~$18

Bonus!:
Can you hear the angels singing? I sure did when I pulled up to this grand mansion in all its beauty and wonderful glory. It was love at first sight. Talk about making a statement! For elegant and unique, there is no comparison. The good news is that when you do your wedding here, you get the entire place to yourself and your guests. The outside is beautifully manicured and has several areas to choose from to say “I do.” The bridal suites are just way too cute for words. They have a large tent set up outside so you get the choice of doing your wedding reception in the tent or inside the mansion itself. Plus, you also receive a day of coordinator which is someone from their staff. Seriously, saying no to this place was all the more difficult because the woman I met with is by far one of the kindest and most genuine people I have come across in my mad hunt of venues.

The Kicker:
Holy pocketbook batman!!! It’s a little pricey ladies although if you can do it, I totally envy you and please send me an invite! If you do dinner inside the mansion itself then you will be split up from some of your guests as their largest dining room only seats somewhere around 90 people. Unless you have 90 people then you are all set! More than that and your guests will be split again and have dinner in separate rooms which vary in number as to how many each room can accommodate. I wondered about how the wedding speeches and announcements would be handled with this type of dynamic as well. Usually, they have the bride and groom come down an elegant stairway to where everyone is having cocktail hour and the speeches and announcements are done prior to being seated for dinner. Gratuity is 19%.         

Other Tid Bits:
Volunteers are provided on your wedding day to give your guests historical tours of the mansion during the cocktail if they choose to do so. What a nice little extra touch of TLC for your guests!

The Blow:
(Please note mock prices are intended to provide a general, very general idea of cost. Obviously, depending on what you and your honey bunny decide to do, the price will vary accordingly on every factor you can think of. And, prices are subject to change with each venue. Prices below are a general idea of what a wedding would cost here based on the wedding Kyle and I are planning. Thanks!)    

To their credit, they did say they could work with us on putting together a package and we didn’t have to be 100% tied to what they have listed for food options and the way they are packaged. That was my understanding anyway. They can also modify dishes for all those vegans out there! Meadowbrook has a ton of options and food choices to choose from … way more than I could ever list without further complicating this bit so please keep that in mind. Ok, here goes…

Friday Night ~ June ~ Based on 90 person minimum
$5000 Rental Fee                                                
$2430 Standard Label Bar ~ 4 hours
$720 Fruit Display
$1260 Soup & Salad
$3150 Entrée @ $35
$630 Dessert
$180 Cake Fee
$360 Coffee Station
Add Gratuity and Tax and your total tab is $17,162.50

Saturday Night ~ June ~ Based on 150 person minimum
$6500 Rental Fee
$4050 Standard Label Bar ~ 4 hours
$1200 Fruit Display
$2100 Soup & Salad
$5250 Entrée @ $35
$1050 Dessert
$300 Cake Fee
$600 Coffee Station
Add Gratuity and Tax and your total tab is $26,312.50

Did you attend a wedding here? Or consider this venue yourself? Write your own review!