Graduate by Hilton Providence

hen it came to touring the venue and answering endless questions. They made the entire wedding planning process easy and fun. The hotel and ballroom are absolutely stunning. It provided the perfect backdrop for our wedding day, and the perfect accommodation for our out of town guests. Having everything in one place was very important to us, and Graduate delivered. The wedding itself was beautiful and ran seamlessly. Our guests are still raving about the chandeliers, the food, and the house dessert presentation. It was all so impressive, and we would choose to have our wedding here again in a heartbeat. Thank you, Elise & team, for everything you did to create an absolutely perfect weekend. We're looking forward to visiting again soon! Lauren & Shawn 3/21/26

se Shatraw who is in charge of the weddings was wonderful with planning and helping the wedding go smoothly! The day of the event she calmed everyone's nerves, and the wedding went perfectly and was beautiful!

es. The wedding coordinator Elise Shatraw was a spectacular asset when planning our special day. Her guidance and knowledge made this complex project so much easier. Staff and hotel were all wonderful. Great location for the ceremony, the reception and the after-party all in one spot.

I had the best day ever. The ballroom itself is absolutely gorgeous, the food was 10/10, and the drinks were incredible. The bartenders were all super nice and the lines never got too long, especially with my 190 person wedding. The service was incredible. Truly every aspect of the day was perfect and just as I had visioned. I highly recommend having your wedding here, it truly was incredible! Thank you to Elise and her team for a day we will never forget!

venue set the perfect tone for such a special occasion, but what truly made the day exceptional was the incredible staff, particularly Elise. From our very first meeting, Elise stood out with her professionalism, warmth, and meticulous attention to detail. She was incredibly well organized, always one step ahead, and made sure every element of the day ran smoothly. Whether it was coordinating vendors, adjusting timelines, or accommodating last-minute requests, Elise handled everything with such grace and confidence that we felt completely at ease. It’s rare to find someone who can manage both the big picture and the smallest of details so flawlessly and she truly made the experience perfect. The food was absolutely delicious, beautifully presented, and received countless compliments from our guests. The accommodations were equally impressive, they were stylish, comfortable, and reflective of the hotel’s unique personality. Every member of the staff, from the front desk to the servers, went above and beyond to provide excellent service with a smile. We couldn’t have asked for a better setting or a better team to help bring our daughter’s wedding vision to life. The Graduate Providence gave us memories we will cherish forever, and we’re so grateful for the role Elise and the entire staff played in making it all happen. Highly recommend!

  She has been working as a wedding planner for years and she was very helpful in making suggestions.  We were married at a church at 2pm and Elise greeted us when we arrived at The Graduate at approximately 3:30.  She helped facilitate the photos in the lobby, she made sure cocktail hour was running smoothly and assisted with the reception entrances. The cocktail hour began at 4:30 and the reception was at 5:30 for 5 hours in the ballroom on the 17th floor.  There was plenty of room in the cocktail lounge for all of our guests.  The views overlooking the City of Providence are beautiful.  Lots of windows and natural light.  The ballroom is spacious with high ceilings and had a large dance floor.  There was plenty of room for the band and all the seating for our guests. The food was very good but we especially liked the late night snack that was  included in our package.  The servers were attentive and the bartenders were quick with serving drinks.  No long lines at the bar. The one "issue" was the valet that we hired for the evening.  The valet service is not included in the package plan for the wedding.  The Graduate gave us a suggested valet vendor which we decided to hire and we paid an additional fee for the service.  Guests using the valet service waited a very long time in line to drop off their cars.  I recommend skipping the valet and using the self parking option in the parking garage behind The Graduate. We received many compliments about the beautiful wedding and we highly recommend The Graduate for your wedding.

ind, and incredibly attentive to every detail. They made the entire day stress-free and special for us and our guests. Everything was just perfect, and we honestly couldn’t recommend this venue more! Elise was an amazing person to work with. With her years of experience, she was able to give advice and guidance when needed. She always responded promptly and was a huge help with coordinating out wedding. I could not recommend having someone like Elise on your side for your wedding day. She is absolutely amazing! I also wanted to speak on Michael, who was our day of coordinator. He was so well versed in all aspects of the day and was able to have everything run smoothly with no hiccups. If something went wrong, we had no idea. Micheal was able to make our day so seamless and special. The entire staff at The Graduate Hotel will provide you and your guests with the best experience possible. All of our guests have nothing but amazing things to say. Every staff member was extremely attentive, helpful, and genuinely happy to be celebrating out day with us. We cannot recommend the Graduate Hotel more! Between the venue, staff, food, Elise, and Micheal, you will not be disappointed and in the best hands out there!

al. As a same-sex couple, finding a venue that was not only gay-friendly but genuinely welcoming was so important to us. The team at [Venue Name] went above and beyond to ensure we felt celebrated, respected, and completely at ease. Their professionalism, warmth, and inclusivity made all the difference. The venue itself is absolutely stunning—immaculately clean, beautifully designed, and with a natural charm that doesn’t require much dressing up. Every detail was thoughtfully curated, from the lighting to the layout. Whether you're going for elegant, rustic, modern, or romantic, this place is a versatile dream. The food? Incredible. Our guests are still raving about the meal—everything was fresh, flavorful, and plated to perfection. They were also accommodating with dietary needs, which we deeply appreciated. And the staff… wow. Every single person we interacted with was kind, attentive, and sincerely invested in making our day flawless. It honestly felt like we had an extended family rooting for us the whole way.

hroughout the process. She was wonderful to work with and helped us with details that we were unsure about. Her expertise and professionalism throughout the planning process was unbelievable. The food was fantastic and the hotel was decorated beautifully during our time there. The whole process was seamless. The only issue we ran into was the other wedding occurring that day took up some of our time for photos so we were unable to do all the photos we wanted. This was not an issue with the venue however it is a heads up to those booking to add extra time to their photos in case this happens.

sive. Elise, our main contact, was a joy to work with, bringing both expertise and a calming presence to the planning process. The food was outstanding, served promptly, and the historic charm of the venue, especially with the holiday decorations, made our day feel even more magical. One of the best parts was that we didn’t have to worry about setup or breakdown—the Graduate staff took care of everything, including coordinating with vendors. The whole experience was stress-free and seamless. It truly is a phenomenal venue!

ils and questions were answered in a prompt professional manner. I have very high standards and all my expectations were met. The bridal suite where we got ready was spacious and beautiful. Before the ceremony we took some amazing pictures on the terrace which overlooks the city. Guests at cocktail hour commented that there were plenty of hors d'oeuvres passed and bartenders were exceptionally quick. The reception was in the Biltmore Ballroom which is absolutely gorgeous. The high ceilings, chandeliers and velvet drapery enhanced the room's elegance. The food was delicious, the wait staff professional and when Elise said food service will be done at 8:00 (158 guests) she was right! 7:58 exactly. The guests were wowed when the lights got dim and the wait staff came out together with the flaming Flambe for dessert. We had plenty of time for dancing and socializing. Chinese food as a late night snack was a hit too. Everything was perfect and couldn’t be happier with the service and expertise of staff. I would highly recommend it. First class all the way. Guests kept commenting how beautiful it was to be on the top floor and how grand the room was. It was exactly what I wanted for our daughter’s wedding. Also- how convenient it was to have our after party at Reiner's without leaving the building- again- all expectations were met. Service and food were great. Guests had fun playing pool, Jenga and the golf simulator. The next morning we hosted a breakfast at Poindexter's Coffee shop- again very convenient and wonderful service.

answered every question we had - and every email we sent after. Once we booked, she kept an open line of contact that made planning a breeze. The best was the Wedding Prelude event that The Graduate invites every couple to, where we were able to sample all the food, meet different vendors, and be in the main ballroom space. It was so lovely! I felt so seen and heard by Elise and later by Lauren the banquet manager, and as a bride who planned and did all the decor myself, that made all the difference. We even had to change our date after we originally booked, and doing so was no stress! Getting married here was the best decision we made and I will cherish it forever.

the day of. I feel so lucky to have to benefitted from her expertise and many years of experience. It was reassuring to know she had everything under control. The Ballroom was so gorgeous - guests are still complimenting how much they loved the hotel and how beautiful the space was.

vacuumed. There is lint all over them. The air quality in the poor!!!!! The air conditioning works for a portion of the year and then it is heat only. So if it’s a warm day in November you can’t ever cool off. The bridal suite is pretty and spacious but Soo uncomfortable because you can’t regulate air. The draperies in the Capital ballroom can not be drawn because the rods are broken.so draperies can not be uniform. The window screen in this ballroom is replaced with a sheet of ill fitting plexiglass. The lighting in the Capital ballroom can only be dimmed for a portion of the room. So if guests are seated in the front of the room, it is as if they are seated under a spot light , while the rest of room was darker. I was told the entire room was dimmable. The premium open bar ran out of Prosecco, early in the night,which the bride requested and Grey Goose vodka that my husband requested. The parking is a complete nightmare! There is an adjacent parking garage that was supposed to honor validated tickets given out at the wedding. . However several guests had to pay for parking despite these validation stickers. Something was wrong! The railing on the enourmous balcony on the second floor is loose and if you lean against it there is movement. The main stairway is very unsafe. The carpet is very thick at the edges which makes it very difficult to get stable footing. One of my guests fell onto another guest. ( not an issue of intoxication) The stairs outside the Capital ballroom do not have any railings. These stairs are very difficult to navigate if you are wearing heels or are older.

by, you will see that this is a special place. The highlight was undoubtedly the beautiful ballroom, which was elegant and created a magical atmosphere for our celebration. It was the perfect backdrop for such a special occasion. Guests are still talking about the wedding and praising the entire weekend. One of the greatest advantages of hosting your wedding at The Graduate Hotel Providence is the convenience of having everything in one location. We kicked off the celebrations with a Friday night gathering at Reiners, the lobby bar. The next day, followed by church, was the stunning cocktail party overlooking the city of Providence, on the 18th floor. The food was abundant and service was exceptional! (I am still thinking about the lamb chops!) Afterward, we enjoyed my daughter‘s wedding reception in the Biltmore ballroom. I cannot say enough about the professionalism of the staff and quality of the food. The entire wedding ran so smoothly and our guests were quite impressed! Numerous friends and family members went out of their way to tell me it was the best wedding they had ever attended! Topping off the amazing dinner, was a flambé dessert presentation which was not only classy and entertaining, but the dessert was absolutely delicious! After the reception, we hosted a private after party in Reiners Bar. The staff, service, and food were all excellent. Then, the next morning, we had a delightful send-off breakfast with plenty of food and a lovely touch: the wedding cake. A special shoutout to Elise, the Graduate wedding professional, who was exceptional. Her attention to detail and calm demeanor made the planning process seamless. She was always available to answer questions and provided invaluable support, making the my daughter and me feel truly cared for throughout the entire wedding planning process. Here is one of the many examples of above-and-beyond customer service: Our family loves a good old-fashioned, so we requested permission from the hotel to bring our own square ice cubes and Italian cherries. Elise didn't hesitate; she approved our request and went above and beyond by ensuring the ice and cherries were served at the cocktail party in special old-fashioned glasses. We were also lucky to have Lauren as our banquet manager for the evening. She was so patient and kind, and she ensured that everything ran smoothly from start to finish, even taking care to fold the napkins exactly as we wanted. She ensured we could enjoy the night without having to manage any of the details ourselves. Overall, the combination of excellent service, a stunning venue, and the dedication of staff like Elise made for an unforgettable experience. As a very picky mother-of-the-bride, I highly recommend the Graduate Hotel Providence for any special occasion!

venue that Valet Parking was available at $25 per car. We were adamant that we wanted valet parking since the parking garage is not attached to the hotel and we did not want any of our older guests to have to make the walk. We decided we would pay the $25 per car for valet. Four months prior to the wedding we met to finalize details, we were told that the hotel does not provide valet parking and to book Valet would cost $3000 (which contradicts what was initially discussed). Again, we were ok with paying the $3000 because we had already indicated on the invitations that valet parking was available. However, TWO MONTHS before the wedding I informed the sales manager of the anticipated number of guests for Valet and were then advised that valet would be $3200 plus $20 per car and we would need to book within TWO days. This was outrageous as we have been clearly given the run around about parking! Causing unnecessary stress two months before my wedding was extremely disappointing. After discussing the situation with my husband and parents it was decided that anything over $3000 was such a scam! We opted to have our guests park in the garage and we would still validate their parking at $25 a car. Having to scramble to contact guests last minute to inform them of the parking change was very stressful. I hope this alleviates some stress for future brides who chose to book with them because this information would have been useful to know! ROOM BLOCK. Hosting our wedding at the hotel, we reserved a block of rooms. I would assume that a ROOM BLOCK means that a certain number of rooms are reserved, all located on the same floor and are allowed early check-in due to the fact that they are attending the event. Not in this case. The only rooms reserved were by my mother-in-law, three bridesmaids, and two groomsmen. All being part of the wedding, they were advised upon booking that early check-in would be available if you call the week of the wedding. All parties contacted the hotel the week of the wedding to ensure early check in due to the fact they were all getting ready on site, ceremony was offsite at 2:00 pm followed by photos and would not arrive back to the hotel until 5:30 (the middle of cocktail hour). Every single person was told that the hotel does not offer early check in and their best bet was to contact the hotel at 9:00am the morning of. UNACCEPTABLE. I contacted the sales manager and hotel manager and both told me there was nothing they could do! In the morning all six people contacted the front desk and were told to call back at 12! This resulted in my mother-in-law, three bridesmaids, and two groomsmen having to check into their rooms when we arrived back at the hotel during cocktail hour just before the reception AND all hotels were scattered on different floors, so much for a room block! This was completely negligent on the hotel's part. You are fully aware that people are arriving early to check in for an event and you are completely unprepared. It is also unfair to the people in my party who can't even enjoy cocktail hour because they are rushing to check into their rooms! Extremely disappointing

gant the space was. The food was also exceptional, with every dish tasting as delicious as it looked. Our guests couldn't stop raving about it! We offered both the chicken fiore and braised beef. Working with Elise was a fantastic experience. She was incredibly professional, attentive, and made the entire planning process seamless. From coordinating the details to ensuring everything ran smoothly on the day, Elise and the entire team went above and beyond to make our wedding perfect. We highly recommend The Graduate Providence for anyone looking for an unforgettable wedding venue!

ays extremely responsive and flexible. Along with how seamless the day was for all of my out of town guests given everything was done onsite. Even the booking team was a huge help in ensuring we could have families and bridesmaids on the same floors.

17th floor ballroom. All of our guests loved that everything was in one place: the ceremony, the reception, and many stayed at the hotel as well! The venue itself is just so beautiful and unique! And because of its grandeur, my husband and I were able to save a bit on decor since the ballroom really is a work of art itself and the views of the cityscape are unbeatable! And while the third floor terrace is susceptible to noise from the streets and city, it was still so nice to have an outdoor space to enjoy the ceremony and the temperature for our 5pm ceremony could not have been more lovely! Now, onto the food! The food at The Graduate is absolutely delicious. I had so many guests come up to us throughout the evening and even after the wedding to share how great the food was (which is not always the case at weddings as we all know I’m sure). They also present the food in such a lovely way: the butter for the bread was shaped as flowers, the servers are very attentive, and the best part is the flaming flambé presentation. Our DJ played a fun song and dimmed the lights while the staff performed/presented the flambé! It really was such a special moment and got the whole room excited again! After the courses ended for the evening, our guests hit the dance floor which is HUGE! My husband is Greek and so finding a floor big enough for the group Greek dances was very important to us during our venue search and boy, did The Graduate deliver. And finally, Elise and her team is incredible! From our very first tour and on, she was a professional to a T. She was upfront and honest about the pricing model which my husband and I really appreciated after touring so many other places with hidden fees. Her team was on top of everything for us: reminding us of upcoming payments, helping us change our payment methods, coordinating with us on the room block, and answering my many many questions as the date got closer. One of the great things about working with Elise is her tenure at the venue and her reputation in the RI wedding community. She knows everything about the space and everyone knows her! Our vendors all had such wonderful things to say about her which I think speaks volumes about how easy it is for the vendors to work with The Graduate as well. My day of coordinator was Lauren! We met the week before our wedding in our final meeting with Elise where we went over details and logistics for the wedding day! Her and Elise did such a great job of making my vision come to life with the guest book table, our generations of love table, etc. When I saw the space and the set up for the first time, I was truly blown away. But their professionalism didn’t end there, Lauren went above and beyond and even helped me to bustle my dress when my mom and MOH were struggling! She made me feel so special all day and really made the day run so smoothly, taking care of all the behind the scenes work without me even noticing. I cannot thank the staff at The Graduate enough for making my wedding day truly the best day!! Everyone had such a blast and it genuinely is a day to remember forever. I cannot recommend this venue enough!!

best weekend of our life. From the rehearsal dinner the night before to the day of the wedding, everything ran so smoothly! We had so much fun at our wedding. Our guests are still calling and texting us saying how much they enjoyed the wedding and the food. Everyone's meals were excellent. The late night station was a huge hit. Everyone we worked with at the hotel was so responsive and can't recommend this place enough. Thank you!

our event was exceptional. We definitely made the right choice!! Just awesome!!

ur wedding day. Throughout the planning process, our wedding coordinator was always available and responsive and wanted the absolute best for our day. Especially on our wedding day, she was there making sure everything went smoothly and perfectly. I could not recommend the Graduate Providence enough! We are so grateful.

about rooms for another potential ballroom wedding location. After seeing the 17th floor ballroom - and meeting Elise! - it was clear the wedding had to be here. And we could not be more pleased with the outcome. The venue is beautiful, the service is impeccable, and the quality is excellent. We had a large ballroom wedding, a welcome reception, a breakfast, almost 100 hotel rooms, and used many additional hotel services as well. Everyone we worked with was topnotch. All this was under the general supervision of Elise whose professional expertise, responsiveness, and general demeanor allowed things to go as smoothly as possible throughout the entire process. (Thank you to Michael also for his additional help during the reception.) Having the beautiful Bridal Suite and all the overnight guests stay at the hotel just added another layer to making the whole event so special - thank you to Kristina for all the help with the accommodations. Elise - and all the staff - could not have been easier to work with, or more accommodating - I recommend with no reservation.

rk with and is knowledgeable on the wedding industry. Any questions you had she knew the answer and would give you advice. Also the day of our wedding Stephanie was there to help she she was amazing at making sure you had everything you needed and making sure you were having a great time! The wait staff and bartender were absolutely amazing as well. The venue speaks for itself. It is truly gorgeous and they maintain it amazingly. The food is delicious and the drinks are on point! I have no bad works to say about every at the Graduate. Thank you to all!

ccommodating.

went as we dreamed of and I wish we could go back and relive it over and over again! The venue, staff, food, processes. AMAZING!

is is saying something because my husband’s family was in the catering business for 45 years! The Graduate was the perfect backdrop for my daughter’s wedding.

y itself - every interaction with the Graduate team was highly responsive, and thoughtful. The team was happy to accommodate choices and details that were important to make the day special and unforgettable!!! Not only did our family have an amazing experience working with the Graduate to plan this special day, but all of our guests were thrilled with the experience they had as guests at the hotel for the weekend!!!!

thought how much I would love to get married there one day. Fast forward 20 years and that dream became a reality! To say my husband and I are happy with how our wedding day turned out is an understatement - we wish we could relive the day over and over again and be able to go back to the Biltmore Ballroom. The history and beauty of the hotel and ballroom speaks for itself, but our guests couldn’t say enough good things about the food, accommodations, and the venue itself. During the planning process, Elise and her team were always so responsive and brought so much experience, it made the process so easy. Elise was so helpful and transparent while discussing the cost and fees for the venue, so we always felt reassured that we wouldn’t have any surprises. The whole experience truly made for one of the best days of our lives. Do not hesitate to book the Graduate Providence as your wedding venue - you won’t regret it!

ion of everything was. There are no surprise fees it is very straight forward. I wish I could work with them all over again!!!

flow went smoothly and we did not notice one hiccup (if there even was any). In addition to our experience, our guests had not one bad thing to say about the hotel and the wedding. From the service, the food, and the environment, they were all so wonderful. The Graduate staff made our wedding day in April of 2023 the best day of our lives and we again couldn't thank them enough.

is Elise Shatraw. My *husband* and I were constantly joking about how we will just "do whatever Elise tells us" because she has been doing events at the Biltmore for 20+ years and let me tell you - it is a well-oiled machine. Not only did she make our wedding weekend incredibly easy for us, but it was shockingly beautiful. All of her preferred vendors were used to working with her and familiar with the hotel which meant we also had to do zero work in terms of ensuring that flowers, DJ, cake, rentals, etc arrived. Elise had it all down. Honestly, if the Biltmore is the wedding vibe that you are going for, I have no clue why you would pick anywhere else. We essentially just pictured the wedding we wanted in our mind and then just showed up to exactly that. It was stunning!!! I have no words. I will be recommending this venue for all Providence based parties / weddings until the end of time simply because I want to go back as a guest LOL. I have ZERO complaints. I am still so shocked that our wedding was so beautiful and seamless despite the fact that we had no idea how to plan one. THANK YOU ELISE and everyone at the Biltmore for making this the best weekend of our lives. I only wish I was able to articulate my feelings better. <3

from the moment we arrived for rehearsal to the moment we left the day after the wedding! Thank you very much!

2021, set our date for January 14, 2022, and TWO WEEKS before our date we decided to postpone due to the recent Covid outbreaks. It was such a tough decision but she was so understanding and put us at ease so quickly. We just recently (finally) had our wedding here on December 2, 2022, and it was the single best night of my life. The Graduate has been updated from top to bottom. The hotel rooms are gorgeous, the lobby is stunning, and the ballroom, of course, is just magical. But what really made this process great is the support you get from the staff themselves. Elise of course helped us every step of the way, gave us great suggestions while Planning, and answered every phone call and email almost immediately. In addition to Elise, Kristina was there to help with all of the details regarding the room block, and man did she go the extra mile. Everything from setting up the block of rooms, to little details she could have easily handed off but didn’t. When my husband and I arrived to the (gorgeous) bridal suite for our stay, there was even a personalized note from Kristina with chocolate and champagne. And after our wedding we had one from Elise as well. Later in the night we had help from Sarah while Elise was gone, and she was also amazing!! All of our vendors were truly great and knew the venue really well, but I really can’t say enough about the support from the team at The Graduate. They go above and beyond. I really can’t recommend this place enough, and I mean, it doesn’t get more beautiful and classic than The Biltmore Ballroom.