My daughter wanted to get married at the Culinary Institute of America. She saw it online. When Aileen, Bong, and I went to St. Helena, I purposely didn’t check it out although it was right across the road from Charles Krug, which we visited. I didn’t like the idea of holding her wedding at a culinary school.
Based on the photos, the CIA has a beautiful barrel room that can hold a wedding party for 300 people. When she arrived from Manila on July 29, we drove to St. Helena the next day to look at the place.
The castle-like stone building is being used as a school. The events hall is on the top floor.
There is no separate venue rental fee. They only have food and service package which is about $300 – $400 per person depending on the food and drinks choices. I think that includes wine but no hard liquor. The service fee alone plus tax would add a whopping 31% not including tips. The 21% daw goes to the school and not to the waiters. CIA is non-profit.
We liked the spaciousness of the events hall called Barrel Room. However, I was not sold to the idea that the wedding ceremony would be held just outside the building, sa gilid nung building, near the parking area. Her wedding day could be rainy or windy and I don’t want to take a chance that all the preparations would be wasted. I am also not excited to see my daughter in her beautiful wedding gown, only to walk at the side of the building. That’s not walking down the aisle.
