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About this vendor
We don‘t know Culinary Institute of America‘s story by heart. Message them to get to know more about their business.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Covered Outdoors Space
On-Site Accommodations
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Settings
- Ballroom
- Brewery & Distillery
- Garden
- Historic Venue
- Restaurant
- Trees
Venue Service Offerings
- Bar & Drinks
- Cakes & Desserts
- Cupcakes
- Other Desserts
- Food & Catering
- Planning
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Reviews
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5
out of 5.07 reviews
We happened to come across the CIA as a wedding venue in our search as we began preparing our wedding. When we met Jason and walked the campus, we instantly knew this was going to ...
be our wedding venue. Jason and his team were incredibly excited and worked with us every step of the way to ensure a fantastic ceremony and reception. Jason was very responsive throughout the process, even as he was busy through wedding season coordinating other events on the campus. The staff and students were extremely professional, and the resulting event was an absolute blast. And I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the food and drink! The chefs helped us navigate several obscure and complicated allergies to create an incredible menu, from the carrot ginger soup appetizer (an unexpected hit amongst the guests) to the cocktail hour signature drinks (appropriately fall-themed and reflective of the bride and groom's styles) to the incredibly delicious cake. If you're looking for a lovely venue along the Hudson River with a great atmosphere and even more amazing food and drink, put the CIA on your short list. You'll be so glad you did.
We toured and booked CIA after finding out from my mom (an alumni) that they host weddings. From the second we met Jason we knew CIA would be our venue. During the 2 years of plann...
ing, Jason probably answered 250 emails from me- yes I was definitely the most annoying bride of the season. Jason and his team are unmatched. They were able to re-make my husband and my favorite dish from our favorite restaurant in NYC, made the BEST cocktails, and I have not stopped hearing about how good the food was from our guests- many of who are chefs or service professionals. We had many hard to please guests and even they were in awe. One of our guests told us that he commented about how good a certain roll was and the waiter brought out a full bowl of that specific type of roll for him... that is not service that you typically get at a restaurant, let alone a wedding! The only complaint we heard all night was that one guest had to skip our after party because he was TOO full from our wedding.
A lot was going on the weekend of our wedding- alumni weekend, a terrible rainstorm, and I used almost all vendors that hadn't been to CIA before. Jason managed the day so extremely well even with the challenges and details that were thrown at him. I truly do not know how he does it all with such ease- this man should be president!
My husband and I plan on visiting CIA for all future anniversaries, and I will be recommending CIA as a venue to any brides I meet. If you're on the fence about booking here, reach out to me!
We cannot recommend the CIA, Jason Lowenthal, or his entire team highly enough to host your wedding at their stunning campus in Hyde Park. The incredible attention to detail starte...
d from our first phone call with Jason helping us to brainstorm all sorts of creative ideas, letting us make the entire event truly our own. With the gorgeous Farquharson Hall as our backdrop he held our hands over the year that followed, building a truly memorable and incredible day that our guests will always remember.
The culinary team are superstars as well, led by the Chef who thoughtfully crafted our menu with us. We were not the easiest customers in the world but they took our every idea and executed on it flawlessly. From the locally sourced cheeses to the student manned stations throughout our event (Steam Bun and Tacos with drink pairings) we did not stop getting compliments on the food. It is tough to live up to the name when you get married at the Culinary Institute of America but they absolutely did. The duo of beef was an unmitigated winner among the entrees but the duck breast (my pick) and the Fluke (seasonal and fresh as can be) were all incredible. Even the vegetarian/gluten free meal of vegetable risotto was so good we had a vegan guest discreetly ask if they could sneak a second portion once they were done cleaning their plate. The desserts were beautiful and delicious, especially the freshly made gelato Jason coordinated bringing in for us in custom flavors (maple and Ferrero Rocher), with some truly creative toppings.
The students who worked at the event were maybe the most surprising. They were far friendlier, more helpful, and more knowledgeable than the staff at most events or restaurants we have been to and we truly enjoyed chatting with them throughout the day. Finally there is the man, the myth, the legend....Jason. He was an absolute gem and he managed to pull off our entire day exactly as planned despite thunderstorms, crying flower boys, and the million other fires that need putting out on a wedding day that the grooms had no time to deal with themselves. We can't thank him enough and would tell anyone that they should have full confidence their wedding (or other event) will be exactly how they want it to be (or even better) at the CIA.
My husband and I are so happy that we chose the CIA for our wedding venue! The location is absolutely beautiful and the food was incredible. The number one comment we received from...
all of our guests was how the food was the best they'd ever had at a wedding. The event coordinator, Jason Lowenthal, was a pleasure to work with. He is a true expert at his job. Wedding planning can be stressful, and he was so helpful and patient with us throughout the entire process!
We HIGHLY recommend this venue!
The Culinary Institute of America is a hidden gem of a wedding venue. Far more than just offering exquisite food (though it is simply the very best dining), CIA is gorgeous, unique...
, and was the absolute perfect place for our wedding in October 2021. My husband and I wanted to get married in the beautiful Hudson Valley in the Fall, and we wanted a venue that was memorable and special. CIA met every wish we had and then some. The event coordinator, Jason Lowenthal, is a true professional – he was with us every step of the planning (and every moment of wedding day), and almost never said no to anything we asked for. He found a way to make it all happen, with a sense of humor and unmatched personal attention. We loved planning our day: we dined at the CIA restaurants, met with the Chef to plan our unique and seasonal menu (oh you want to include honey from our on-campus apiary in your signature cocktail, no problem!), took our families to a wonderful cake tasting at the Apple Pie bakery, tried the beer from CIA’s brewery, and truly enjoyed learning about CIA’s school, programs, and enthusiastic students. We had our ceremony and cocktail hour outside on the beautiful Anton Plaza, and then had over 150 guests for a reception in Farquharson Hall. Farq Hall is a large converted former cathedral – it is strikingly beautiful when guests enter and it enabled us to spend less money on flowers and decorations because it is naturally so intricate. Our guests loved walking through the Anthony Bourdain hallway and enjoyed learning about the school, seeing the open kitchen rooms, etc. Our friends and family still rave about the unique and amazing setting, the gorgeous campus, how delicious every bite of food was (lots of drooling about the burrata), and how much fun the day was. We are still reliving the day through the pictures and videos and look forward to spending many anniversaries dining at CIA. We feel like we hit the jackpot finding CIA and highly recommend it to any couple!
I cannot find the words to express how perfect a venue this was for our wedding! Or how perfect their event coordinator was and is - the one Mr. Jason Lowenthal. Oh, and Chef Mik...
e Smith and the staff and students. The event was fun to plan with Jason and breathtaking in its execution. I kid you not, I am welling up writing this review. It was the perfect wedding.
I was a 51 year old bride and a confirmed foodie. I wanted the event to be one our guests remembered always for the food. "Food everywhere" was the theme. It really was "Amazing food and drinks everywhere - all the time"! Our guests continue to let us know it was the most beautiful and fun wedding they'd ever attended.... oh, and that they're still full!
We had our cocktail reception (pre-ceremony) on Anton Plaza. With the beautiful flowers and herbs that the CIA always has in place - and the amazing fountain in the center of the plaza. We put out tables and had a local harvest table and passed appetizers and an open bar. The ceremony was off to the side of the plaze on the grass with the stunning vines and fountain behind my husband and me.
We'd met with Jason and Chef Smith and worked with them on the menu. They were incredible to work with and with every idea, they upped the game. We had a welcome reception at "The Egg" right there on the Hudson and had a separate menu for that, which included passed appetizers, pizza, and local beer (they have a brewery on site) and local area wine. Boy, did we have fun! Highly recommend doing this!!
The wedding started for the guests at the cocktail reception, moved only momentarily to the ceremony and then we moved into the spectacular Farquarson Hall for the reception. The CIA had been a monastery in the past and Farq Hall had been a chapel (looks more like a cathedral). Transformed into a wedding event, it was breathtaking. I cannot describe the beauty.
We worked with Chef Smith and Jason to have 2 specialty drinks, a "spectacular" raw bar and a street food station - all before the family style dinner of rib eye and chilean sea bass with all the perfect sides. We had a dessert station with 3 of the CIA's mini cakes, cannolis, cookies, mini apple pies and more. And then.... the DONUT WALL with a sundae bar! Oh. My. Goodness. After the wedding #foodcoma was trending.
Everything was PERFECTLY prepared. My brother went the following week to an event in Florida and texted me that I (or more accurately, the CIA) had ruined him forever as nothing he would eat would live up to the quality and preparation of the food we had at the wedding.
Jason, Chef Smith and others at the CIA were incredibly easy to work with and just so much fun too! They were open to any and all ideas and, as the bride, I felt so special any time we talked and obviously, on my wedding day. Jason not only coordinated and choreographed perfectly this massive event, but he himself doted on me the entire day. I never had to go to the bar or get food. He was always there with a glass, a plate or a "what else do you need?" I adore this man. I plan to drive out there just to see him and finally have a meal with him!
My husband was equally impressed and we both say that we could not have found a more perfect venue for our day.
I cannot recommend this venue enough. Call Jason and experience the magic and quality of the Culinary Institute of America in New York! They can do anything.
So unique! The CIA just built a new courtyard which was used for our cocktail hour...gorgeous!
Contact
1946 Campus Dr, Hyde Park, NY
Culinary Institute of America