As a
chronic migraine sufferer there are many places that can trigger a severe
migraine just from entering the room. One of the worst happens to be wedding
halls. Weddings themselves in my family and friends lives come up quite
frequently sometimes leaving me no time to recuperate from the first attack before another one comes full on. Picture the Atlantic Ocean, during the
summer, at the height of hurricane season. A category four hurricane is about
to make land fall on the northeastern coast line of the U.S. while there is a
tropical storm right behind it that is on its way to becoming a hurricane and
scheduled to make land fall at the exact same spot as its predecessor. Not to
be melodramatic but it is like the eye of Hurricane Katrina landed in the
middle of my brain.
With this
in mind you can understand, hopefully, why I don’t entirely love weddings or
big loud parties despite the happy occasions I want to celebrate. Each time I
try to brace for it as best as possible, using all of the tricks of my trade,
but nevertheless I always manage to get a migraine. I don’t seem to have any
success with lessening the severity of the attack. It is disheartening and why
I sometimes must RSVP with a “no”. It is just not worth it, probably not even
if it were my event. I suppose I will exchange vows in a cave like structure
where it is cool and dark should that day come to pass.
Between
the noises from an aggressively loud DJ, to the flashing lights we must dance
under, to the smell of alcohol of which I cannot partake, to the temperature of
the rooms, all are the culprits contributing to my migraines at
parties. I always give it the good ole college try but after a couple of hours
I am in agony despite taking pain medication and am ready to lie down and die.
Or at least that’s what it feels like.
This past
January a beloved couple who are very dear friends of my family were about to
get hitched. Their event, both the wedding and reception, would take place at
the newly renovated, Chateau Briand. This is a wedding hall I have been to
before, about ten years before to be precise. So naturally I thought I knew
what to expect but surprisingly for once I was wrong.
My first
experience at this venue was challenging if I am going to be honest. I was a
bridesmaid in a family member’s wedding and we had been having some troubling
times in our relationship. I should have bowed out like I wanted too but I hung in
there until the end. By the time I arrived at the reception at the Chateau, I
was no longer in the mood for a party. I felt like I was at a funeral instead.
Back then my migraines were not nearly as bad and I didn’t have them from
lights, sounds, or smells. Stress should have caused one that day but I guess because
I was still able to drink I was able to avoid one. What I remember about the
place was that it had an aggressive nautical theme everywhere I turned. The
bridal suite had no food or beverages for us as we took an endless amount of
photos. I am not sure what package had been booked so I do not know where the
fault laid but I was over it before it started. I have to say that left me with
a bad taste in my mouth which is how I felt after I tasted the food too.
For
someone like me who has been in and at enough weddings that i could plan one
blindfolded, the food tends to be so-so at best. No matter the place, I always
am disappointed and feel like the bride and groom got robbed. Nowadays weddings cost a fortune and most of the time I can’t figure out why. In NYC we
like to have big affairs with a cocktail hour and then about four hours at the
reception where you will start with salad, pasta, and the entrée of your
choice. Once the cake has been cut it is handed out, as well as another treats
that have been selected. After cake and coffee the party is usually wounding
down unless there is an after party.
I was
hesitant about what my new experience would bring me but I went with an open
mind. As soon as you walked in you are in a world of glamor. The décor is
minimalistic but also very pretty. You aren’t overwhelmed by any one sight or
sound. As you walk towards the back there was a fire place with many chairs and
sofas to sit on as you wait for your event to begin. They were offering coffee
and tea and some snacks. Even the bathrooms were elegant.
Next we
were led to the chapel where the ceremony was taking place. It was unlike
anything I had ever seen. The room was bright white but had blue essence in it.
Though bright lights are usually my enemy, but here they didn’t bother me. I was
able to see the beautiful bridal party while the bride and groom exchanged
wedding vows.
Afterward
we went downstairs for the cocktail hour and ushered into a big room with
all sorts of tables and rounded booths to sit in. There was a very nice
selection of food but my favorites are always the treasures that are getting
passed around by the wait staff. No one could seem to get enough. My biggest
complaint of the night happened in this room. It was SEVERELY hot. I know this
is true because everyone seemed to be complaining about it, not just me, which
honestly was a nice change of pace.
All that
was left was the reception. We walked into a room that had mostly blue lights;
giving off the winter wonderland theme perfectly. I thought it would change
when the DJ started up but it never did. For migraine sufferers blue light is
often better than white, if not blue than more yellow. Anything that isn’t so
strong. Even when I go to the eye doctor he uses a blue light to check my eyes so as not to trigger an attack.
When I
realized this would be the situation the whole night I was totally stoked. I
was able to dance, mingle, and take pictures all without fear of pain. Then
there was the food. It looked like the same wedding food only this time it had
flavor! I was too full to eat everything, as I usually am after a cocktail
hour, but so excited I liked what I was eating I tried to take a few bits of
everything. But that’s not even my really good news.
The
really good news is that I had the best dirty martini I have ever had. It was
also the first one I have had in at least six years. Oh how I use to love that
drink. Now that my meds didn’t restrict my alcohol intake I was ready to try. I
didn’t quite finish it because I was afraid I would fall flat on my face but I
was happy none the less. When the clock struck midnight and we were about to
leave, I was able to countdown with my nephew as he turned six. There really
isn’t anything that was missing from that night. I know that the venue coming through
like it did was part of it. The other is being able to see two people who are
destined for each other join their lives in matrimony.
Way back
in 1978 the Scotto Brothers bought the Chateau Briand. Today it is only one of
their many party establishments on Long Island. They are the go to team if you
are having a party in the New York City area. I probably have been to two or
three of their places by now. I have never been especially impressed but that
was before I attended this latest wedding at the newly renovated Chateau
Briand. I sure wasn’t in Kansas anymore.
I would
like to conclude my review by sharing the Scotto Brothers motto:
"Our style may not be
for everyone, which makes it perfect for you".
And so it
was for all of us that night.
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