Woodcliff Hotel & Spa

Specifically I rated the individual I had the most contact with throughout my process planning my wedding reception at the Woodcliff: Ms. Jamie Madalena. From start to finish she was more than helpful, friendly, accomodating and very very responsive.I had a room block of rooms for guests and held my reception for approx 80 guests in their ballroom.Pros:- room rate was great, rooms are upgraded and very nice. Jamie coordinated the block off for me, and the rooms were released about a month before the event, which was plenty of time for guests to get their rooms. I got updates as often as I wanted on who reserved a room. They did not require me to "contract" rooms and be held responsible for filling them all, which was a relief!- planning process was easy. Their menus are right online, with prices. It includes everything from drinks to dinner to cake etc. Very easy to follow. They were more than happy to make changes for me as well.- Jamie was very friendly, easy to talk to, easy to set meetings up with (I did all the planning from FL so it was mostly phone and e-mail) she was knowledgeable of local vendors, gave recommendations and offered contact information. She was really the best part of the whole planning process. E-mailed me back IMMEDIATELY day or night if I had questions.- Helped me coordinate the band and florist and upgraded linens and different lighting in the ballroom. She also coordinated an awesome lunch for the ladies in the Bride's suite before the wedding as well as obtaining a mic, amp etc for a soloist we had at the cocktail hour.- Day of, she was there until after the cake cutting. Some of the guests had small children who didn't end up staying up until dinner, she had their dinners wrapped up and sent to the room. Bride and Groom also had their dinners sent up to the room because too full to eat! - Dinner was as expected, Food was awesome...I did get the most expensive meal package, so we had Steak and stuffed chicken etc. I thought it was well worth the price. Steak was well cooked, perfectly medium, not overcooked like most places.- I had cake made there, you can pick any style and flavor and they'll do it. They use Fondant for display, then take it into the back and cut it and put buttercream on the slices before they serve it.- Lobby bar was accomodating, our family was there all weekend. Bartenders were friendly. Drink prices were typically for a hotel bar.All in all really happy.I did have a (few) nit-picky cons:- With the exception of 1 gentleman that worked at the front desk, they were mostly really rude. We had a couple issues with rooms and they were not helpful at all, and were actually pretty snotty. Jamie actually ended up getting involved to take care of us, which she shouldn't have had to do.- Lobby bar does close early, and there isn't really anywhere else to go. Part of the groom's family tried to continue the party in their room, and security got called on them. - Bar was a package price, $$ per person per hour. 20% service charge goes on all food/drink and tax. I was really upset to find that they bartenders put out tip cups with "staged" dollar bills in them when they set up the bar at my reception. This indicates to the guests that the bartenders have NOT been tipped, when in fact they already had. Of course, I was the first one to see it and went to find Jamie. The front desk lady was really snotty to me (while I'm wearing my wedding dress, and obviously the bride there) and told me Jamie was probably in the kitchen, with no offer to find her for me. I ended up telling them that they needed to remove the tip cups (after confirming that they were in fact already tipped...but the front desk said, well, they do that anyway). Later that evening when another set of bartenders were working, they put more dollar bills out under the cherries and limes etc to indicate "please tip me" I just thought this whole thing was rediculous. This should not be "what they do" when they've been tipped. I did not want my guests to think I hadn't tipped the bartenders, when infact it was A LOT of money I spent there.- They messed up the cake flavors I picked. Yes, it was still good, so who cares right? It's hard to attend a wedding that you've meticulously planned and know forward and backwards what is supposed to happen. The filling in one of the layers was a jelly instead of cream, and then they put the vanilla frosting on the chocolate pieces, and chocolate frosting on the vanilla pieces (it was supposed to be the other way around) Also, they served the cake and then cleared the tables so fast while people were dancing, hardly anyone got to eat it! Even off the head table they did this, and after the MOH told them twice to leave our cake, we were going to eat it.Like I said, I know the complaints are nit-picky...it can't all be perfect. But I am rating it a 5 and would definitely recommend to another bride. I had a great time and loved the venue. I don't know about other coordinators, but Jamie Madalena is the one you want if you have your wedding there!!