Carlyle on the Green Brides...

How much did you all tip the maitre'd? My wedding is next weekend and our event planner just called and informed us they suggest a tip of $1500 for him and the wait staff because the 20% service charge only pays the wait staff salaries, not tip.

Also, they strongly recommended the valet parking because they said it is impossible to get a spot with golfers, which would add another $500.

That's $2000 in unexpected expenses 1 week before the wedding. Am so depressed.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

We did tip the matire'd, although I'm not sure the amount. That sounds high as a tip to just one person.

We did pay for the valet, and I do think that is a worthwhile expense. I'm not sure why the valet charge is a surprise to you --- this expense was a part of my initial contract...

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

First of all...NICE NAME! We look like twins...

Secondly...$1500???? That's nuts! And they just told you this for the first time now, a week before your wedding???? What they "suggest" and what they "deserve" are two different things. That sounds very high to me.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I'm getting married there next Friday! As for tipping, that sounds way too high. Regardless of what they "recommend", depending on the level of service we get, we'll decide the tip amount based on what we can afford and what we feel is appropriate.

As for the valet charges, that was in our intial contract.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

It does sound high, but it is supposed to go to the maitre'd plus the whole wait staff, but I STILL think it sounds high. All along we thought the 20% gratuity was for the tip, but the tip is ON TOP of that. I am just upset because we weren't told about any of this until 1 week before the wedding. And valet parking is $625, which they tell us we NEED because parking is impossible (was previously told it didn't matter).

Kelly - I know!! Everytime I see your name I am like "wait, that's not my post!" ps. Great bachelor party pictures, by the way!!!

lgomberg - GOOD LUCK!!!! I am so excited. I hope you have nice weather. Are you doing your ceremony indoors or outdoors?

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Ah- the cryptic "executive gratuity"... you gotta love it. It goes to the Maitre'd the Captains and the Chef.
I think we gave them $1300
You DO need the valet parking... it's another crummy expense.
and FYI I was told that didn't include the Bridal Attendant- so have $100 for her too.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Thanks Kelly!!!

I hope everything works out for you!!!

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Im a Carlyle bride too! I have no idea what to tip. I hope it's less than 1500!

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I don't know what we'll end up doing, but it definitely depends on how the service is. But I heard both service and food are great.

Sassy, your pictures are BEAUTIFUL and you look just amazing!!

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

YOu are going to have an amazing time- the Carlyle is top notch- I consider myself very lucky to have been able to get married there.

Thank you- we had a great day- we love our pictures.

they will hound you for that executive gratuity- that was my only complaint about the Carlyle- but they do deserve it- the food is AMAZING...

and the CAKE was so delish- everyone loved it!

did you get the mashed potato bar as one of your stations for the cocktail hour? EVERYONE WAS RAVING ABOUT IT. Saying it was the best thing they ever saw & tasted.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Sassy, no we didn't get the mashed potato bar, but only because we are having a day-time wedding and thought it was better suited to an evening wedding. What do you think?? The guests really liked it? Can you explain to me exactly what it is?

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

It is a few different kinds of mashed potatoes with tons of different toppings... all I can say is that EVERYONE was raving about it for some reason... DH & I had some in the bridal sweet after the ceremony- it was awesome.

We also had the peking duck bar which was amazing- with the dumplings. We had the hot seafood bar, the ham & I think corned beef w/ mustards and the carving station and the pasta station and the cheese & Italian meat display (we are Italian)... everything was delish.

Then we had 10 passed Hor'd which were all great.

for dinner we had the pear, gorgonzola & frisee salad, the chateau briand, red snapper or chicken napoleons. We didn't do the vienesse.

I got married in January- so we had heavier foods i guess.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I heard the food was excellent and am now thinking about switching one of the stations to the mashed potato. I find the woman I am dealing with to be not nice at all though, so I am dreading calling to change. Hope it's not too late!! Everyone is so nice there, but she is just horrible, IMO of course.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

who, Jackie?

I think you should def do the mashed potato bar because everyone was like.. "oh my god, what a great idea.. I have never seen that done, etc etc"
It really got such AMAZING reviews from everyone- and I haven't seen it at any weddings I've been to since.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Yes, Jackie. She's so nasty to me and my mother every time we call. Ok, we'll definitely do it...and it's different too...it sounds great. I just hope I get to eat some!

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Yeah she is a little snotty- but don't worry the service is amazing! You'll have a great day and they'll bring a big plate of mashed potatoes over for you in the bridal suite for you.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I found out about this gratuity stuff the night before I was going in to sign the contract (through my trustee LIW connections ; ) . My FH was like "they can ask for whatever they want...but they aint getting it!" Of course we will tip but not at their suggested rate. It is definitely ridiculous, especially since they conveniently neglect to mention this to you when signing the contract. But now I am curious - Sassyz75, did they hound you DURING the reception? Because that would not fly with me. That's like a waiter asking you to tip him before you are done dining. I don't want my family members bothered for money either until the last song is played and people are leaving.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I called Carlyle today to ask about this. After avoiding the question, I pushed and was told I will get a bill for around 7% closer to the wedding date.

I was not even sure I was going to to to the Carlyle. I wonder if anyone would have mentioned this to me until the day they wanted their money. It was obviously avoided on purpose during my visit. 7% is a lot - especially when you were not expecting it.

I haven't booked anything yet but my parents country club seems like such a better deal. It is not
quite as pretty as the Carlyle but they are very upfront with me and are not charging high service charges, taxing on service charges or asking for additional gratuity. I guess a lot of their costs come from member dues so my parents have technically paid into this system already but at least I won't have to!!

Carlyle is awesome and I'd be happy to get married there if I had already signed the contract. This info really made me change my mind though.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

LauraPete- they didn't tell me about it until the week before the wedding... that gratuity is suggested but honestly we were so thrilled with the service and the food and how we were treated the night of we had no problem handing it over (about $1200).

I do think it is sneaky that they do this- and I think they should change their policy, but I guess because they have such a good reputation and their food, cake, service, etc is so amazing they can collect the extra money.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

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Message edited 6/16/2003 7:02:36 PM.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

Um- I have worked at catering facilities too- and as a Carlyle Bride I had NO problem paying the suggested "gratuity" but it would have been NICE to know more than 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE... $1200-$1800 is a lot of come up with so quickly!

However, with that said- it sounds like YOU WORK AT the CARLYLE and maybe should BACK OFF and put the soap box away.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

very well said sassyz75!

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

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Message edited 6/16/2003 7:03:17 PM.

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

FYI- when you are a newbie and come off making assumptions like that is does make it seem like you are an imposter...

but I don't think the ladies were complaining about the gratuity- it is the fact that it is pounced on you the last minute. You are pretty much paying 20% per person for the waitstaff- which is their gratuity- and then another $1200-1800 for a tip for people who are salaried... I can understand it but they should be upfront about it!!!!! I am not aware of any other catering facility that does the "executive gratuity".. it was explained to me that it was for the Matire'D, the Captains and the Chef- but other girls are told it is really the tip because the 20% on top of the per-head price is really their pay- it just is shady.... Yes, the Carlyle is a top notch place- I just got married there and I paid the extra gratuity- BUT I just because they are top notch doesn't mean they get to slip in extra gratuities the last minute..

AND- if you were married there- how come it says in your profile that you are getting married in 2005?????

Re: Carlyle on the Green Brides...

I agree with you Nikki. I am having my Wedding there this September. The people there have been nothing but nice and I can see your point of view. I understand how people can take advantage of these employees. Alot of Brides definitely get anxious towards their Wedding and can get a little snappy (i know i have done it hehe). But it doesn't make it right. Also, I think that the Gratuity problem should certainly be fixed. Nobody should refuse it, but notifying people weeks before their Weddings is cutting it a bit close. Other than that people should not have a problem with the Carlyle. It is certainly worth the money that is spent. I have seen people get married there and I am sure excited for mine!