The New York Botanical Garden

cided the venue approximately one year prior to the wedding for its perfect location (we had friends traveling across the country), reasonable pricing and its full privacy, not to mention that we would have full access to the rose garden for the most romantic wedding pictures and the Bronx river as the back drop of our ceremony, which fits perfectly with our harp. There are a list of recommended vendors who we ended up working with for various services, including planner, lighting, officiant, music, and rental, who are absolutely amazing. This saved us so much time! During the one year's planning, we had millions of questions and Laruen's timely responses made our life much easier and helped us tremendously to make the most efficient decisions. We had some unfortunate hiccups one week prior to the wedding and Lauren was so accommodating and ensured that we are stress relieved. Food: We cannot speak more highly of the food. My friends cannot stop complimenting the food and service. Some of the friends even thought the cocktail hour is the main reception because the food tastes soooooo amazing. We had almost all of them in our bridal suite and we absolutely loved them. If we had a wish, it would be that our friends could get married in Stone Mill and we could enjoy more of the food. Experience: Everything runs smoothly during the wedding day. We had early access to the bridal suite on the wedding day so that we could have our makeup and hair done on time. The assistant was amazing and provided plenty of food for breakfast and lunch as well as coffee and drinks. We had our cocktail hour food ready in the bridal suite right after the ceremony. The reception main dishes, wedding cake and desserts (with different flavors) were also ready for us on the table when we were partying with friends and relatives. Everything was amazing and we could not thank NYBG more for the breathtaking experience. Truly the best day of our lives!

tion, the exclusive caterer at the NYBG. They provided top notch food, drinks, rentals, and more and Lauren O'Kelly helped make the process fun and easy. From the first moment we visited the Stone Mill we knew it was a perfect fit. It's rustic, classic, and beautiful charm were unmatched. We are still hearing from guests about how great the service was, how beautiful the setting, and how FAB the food! Everything was absolutely perfect.

, Kristal, was unresponsive and unaccommodating. We expected, at a minimum, to get prompt responses to emails (e.g., not wait 5 days between responses) and for her to make herself available for calls at times when a couple with full time jobs might be available (like after 4PM or on a weekend); 2) worse, Kristal insisted we pay a non-refundable deposit before even seeing what the contract would look like. That is not standard and we felt it was scammy and manipulative. Overall, we felt like Kristal was trying to dissuade us from getting married at the NYBG, and she succeeded.

re responsive and flexible during the planning process, and treated us with such attention and care at every turn on our wedding day. Its easy to predict how the building and grounds make for a beautiful venue, but it was the food, attention to detail, and - most importantly - service that really made our day a memory that we will cherish for a lifetime. We highly recommend the New York Botanical Garden for your wedding and can’t wait to come back to revisit the memories of the best night of our life!

anning and on the day of our wedding - we were well taken care of. On our wedding, we were driven around in a golf cart to get all the photo shots we needed, and Sasha was so sweet and helpful, cleaning off my dress before the ceremony and taking us to hidden, beautiful spots. It was fun and very stress free! One thing we loved about the garden (outside of how beautiful and unique the grounds are) is how Constellation is really a one stop shop that makes planning a breeze. The catering, drinks, rentals, venue, linens and more are all done through Constellation which made things quite streamlined. If you're worried about not having more than one catering option, don't be! Our guests were raving about how delicious the food was (and how much food there was!), and my husband and I actually ate a decent amount and it was all amazing - from passed bites to dinner entrees to desserts and late night pizza! Our guests could not stop talking about the cake! Our wedding was a dream - we had the perfect backdrop and the best team supporting us!

lf is unbelievably gorgeous. Our guests are still raving at how amazing everything was including the delicious food and great staff. We will never forget this magical day!

nice cocktail hour tent. It's a venue with a total "wow" factor. Laura Bass and her team are top notch professionals who go above and beyond to execute a great day. Planning at the NYBG was also very easy - they had a lot of things I know stress a lot of couples out included in the package (pretty chivari hairs, a wide variety of linen colors, temperature control, power sources, etc.) so there was very little worry. They were super flexible and responsive. There were tons of bartenders, ample space to walk around, a large dance floor. It was logistically very easy to plan. The food was superb and plentiful - my friends and family have not stopped complimenting us. And the best part - we were able to extend the party an extra 3 hours with late night snacks and drinks until 2am for a super reasonable rate. Keeping the party going was a huge priority for us! In terms of pricing, the NYBG and Constellation were not "cheap", but they had great value. The food and beverage package and venue fee were in line with similarly sized high quality venues we looked at throughout Manhattan and the boroughs, but they included so much more (more apps, better alcohol, a wedding cake, variety of desserts, valet, table service, coat check etc.) where other venues seemed to nickle and dime for upgrades. NYBG was worth every penny and I would recommend without hesitation, particularly for a larger wedding.

a really cute dressing room which I got ready in with friends and family and they also let us bring our own Indian/Pakistani caterer which was important to us and which we really appreciated. Thank you NYBG for such a beautiful event!

he biggest things that drew us to the venue was the size of the dance floor! It was bigger than other venues we had seen. And while I was having way too much fun to sit and eat, many of our guests have raved about both the food and the service, some even found themselves tipping the wait staff because they were so attentive. There was never a line for food or drinks. Things moved smoothly and everything felt spacious. Since it was a winter wedding, I loved the feel of being outside when we were in the tent for cocktail hour. My bridal attendant, Janis, was superb. He was so reliable, thoughtful and available throughout the day and night. We mostly worked with Kristal Waters, who was not only kind and very much on top of everything, but she gracefully managed, tolerated and negotiated family dynamics throughout the process! We are still flying high from the wedding and look forward to visiting the NYBG in the years to come, on our own, and one day with children.

erful and accommodating, especially Lauren, Yonas and Max. They all checked in on us throughout the night, ensuring that no detail was missed. Although the entire night was incredible from start to finish, one of the highlights was when Yonas escorted us directly from our ceremony into the bridal suite, where there were two of every hors d'ouevres as well as our signature cocktails and water. Since we were so busy the entire night, it was amazing to have a few moments to ourselves to taste everything we had spent so much time picking out! Our guests were blown away by how beautiful everything was, and are still talking about the amazing food and service. This venue is truly one of a kind and we feel so lucky to have had such a beautiful night.

ion is head and shoulders above all others in NYC!

ue was some pretty poor communication between Starr Events and the Garden. Our guests were not allowed to be picked up by taxi cabs inside the venue and were trapped for a considerable amount of time after the reception ended. It was quite chaotic and my husband and I ended up leaving our wedding on a very low note. We did not expect this after how the rest of the day went. Furthermore, we never received an apology from management. We were told by the event coordinator that we would receive some refund due to the inconvenience and we never got it. I sent a follow up email about it to several people and they never replied. It has been really disappointing. Our perception of the NYBG has really changed. I wish it was somewhere we would have had a nice memory about but the end of the night really tainted it for us. Luckily, the guests had fun and it was a nice day just not a great ending.

e perfect backdrop for our wedding ceremony. The rush of stream flowing in front of us made for the most beautiful ambiance. The interior and exterior of the Stone Mill was so charming and intimate. Perfect setting for a smallish wedding (maximum of 115, we had about 80 guests and it was perfect). John Garone, Laura Bass, and all of the staff at the BYBG were so nice and so accommodating of our every need throughout the entire planning process and day of the wedding. Everything went perfectly as planned, on schedule. The staff of NYBG took care of everything. If there was another event going on at the main ballroom, I would never know, we didn't cross paths with them once. The Stone Mill is in a completely separate location, weddings are hosted after the park closes to the public, making it a perfect, intimate setting. Not your typical cookie cutter wedding.

hustle and bustle of NYC. We had the honor of working with Laura who made our experience from beginning to end so seamless. She was always quick to respond and so accommodating with our requests. On the day of, everything ran so smoothly and our bridal attendant, Sasha, was so incredible and on point with every single detail. Our family and friends cannot stop talking about how beautiful the venue was and the food was incredible! My husband and I will never forget this day and thank the Starr Catering team at NYBG for helping create the best day of our lives!

attentive, sweet and helpful, adding to the overall exceptional service. We did not have a planner or day-of coordinator but the Starr team made sure everything went off without a hitch! The food was plentiful and delicious and the Stone Mill grounds and interior spaces were beautiful and well-kept. We highly recommend hosting your event here!

stunning, the team is hardworking and always in touch, the food is amazing, and the best part is that everything was well organized. Kristal Waters was amazing and with us every step of the way. The team is with you day of as well to make sure everything runs seamlessly. Absolutely incredible venue and all of our guests were blown away by how beautiful the wedding was. Thank you!

many occasions before, so we knew that the surroundings would be beautiful, and that taking outdoor photos with a professional photographer would come out spectacularly (they did). I don't think it's hard to sell anybody on the fact that the best botanical garden in NY is going to be a gorgeous backdrop, especially in the spring and summer. But what impressed us the most about having our wedding at NYBG was the amazing professionals of Starr Catering, who choreographed the day perfectly and were incredibly accessible and helpful along the entire process. Laura Bass was there from day one when we toured both venues (the Garden Terrace room - with its NYBG-inspired murals, leaf chandeliers, and high ceilings - is a very beautiful space). She is not only professional but calm, cool, and collected - someone you can trust to run point on the biggest event of your life. Her colleague, Lora Hope, was very helpful in answering all of my questions while I was in the midst of planning. And they were both there, on the day of, to help make sure everything went as planned. Part of the package is a wedding attendant, so I knew there would be someone there to lend a hand throughout the day, but I didn't realize just how above and beyond our attendant, Sasha, would go. She was holding the train of my dress before the first look. She was refreshing our drinks every time we got up to dance. She made sure we left with all the items we wanted to take with us. She was a pleasure to have around throughout the day and I can't give her enough praise. We didn't have to think of a single thing except enjoying ourselves. On top of the incredible staff and the gorgeous setting is the food and cake provided by Starr Catering. So many of our guests told us how wonderful the food was. No guest left hungry! The cake was delicious (and beautiful). My only complaint is that we didn't get the chance to try everything! Can't recommend Starr Catering/NYBG enough. Perfect day.

f was amazing. We had a medical emergency with one of our guests but the staff managed it extremely well, from immediately calling an ambulance to ensuring the person concerned had constant attention until they went home. I had an outside caterer but that created no issue = it was a seamless event. Thank you Laura and everyone else who helped!

oth. The team was always so accomodating and wanted to make sure that we were happy with everything. During the day-of, I had nothing to worry about. The guests are still talking about the amazing food, service, and the flowers! The day was perfect and all of the flowers were in bloom. I highly recommend working with the NYBG for your wedding or any other event. The team is truly extraordinary and they will go above and beyond for their bride and groom!

ot a single hiccup and the team worked with us on every detail. We could not be happier with our selection and experience!

ry blossom which made for a magical photo opportunity. Although we didn't get a chance for a tasting, the food on the day was amazing. There were plenty of choices to choose from and everything that came out was amazing!

eautiful outside cocktail hour at the Hudson Grille. The Garden Terrace Ballroom was stunning and all of our guests loved each and every moment. While we chose to work with the ballroom side of the venue, we also equally loved the Stone House Mill option for a smaller wedding party. Both sites are gorgeous and we hope our friends will have their weddings here too so that we can continue to enjoy the space in the future! Thank you so much Laura and Lauren for everything you did!!!

m went above and beyond for us. The food was amazing and the space was perfect! A DREAM WEDDING!!!!

raving about how beautiful the wedding was and I couldn’t have done it without John. The Bronx Botonical Garden is an amazing venue and they made it look phenomenal once everything was put together. It was the best day of our lives.

hat really blew us away was the attention to detail on the day-of the wedding. I felt relaxed when it came to venue-related concerns and John, Lauren and their team put us as at ease the minute we walked through the doors. The food was amazing and everything was perfect. We'd highly recommend this venue to prospective clients!

enthusiasm and professionalism. The day went perfectly, and we did not have to worry about a thing. We also had an incredible bridal attendant, Sasha, who made sure everything went smoothly. We cannot recommend the New York Botanical Garden highly enough as a location wedding location.

l superb, and all of our guests raved about the food and drink. We can't say enough great things about the NYBG—if you are looking for a rustic/rural-type wedding without leaving New York, don't hesitate to have your wedding here!

ce weee just pure perfection. It was a fantastic night. Thank you so much

beautiful ballroom. Leading up to the wedding Laura Bass was SO helpful and kind, extremely professional and very quick to respond to any questions we had. The day of the wedding all of the staff at the NYBG went above and beyond to make our day incredibly special. Our bridal attendant was amazing and so attentive. Service was wonderful and there were so many compliments on the food. The food, service, staff and venue are all amazing and we're so happy we ended up choosing the NYBG!

n NYBG and Starr Events. Everything we requested was met with a yes, including the ability to make our own dishes on the menu! Laura Bass was our contact and she was OUTSTANDING. She never made us feel like we couldn't reach out to her. She was always responsive and often answered questions for us that we probably had no business asking her. Working with her was like having a second planner. The room was amazing - perfectly neutral with a huge dance floor, high ceilings, beautiful chandeliers, pin-spot lighting and gorgeous mirrors on the wall. The grounds are, of course, spectacular. We had our cocktail hour outside overlooking the conservatory. It was heaven. Another cocktail hour option is under a tent which is seriously beautiful and air conditioned. The food was amazing - it was ACTUALLY good-tasting food. Not just good for wedding food. My bridal attendant, Alfred (or maybe Albert? I'm sorry, I can't recall!) was so helpful to me. He never left my side the entire night, always bringing me a drink or water. Always making sure I ate something. He was just awesome! There is on-site valet parking so your guests don't have to walk far. I honestly can't think of one thing they do that I would criticize. Everything is top-class and while they are certainly not the cheapest venue, I felt like they were fair with their pricing given the quality.

emember for the rest of our lives. The preferred vendors were very easy to work with and helped to eliminate the typical pain points that come up during the wedding planning process. We had an amazing time with NYBG and are so happy we decided to go have our wedding day on the grounds

hing else. Making all those choices out of our budget. We were going to throw in the towel and go to city hall until I reached out to the New York Botanical Gardens. I was able to have a beautiful intimate wedding at the Stone Mill. We had an outside ceremony overlooking the Bronx River, the food was fantastic and open bar was included. The Starr catering group, in particular John Garone, made my wedding day one of the best days of my life.

thought would be the perfect spot for our special day - and it truly was. Working with STARR and Laura Bass was an amazing experience, from start to finish. Everything was beyond our expectations!!! Best, Marijela & Steven

Garden Terrace Room. I am one of those annoying micromanaging brides who had painstakingly planned our wedding for a year, staying organized with a dozen different spreadsheets and ordering so much stuff on Etsy that our dining room was full of boxes. I emailed John at least three times a week with probably ten questions in each email. He was so calm and professional and every time we communicated that I immediately felt calmer too, like everything was under his control. I had a vision for my wedding and how all the Etsy stuff would fit together and it was hard passing it on to someone else to do the execution, but I knew I had to let go and John and the staff absolutely blew me away. Their execution was better than anything I could have imagined. And in addition to the little details that I asked John to handle for me, John handled the big stuff, like coordinating vendors, making sure everyone was in the right place at the right time, ordering my bridesmaids during our procession, guiding my dad. And the rest of the team is amazing too. Lauren O'Kelly was tremendously helpful throughout the entire process and both her and John felt as excited about my wedding as I was. Alex Metz, the head of catering, helped us select our food and beverage package for the wedding and both we and all of our guests were amazed at how delicious the food was. Guests were greeted with champagne and lemon water when they entered the gardens, cocktail hour was overflowing with food, and the servers were so attentive to our guests needs, like remembering what drink they had ordered from the bar and fetching them another one before they finished, and remembering dietary restrictions. The captain and co-captain were so communicative with our MC, letting him know exactly when the courses were coming out and tables were being cleared so that he could time everyone's speeches accordingly. My bridal attendant helped me all day--providing me water during pictures, appetizers after the ceremony, carrying my bouquet, bustling my dress, and driving us in a little buggey. The only bad part about my wedding was that it's over now and I don't get to email John all the time. I miss him. I cannot recommend NYBG enough and I don't understand why everyone in New York doesn't get married there. You get amazing service, delicious food, and a breathtakingly beautiful location, and the price is very reasonable considering the service, quality and staff. we also had our rehearsal dinner at Hudson Garden Grill the night before the wedding and it was like a preview of how amazing the staff was, how delicious the food was, and how organized John was. We had our rehearsal in the ceremony space and John was so helpful with showing our bridesmaids and groomsmen when and how to walk and where to stand. Then we had hor d'hourves and cocktails on the patio, followed by dinner in the restaurant. If you are getting married at NYBG then I strongly recommend that you do your rehearsal dinner there, your guests will have an amazing time!

red and taken care of, and I cannot appreciate enough for that. Despite the rain, all our guests had a great time. The food there was just amazing, and not to say their outstanding service. My husband and I are so glad that we chose this venue.

ff was. We worked closely with Laura Bass to organize the event. She really took the time to work with us on the fine details, and took a lot of stress out of planning the wedding. If you are looking for a magical spot to have your wedding this is the place.

River running alongside it and with tall, lush trees all around. The reception dinner took place inside the Stone Mill building, which has a beautiful dining room with wooden beams and is just perfect for a small to medium size wedding (maximum number of guests is 120). The Starr Catering staff was terrific: John Garone was our coordinator, and he was enthusiastic, responsive, accommodating to our numerous requests (for example, we requested having an ice cream sundae bar station for dessert instead of one of the appetizer stations that came with our package, and he said 'no problem' and it turned out to be a big hit at the wedding). John also helped coordinate with our vendors (so that we did not need a wedding planner) and he paid great attention to detail, including during the set up of the venue on our wedding day: for example, we had had table cards printed and had little pots of succulent plants as wedding favors, and John arranged the cards and pots on a table in the most lovely and tasteful way as you could imagine. The wait staff during the wedding itself was great and the bridal attendant, Yonas, was extremely helpful and joyous (we love him). Also, the food was really very good and we received many compliments about it. The wedding ended up being exactly what we had hoped it would be, and the whole evening went off without a hitch--the organization was just smooth and perfect. While the NYBG is not the cheapest venue in the City, we felt from beginning to end that we were in very good hands: a beautiful location (that is easily reachable from Manhattan), good catering, and a very professional and friendly staff who know how to doing a wedding well and make sure that everyone has a great time. We couldn't recommend NYGB and Starr Catering more highly!!!

from the first day of planning to your actual wedding day. We worked with Laura throughout the planning process and she made it really fun and not stressful at all. She was always a phone call or an email away. She helped us from planning our menu to every last detail of the day including referring us to our band who we absolutely loved (Hank Lane). My husband and I had such a blast not only on our actual wedding day but first at the menu tasting which was a couple of months before the wedding. Your treated to wine and appetizers and entrees which will be seasonal on the menu at the time of your wedding. That's when you really feel the sense of the top notch service and professionalism at Starr Catering. On the actual day of our wedding we felt like we were royalty :-) We got married at the Garden Terrace and had an outdoor ceremony and everything was absolutely gorgeous! Our personal attendant stayed with us from when we arrived until the very end of the night and he even helped us get into our car at the end of the night. The staff at Starr Catering were so accommodating and paid so much attention to every last detail. You can tell that they actually really love what they do! I would recommend Starr Catering and all of the amazing staff at the New York Botanical Garden to any couple looking for superior service and want to get married at one of the most beautiful places in New York City!

he night itself, everyone at the NYBG went above and beyond to make our day special. The food was incredible, the Stone Mill was just gorgeous, and everything went unbelievably smoothly thanks to Laura and her fantastic staff. Special mention to Alfred, who was our bridal attendant and best friend on the day!! THANK YOU to everyone at the Stone Mill!

ng that felt polished and formal, the Stone Mill was the perfect balance. We were able to add in all of our personal touches while leaving all of the hassle to the NYBG's incredible staff. The food selection was immense, potentially overwhelming, but our coordinator John Garone, was always there to lend his experience to help us navigate all of our choices. At The NYBG they handle the rentals, the food, and even the cake, from LuLu Bakery in Scarsdale. They also had a wonderful list of vendors (which you can use or not) that they work with who know the venue like the back of their hands. Their staff lent a feeling of ease to the whole process. The day of our wedding, we showed up and everything was exactly as planned. The grounds allowed us to take beautiful pictures, and since nearly every background is perfect our pictures were done with time to spare before our guests came. Typically the advice given to couples getting married is that you will have to choose between eating the food you chose or visiting with your guests. Our attendant, Yonas, made sure that our glasses were filled and we were able to eat everything we had carefully chosen, even putting 2 of every appetizer we chose in our bridal room. We were able to take a moment for ourselves and enjoy all of our planning and then enjoy all of our guests while having full tummies. Our cake from LuLu was delicious and beautiful and are still getting complements (personally I can't wait to dig in a year from now). At first the idea that The NYBG would be responsible for handling so much of the planning including the cake made me nervous, but it made wedding planning simple and gave us wonderful results we could have never achieved on our own. We had amazing time and I would recommend the New York Botanical Gardens to any bride looking for a garden vibe with elegance with staff who are not afraid to take the burden off of your shoulders and ensure you get to enjoy every aspect of your wedding.

stressful, event I have attended and planned. Our planning was most expertly guided and assisted by Alexandra Metz and then Laura Bass. From the beginning, they anticipated our needs and wants and were most thorough and timely in addressing each step of the planning process. The venue – inside and out – was beautiful, the food was terrific in terms of presentation and taste, and the service made us and our guests feel like royalty. I can’t wait to have another reason to attend or host another event with Starr Catering Group at the NY Botanical Gardens!

ad the ceremony inside, of course, which some might think is a waste since it's a "garden wedding," however, the venue is beautiful and the large windows create a fabulous backdrop to the ceremony. Many commented on how dramatic the ceremony was. Furthermore, while we had about 200 guests and we could have had many more in that room. They turned it over like pros in less than an hour for dinner. While the venue is excellent, what really makes the venue special is the food. Starr Catering has some of the best food - if not the best food in town. The appetizers are exceptional as is the the meal. We had heard before the wedding about the quality of the caterers (from other caterers that we know) and they were right. Many acknowledged how far above the average the quality of the wedding food was - it was really an exceptional dinner. The wait team there is also very professional. We also got to take pictures in the enclosed botanical garden which made it look like we bought a botanical garden for our wedding flowers - which I guess we technically did. Something to note is that you will have to ship people from the city by bus if you're having it there and coming from the city. That being said, many opted to drive or take metro north (in their tuxedos and long gowns) which drops you across the street. Let me finish by stating, the best part - my wife and I work over 60 hours a week in another city. Having NYBG be a one-stop-shop for everything meant we didn't have to deal with the planning nonsense. It was venue, band, flowers, hair, photographer and done. We planned this thing in four months and we frankly wouldn't have done it any differently. If you choose this venue, I would be extremely surprised if you were disappointed.

anning the wedding and anticipated every detail of this special day! She was incredibly professional, thoughtful and responsive to every question and call. our guests are still raving about the food! The service and venue all were amazing! I highly recommend the NYBG for any event and I know everyone who attended this wonderful night will never forget it!

for our special day! They gave us a wonderful food tasting from which we chose some amazing dishes for our reception. After helping us throughout our wedding preparations, they continued to help us on the day itself. The bridal suite was made pristine for us to use. While we were in the bridal suite waiting to be announced to our friends and family for the first time as a married couple they brought us some of the hors d'oeuvres that our guests were enjoying during the cocktail hour. They even drove us and our wedding party around on golf carts while we were getting photographed in all the various beautiful garden areas! The Grand Terrace Room was spotless and clean for the reception. It was magical! The table cloths and chairs were great. The dance floor was ideal! The food was magnificent! It came out in a timely manner which made the evening flow beautifully. At one point Stephen's 89 year old grandmother's lost her wedding ring. To everyone's surprise, the team at NYBG actually found it for us! That was a big deal! For anyone out there getting married, I can honestly say that there is no better choice for a wedding reception venue than the NYBG!

king for a simple yet elegant location to have a classic New York wedding. The New York Botanical Gardens delivered on every level. The setting is majestic and beautiful. We planned on having an outdoor wedding and despite Hurricane Matthew trying to throw a wrench in our plans, the staff and management of the NYBG were agile enough to wait out the storm and set up the seasonal walk for the evening wedding. Things went off without any problems under a clear sky. We and our guests were so pleased with the service and the quality of the experience. The food and drinks (including our custom cocktail) were delicious and aplenty. The transitions from the outdoor wedding, to a tented cocktail party and then the evening reception in the recently renovated Garden Terrace Room moved flawlessly. So many of our guests commented on what a beautiful setting and perfect service they experienced. John Garone, Laura and the Starr Catering staff were just phenomenal through the entire planning process and then on our wedding day. Aside from Mother Nature, there were no stresses.

led us thru all the plans, every detail for a wedding that was wonderful, equally beautiful, and felt so personal! If we were to do this again, I would not change one thing! John is the best that you could possibly wish for! Go for it!

making me and my husband and our families feel at ease and in good hands throughout the process. The space was perfect for our 220+ guests, with plenty of room for a spacious dance floor; the food was delicious (our guests kept remarking that the Starr Catering food did not taste at all like "wedding food"); and each moment of the wedding (from the ceremony to the cocktail hour to the dinner/dancing reception) was perfectly orchestrated, but in a way that felt very natural. Everything from the table service to the room's lighting was exquisitely executed, and all of our guests have been telling us how much they enjoyed every moment. Jonas, our bridal attendant, was superhumanly helpful--walking around the grounds with us during our photo session before the ceremony, bringing us drinks and snacks while we were in the bridal suite with our families before the ceremony, and then later on the receiving line during the cocktail hour, and continuing to do thoughtful things for us throughout the night (from keeping us hydrated to helping us carry our bags out of the bridal suite at the end of the evening). If you are hoping to have a classic wedding ceremony and reception, tailored to your own taste and run by paramount professionals, we could not recommend the NYBG more highly.

machine. From Laura Bass - our coordinator who took every piece of our vision and executed it expertly, to the incredible food, the beautiful and delicious wedding cake and finally to our wedding, it was beyond perfection. I couldn't have predicted how perfect it would all be until I saw it come together. When you are planning the most important day of your life, leave it in the hands of experts like Starr Catering. I would not change a thing.

ible day after our own wishes, and then made sure everything went off without a hitch day of. I can only rave about the care they put into it. Alex helped us out in the beginning and Lauren helped us significantly as we got closer to the date. Our particular issue was that we live in Germany and so were planning the wedding from afar. Lauren and Alex were always available and responded very quickly to all of our questions. They suggested vendors for us far enough in advance, and all of their suggestions were spot on. Obviously the food was excellent and the package offered at the Stone Mill contained more than enough great food, great drinks, and great choice for all guests. It also made our lives a lot easier not having to deal with finding a caterer. All of the attendants on the day of were extremely professional and caring so that my wife and I could simply enjoy. That's all we could ask for and would highly recommend the Gardens in general, and the Stone Mill specifically, to anybody and everybody.

amazing and so attentive. She brought us each of our hors d'oeuvre selections, our signature cocktail and champagne to our bridal suite and we were so happy she did as it was the only food we had a chance to eat at the cocktail hour!! We felt taken care of in every detail. The food was absolutely phenomenal and surpassed our expectations! The service at dinner was outstanding and many of our guests raved about. I was anxious about having to pack up all the items we provided on the night of and I have to say, that went smoother than I could have ever imagined- pretty much everything was already boxed up for us and took no effort on our part. We don't have a single negative thing to say- it was absolutely the best day ever. We so enjoyed the process with our Sales Manager Laura and we continue to rave about how Starr sincerely gave us everything we wanted! We will certainly be recommending Starr Catering and the NYBG for all our newly engaged friends!!

ful and having access to the grounds for photos was an absolute treasure. I couldn't have been happier with the quality of the food, the responsive of the staff and the beauty of the venue. Very high marks all around!

love with the setting. Not only is the Stone Mill a historical NY landmark, it is also a very elegant and naturally beautiful place with its location inside the NY Botanical Garden, right on the Bronx river. Alex's friendliness and her willingness to accommodate our needs made us pay the deposit and sign the contract on the spot. After many disappointments trying to find a classy venue within our means in the city, The Stone Mill was that perfect place we no longer thought we could have. A few months later, we started working with John Garone and things got even better. John is both very friendly and highly professional. He responded to our emails, week after week, with the speed of light. He was always calm, good-humored, eager to help, on top of things and very detail-oriented, a crucial skill when you are preparing a wedding. He answered each and every question each of us had, followed up on every detail, and made us feel as if our wedding was the only one he had to deal with, even though we knew well that this was not the case! His assistant, Lauren, was as helpful and as dedicated as he was. Working with the two of them, I found organizing my daughter's wedding to be not as stressful as I had anticipated and certainly a lot smoother than what some of my friends told me it would be. Then the day of the wedding came and we met the rest of the team: our super efficient and caring captain, Gilit, our extra helpful and attentive bridal attendant, Yonas, and the amazing staff: bartenders, waiters, as well as various attendants. An A team of dedicated people doing their jobs in the most professional way and going above and beyond in so many ways. Then there was the food, from the cocktail appetizers to the dinner courses to the wedding cake--elegant and delicious. Worthy of Five Stars restaurants. I am still in awe of the beauty of the place and the care with which everyone involved did their jobs, making our wedding day as perfect as we had dreamed it would be. I truly cannot recommend the Stone Mill enough. If you want to have a wedding you will never forget at a price well below what the top NYC wedding venues charge, put your special day in their hands. It will be the best decision you will have made as you start your life as a married couple.

we had our menu tasting to help us finalize menus, site layouts, and delivery of goods. Laura was really excellent at making sure Patrick and I had as little to worry about as possible and that all our bases were covered. Both women were a pleasure to work with and mostly responded to emails within a reasonable amount of time. The day of we had a couple's assistant - Max - who was awesome! He would bring us new water/cocktails whenever we looked close to being empty, and he was continually asking us if we needed anything. The food was great. The bridal suite at the venue was nice to sneak away for a few minutes to relax. Everything was perfect. We could not have asked for a better venue for our reception. Highly recommend!

is, especially in such a big city. We fell in love with Stone Mill in particular, for its beauty, warmth, and layout, all of which allowed us to create the intimate wedding we dreamed of. Stephen Starr Catering partners with NYBG to provide food and beverages, wedding cake, linens and furniture, and wedding coordination. Throughout our journey, from tours to booking to walk-throughs, we were met with warmth, professionalism, and flexibility as each team member worked with us to execute our vision. If you're foodies like we are, or just interested in providing your guests with a unique dining experience, you can't go wrong with Stephen Starr. From cocktail hour to dinner, the food was delicious, perfectly cooked, and beautifully presented! My husband and I will always be happy we chose The New York Botanical Garden. Stone Mill, and the garden at large, has history and credibility, as it is such an important New York landmark. We feel so fortunate that we'll always have the option to visit this magical place where we shared the best day of our lives, and to one day bring our children there to share the memories.

t before we even needed him. Overall a beautiful venue and well worth it!

after formal cocktails began on the patio with abundant appetizers from the Starr Kitchen. Asian specialties from Budakqn and many continental choices, too. At dusk guests proceeded to the Garden Terrace room for a sit down dinner. The dining room beautifully transformed into a garden with table floral arrangements and even trees magnificently arranged by Brian Bowman, our florist. When the dinner finished, the French doors opened to a tented area where DJ, Eric Visa, sent nearly half the crowd to the dance floor. NYBG event manager, John Garone, deserves huge credit for ensuring the food and service to be spot on. The venue was easy to deal with and the food exceeded all our expectations. Want to give credit to our wedding planner, Melissa McNeely and her assistant, Lauren, for being there for us always. The bride and groom and all the guests enjoyed a fabulous party, not surprisingly but thanks to all the professionalism of all our vendors. Thank you!

was a cool and ideal day for a wedding at The Garden. Can't imagine another venue with better outdoor space in Manhattan! As soon as the buses arrived with our guests, they were greeted by welcome champagne while they strolled the beautiful garden. More formal cocktails and pass around hors d'oeuves were held at the patio. The Stephen Starr kitchen offered a mixture of Asian fusion (Budakan) and continental food in abundance. They were amazingly delicious and abundant. Guests then proceeded to the Terrace room for dinner. The room held comfortably our 175 guests at a mixture of round and rectangular tables. A 4 piece jazz band provided entertainment during cocktails and dinner. Brian Bowman arranged spectacular table flowers as well as topiary trees to create a garden room. Following dinner, doors opened to the adjacent tented space to the dance floor. Our DJ, Eric, was just great! He also serves at the evening's MC. . The organization and the service at NYBG exceeded our expectations. The food of Starr Kitchen was extraordinary. We selected Branzino and tenderloin for main course choices After the hors d'oueves, two courses were more than ample. Special credit to John Garone, our patient and accommodating events manager at NYBG. Last guests left at 1pm Special note also to our wedding planner Melissa McNeely and her asst Lauren for being there from beginning of planning to the final day of event giving terrific recommendations and keeping it lighted hearted. It was a pleasure to host the party.

up having the ceremony inside, but it didn't matter. It was beyond stunning. And days later we are still getting countless compliments from our guests. We worked with John Garone at Starr Events, and he was one of the most organized and patient people I've ever met. He was incredibly detail-oriented and helped us solve every issue as it came up. Our wedding was a little bit more complicated because we brought in a kosher caterer (Foremost). John helped us navigate every moment every step of the way. Our main vendors were Forever in Bloom, Foremost Caterers and the Mike Herman Band at Hank Lane. They were all outstanding. We can't say enough good things about John and the venue. We just hope every wedding is as magical as ours was!

tone Mill, NY Botanical Gardens. John Garone of STARR Events did an outstanding job before and during our wedding reception making sure to exceed all of our expectations – from the venue to the catering service to coordinating all the vendors who delivered entertainment, photography, floral and decor. Truly, STARR Events went above and beyond what we’ve imagined for our special day. We had guests from over 15 nations who were raving about the warmth and quality of it all. We are filled with gratitude and feel blessed that we found this stunning venue. Thank you John and STARR Events for your professionalism, care and attention to detail.

rdinating all of your outside vendors, to organizing your guests and activities during the wedding night. Our sales manager Jennifer and our event coordinator Andrew were both willing to go out of their way to make our night run smoothly and fun for our guests, our wedding party, and especially us, the couple. The food was amazing! All of our guests raved about the beauty of the setting and how delicious the food was. Everyone was extremely attentive and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect wedding! Thanks to everyone at the NYBG and Stephen Starr, especially Jennifer and Andrew.