Larkfield Brides Eagerly Await Grand Reopening

EAST NORTHPORT, N.Y. - June 21, 2013 - PRLog -- EAST NORTHPORT, NY — This July, The Larkfield will unveil its newly renovated, Tuscan Villa-inspired wedding ceremony and reception venue.  While Larkfield management took a large gamble closing their doors last October to begin the eight million dollar remodel, the first brides who booked their weddings there for early July may have taken an even more substantial risk.

From the guest list to the gown, brides have a lot to worry about as it is.  Add in the fact that the catering hall they’ve booked plans to complete a major reconstruction just days before their wedding and you’d have the makings for some very nervous brides.  But according to both Claudia Martelloni and Nicole Palazzo, that is surprisingly not the case.

“Honestly, when I booked the wedding it was so far in advance that I wasn’t even aware of the renovation,” said Ms. Martelloni, whose wedding will be July 3, just several days after the reconstruction is complete.  “To me, it was actually a positive.  I trust management and know that I’ll have a beautiful, brand new venue for my wedding.”

A wedding and event staple for more than 30 years, The Larkfield’s management made the difficult decision to close its doors, so that it could undergo the major reconstruction.  All that was kept from the original facility was the foundation and the kitchen, which was remodeled a few years earlier.

“The hall was built in the late 1960s and was beginning to look and feel a little dated,” said Larkfield Vice President Harry Mountanos.  “Quick fixes here and there wouldn’t cut it.  We wanted something fresh, exciting, and elegant for our brides.  It won’t be anything like the Larkfield Manor of the past.”

Ms. Palazzo, whose wedding will be held on July 5, also praised management for making her feel more at ease.  “I’m looking forward to the reconstruction,” she said.  “Of course I am a little nervous about it being completed in time, but management has been keeping me updated every step of the way and they’ve encouraged me to tour the facility.  I know they wouldn’t do that if they weren’t confident with the progress that’s been made.”

The iconic catering hall was leveled between October 28 and 29 of last year and has since been undergoing renovations based on a redesign by Hoffman Grayson Architects LLP in Huntington.  The firm also designed the interiors and exteriors of the Paramount Theater and the Crest Hollow Country Club.

Modeled on villas that the architects have visited in Italy, the building will feature stone, brick, and stucco with rustic brackets; 20-foot ballroom ceilings; a vintage bar from the 1800s; an orangerie with reclaimed timber trusses that looks out to a new stone and travertine courtyard; slate roofs; and a two-story-high lobby featuring limestone, terracotta, wrought iron, and rustic woods.  With accommodations for up to 400 guests, the venue is hoping to attract not only brides, but also local businesses for corporate events and those celebrating Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, Quinceañeras, Sweet 16s, and anniversaries.

However, architecture and décor are not the only new features.  The menu and food offerings have also changed slightly, with the addition of a food stylist, a sushi chef, and a pastry chef who was brought on to create signature desserts.  “We want to stay current with the latest trends in the culinary field.  Presentation is a huge part of that,” said Mr. Mountanos.

“I always loved their food,” said Ms. Palazzo, who has attended events there in the past.  “The Larkfield just made the most sense for my fiancé and me.  It’s affordable, it has great food, management has been terrific, and now we’ll have a completely remodeled facility for our wedding.”  She added that the features she is most excited about are the updated bridal suites and the heightened ceilings.

Larkfield management is currently planning a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring Ms. Martelloni and Ms. Palazzo, Neal Hoffman and Glen Grayson, elected officials, local police and firefighters, and all of the men and women who worked so tirelessly on the project.  That event is slated for Thursday, June 27 — just a few days before Ms. Martelloni’s wedding.

“I looked at other venues, but The Larkfield was just the right fit for us,” said Ms. Martelloni.  “I know I could’ve changed my mind, but I trust that everything will be completed in time for my wedding.”

“We took a huge gamble shutting our doors when we did and our brides and grooms took a huge gamble on us — but we’re extremely proud of what we’ve created and we’re confident that the brides that tour The Larkfield will be very impressed and will ultimately choose us for their special day,” added Mr. Mountanos.

For more information, please contact The Larkfield at 631.368.4422 or visit www.larkfield.com.