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Ok... I know I can't be the ONLY bride from the capital region... Where is everyone??
I've found that all of the local boards (well, the two that I checked) are so slow! I live in Texas and I got married in Scotia this past July (my parents live nearby). We looked at the River Stone Manor and it's gorgeous, right on the Mohawk River, underneath the trees! But we found the pricing confusing, and for a wedding of our size (75-100 people) we weren't happy with the options. If you have a smaller wedding like that you have to have it in a tent on the lawn, which is still pretty but we were worried about having to do the ceremony in the tent in case it rained.
Anyway, we ended up having our wedding at the Glen Sanders Mansion, which you're probably familiar with if you grew up in Schenectady! I loved our wedding, everything about it, from top to bottom. The people at the GSM are total professionals and they handled everything about our wedding perfectly. We had the ceremony there too, and it was gorgeous. The food was also amazing. I just loved it and I would highly recommend it. We stayed in the honeymoon suite on the 2nd floor and it is also gorgeous! It was just recently redone. You can email me if you have any more specific questions about our experience with the Glen Sanders. I was worried it would be cheesy and like a typical "wedding hall" wedding but Iit wasn't that way at all.
We got our flowers from Felthousen's Florist, also in Schenectady, and we loved them too. The flowers and centerpieces were gorgeous and reasonably priced. Plus the owner, Mark Felthousen, was really understanding and awesome about working with me long distance. They were also complete pro's.
We got our hair and makeup done at the Jean Paul Spa in Albany. I liked how everything came out but I think they might have been expensive--my mom paid and so I am not sure about the price. However, our wedding was on a Sunday, and they were open on Sundays, so it worked out for us.
Our ceremony musician was Harry Pellegrin, a classical guitarist from Scotia who gave us a great deal and was also really good. I think those were all of the local vendors that we used. As you can tell, I loved my wedding. Good luck with all of the planning!
Oh, I forgot one more! We rented a photobooth from the Saratoga Photobooth Company and they were also amazing!! The dude who came with the photobooth was so nice and it was overall a great part of the reception.
Oh my goodness thank you so much!! I will deff keep pricing in mind when I go to River Stone.. it's one of my top choices right now because it's just so beautiful and has the capacity we need. (We don't have a set guest list, but it looks to be 150-200)
It sounds like you had a wonderful wedding... unfortunately I know GSM too well and can't have the wedding there... My senior prom was there!!! And the dude I went with is NOT my FI... too many memories associated with that other guy that I just can't have the wedding there.... I know that might sound silly, but I just can't do it.
Thank you, thank you for all the other suggestions... I don't even know where to start and am writing them all down to research in the future!
Ha! I knew you would be too familiar with it--all of our friends & fam in the area chose not to have their weddings there because they had just been there too many times! But having had your prom there, of all things, definitely makes it totally off-limits! Luckily, it was new to me so we had a good time there.
Honestly though I think the River Stone Manor is prettier anyway! I hope you visit and love it and have your wedding there. I think your bigger guest list would be perfect there. Congratulations!
I actually live in Albany (born and raised!) but I am getting married in VT. When I first read your post I was totally going to suggest GSM, because my future BIL had his wedding there and it was an amazing venue, great staff, awesome food and service. But I see you aren't considering that one - so many high school proms were held there! Haha.
Mallozzi's - eh. I have heard mixed reviews about the place. A friend's brother got married there and it felt very...well, generic wedding-hallish, if you will.
What about the Stockade Inn right in Schenectady?
How far outside of Schenectady are you willing to go? There is the Appel Inn, in Guilderland on Route 146, a friend from high school got married there and another friend is getting married there at the end of October. It's got a bit more of a "rustic" feel to it, so that kind of depends on the vibe you're going for. There is also the Van Patten Golf Course in Clifton Park. It's totally a hidden gem. I never knew it was there, but a friend got married there this past October and it is GORGEOUS. Literally breathtaking. The room the cocktail hour was held in had amazing views, and the ballroom was stunning. She said their prices were extremely reasonable. You could also check out Birch Hill in Schodack, the Century House in Latham (one of FI's friends had his wedding there but it was very pricey), and another hidden gem, The Arts Center on the Hudson in Mechanicville. If I was getting married in this area I definitely would have gone with the Arts Center on the Hudson: http://www.albany.com/business/arts-center-on-the-hudson-6104/website/ It can hold up to 400 in the gallery so a wedding your size would be no problem!
We're going with Matt Ramos for our photographer, he lives in Schenectady. He's awesome, but he's expensive, and he might be booked already for June. You might check out Tracey Buyce: http://www.traceybuyce.com/. I've heard good things about her. Now, I do know a photographer who has shot several weddings, and she's awesome, but she's just starting up her own wedding photography business, so she's considered an amateur. HOWEVER, she only charges something like $875 for 8 hours. If you're interested, PM me and I'll pass on her info. It might be worth it to just check out her portfolio because $875 for 8 hours is a steal. Plus she lives right in Schenectady, in the Stockade. If she wasn't going to be a guest at my wedding, I'd have her for my photographer.
The Piano Man is providing our DJ. They've been awesome so far. Right after we signed our contract, they provided us with a password and our own customizable web page. You fill out information about what you want your DJ's vibe to be (cheesy [um no...wonder if anyone says they want their DJ to be cheesy], high energy, not vocal much, etc). You can choose your DJ's attire (tux, suit, casual). On the page you can also create a "Must Play" and a "Do Not Play" list and describe your general vision for the reception. They have super reasonable prices too. If we'd gone with live music, it would have been The New York Players. They did my future BIL's wedding and they were AMAZING (not in our budget...)
For catering, even if you don't have your wedding at GSM, you can hire The Mansion catering if you're interested in that. They're probably the most well-known local caterer, with the best reputation.
And for cake/desserts - Cocca Dott's on Central Avenue. I'm partial to them because I live dangerously close and am addicted to their cupcakes/order their cakes for any event. 
I don't have much info on florists because that's something we're not doing locally.
Phew didn't mean this to be so long...but I hope it helps!
My friend just got married at Stadium! I think that was in Schenectady right?
@FutureSpice: Holy crap the Arts Center on the Hudson might be the most perfect thing I've ever seen... My FI loves that look... It's kind of far from where we wanted to be, but oh my goodness I might have to make an exception for that place. WOW! (The Appel Inn is also beautiful though and more in our area.)
I think I might have a photog in mind, but if that doesn't work out except a PM from me about your friend.... that is insanely cheap!
We deff want a DJ... it's one of the things that I already know I'm going to be really picky about... I like the fact that we can create lists like that... Haha and I'm deff NOT going for cheesy... Who does that?!
Thank you so much for all of this info..... this was so helpful!
@MrsJKH2be: My cousins just had their reception at the Stadium and it was wonderful! It's deff on the list, although it's lower down because we wanted something that our family hasn't just done recently. :)
My husband and I got married in Saratoga Springs last year!
We used Make Me Fabulous for hair/make-up. They're pricey, but they're amazing. We paid extra to have them come to our hotel room, and it was the best decision I made. I originally was going to save a few bucks, and go to the salon, but then I realized that even the 15 min drive each way was kind of a pain :)
I would also highly recommend Heather Bohm-Tallman photography. She's also really expensive, but amazing. We didn't use her, but kind of wish we had :)
We are using River Stone Manor for our reception, it is absolutely beautiful. We are having cocktail hour in the tent, reception in the reception hall, I call it the "Hall of windows"! GORGEOUS views. They do all their linen rentals through Experience Creative Design, who do beautiful work. Cake is also included, we will probably use Villa Italia (they give you a choice of 3 bakeries). We decided to do our ceremony in a nearby church, but if we weren't terrified of the unpredictability of spring showers, we would definitely have it there, right on the water.
We are using Matt Ramos as our photographer, he does beautiful, amazing work!
Make Me Fabulous is coming to my hotel to do everyone's hair & makeup. I hired Alayne (the owner) at a bit of a higher price to do my hair and makeup because she does amazing work, and I don't mind spending a few extra $ to look flawless :)
Florist... we will probably use Feltheusen's, we still need to meet with them, but I've heard great things.
For our DJ, we are using Paul Malo. Really great, nice guy so far, came highly recommended by many other vendors, and his prices are very reasonable.
We are still looking for a classic car to rent for about 3 hours. We got a quote of over $530 for a classic Rolls Royce for 3 hours from Advantage Transportation... does anyone know of anywhere else in the capital area that has vintage cars we could rent for a few hours?
I'm getting married at Albany Country Club next June! It's really beautiful, and the prices are so reasonable!!
We are using Sarah Smith for our photographer, and Claude Sawyer of LaBoom entertainment for our DJ. We haven't booked a florist yet, but we are seriously considering using Anthology Studio.
I am planning from out of town, and it is so hard! However, everyone mentioned above has been very accommodating, and have been a joy to work with!
We are getting married at Fort William Henry in Lake George next October. We're still shopping around for most of the other stuff so I dont have much more advise for you but if you are considering heading more north, I totally suggest Fort William Henry.
As for the venues you mentioned, one of my best friends was married at The Lighthouse last year and I was in the wedding. To be honest, I wasn't a fan. The ballroom and patio area are very pretty but the food was marginal at best. We had a choice of some kind of pork, tortellini alfredo and a chicken dish. I have pretty high standards when it comes to wedding meals and theirs was definitely one of the crappier ones I've had (and I sampled a little of everything offered). I also thought it was strange that they didnt have any kind of bridal suite. When the bridal party got to the venue after the ceremony there was nowhere for us to go. We ended up going into the reception and hanging out until the bride and groom got there. Then we had to line up outside (in the rain) for the entrance. It was strange.
@htrnkus: Thanks! We're going to look at River Stone Manor in a few weeks and I can't wait! It looks beautiful from the photos. Do you know if they can do the ceremony indoors? I am so afraid of rain that I just want to be safe and do everything inside. I am totally getting my cake from Villa Italia if that's an option --- omgggg their cakes and pastries are delicious!
We haven't chosen a photog yet, and I did get a quote from Matt Ramos, but yikes I'm just not sure if we can afford it!
Thanks for the names of hair/makeup/DJ/flowers ... I'm writing those all down to look into in the future!
@Miss Chapstick: Yea Saratoga Springs! We're going to look at the Hall of Springs. It's at the very very top of our budget, but it's just so beautiful, we're going to see what we can do! And another rec for Make Me Fabulous .. I will deff be looking into them!
@Kmale0402: Yea planning from out of town is deff a pain. I'm so happy we have a long engagement so we are not rushed to pick things without getting a chance to talk to everyone in person.
@UpstateCait: Ohhhh Fort William Henry! I did glance at them for a second, but then decided that it's just too far north for us. Coming from NYC even Saratoga Springs seems so far away! If we were going farther up though that deff would have been on our list! Thanks for the tip about the Lighthouse. There's no bridal suite?!? I really want the bridal party and the B&G to able to chill somewhere before the reception starts. And you had to line up outside?? Like I said I about I am veryyyy worried about rain and deff need everything to be INSIDE. Thanks for the heads up!!
I am from Amsterdam, NY but we are having the reception in Saratoga Springs. Our venue is going to be at the Canfield Casino in Congress Park. I think it is absolutely gorgeous right in the middle of the park like that! And then right next to the strip. They have a room to the side where the bridal party can go during cocktail hour and the building is gorgeous to boot!
We are having Classe Catering in Albany cater for us and working with them has been great so far. The price of the cake is included so they will also be designing the cake. Our photographers are Jen and Chris Sawicki of Sawicki Studios in Amsterdam. They are amazing and their pictures are gorgeous. We are actually having our engagement pictures taken the end of October...can't wait!
We went with a videographer from Weddingcombo.com in Clifton Park. Originally, we didn't want a video then both decided against it for fear that we would regret it in the end.
We are also going with Piano Man as our DJ and are super pumped about them. Have only heard good things and it seems like everyone is relaxed and has a good time.
We are still deciding on flowers and transportation yet.
@upstatebroad: HI there.. we have some similarities.. I am from ALbany. Were using Classe catering and Sawicki studios..I love Chris and jen!! Were looking into piano man also.. too funny!! Have fun!
@jenlee1: I love it! Are you doing engagement pictures with them? If you need any help with anything or need suggestions let me know!
My FI and I are both from Saratoga Springs, but are currently living in Ithaca, NY. Our wedding will be at the Hiland Park Country Club in Queensbury!
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I am here to liven up this board!! I grew up in Schenectady County but moved to the Westchester/NYC area when I was 18. All of my family lives in the Schenectady area (Rotterdam/Scotia/Duanesburg for all those familiar) and it is a huge part of my life. My FI and I have decided to get married there because my family is so large and because it means so much to me.
BUT because I live in NYC right now I'm going to need your help with everything!! We're just talking to talk venues right now, but so far from researching online I'm interested in looking at River Stone Manor, Mallozzi's, The Lighthouse....
If anyone has any suggestions/advice about any aspect of wedding planning in the capital region send it my way!!!