4.9
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Quality catering
Guests comfort
Timeless Charm, Always & Forever
Holds ceremonies and receptions
I genuinely don’t know where to begin when it comes to Jennifer Batinjane and the entire team at The Albion. They exceeded every expectation we had for our wedding, and I can confidently say my expectations were HIGH 😂.
I had such a specific vision for our wedding and cared about every little detail, especially how I wanted our guests to feel throughout the weekend. From the beginning, Jennifer completely understood that. Not once did she make me feel like an idea was too much, a request was too specific, or something couldn’t be done. I would come to her with one of my “okay, this might sound crazy, but…” ideas, and somehow her response was always, “Yes, let's do it”. And she always did.
Jennifer was our Memory Maker/Event Stylist, but that title doesn’t begin to cover what she became to us. She remembered the tiniest details, anticipated things before I thought to ask, and genuinely cared about our wedding as if it were her own. By the time our wedding day arrived, I trusted her completely, which, as someone who is VERY Type A, detail-oriented and has a hard time giving up control, says everything.
The Albion took care of our entire wedding weekend. Our room block continued to grow, we had family and friends coming and going, and I had individually personalized welcome boxes that needed to make it to the correct guests. Nothing was ever treated like an inconvenience. The front desk and hotel staff handled everything with so much care that I never had to worry.
Our ceremony was at the Cathedral Basilica in Newark, so I always wondered how we could possibly follow something so grand and breathtaking. But walking into The Albion afterward and seeing our reception come to life was a moment I’ll never forget. Every detail had been thought about. Nothing was overlooked. It felt like the wedding I had pictured in my head for so long, but somehow even better.
But as beautiful as everything was, what stands out most is how the entire Albion team made us and our guests FEEL. Every employee made us feel like our wedding was the most important event they had ever hosted. Our families were taken care of, our guests were taken care of, and Robert and I were taken care of from beginning to end. Everyone was warm, attentive, gracious and genuinely excited for us.
And our guests noticed. We heard over and over afterward not only how beautiful the wedding was, but how incredible the staff was and how seamless and special the entire experience felt. As a bride, there is truly no better compliment.
I went into wedding planning with some wild ideas and probably a few expectations that could be considered unrealistic. Somehow, Jennifer and The Albion didn’t just meet them - they exceeded them.
Jennifer, thank you for listening to every idea, entertaining every crazy request, caring about every tiny detail, and making Robert and me, our families, and our guests feel so special. I know there were probably a hundred things you handled behind the scenes that we never even knew about.
There are plenty of beautiful wedding venues, but you cannot manufacture the way people make you feel. That is what makes The Albion so special. They didn’t just give us a beautiful wedding. They gave us an experience we and our guests will never forget.
I would choose The Albion and Jennifer a thousand times over. They will forever hold such a special place in our hearts, and “thank you” will never feel like enough. 🤍
Shannon M.
5.0
Jennifer helped us plan a post-wedding celebration event in the Whiskey Lounge at The Albion, and frankly, we are now questioning whether she is actually a human being or some sort of highly organized event-planning deity sent to Earth to save the rest of us from ourselves.
From the very beginning, Jennifer was insanely organized, wildly competent, endlessly patient, and somehow always three steps ahead. We would mention something casually and in what felt like approximately 14 seconds, it was handled. We would realize we forgot something and discover Jennifer had already thought of it, solved it, ordered it, alphabetized it, and probably had a backup plan for the backup plan. The woman does not miss.
As for the Whiskey Lounge itself, the whole vibe was spectacular. The space is gorgeous, comfortable, and effortlessly cool — basically everything we would like to be but are not. It was the perfect setting for our event, and every detail came together beautifully.
What made the entire experience extraordinary, though, was Jennifer. She somehow managed to make our planning feel completely stress-free. We just showed up. Everything was perfect. People had a wonderful time. And Jennifer looked suspiciously calm. Jennifer is the reason we left thinking, “Wow, that was actually so easy!” It was not easy. She just made it look that way.
Our guests raved about the event, the space, the atmosphere, and how seamlessly everything came together.
Meanwhile, we spent the evening enjoying ourselves because our day-of assistant, Monique (who deserves her own parade, statue, and possibly a federal holiday) apparently decided that we were no longer responsible for anything. Monique was EVERYWHERE. We don't know how she did it. One minute she was handling me a specially curated plate from our food stations, the next she had materialized on the other side of the room refilling my cocktail. She had the energy of someone who had been given a headset, a mission, and absolutely no intention of letting anything go sideways.
If you are planning an event and have even the slightest interest in maintaining your sanity, reach out to Jennifer immediately. Do not attempt to do this yourself. You are not Jennifer. None of us are Jennifer. She is the person you want standing between you and the inevitable chaos of event planning. If you are lucky enough to have Monique there on the day of, consider yourself blessed. Our only complaint is that now we have to plan every future event without Jennifer and Monique, which feels deeply irresponsible.
The Whiskey Lounge was phenomenal. The Albion Summit was beautiful. The event exceeded every expectation.
Five stars. Ten if The Knot would stop being so restrictive. Twelve for Jennifer and Monique.
Elissa L.
5.0
AWARD WINNER
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
The Albion showcases the grandeur of its original architecture while seamlessly blending timeless charm with modern elegance. Every detail has been thoughtfully enhanced, creating a stunning backdrop for unforgettable celebrations and cherished memories. With onsite hotel accommodations, versatile spaces for rehearsal dinners and after parties, and seamless access to every part of your wedding weekend, The Albion ensures that your celebration—from start to finish—is as effortless as it is extraordinary.
2+ years in business
Speaks English
Large team (21+ members)
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Historic Venue
Hotel
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
2013 'Best of Weddings'
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.045 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Shannon M
5.0
I genuinely don’t know where to begin when it comes to Jennifer Batinjane and the entire team at The Albion. They exceeded every expectation we had for our wedding, and I can confi...
dently say my expectations were HIGH 😂.
I had such a specific vision for our wedding and cared about every little detail, especially how I wanted our guests to feel throughout the weekend. From the beginning, Jennifer completely understood that. Not once did she make me feel like an idea was too much, a request was too specific, or something couldn’t be done. I would come to her with one of my “okay, this might sound crazy, but…” ideas, and somehow her response was always, “Yes, let's do it”. And she always did.
Jennifer was our Memory Maker/Event Stylist, but that title doesn’t begin to cover what she became to us. She remembered the tiniest details, anticipated things before I thought to ask, and genuinely cared about our wedding as if it were her own. By the time our wedding day arrived, I trusted her completely, which, as someone who is VERY Type A, detail-oriented and has a hard time giving up control, says everything.
The Albion took care of our entire wedding weekend. Our room block continued to grow, we had family and friends coming and going, and I had individually personalized welcome boxes that needed to make it to the correct guests. Nothing was ever treated like an inconvenience. The front desk and hotel staff handled everything with so much care that I never had to worry.
Our ceremony was at the Cathedral Basilica in Newark, so I always wondered how we could possibly follow something so grand and breathtaking. But walking into The Albion afterward and seeing our reception come to life was a moment I’ll never forget. Every detail had been thought about. Nothing was overlooked. It felt like the wedding I had pictured in my head for so long, but somehow even better.
But as beautiful as everything was, what stands out most is how the entire Albion team made us and our guests FEEL. Every employee made us feel like our wedding was the most important event they had ever hosted. Our families were taken care of, our guests were taken care of, and Robert and I were taken care of from beginning to end. Everyone was warm, attentive, gracious and genuinely excited for us.
And our guests noticed. We heard over and over afterward not only how beautiful the wedding was, but how incredible the staff was and how seamless and special the entire experience felt. As a bride, there is truly no better compliment.
I went into wedding planning with some wild ideas and probably a few expectations that could be considered unrealistic. Somehow, Jennifer and The Albion didn’t just meet them - they exceeded them.
Jennifer, thank you for listening to every idea, entertaining every crazy request, caring about every tiny detail, and making Robert and me, our families, and our guests feel so special. I know there were probably a hundred things you handled behind the scenes that we never even knew about.
There are plenty of beautiful wedding venues, but you cannot manufacture the way people make you feel. That is what makes The Albion so special. They didn’t just give us a beautiful wedding. They gave us an experience we and our guests will never forget.
I would choose The Albion and Jennifer a thousand times over. They will forever hold such a special place in our hearts, and “thank you” will never feel like enough. 🤍
Elissa L
5.0
Jennifer helped us plan a post-wedding celebration event in the Whiskey Lounge at The Albion, and frankly, we are now questioning whether she is actually a human being or some sort...
of highly organized event-planning deity sent to Earth to save the rest of us from ourselves.
From the very beginning, Jennifer was insanely organized, wildly competent, endlessly patient, and somehow always three steps ahead. We would mention something casually and in what felt like approximately 14 seconds, it was handled. We would realize we forgot something and discover Jennifer had already thought of it, solved it, ordered it, alphabetized it, and probably had a backup plan for the backup plan. The woman does not miss.
As for the Whiskey Lounge itself, the whole vibe was spectacular. The space is gorgeous, comfortable, and effortlessly cool — basically everything we would like to be but are not. It was the perfect setting for our event, and every detail came together beautifully.
What made the entire experience extraordinary, though, was Jennifer. She somehow managed to make our planning feel completely stress-free. We just showed up. Everything was perfect. People had a wonderful time. And Jennifer looked suspiciously calm. Jennifer is the reason we left thinking, “Wow, that was actually so easy!” It was not easy. She just made it look that way.
Our guests raved about the event, the space, the atmosphere, and how seamlessly everything came together.
Meanwhile, we spent the evening enjoying ourselves because our day-of assistant, Monique (who deserves her own parade, statue, and possibly a federal holiday) apparently decided that we were no longer responsible for anything. Monique was EVERYWHERE. We don't know how she did it. One minute she was handling me a specially curated plate from our food stations, the next she had materialized on the other side of the room refilling my cocktail. She had the energy of someone who had been given a headset, a mission, and absolutely no intention of letting anything go sideways.
If you are planning an event and have even the slightest interest in maintaining your sanity, reach out to Jennifer immediately. Do not attempt to do this yourself. You are not Jennifer. None of us are Jennifer. She is the person you want standing between you and the inevitable chaos of event planning. If you are lucky enough to have Monique there on the day of, consider yourself blessed. Our only complaint is that now we have to plan every future event without Jennifer and Monique, which feels deeply irresponsible.
The Whiskey Lounge was phenomenal. The Albion Summit was beautiful. The event exceeded every expectation.
Five stars. Ten if The Knot would stop being so restrictive. Twelve for Jennifer and Monique.
Any questions?
Maggie G
1.0
From when we booked this venue to a year later when we had my daughter's wedding, they went through 4 event planners - none of them clued in to what the one before had promised or ...
done. Also, there was no contact about changes until my daughter would call with a question and then was told about major changes. The original menu which was very ample and wonderful, was changed to a very minimal cocktail hour with the fish option also taken out of the main course - and for $5 extra per couple. They had to bargain to keep the open bar. If there had been another venue still available, my daughter would have switched to it in a heartbeat and we could have avoided 6 major meltdowns due to their lack of professionalism. Nobody on staff knew what was going on or who was responsible for what. If my family had not been involved in the background doing much of the work ourselves, the wedding would have been a disaster. About 6 major meltdowns from the bride to be could have easily been avoided if anyone at this venue knew what was going on or what their job was. Countless changes throughout from the venue downsizing what the contract originally offered (of course, they always cover themselves by stating that changes may be made based on certain circumstances). The Bride and Groom never even got any of the leftover wedding cake to save and when I called to ask, they said they would call back and never did. Although we made the wedding a very fun and memorable event thanks to our background work and the wonderful DJ and Photographer we hired, the event, the food they offered and their services were a HUGE disappointment.
Lindsey R
4.0
The Grand Summit hotel is a wonderful place for your ceremony & reception. I cannot count how many compliments I got on the room, the food, the service - it was excellent. My only ...
complaint (and this is the only thing that keeps it from being a 5 star review) is that they never discussed the timeline for dinner, I was expecting a relatively quick meal, then dancing, then cake, then more dancing, but dinner was spread out over a very long time-frame.
But seriously, as long as you have a conversation about the timeline and get that set - it's an amazing venue and the staff are LOVELY.
Mary M
5.0
The Grand Summit Hotel exceeded our expectations! Our guests are still raving about the food, especially the cocktail hour. Everything went so well and the service was also top no...
tch. Thanks to everyone at the Grand Summit, I had my dream wedding. Kathy in particular was so good to deal with and made the planning process easy and stress free. I highly recommend this venue. Everyone I dealt with was professional and very responsive, but more importantly, the food and service was outstanding!
L P
5.0
My wedding was perfect thanks to Kathy! She did an amazing job from the minute I called. Our guests bragged about how well organized the event was and that their dinners were gre...
at.
Kathy is sooooo professional. Will look to work with Kathy on another event.
Mamie M
5.0
The Grand Summit is absolutely amazing!! We had our winter wedding on 12/8/2018 and it was absolutely perfect! Kathy was unbelievable, she carried out every detail of my vision fla...
wlessly, her attention to detail is phenomenal. I heard great things about the venue and specifically Kathy but she and her staff blew away every expectation we had. In addition to Kathy we absolutely loved our Maitre D' Francia, Bridal Attendant Brunelly, I never wanted or needed anything the entire night. Every time I turned around someone was there with food, a drink, and or my slippers!! (yes my slippers) I just can’t say enough about the staff. The food and the venue were unbelievable my only request was I wish I could have slowed the night down to make the fairy tale last longer. Our guests raved about the food, the venue and the staff, I am still getting compliments. I am so happy we chose The Grand Summit for our big day I would not change a thing. Thank you for making it the best day of our lives!
Martha (Missy) W
5.0
Catering Manager Kathy Obropta, Maitre D' Francia, Bridal Attendant Brunelly, behind the scenes set-up guru Cleveland and the rest of the staff at the Grand Summit Hotel created a ...
wedding reception experience that our friends and family are still talking about! One called it "the wedding of the century". My husband and I had our reception here 28 years ago. Our daughter's Sweet 16 was also held here 10 years ago. You can go back!!
The staff were professional beyond compare. The warmth, caring and attention to detail made us feel like we were having a party in our own home, with friends to help. We knew that competent professionals were in charge--and there was nothing to worry or stress about.
Thank you Kathy, Francia, Brunelly and Cleveland. We are planning our next event for the Grand Summit to host--perhaps a special birthday or anniversary--and maybe in a few years, a baby shower.
With Endless Appreciation,
Missy and Jim Weisgerber
Thomas P
5.0
We stayed at the Grand Summit hotel 3 days before our wedding as well as the night before our big day. Our ceremony and reception were off-site at other locations nearby. The Gran...
d Summit staff were so warm, friendly and accommodating. They were very responsive to all inquiries we had in advance, very flexible, and comp'd us a large suite room after 10 rooms in our wedding block were booked. The night before our wedding, I stayed in the suite with two girlfriends while my husband stayed in a presidential suite- this was the perfect set-up and were ideal spaces for the morning of our wedding where we were able to get ready with our bridal parties. In the bridal suite, the morning of our wedding we had about 10 girls having hair and makeup done, the room was absolutely perfect and truly stunning. Our photographers even commented on how this hotel was among the nicest they have ever shot 'getting ready' photographs in, and noted how lovely the lighting was. The HAT Tavern was such a wonderful addition, with breakfast included in our stay, it made everything so easy and comfortable. We truly felt like the Grand Summit was our home. We had quite a few people staying with our bridal party/wedding block, along with various vendors coming in and out the morning of, and the hotel staff were always friendly, helpful, and accommodating. After our wedding we left some flower vases and the front desk staff kindly held them for us for about a week as well. I grew up in Berkeley Heights and had always wanted to stay at the hotel- I am so glad I was able to stay at this local and independently owned gem. We can't recommend the Grand Summit Hotel enough!
Justin Q
5.0
We had our wedding at The Grand Summit on Sunday August 5, 2018. Everything was amazing. Everyone at the hotel was very accommodating and helpful. The planning process was smooth a...
nd effortless. Kathy is an absolute superhero. She went above and beyond in every way. From helping with menu selection to afterparty logistics, no question or request was too large or obscure. On the day of the wedding, all was perfect and went smoothly in large part to her great attention to detail. Anything we needed throughout the night, either Kathy or our personal attendant was right there to help. We had a few very serious food allergies and the staff made every effort to reassure us that all would be accommodated. The hotel itself was beautiful. The newly renovated ballroom and ceremony space were more than we could have hoped for. The landscaping in front of the building made for many amazing pictures as well. As for the food, what can I say. It was delicious. From cocktail hour, all the way through to dessert, we did not have a bad or sub-par bite of food. As someone who worked in the food industry for many years, I tend to be a little more critical than most, but also more understanding of the monumental task that is catering a wedding. This was by far the best food I have ever had at a wedding. Our sincere thanks go out to the chef and all kitchen and waitstaff for making our special day so memorable for us and our guests. In closing this review, we would just like to say that we would recommend The Grand Summit Hotel to anyone for their wedding or function. Thank you to everyone for making this the best day of our lives.
Response from Albion Summit
Dear Justin Q,
Thank you for taking the time to write a wonderful review of your wedding r...
eception at Grand Summit Hotel. It is always our goal to provide a memorable experience to our guests at Grand Summit Hotel. We are fortunate to have caring people like our Banquet Manager Kathy, and her service staff including kitchen to provide excellent food and beverage with excellent service for your special day. Wishing your all the best!!
Yogi Kumar, General Manager
Alexa N
5.0
We had our wedding two weeks ago on July 14th. I want to thank the Grand Summit from the bottom of my heart.
From the moment we walked in to see the venue over a year and a half ...
ago, every single person was so kind and welcoming.
Kathy was amazing throughout the entire planning process and the weekend turned out to be more than I could have ever imagined. She remembered every single detail and everything that we mentioned during the last few months. Ever person working was so sweet and warm, I felt like I was having a wedding in my house!
Kathy was calm and reassuring, and always answering our crazy questions and requests with a smile on. I would not have changed one single thing. I am so grateful and so, extremely lucky that we had her. Thank you for working so hard. It was the best weekend in the entire world and it was perfect because of all of you. Our friends and family haven’t stopped telling us it was the best wedding they have ever been to!
I wish there were stronger words to express how thankful I am.
I think everyone should get married at the Grand Summit Hotel!!!!!
Response from Albion Summit
Dear Alexa N,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a wonderful review about your we...
dding reception at the Grand Summit. We are very fortunate to have Kathy as our banquet manager who always makes sure that we provide an exceptional and memorable experience to our guests at our events.
Wishing you all the best !!
Yogi Kumar, General Manager
Melissa K
5.0
My husband and I had our wedding at the Grand Summit Hotel on April 7, 2018 and could not have been happier. Teresa, Jimmy, and the hotel staff were great to work with over the pa...
st year and were always available to answer my questions and meet for planning. The ballroom was recently renovated this winter and it looked great! Our guests raved about the food, both the cocktail hour and the dinner service. Kathy and all of the waitstaff were impeccable in their attention to the needs of all of my guests. Having our reception at a hotel relieved a lot of stress knowing that we did not have to worry about shuttling people back and forth and made getting ready for the wedding a breeze. Our parents ordered food from the Hat Tavern to be delivered to our rooms while getting dressed and it was prompt and delicious. We are so glad we chose to have our wedding at the Grand Summit Hotel.
Harrison M
5.0
My wife and I had our wedding reception at the Grand Summit Hotel on December 31st, 2017.
In the months leading up to the wedding, Theresa and her team were attentive, communicativ...
e, and welcoming. They provided us with recommendations for a decorator, DJ, cake bakery, florist, etc...we went with all of their recommendations, and they all turned out to be great. Can't say enough about the service at the Grand Summit Hotel and all the supporting members.
The night before the wedding, we had our welcome party in the Hat Tavern. Considering that 90% of our guests were staying in the Grand Summit, it was not only convenient but it was also very well organized. Great space downstairs.
The actual reception was phenomenal. The cocktail hour was a hit...the food was so good that many people ate too much before the main meal was even served! The bartenders were quick and effective as well. The classic, castle-esque look of the Grand Summit Hotel was amplified in the snow of New Years Eve. The venue was truly memorable.
The entire sequence of events throughout the reception ran without a hitch. My wife and I do not have a single complaint. The Grand Summit Hotel was a 10/10, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to get married in a memorable and remarkable place.
Patty and Ken L
5.0
The Grand Summit hosted our New Year's Eve 2017 wedding. It was fantastic. Everything went off without a hitch. Almost all 200 of our guests spent at least one night. Every deta...
il was attended to without any prompting from us the parents-of -the-bride. Every member of the staff was accommodating and attentive. Teresa could not have been more pleasant or easier to work with. I would highly recommend the Grand Summit for any event you may be planning in the future. All of our guests were extremely complementary. Thank you Grand Summit!
Nicole G
5.0
The Grand Summit Hotel was the perfect venue for our New Year’s Eve wedding last year. Some of the qualities that really stood out to us about the Grand Summit were the beautiful o...
ld world charm and the amazingly friendly staff. We felt welcomed right away by Teresa who helped us throughout the entire process making sure everything was running smoothly and making us feel very at ease. She worked with a lot of the vendors directly and everything felt organized the entire time. I had mentally prepared myself to have at least one minor issue occur but that never happened! We chose to have the ceremony on site too and I loved the flow of the evening as we started with the ceremony, moved into the beautiful glass atrium room for an amazing cocktail hour, into the ballroom for the reception and then finally back out to the atrium for the awesome dessert buffet! The lobby was also a great place for guests to step away from the party for a moment since it’s right off the ballroom and features lovely leather chairs and a great fireplace. Another thing we really liked was that they only host one wedding at a time and since most of our guests were staying at the hotel as well, it felt very intimate. The day of couldn’t have been more perfect. I felt like everyone at the hotel was there to help me and my family. When I woke up and heard that the cake had been delivered, Jimmy – another event manager went into the kitchen right away and took a bunch of pictures of it so I could see what it looked like. I thought that was so nice! We also had a bunch of photos and other decorations for the lobby and entrance way. I handed them a box of stuff and the next time I came downstairs it was set up so beautifully....I couldn’t believe it! Kathy and Natasha were also amazing the day of. I never needed a drink the entire night as they were always refilling our champagne. They were great at making sure the events of the night were running smoothly including handing out party hats and noise makers to everyone for the midnight countdown. Long story short, I could not be more thrilled with our venue choice and would gladly recommend the Grand Summit Hotel to anyone!
Melissa W
5.0
On August 12, 2017 we got married here and it was perfect. The attention to detail was exquisite. Teresa was so helpful in answering all our many questions leading up to the event ...
and Jimmy was outstanding in organizing and managing everything at the wedding. Grand Summit's rustic charm is so sweet and having hotel rooms, free breakfast, and the Hat Tavern for an after party were all very convenient for all our guests! We were very impressed and would definitely recommend Grand Summit for any event!
Rachel M
5.0
I cannot thank the staff at the Grand Summit Hotel enough for making our wedding absolutely perfect. Teresa was so incredibly helpful every step of the way and I cannot thank her e...
nough for all of her help. She was very responsive to my many emails and calls. We had the rehearsal (down in the Hat tavern), reception, and breakfast the next day all at the hotel and coordinating with the staff was so easy. For those that did not want the party to stop we also stayed until closing at the bar in the Hat as well. The staff is so accommodating, they kept a conference room open for us to work on our DIY flowers and when our outdoor ceremony was possibly going to be rained out they had a very solid rain plan (luckily it was still outside and they set up the ballroom without any issues right when we made the call) All of our guests loved the food and those who stayed overnight were very pleased with the rooms and service. Thank you Teresa, Jim, and everyone else for an amazing wedding weekend!
Carolyn D
5.0
The Grand Summit was the most wonderful wedding venue for our September wedding. As a Union County local, I didn't want a "Jersey" wedding and had actually been looking in NYC for ...
a wedding venue when my parents suggested we check out the Grand Summit. I was skeptical but my fiance and I went to look and once we met with Jimmy Thornton and received a tour, we were convinced! The hotel has a beautiful historic feel to it and Jimmy is the nicest guy and a consummate host. The whole planning process went so smoothly because of Jimmy. We did not hire a wedding planner but we didn't need to because of how attentive Jimmy was. He was always available by phone to answer questions that came up in the planning process and he always returned our phone calls within a few hours if we had to leave a message. He coordinated closely with our vendors so our wedding day ran like clockwork. I kept waiting for a crisis to happen because of experiences I've seen from friends and family members but our day and the whole planning process was seamless. During our rehearsal, Jimmy was there to give cues and directions. He worked with our officiant to plan timing and the general flow of the wedding. Our guests raved about their time at the Grand Summit and all accommodations were wonderful. The cocktail hour appetizers and dinner was fabulous. One added bonus of getting married at the Grand Summit was that we had the after-party on site at the Hat Tavern so no one had to drive after a night of celebrating. Also, all guests have breakfast included in their stay so the next morning, everyone gathered in the tavern to relive the night before. My husband and I are so happy that we got married at the Grand Summit and we would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, classic wedding, delicious food and drinks and a great value. Thank you Grand Summit and thank you Jimmy!
Maureen T
5.0
My husband and I can't say enough great things about our beautiful wedding reception at The Grand Summit Hotel on October 7, 2016. We wanted a vintage and rustic themed wedding. Th...
e brick, cobblestone, glass atrium, and fireplace are just a few things that give this venue an old charm that no other venue can top. From the moment we toured The Grand Summit and met with Teresa and Kathy, we were sure we wanted to get married here. The service we received was top notch and the food was outstanding. The accommodations were wonderful and the All American Breakfast is one of a kind! All throughout our planning, Teresa and Jimmy were extremely helpful and responsive. So many of our guests are still talking about the service, professionalism, and the abundant and delicious food from cocktail hour and dinner. Kathy, Teresa, and Jess were so attentive and helpful throughout our entire reception. They made us feel so comfortable and at ease. Not only did we close down The Hat Tavern after the reception, they also let us stay in the lobby for hours afterward. The party was unbelievable and we didn't want our celebration to end! The general manager, Mr. G, and the assistant manager, Mr. Marino, were very kind and accommodating. After having such a wonderful wedding at The Grand Summit, it is clear that they take enormous pride in what they do. They make sure their couples will receive nothing but the best. We can honestly say we feel like family with The Grand Summit Hotel. We would highly recommend them. If you are looking for a classic and elegant wedding at a historic venue with a vintage and rustic feel, look no further. There is a special charm about The Grand Summit and we are so very happy they made our wedding a dream come true. To all the staff, thank you so very much from the bottom of our hearts! Love, Maureen & Brian
Nicole L
5.0
My husband and I had our reception at The Grand Summit and I could not have asked for a better day. From the moment I walked in the door, I knew this was the perfect place for us...
! From the historic lobby to the newly renovated ballroom, everything is gorgeous! Jimmy could not have been more helpful and ensured the whole planning process and day went off without a hitch! Our guests are still raving about everything from the service, accommodations and especially the food! Everything was absolutely delicious! I can honestly say I had the perfect wedding and we owe it all to Jimmy and The Grand Summit Hotel!
Nicole P
5.0
My husband and I could not have asked for a better venue! From the moment I walked in the door, I knew this was the perfect venue! Not only is it gorgeous, but the staff is amazin...
g. Jimmy helped make everything so easy, from planning to day of the wedding! The ballroom is recently renovated and is absolutely breath taking! Our guests are still raving about the service, staff and most importantly the food! Everything came out perfect and was absolutely delicious! I can honestly say I had the wedding of my dreams, and I owe it all to Jimmy and The Grand Summit Hotel!
Kerry D
5.0
Perfect in every way. The Grand Summit provided the perfect venue for the ceremony down to the reception. Our guests raved about all of the food from the cocktail hour to the mai...
n courses. Food was presented spectacularly. The service was impeccable. Our hotel guests were 100% satisfied with the accommodations and the great morning after breakfast. We extend our sincere thank you to the staff and management for making all our wishes come true!! PS....loved the chocolate covered strawberries and champagne surprise in our suite!
Anna L
5.0
Our experience with the Grand Summit hotel was a dream from start to finish, and I would recommend them to anyone in a heartbeat. Teresa, Kathy, Jimmy, and Jess took the most amazi...
ng care of us from the moment we walked in the door. There are a lot of reviews to read through, but here are the basic facts that as a bride, I appreciated more than I can say:
-Everything is beautiful. The place settings, table cloths, cocktail hour arrangements, lobby, lighting - everything. And they incorporated my homemade decorations so seamlessly, it felt like they were part of the decor!
-The food was incredible. Almost every guest mentioned the quality AND quantity of the food.
-The price is extremely reasonable. We shopped around quite a bit and for what you get at the Grand Summit Hotel, nothing in the area compares. We were even given a "locals" discount for living in town. I still can't believe what we received for what we paid. And Teresa made the process of organizing, paying, and planning so easy and pain free. She was extremely responsive and always on top of things.
-They handle every detail and give you the wedding of your dreams. Our wedding was not traditional - we didn't have a DJ, we didn't have a first dance, we had a mixed wedding party. Teresa was so accommodating of every detail we dreamed up. She was focused on realizing our vision from start to finish.
-They take care of you. When you arrive, you and your wedding party are given a private room in which to enjoy cocktail hour food and drink. This was a welcomed opportunity to relax and sit down and actually eat! Beyond this, I think I'm the only bride I know who actually ate the food she paid for. They were so good about letting us know when food arrived, and waiting to clear our plates until they were sure we were finished. They brought our belongings upstairs, constantly checked in to make sure we were being taking care of, and I was truly never stressed. They took care of everything.
-The hotel stay is fantastic. The rooms are spacious and cozy, and our guests loved the pool. They all commented on what a wonderful hotel it was to stay in. Our suite was beautiful, and stocked with a bottle of champagne and chocolate covered strawberries upon our arrival. The bar downstairs was a perfect place to party the night away after the reception - and they gave us free food and drinks the whole evening when they heard we were the bride and groom.
-They go above and beyond to make your day special. A few moments stick out in our memory - especially when Kathy asked us if we wanted anything to drink, and actually went down to the hotel bar to fetch my husband's favorite drink because they didn't have it at the open bar. And speaking of open bar, even though we only paid for an hour due to our budget, Teresa approached us after cocktail hour ended and asked if we would like to keep the bar open a little longer, free of charge. She said they would play it by ear, maybe an extra hour or two, and they ended up keeping it open the ENTIRE duration of the reception.
Highly, highly, highly recommended. Thanks, Grand Summit team!
a a
5.0
The Grand Summit was the venue of our dreams, we are 100% satisfied with everything from the planning process, to the food, to the amazing staff. They went above and beyond to ensu...
re our wedding exactly how we imagined, and everything was taken care of so we could have a worry free reception! Jimmy was our go-to guy from the very beginning. We met with him multiple times. He was so professional and accommodating, and really worked with us to make sure everything was perfect. He was prompt and helpful in answering every question I had for him (along with my multiple emails and calls!) Everything was perfect and seamless, especially thanks to Cathy who was there during the reception and took care of everything for us. We still have guests telling us that was one of the best (if not THE best) wedding they've ever been to. Jimmy, Cathy, and the rest of the staff at The Grand Summit ensured that we had the most amazing wedding we could ever have dreamed of. Would absolutely recommend, 5/5 stars!
Bob F
5.0
Our daughter's reception, held at the Grand Summit Hotel, was magical. My wife and I have one daughter and we dreamed for her whole life that her wedding reception would be perfect...
. The Grand Summit Hotel made our dream come true. From the time we first met with Teresa Garcia for a tour to the day of the event we were treated like royalty. Attention was paid to every detail. The staff was accommodating, professional and friendly. The evening was run with meticulous care by the host, Kathy The cocktail hour and buffet dinner food was abundant and delicious. The attendant that waited on our table was diligent and always available. The next morning our daughter commented that she felt she was the epitome of the "happy bride" She and her new husband had the time of their lives. They were able to relax, eat, drink, dance and enjoy their friends. Everything was taken care of and managed to perfection. The catering choices were vast and exciting. The facility was gorgeous with many photo op locations. A number of us stayed over in the hotel and enjoyed a complimentary American breakfast the next morning. Friends and family in attendance gave the venue great reviews. I highly recommend they Grand Summit Hotel for a wedding and I am so happy that we chose the venue and were able to provide our daughter such a wonderful day. Thank you Teresa and Kathy and the entire staff.
Melissa Z
5.0
My wife and I were married at the Grand Summit on April 30 and it was everything we could have ever hoped for. We had both the ceremony and reception at the hotel which was very co...
nvenient since our guests did not have to travel. The hotel provided us a huge suite for the girls to have their hair and makeup done in which worked out just wonderfully. The whole staff at the hotel is amazingly accommodating, the girls needed chairs, they had chairs, they needed more mirrors, they had more mirrors. It was amazing.
As for the ceremony and reception, Kathy and Teresa did a great job with everything. Whenever we needed anything or had questions/requests during the planning process Teresa was there to help and make sure we made the right choice. Kathy was there the day of whenever we needed her and she made the evening run seamlessly. Our attendant for the evening and the whole staff were extremely helpful and professional. We aren’t the easiest people to please and we really had no complaints. The ballroom was prefect for the reception and people couldn’t stop talking about how delicious the food was.
I highly recommend The Grand Summit for a wedding and want to thank the entire staff for an unforgettable evening.
Sarah B
5.0
If you are still searching for an event venue, search no further than the Grand Summit. The entire team at Grand Summit from Teresa the event coordinator to Kathy the maître d’ to ...
all of the great waiters and people working behind the front desk is absolutely wonderful. We booked our wedding a little more than a year in advance and Teresa was with us the entire time whenever we had questions. She was prompt and courteous in all of her replies. Our guests had a great experience as well with the entire flow of the evening from arrival to cocktail hour to dinner and dancing to an after-party at Hat Tavern. We heard more than once that we had the best cocktail hour ever due to the food that was presented (go for the mashed potato bar, it was a huge hit!). Further, after attending a wedding very soon after my own at another local venue, it was painfully apparent how much more professional and experienced Grand Summit is than this other venue. If I had to do my wedding over again, there is no question where I would have it. I would happily return to Grand Summit.
Anonymous
5.0
Amazing venue, Amazing service, Amazing food!!!
My partner & I choose the Grande Summit for a) the location for our in town guests & b) the accommodations for our out of town gues...
ts & c) for the old charm feeling of the hotel. From the minute we met the Director of Catering, Jimmy, we knew this was the place we wanted to get married.
Our ceremony took place in the Crestview Room with the beautiful fountain as the back drop – it was fabulous! The ballroom was exquisitely set-up with the perfect lighting. We had cocktail hour and our buffet in the Grand Ball Room. The food was awesome!!
From the minute we started working with Jimmy & Teresa things could not have been smoother, with them helping us work within our budget & with every detail that was to follow! The hotel staff, Christine & Nicole, could not have been more helpful in organizing our block of rooms for our wedding guests and seeing that any early check-ins we needed were seen to. We had 31 guests staying at the hotel & every one of them came up to us with rave reviews on their accommodations and the attentiveness of all the staff.
Cathy, our Maître d' & her staff, were beyond attentive to my partner & I & our guests, seeing that we were never without something, walking us thru the buffet lines to show us all the food before announcing to the guests it was open & offering to make us plates. I do not think my personal champagne glass was ever empty or out of the sight of their eyes!!! The detail to attention for our guests was above & beyond what we could have hoped for. Our guests commented on how ever last detail was taken care of and that the service and food was extraordinary.
We planned our wedding in just about 4 months for a 90 person event and our wedding day was perfect from beginning to end without any snags or mishaps all due to Jimmy & his staff at the Grande Summit Hotel. If we had to do it all over again there is no other place we would have our wedding but at the Grande Summit Hotel – 5 STARS from beginning to end!!!
Lisa P
5.0
My husband and I got married at The Grand Summit Hotel just two weeks ago on 8/1/15. Our wedding day was magical. Teresa and Jimmy are incredible people and event planners. They ma...
de Glen and I feel so incredibly special and executed every detail perfectly. Our ceremony was in the Grand Ballroom, which was gorgeous. They then transformed it into my dream reception venue. They have incredible lighting options to make the mood of the room however you choose. We choose blue lighting that created a fun and sophisticated atmosphere. The food was out of this world! Nothing is worse than leaving a wedding hungry, and believe me, your guests will rave about the food! The stations during the cocktail hour are so unique and delcious- we chose the Southern Station, Asian Station, Salumi and Cheese Bar, Italian Pasta Station, and the Caribbean Station. The dinner was also incredible, as well as the cake and dessert stations! The dessert stations included sno cones, cotton candy, cupcakes, bananas fosters, and more!
My older sister got married there in 2008, and since it was so amazing then, I decided I wanted to get married there as well. It was the best decision!
I wish I could give The Grand Summit Hotel 10 stars because our wedding there was a dream come true!
Rachel K
5.0
We got married at the Grand Summit on Sunday, June 7th. It was magical. Here's why.
Jimmy Thornton: From the first minute we met Jimmy we loved him. He's a total pro who takes t...
remendous pride in his work and staff. I had originally ruled out the Grand Summit because I didn't want a traditional ballroom wedding. My husband thought we should go for a meeting, and after thirty minutes I was sold. I knew that we were in great hands, and that we'd chosen a venue that wasn't traditional at all. It has great history, a fantastic flow, and Jimmy. We had an unusual wedding--a Star Wars/Back to the Future theme--and Jimmy helped ensure that all of the moving parts ran smoothly. Darth Vader needed a changing room? Done. I needed to park a Delorean in the entrance driveway for photos? No problem. Special food requests? Handled (and deliciously). After you spend a little time with Jimmy, you get the distinct sense that he's as enthusiastic about making your big day everything that you want it to be as you are. More importantly, he follows through on all of it. He didn't miss a single detail or over-promise anything. He and the Grand Summit staff simply made it happen with great attention to detail.
He was kind and generous with us and our families (even when they were occasionally bananas), and he worked with us to give us a dream wedding at a down-to-earth price. Other venues that we had interviewed with were eager to charge extra ("oh, by the way...") for little things like uplighting, setting up chairs for the ceremony, etc. but not The Grand Summit. They included anything that they could to make the big day everything that it possibly could be. Additional charges were very few and extremely reasonable.
The event staff: Kathy and all of the event staff were an absolute dream. They were calm and cool and ensured that we always had a fresh drink in hand. They made our guests feel welcome, and made sure we all had a great time. Wonderful people, it's hard to find the words to express how much we appreciate all they did to make our wedding absolutely amazing.
The food: It was just so darn good. We had a buffet brunch, and it was outstanding from the cocktail hour through dessert. Guests especially loved the crab cakes and I was a big fan of the waffle station and the mashed potato bar. My husband was delighted by the freshly carved lox station and chilled shrimp. There was also an amazing omelette station, a pasta station and all kinds of good food from meatballs to salads in chafing dishes. There was so much food and it was all first-rate quality (and we're snobby about that kind of thing). We topped it all off with a sundae bar. Jimmy's idea--he knows us so well.
The shuttle bus staff: God bless the folks running the shuttle bus. We had a few requests and Michael was an angel. Transportation made us nervous, and it all went off seamlessly.
The hotel staff: Nicole worked our room block and she was friendly and responsive. Front desk staff was uniformly solid and helpful. My only complaint, and it's a small one, was that I couldn't get late check out the morning after the wedding. It wasn't the end of the world since normal check out was at noon, but this is a tiny drop of complaining in an ocean of good things!
We can't recommend the Grand Summit enough. Our wedding was perfect.
Stephanie P
5.0
My husband and I had our wedding receptions at The Grand Summit Hotel on January 17, 2015. My husband is from New Providence and we wanted to keep the wedding local. The Grand Summ...
it did a PHENOMENAL job. We could not have imagined a more beautiful day. The wedding coordinators Teresa and Jimmy could not be more helpful, reassuring and professional. They made sure everything went smoothly and how we wished it to be. The staff was kind and attentive to all of our guests making sure everyone had what they needed especially the wedding party our parents. The set up of the room was stunning. The flow of the day was perfect, everything went off without a problem. The cocktail hour was outstanding and the front rooms are gorgeous. The coach room was a gorgeous backdrop for our family portraits and allowed our wedding party, parents and grandparents have a chance to celebrate together before introductions. On top of the gorgeous setting, outstanding customer service and excellent set up, the food was DELICIOUS! Top notch. We also had a room block at The Grand Summit making it easy for our guests especially in the winter weather. The Hat Tavern was excellent for brunch, drinks and meals outside of the wedding. We were even able to get shuttle service from the hotel to the church for our guests staying at the hotel. We do not have a single complaint about the Grand Summit. I would highly recommend this venue to any bride & groom. The service and quality could not be beaten. All of our guests raved about the convenience, the class and the amazing customer service of the ENTIRE Grand Summit staff. We felt like celebrities. I will never forget our day and look forward to staying with the Grand Summit again!
Anonymous
5.0
As local parents of the groom, we were thrilled they decided on the Summit Hotel. The actual wedding venue far exceeded our expectations!!! Food was outstanding, accomodations we...
re amazing and service was impeccable!! Theresa, who guided the bride and groom's choices for food etc. was like family. Her warmth and genuine interest in accommodating whatever the Bride and Groom wanted was ever present. On the evening of the wedding, Kathy and her staff were there to be sure everything was perfect and everyone was well taken care of. Kathy and Theresa personally walked the Bride's Family and my husband and I through each of the rooms prior to the wedding to show us how it was set up. They were excited to see our reaction as we all were in awe of the magical setting they were proud to have set up. What more can be said? ...we can't recommend the Summit Hotel enough!!! If I had to give it a grade? A+
Catherine H
5.0
Jimmy and his crew did an AMAZING job for our wedding on 12/13/14! The hotel's ballroom was recently remodeled and exudes timeless elegance. There were 2 TV's which displayed pic...
ture montages during the father/daughter and mother/son dances as well as uplighting that matched our wedding color (red). The quality and amount of food was truly incredible. Every single guest complimented the chef and was shocked about the unreal amount of food served! Our servers were so, so kind as well! Overall, we are SO happy we chose the Grand Summit Hotel for our venue; everything went incredibly smoothly and surpassed our expectations! Thank you GSH!
Kate V
5.0
Having been born and raised in NJ (union county) The Grand Summit was a familiar and perfect choice for us. I've been a guest at weddings there before and have dined in The Hat Tav...
ern and am always happy leaving an event/dinner.
From day one, Teresa, Michael, Kathy and the whole team were amazing. They were prompt in returning emails/phone calls, gave us great advice on other vendors, and broke down our menu choices so that our guests would have a delicious variety of foods.
Our guests are still raving about the cocktail hour and stations that we had. Half of them were from out of state and they were so appreciative to go from reception, to the fun after party downstairs, to the lobby after the bar closed, then up to their beds! We didn't want the party to stop!
The rooms were clean and comfortable. The recently renovated ballroom and cocktail rooms are absolutely gorgeous. The staff was warm and on hand for whatever we needed. As the bride, they made me feel so special and cared for!
It was an absolutely perfect day and I am so happy The Grand Summit hosted us.
christine v
5.0
My beautiful, inside and out, daughter, Kate, married George on October 25, 2014. The wedding was at our church in Westfield and over a year ago we booked the reception at the beau...
tiful Grand Summit. Since I work across the street from the Grand Summit and have lived in Union County my entire life, I'm familiar with the Grand Summit and have been there for several affairs.
Working with Teresa was one of the best experiences Kate and I have ever had. She is absolutely lovely, passionate about what she does (so well!) and makes the entire planning process a joy. When she makes suggestions, if we asked her opinion, she's always right on, but never demanding. We learned early on that she's the professional, we trusted her completely, and listening to her creative and ingenious ideas and opinions would only enhance the wedding reception.
Every detail was attended to. Kate and I are great organizers so steps fell into place perfectly.
The menu was vast and over the top impressive. The newly renovated ballroom, atrium and room off the ballroom looked beautiful and worked for us perfectly... we were thrilled with the updates. The lobby, with it's old world elegance, is charmingly perfect.
Half of our guests were from NJ and the other half were from Virginia. The Virginians were especially impressed (overwhelmed, in a great way) with the way we do weddings in New Jersey. We were so proud!
We had the classic, big, Greek wedding! It was perfect in every way. The food was abundant, delicious and the selection was outstanding. The service... and everyone had something to say about the service... was outstanding. Kathy, our maître d was so deserving of her title... she was brilliant.
Our rooms (we booked close to 60) were charming, CLEAN, modern and so comfortable.
Michael, Christine and Nicole did a great job in making sure all was in order for us.
Cassandra, Brian and Larry were all instrumental in making our day perfect. If I've forgotten anyone, I'm so sorry! Every single staff member at the Grand Summit made Kate and George's big day perfect.
We closed down the HAT Tavern that night and even stayed in the lobby for a few hours... we just didn't want the party to end!
Thank you Grand Summit. As a Mom, I've never been happier in my life. Your venue was the perfect place to celebrate the marriage of my Kate and George. It was the most beautiful first day of the rest of their lives together. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Christine
Nora R
5.0
I found this location on the knot website. Jimmy met with us and was absolutely wonderful. He was kind, professional, caring and hard working. The hotel itself is beautiful. The lo...
bby has such charm and character- great for pictures! The food during cocktail hour and dinner was delicious. So many friends and family commented on the atmosphere, taste of the food and the overall experience. Jimmy was so helpful with making the day as stress free as possible- allowing us to enjoy every minute of the day! The entire staff from the front desk to the wedding staff to the cleaning staff were friendly and nice. Breakfast at the Hat Tavern the next morning was not only delicious but it was so nice to be able to see everyone and re-live the wedding.I would highly recommend this venue. We had 165 guests and everyone had great time- the dance floor was packed the entire evening! I couldn't have asked for a nicer venue!
jennifer W
5.0
Our wedding was perfect. Jimmy and Theresa were excellent to work with. The amount of food at our cocktail hour was completely over the top and the quality was fantastic. The se...
rvice was fabulous and the whole night exceeded our expectations. The only downside is that there are limited areas for posed family and bridal party photos on site but the lobby and front facade made for gorgeous pictures! Great location for our winter wedding
Laura B
5.0
A grand historic old belle. Such a wonderful atmosphere...great food and service....our guest loved it. And those who spent the night loved rolling right upstairs afterwards, too...
.
Evelyn C
5.0
That was just one thing that my guests said about my wedding (October, 6, 2012). The Grand Summit Hotel is the best place to have a wedding or any other event. From the moment yo...
u drive up and step through those doors, you are enveloped in old world charm. The ambiance of the hotel had a lot of character and matched my simple yet classic style. From the moment we booked the venue through the wedding day, the entire team was there to answer my questions and help coordinate the day of my wedding. They totally put me at ease in every way. The food (from cocktail hour through dessert) was also delicious and plentiful at a great value! All of my guests were stuffed! Even the guests was complimentary about the rooms in the hotel. It was a perfect day at the perfect place!
Susie M
5.0
We discovered The Grand Summit Hotel by searching on the usual websites - theKnot, Weddingwire, etc. It was actually the first venue that we looked at in person after we got engag...
ed. We both had a really good feeling about the classic and elegant feel of the hotel, and about the quality of service that Jimmy Thornton and his team would provide. After visiting a couple of other nearby venues - The Manor and Wilshire Grand, we decided to follow our hearts and book the Grand Summit for our wedding. Boy, did we make the right decision.
Everything was perfect the day and night of our wedding. Jimmy's team set everything up exactly as we requested. The atmosphere of the hotel is really lovely, from the classic look of the front hotel entrance, the unique feel of the cocktail hour space with exposed brick and outdoor views, and the grand ballroom. The food was excellent the entire night, from the cocktail hour to the main course and dessert. We've been hearing from many of our guests about how great they thought the food was. As an added bonus, many of our guests stayed over that night at the hotel, so they only had to take a short elevator ride to get to their beds after enjoying the party and open bar! We just love that convenience. The complimentary breakfast the next morning was also very good after a night of partying!
Overall, we could not be happier with our choice of the Grand Summit Hotel for our wedding. Jimmy and his team were a pleasure to work with and made the planning process as easy as possible. We recommend this as a venue to anyone looking for excellent service, great food, and an intimate atmosphere even with a lot of guests. We had 180 guests and it never felt crowded. Thank you Jimmy, Theresa, and the rest of your team!
Jessica K
5.0
We recently held a B’nai Mitzvah at the Grand Summit for over 150 people. I had heard good things about the Grand Summit’s food and we liked the quaint, classy 100 year style of th...
e hotel. We decided to use the wedding menu and have stations after the cocktail hour, separate for kids and adults, bringing all of the attendees together in the main ballroom for the reception. The food at the adult cocktail hour was amazing. My guests are still talking about the raw bar, the vodka bar and the caviar. The butler-served hors d’oeurvres were plentiful and delicious. My personal favorite was the lamb chops. The service was impeccable both during the cocktail hour and the main reception. Although already stuffed to the gills, my guests raved about the food served at the stations as well. When the desserts were served, along with the international coffees, etc., I was caught by surprise as I had no idea of the extent of the “spread” of items that were put out. Chocolate fountain, crepe suzette, freshly filled canollis, cakes of every type, and more. Teresa Garcia Rosado and Jimmy Thornton of the catering group great to work with. They under-promised and over-delivered. I truly cannot say enough about my experience, and my guests said it was the best Bar/Bat Mitzvah they can remember.
Amy and Jeff
Donna L
5.0
I had my wedding here in June 2012. The venue itself is beautiful! Its not your typical hotel experience rather it was built in the 1800's and has a old castle or country like ch...
arm. The outside and lobby have beautiful wood finishes.
The cocktail hour can be held in two different rooms in addition to the reception and ceremony being held in the ballroom. They only hold one wedding per evening and we literally had the whole hotel to ourselves.
Our guests stayed in the hotel (they took up 50 + rooms) and we got tons of compliments on how comfortable the beds were. Downstairs is a wonderful tavern where we held the after party and in the morning had a free breakfast buffet for guests
Besides the wonderful accommodations, the food was out of this world (we were told since we barely ate)!! We keep getting compliments on the cocktail hour selection (specifically the carving station),steak dinner and the incredible desert stations. I have never seen a bigger selection of cocktail food and desert ever. We are hoping that we can go to wedding there has a guest so we can better enjoy all of the food.
We worked with Jimmy from the start and he was great! I also had some interaction with Teresa who was also very nice. Jimmy was with us the whole evening and he made sure things ran smoothly.
The only negative about the Grand Summit is that they don't have the ability to do an outdoor ceremony. If you desired to do an outdoor ceremony, the Reeve's Arboretum is literally down the street and it has the ability to do and outdoor ceremony. We did not do this, but we did take our photos there. It was gorgeous! Our photographer, Leslie Barbaro www.lesliebarbarophoto.com/ was excellent and was our florist/event designer, Dramatic Innovation www.dramaticny.com/
Pick the Grand Summit and you will have a beautiful wedding with many satisfied guests!!
Christine F
5.0
The Grand Summit is old-style elegance.My husband and I are just not fans of BLING!so we were happy to find The Grand Summit. Just a beautiful and refined room with a two great adj...
acent areas- one a solarium and the other a cobblestone floor cocktail area with a wall fountain. (That said, the space is very versatile and some photos of parties we saw were quite lounge-like and/or blinged out!)
The food was perfect, we used an extended cocktail format and there was more than enough food and variety. We did not choose any stations offering on-trend food but they did offer those arrangements. The kitchen turned out dishes that
were much better than several catering companies we tested and we were happy that our guests enjoyed everything so much.
The convenience of the hotel was great,with the rooms updated and pretty. We received a suite for the evening with our package!
Now for the best part- the special event staff. I cannot say enough about them. They were friendly and professional. When we chose the Summit it was in great part to Jimmy Thornton's good reputation and our bad experience interviewing other vendors. We were never Jimmy's problem, he acted as though his job was to make sure there were no problems.Jimmy delivered in every way.Teresa Garcia also works in the catering and events dept and while we had less contact with Teresa she always worked in the same pleasant and attentive manner.
Jacqueline S
5.0
Everything went smoothly and just as we expected!!
Jennifer J
5.0
We never imagined such a gorgeous wedding. The Grand Summit was the perfect backdrop. We loved that our guests could go right upstairs, there was a bar downstairs for the after-pa...
rty, a full delicious breakfast for all guests included, a lovely pool, and the historical charm of the hotel. The cocktail room is spread out in 2 different rooms, the floor of one of the rooms is the original slate path horse and buggies drove over in the 1800’s. Jimmy, our Maitre 'd was just wonderful to work with, if I had any question, it was answered in a day. The night went off so smoothly and guests are still raving about the hotel and the food. After booking there, we ate in their restaurant on them. We knew we made a fabulous choice. Their crab cakes won an award and were also on our menu. The large ballroom just transformed into a warm and elegant venue with the lighting and flowers we chose. What we loved too about having it at The Grand Summit, is that every anniversary we can go to dinner there and stay over if we wish!
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