Samoset Resort

our rehearsal dinner, welcome party, ceremony, reception, after party, and farewell breakfast all on site. In fact, Samoset automatically sets aside locations for all of these events for you! They even provide a great space for the bride and bridesmaids to get ready the day of the wedding. Samoset covered all the bases and more- we couldn’t be happier!

After she sent over the information we initially requested, we planned a tour and drove 3 hours to meet with her & explore the venue. Upon arrival, she handed us a folder of info- she never mentioned the $50/head increase from the package she sent us a few weeks prior. We let that go as she was new to the resort, and we loved the idea of getting married at the Samoset so we ended up signing the contract for a smaller wedding. She then sent over the wrong contracts and almost charged us for someone else’s date/wedding. When asked about the prices of hotel rooms for our guests since they no longer do room blocks but provide a group discount code, we were told by Sarah that they would be $299-$400 a night. Come to find out this was off by several hundred dollars per night which ruled out many of our guests. At this time, it was too late to back out since we’ve already signed the contact and paid a deposit. Fast forward to our wedding weekend, we emailed Sarah a week in advance of checkin to confirm we’d be bringing our dog with us. We check in with our dog, spend 2 nights with him and on Thursday night (2 days before our Saturday wedding) Sarah texts us saying the GM has asked we find somewhere else for our dog to stay since they messed up and didn’t put us in a room on the first floor. We are not from the area and were forced to find a stranger to dog sit for us so we didn’t get kicked out of the hotel on our wedding weekend. This was incredibly stressful and an additional expense. Our rehearsal dinner got rained out so they had to set us up inside and they were short two place settings so here I am as the bride and I don’t have a seat at my own rehearsal dinner. Sarah and her assistant, Michael, then told us there would be shuttles to help our guests get from dinner to the welcome party.They were then nowhere to be found and the front desk had no communication to have shuttles ready so our guests and my husband and I had to walk in the pouring rain. At this point I’m unbelievably disappointed, but put a smile on since I wanted my dream weekend. On our wedding day, nothing had been set up in the bridesmaids room like we had agreed upon with Sarah (no plates, cups, silverware) & I had to chase the front desk to get those delivered for us. Ceremony was fine and cocktail hour was great for guests, but no one brought me or my husband drinks or appetizers…I had their staff walk by me without offering food, at my own wedding! The reception was the worst- our entire tent flooded with several inches of water. Sarah left us without saying a word and we couldn’t find anyone to help with the water. The water rose so high our band had to stop playing for a hour for safety reasons. We lost $1000 worth of music, because of this. We asked the resort if we could move inside at this point (it took an hour to find someone in management to talk to). They told us we could move inside but the open bar would close (after we already paid for it). Unfortunately, these are the memories I’m left with of what should have been my dream weekend. I would never recommend them based on my experience and I don’t feel like they’ve made enough of an effort to right their wrongs.

of their guests. The best decision they made was bringing on Sarah to replace their previous wedding coordinator. Sarah is the best. She is so accommodating, attentive, and calming. With the transition of coordinators in the middle of our planning, we made a trip to the Samoset to meet Sarah and immediately knew we were in the best hands. Beautiful resort, breathtaking views, delicious food, and top notch event manager…what more could you ask for on your big day!

the way from OH and planning went smooth!

an several times to COVID concerns, and Linde was extremely flexible and creative in response to our concerns and requests. Our wedding was wonderful, ran smoothly, and I couldn’t have asked for a better point person than Linde!

pecially loved the staff working the bar - we got to know them over the course of the weekend as they also worked at our welcome party.  The entire staff at the front desk was great to work with - our guests had great experiences with them!  The renovations at the resort are fantastic.  The food was spectacular.  I would recommend the resort itself with no hesitation. Linde, the catering sales manager, left much to be desired.  Initially, we loved her, and she was one of the reasons we booked there to start.  Over the course of the process, while helpful at times, Linde lacked communication (trying to get us to pay our final bill weeks early and trying to end our room block a month early) and was fairly disorganized (we often received information with incorrect rooms listed or other couples names instead of ours).  Two weeks before our wedding, I received an email from Linde letting us know that the resort would be closed for the days leading up to our wedding.  Our guests (and us) would be able to enter through the backdoor.  What was most disappointing was that instead of calling us to let us know this was the case, she sent us an email trying to claim that we already knew this.  She later admitted this was news to us and that she didn't handle it well. What was most disappointing was the way she treated our guests at the wedding.  We had at least 10 guests let us know that they were accosted by her during the course of the day (speaking in a raised voice and telling them they needed to move it along or they would ruin the event).  She did not set enough placings or chairs at a few of the tables, one of them being the mother of one of the grooms.  Instead of apologizing at first, she said there "was no way that could happen" and that the mother of the groom must be mistaken and not be sitting with the family.  Linde eventually realized she was wrong but didn't apologize.  The attire for our wedding was formal but instead of following the dress code, Linde wore leggings, boots and a plain top.  Many of our guests commented on how unprofessional she looked. While she was very kind to us over the course of our time at the resort during the wedding weekend, I was disappointed to hear this feedback from our guests, with many of them traveling over 4 hours for a "destination wedding" at a four-star hotel. We loved everything about the hotel but if we had to do it again and work with Linde, we are unsure if we would have chosen the Samoset.

Linde and the beautiful venue that the Samoset offers!

needed! She made it all look so effortless and it all turned out wonderfully!

vide what we needed to help orchestrate the wedding weekend of our dreams. Linde and her staff fulfilled every need we had, and we could not have been happier. When our guests arrived for the weekend, the staff at the Resort went above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of. We are full of gratitude for what my husband and I both agree was the best weekend of our lives. Thank you Samoset Resort

Anything we needed she was happy to help with. Even though we all were from out of state and planned the wedding long distance, it was very easy working with her via email. The bride and bridesmaids got ready in the SeaSpray cottage which was perfect – lots of space, great views everywhere and provided the perfect setting for pre-wedding pictures and a little bubbly. I would highly recommend using a cottage for the girls. The groom and guys had an ocean view suite which worked well for them. The food was great (filet mignon/lobster tail and scallops/halibut) and service was efficient and timely. Our guests commented on what a beautiful wedding it was and how the Samoset was a perfect place for a wedding. Thank you to everyone at the Samoset for making our daughter’s special day so perfect!

ecided to have our wedding there since Maine is special to us. Linde, the wedding coordinator is fantastic. She supplied us with a list of vendors that we used for almost everything. We found our band through the vendor list, which our guests raved about, our tent and lighting company and our florist. Each vendor was amazing and working with them in conjunction with the Resort was seamless. Doing everything over the phone is stressful, especially when you have a vision and hope that it’s executed the way you envision it, but Linde and her team didn’t miss a thing. The food was delicious, hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had. Samoset also provided the cake and we worked with their vendor to create our own wedding cake. Not only was the cake the most beautiful wedding cake I’ve ever seen (even our photographer thought so) but it was delicious. I cannot thank Samoset enough for making our wedding a dream come true. Thank you!!!

rth it.) The view and the grounds were so spectacular we didn't really need anything more than flowers to decorate the space. Linde answered all of our questions and concerns (and I have to confess that I was concerned at first because she was often late to meetings, but it all came together perfectly.) She handled everything from supplying ice buckets and a clothes steamer in the getting ready room (large sunny ballroom that was ideal for putting on make-up and styling hair); dealing pleasantly with our outside vendors (cake, photographer, florist); setting up the lawn games; and finding stuff that we'd left behind in the getting dressed room and keeping it safe until we could retrieve it. The event staff were all super courteous and professional, as well as honest. My daughter and her husband chose to do a brunch buffet, which can be iffy (eggs Benedict on a warming tray can be gross), but everything was delicious. Our guests raved about the food and the mimosas. At the end of the reception, the staff actually loaded the lawn games and other items into our car for us.

lawless and absolutely beautiful. Not only does the venue include stunning water views, a huge ballroom, delicious restaurants and a great golf course, it includes the most accommodating staff! This place really does have it all and we cannot wait to go back each year to celebrate our anniversary!

event!

The party really started with the rehearsal dinner, which was held on Lawn by the Pool. After, we continued to celebrate with a welcome event, which was then held at the Clubhouse. Then, the day of the wedding, we had the ceremony at the outdoor Breakwater location, followed by the cocktail hour at the patio, and reception in the Knox County ballroom. Finally, the day after, the Samoset put together a delicious Sunday brunch, where all of our guests relived the fun from the night before. We had great weather for all outdoor events and each event went better than we could have envisioned. Additionally, many of our guests were not from New England, and we continue to hear about how much they loved the Samoset and its location. Everyone has had wonderful things to say about the beautiful views, food, the golf, and the hospitality of the staff at the Samoset. Outside of the Samoset, there were also many things for guests to do in Rockport, Rockland, and Camden. Many of our guests made a longer trip out of the weekend and came for a number of days to enjoy much of what Maine has to offer. We want to express our gratitude to all of the Samoset Resort staff for all of their hard work and ensuring that our wedding was nothing short of perfect. From beginning to end, Linde Schwartz worked with us to make sure every detail was accounted for, and, as a result, the big day went off without a hitch. The whole weekend went so smoothly and we know we will cherish the memories we made there for many years to come.

o Linde Schwartz during the planning process. Along with Linde was also Connie Russell and David Day who both did everything they could throughout the planning process, catering to our specific requests and were extremely accommodating to all of those requests. They made us feel like they had no other cares, other than to make our wedding wedding absolutely incredible and it was nothing short of that. They were all very well versed in planning weddings down to all the little details and the timeline and made sure every detail of our day/weekend was absolutely stunning! We chose to have a gorgeous outdoor ceremony on the breakwater lawn and cocktail hour out on the putting green. Since it was a fall wedding, we decided to have our reception in the Knox ballroom. Pictures do not even do it justice for how gorgeous the day was. I can't thank the staff at the Samoset enough for such a beautiful wedding weekend! Since the moment we arrived on Friday to the moment we left after brunch on Sunday the entire staff was wonderful and most accommodating. Every little detail was perfect and we were reminded constantly throughout the entire planning process that it was our weekend and that they were going to everything possible to make the weekend exactly what we wanted! The staff took care of setting up everything for the wedding ceremony and reception which allowed our families and wedding party to enjoy the entire day together celebrating. I was able to get ready with my bridal party in the Pen Bay room which was perfect for hair and makeup and it allowed my husband and I to go back to our suite without any of the mess from getting ready. The entire weekend exceeded my expectations and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Samoset Resort to another bride and groom! The entire planning process was fun and Linde, David and Connie allowed us to create a celebrations that was unique to my husband and I. My husband and I are already looking forward to going back and celebrating for many, many years to come! Thank you to the Samoset for a wedding that we will NEVER forget!

ote so it made for a destination wedding without having to use a passport plus the relaxing feeling of not being close to a major city. Our guests loved the venue's services and amenities. We were blessed with the weather and were able to hold an outside ceremony and cocktail hour. The food was delicious. We were allowed to bring a cake from a baker we love.

contact with me during the planning stage and throughout the wedding. My guests raved about the food. It was not just your typical wedding meal. The steaks was cooked perfectly; the salad fresh, the timing perfect. Our wedding was magical and I have Will and the Samoset Staff to thank for that! :-)

true. From the venue, to the food and service, to the weather....everything was perfect. Absolutely amazing; would not have changed a thing! We look forward to visiting again soon

we knew the Samoset was for us! The view is absolutely phenomenal and The Samoset offers an all-in-one location for ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. When we first visited the Samoset, we were driving from NY to my parents' house in northern Maine and we had our dog with us. I intended to leave my dog with a bridesmaids but Will Clayton, the event coordinator, insisted she take the tour with us. Unlike the two other places we viewed, the tour was completely thorough: Will not only showed us the possible locations for ceremony and reception, he took us to the spa, pool, guest rooms, bathrooms- any possible places our guests might have access too. Will accommodated us for several visits and meetings at the Samoset. My mother showed up unannounced one day to show my in-laws the resort and happened to run into Will. Instead of a quick chat, Will gave up an hour to give my in-laws a tour of the resort. The Samoset also offers a "Grande Tasting" in which the resort is set up like a mock wedding and the brides and grooms who have booked a wedding can attend with guests, sample the food, choose linens, listen to possible DJs and bands- an overall great time! The next morning they offer the opportunity to meet with vendors from the area. Planning a wedding from NY was made much easier as we were able to book our tent rental, DJ, and florist from that one day. Our wedding itself was beautiful. The location wowed our guests, the Samoset accommodate my excessive centerpieces, favors, etc; and even gave us a room to store our belongings in prior to the wedding. We were able to hold our rehearsal dinner by the pool on the eve of the wedding and the ladies were given a huge room to spend the day getting ready, including music and champagne offered by the resort. We didn't get to sample the cocktail hour but guests raved about the food. During the reception, the wait staff made sure we ate our dinner and cake and attended us at every moment. Having the wedding at the resort was unique in that the tented wedding was in full view of the guests eating dinner at La Bella Vita, but fellow guests were courteous and complimentary, joining in the fun only to compliment my dress and the music. The only complaint I have about my wedding is the heat! (For which the Samoset is not to blame!) A Samoset wedding can be pricey for a Maine wedding but it was well worth the cost. I'm just sad the wedding is over so quickly!

rticular) would be great fun for everyone. We loved the location on the coast (close to the Owl's Head airport) with lots of places to visit for our guests before and after the wedding. Both the guest rooms and their public areas have been recently redecorated, and all were lovely. We especially enjoyed having the rehearsal dinner on the croquet court overlooking the pool with the ocean, breakwater, and lighthouse beyond. The service and food were terrific, and we were all prepped for a great wedding day. Most of us ended the night on the Clubhouse Grille patio sitting around a firepit enjoying the cool air and gazing at the full moon. The day of the wedding dawned in heavy fog, but that was the only detriment of the day. Will Clayton, the events coordinator, and a full contingent of bell boys and events staff were unilaterally helpful. I was in charge of decorating the reception rooms, and I needed gallons of water (delivered promptly) and help lighting about 200 candles which was done by staff during the cocktail hour (held just up the hill from the wedding site). Will also finished up the decorating while I got dressed, which included hanging banners and moving around flowers and vases. After consulting what everyone wanted to do, Will was the major organizer of everything for the ceremony, and his patience and tact was essential to the smooth sailing of the evening. Watching my daughter and husband float down the hill to the flower-bedecked arbor was an image I'll forever hold in my memory. The only reason I'm not giving the venue a full five stars is that there was a change in the room configuration between when we booked the venue and when we visited. So instead of one large room (with windows out to the ocean), we had two smaller rooms (both with windows). The problem was that the dancing/bar/DJ room was a bit small for all the guests, so the extra guests had to be either in the dining room or in the lobby, both away from the fun. In all fairness to Will, he was negotiated the price down to make up for our inconvenience. He also upgraded the bride and groom's suite for wedding night at no expense to us. Overall, the experience was great, and I am very grateful for Will's calm and solicitous attention to our every need. The location was a dream, and the romantic views of ocean, islands, and schooners made for a magical weekend.