The Brownstone — Attraction in Paterson

Long story short, if you want your wedding to be a catastrophe, this would be the best place for it. The owner, Albert Manzo, thought the best solution was a $500 refund for the bridal suite, which was one of the many issues that occured that day. Albert insulting my sister and her husband, calling them liars and stupid because Albert didn’t want to acknowledge the errors he and his staff made. To pretty much blame it all on miscommunication, instead taking accountability. Apparently Tommy who we spoke to while coordinating the wedding, was arrested and no longer works for the brownstone. However, how is that the bride and grooms problem. Albert Manzo’s inability to take accountability only goes to show that if you plan your special day here you will only regret it.

Read below if you would like to know the issues my sister and her husband had to deal with throughout the wedding.

My sister had scheduled her wedding about 3 years ago, throughout the entire planning process she was in communication with Tommy, who was employed at the Brownstone and who she did her contract with. About 1 week before her wedding, was the last time she was in communication with him. The day of the wedding:

Bridal Suite: was prepared late (instead of being ready at 8am it was ready at 9am) caused the makeup and hairstylist to have a delayed start. Bridal suite was not clean. It looked like someone was living in the suite. There were clothes in the dresser and we found food and medications in the fridge. We were told that the refrigerator and freezer were for our use, yet the medications were under the owner, Albert Manzo. Bridal suites ac not functioning well, we spoke with the front 2 times about lowering the temperature since it was too hot, but only one time someone came up, but still the issue wasn’t resolved. Groom suite: not being prepared. We were told that we would be receiving a groom suite, however, the front desk acted like they didn’t know what we were talking about. When me and the bridesmaids went to discuss the issue with there not being a groom suite prepared, they were met with attitude by an older lady behind the receptionist. My bridesmaid informed me that the older lady behind the receptionist was rude from the start. Ceremony: for a little less than 100 people the space was so tight, guests had to sit outside of the ceremony hall. Cocktails hour: it was very uncoordinated. None of my guests nor servers knew what was happening and no announcements were made. My brother in law made the announcements when he found out any information. The guests went up the bar for water, but bartender kept saying water should be on the cocktail tail hour tables, which it wasn’t there. Reception: there was no schedule to follow, during the reception so everything/everyone was all over the place. seating chart was not placed by the entrance of the reception (we had a seating chart) so all the guests sat in the wrong spots. instead of all the guests being served apple cider, all guests received champagne. It was discussed NO alcohol would be served whatsoever. For the non-Muslims we had a cash bar available. no water was put on any of the tables until the middle of the ceremony. Food, it was brought out during the wrong times. For example, the salad was brought out while the bride was having her first dance and with her parents. It should have already been out by the time the guests arrived. All the servers were walking around the dance floor passing out the food, getting in the way of the videographer. Desserts, the cake was completely different that what my sister had agreed to. Instead of it being a wedding cake with blue and gold accents, it looked like a baby shower cake. Instead of cake being served to the guests, it was cut and left outside. My sister paid for servers and a dessert table, but she was left disappointed when all the cake, coffee and fruit was placed out there, untouched. (No one had any knowledge of it...

Awful. The booking process seemed okay but the day of and days leading up were sketchy. Day of Maitre D was LATE and had no clue of my wishes or what needed to be done. No valet parking for guests. No one helped guests or told them where they needed to go once they entered. If the receptionist was at the desk she was on the phone taking calls while no one knew where to go. It started raining on my aisle runner. They bought it in wet and never wiped it off. Thankfully my entertainment company did the best they could so I wouldn’t fall. Dj asked several times to turn off the air conditioning so that he could use the CO2 machine. Never done. So the cloud smoke was a waste of money. Menus were left on the DJ BOOTH speaker rather than placed on the table. Maybe they forgot where they put them down. My cocktail hour was hosted in the wrong room ( which Albert decided to argue about during the wedding) he referenced the contract that he didn’t give me until a few days prior to the wedding. The back up plan we discussed for rain obviously was not adhered to nor done. However they didn’t have a back up plan that they made themselves either. Had to hold off ceremony because they needed to prepare a room. (I was already running late - because of other reasons ) Was told I get an ice sculpture. Night of- “that’s not your ice sculpture” But ok maybe I’ll give them that. He approached me (the bride ) In public rather than off to the side. Was rude and not trying to be accommodating. Bathrooms for guest missing seats. Room smelled of musk. I asked for white table cloths. They gave cream because according to the maitre d “if you don’t order a specific color they give you that” which I specifically said white while going over final details. They ran out of certain alcoholic beverages mid party. Just messy practices. Just the icing on the cake. Looking for my cake topper the next day. They said they gave it to the girl with curly hair. We went back To Ensure and the Maitre D assured me that he gave you to someone and to Check with everyone. Well no one had it! Sunday I called just to triple check and indeed they had the cake. Then they called and asked what time am I coming several times because it took about 2 Hours to get there. I was told I should’ve used Tommy because he pays attention. I’m not sure about that but I can let you know my experience. Hopefully this helps someone to go somewhere that values your dollar and wants to act like they’ve had weddings and other events before. Now when thinking of my wedding day I think of all the things that were done wrong with no apology from my venue. And no, I won’t be back to see your best. You’ve shown me all I need to see.

UPDATE: rather than rectify the situation, see the Alberts response below. “Anybody who wants to discuss this event can call me anytime” so basically he wants to twist and make up his own narrative. If being behind 1 hour because a venue doesn’t have a contingency plan for rain is “issues” then that should tell you all you need to know. The issue was him and perhaps the fact that the Maitre D has a REAL (as per him) job with the City of Paterson (as per him again) and probably does care that much but he did...

When you spend thousands of dollars on a wedding venue, at the very least you expect to get the venue you agreed upon. Or the food. Or respect.

I understand mistakes happen, but Albert and his team at The Brownstone managed to not only stress out my fiancée and my family to the point of tears, but they managed to completely miss every expectation we had for a venue in the process.

Expectations like- HAVING THE ROOM WE REQUESTED READY FOR THE WEDDING. Instead, they focused on things like LOSING THE CHECK WE SENT THEM TWO WEEKS IN ADVANCE, AND THREATENING MY FIANCÉE WITH TAKING AWAY THE VENUE. And this was after we attempted to call him several times over two days, only one of which he eventually answered to what I can only assume was his great disdain.

The morning of our wedding, we were told the AC was not working in the room we reserved. What was the Brownstone’s solution? A smaller room and a $75 refund.

Give me a break.

I implore anyone looking through these reviews in the hopes of booking this venue for even a luncheon, move your event to any other venue on the East Coast. They literally could not get the food right at our wedding (and they refused outside food to be served), let alone the room itself. Albert talked a LOT about it being the “only all glass room in New Jersey” I’m sorry but it could be the only gold palace in all of North America and I wouldn’t trust this place to hold my prostate exams.

Albert was disrespectful, and the Brownstone was a genuine struggle to work with. We were met with nothing but obstacles, and short of our wedding coordinator (whom we hired at our own expense outside the venue) and the helpful waitstaff, we would not have had a successful wedding.

Again, I understand mistakes happen- The Brownstone loses a check that was addressed to The Brownstone (are you kidding me), but to threaten my fiancée and our families with taking away the venue the week before the wedding was completely uncalled for- especially when it was revealed that the check was lost due to the venue’s own unsurpassed incompetence, as UPS had the proof of delivery to Joe- another very unhelpful man, something the Brownstone has in no short supply (as opposed to freon or basic human decency).

In short, we spent a significant sum of money on a venue that could not provide the correct room, the correct food, working AC, or respect. They managed to lose a check addressed to the venue and delivered with proof to a confirmed employee, they managed to provide the wrong chicken dish, they literally don’t have working air conditioning in the middle of the hottest days of the Summer.

We will be telling everyone we know for the rest of our lives about how we managed to have a wonderful wedding despite dealing with the worst venue in New Jersey.

Hope this was helpful for anyone looking at this place, consider literally anywhere else.

At least it looked...