Whist Weddings

ame across the Whist we were floored, there were great spots for pictures, areas for bride/groom + wedding party to get ready, distinct areas for different parts of the wedding, spacious reception area, and a delicious variety of food that can accommodate different diets. Margaret was instrumental in helping us plan for wedding. She’s planned numerous weddings and she guided us through various ideas to find what was best for our wedding. The Whist provided all the tables, chairs, linens, flatware, food, beverages, and staff for our event. They work with multiple vendors in the area to augment what they provide. For example, we hired the following vendors: DJ (District DJ), Photographer/Videographer (Frederick and Reid Photography), Alpacas with handlers (Illusion Ranch Alpacas), Baker (Deserts by Dana), and a Florist (M. Coty). With those few vendors, in addition to the venue, planning was much smoother - you can choose from their rolodex or find your own. As it pertained to the venue, we heard from all of our guests about how much they loved the venue and the quality + warmth (where appropriate) of the food. As for the people behind the scenes, we talked to plenty of staffers and everyone was incredibly nice. The bartender, chefs, and wait staff did a great job. Not having to jump from location to location for the ceremony and reception offers great peace of mind. Not needing to coordinate with rental companies and caterers for the reception is another weight off your shoulders. You may hear the cliché, “There was so much going on that we didn’t enjoy our wedding.” Through planning and coordination with Margaret, we got to enjoy every minute of our wedding with all our guests. It was an experience we’ll always remember!

ly cordial and attentive, and it was the perfect place for us to relax with our families and friends before the wonderful hurly-burly of our wedding day!

d rate this venue higher than 5 stars I would. Could not have asked for a better venue!

nyone looking for a wedding venue!

h some actual character. The venue was stunning for photos (dramatic stairwell, landscaped outdoor ceremony space, bridal suite upstairs, great cocktail space), and the food was delicious. As an out-of-town couple, we needed someone to coordinate everything, and the professional and friendly team at Whist made sure that we didn’t worry about a thing. Margaret in particular is amazing! She’s organized, diplomatic, knowledgeable about local vendors, and a skilled event planner. In addition, the all-inclusive package made it easy to get an accurate cost estimate and budget accordingly. We looked at a number of other venues in DE/NJ/PA, and this one was the best by far.

from the cookie cutter country clubs, this is your venue! It is beautiful inside and out. What caught my eye was the stone exterior which is amazing for pictures, but once you're inside, you will be blown away at how big it is. It is kind of tucked away on Broom Street and you may pass by without ever noticing it. We were joking and calling it a Harry Potter house! Like this magical place that just pops up before your eyes! haha. The entire house is yours for the day; you are free to roam wherever. Unfortunately, it poured on our wedding day, but that didn't bother us because there were countless opportunities for pictures inside, on all 3 floors of the house. It has such character, and I can't think of a better place, if you happen to be stuck inside due to rain. We got ready upstairs and throughout the whole day, we were totally pampered by the managers and staff. They have a great all inclusive price, including open bar, centerpieces, linens, etc. you don't have to piece together all the costs-- everything's packaged together in an afforable lump sum! I came to find that all inclusive prices were rare. We could not be happier with everything. Our guests RAVED about the food. It is NOT your typical catered/banquet food. If the food is important to you, you need to check this place out. Amazing appetizers, even down to the fruit and vegetable spreads. The Whist Club is already known for their amazing food and dinner events, but even cooking 93 filet entrees, they did not disappoint! Also, they worked with me on the beer choices and basically gave me everything I asked for! Margaret will be your main contact for planning. She answered my emails within minutes at times and never left any questions out there! She was so organized and easy to work with. Susan, Cathy, and Sharon were also amazing! Everyone was extremely helpful at rehearsal and the day of. If it weren't for Margaret and Sharon, we would have no idea what we were doing. You think you have everything planned, but sometimes in the chaos you need guidance and they really made everything a breeze. Actually, all of the staff is great. Our guests commented on how pleasant and attentive the servers were, too! Everyone is so professional, yet you still feel comfortable enough to have a blast!!! I could not be happier with this venue. If you see a bridal show pop up, or you have an opportunity to check the place out, do it! :)

re also willing to arrange for the ceremony to be indoors if it had rained.

tion there without worrying about many minor details. The catering, linens, floral centerpieces, and cake (as well as cake cutting fees) are ALL included so it truly saves $$ for an excellent experience. We enjoyed the environment so much we chose to have an intimate DELICIOUS rehearsal dinner in a private room the night before the wedding as well. It was truly beautiful! The staff was incredibly professional and so eager to help with ANY little detail - it was as if we were the prince/princess at our home castle for the day. The Club also only does 1 wedding per day so you're not feeling rushed or pushed along at all - girls have the entire upstairs to get prepped/dressed and the boys have a full sports bar (stocked and open to their use) and pool table/Foosball downstairs as well. Food is phenomenal, Open bar is included (w/no extra fees) and the entire facilities are stunning! Highly recommend and would love to host or attend another event at the University and Whist Club!!

e answered all of our questions and was extremely flexible with all of our changes or suggestions. After booking we had our food tasting. The University and Whist Club made this a special event for our family by allowing us to sample not only full meals, but also all of their house wines and champagne. The food during the tasting was outstanding. During the entire planning process Margaret answered numerous emails, questions, and assisted me in any way she could. This eliminated a lot of my stress and made the planning a fun experience. She accommodated my schedule for all of our meetings due to me living out of town. The Club also offers most services in house which made the planning process seamlessly easy and eliminated the stress of using unreliable vendors. Our wedding day was executed with perfection. Margaret arrived early in the morning to supervise all aspects and assist the staff with setting up. She truly takes pride in her work and shows a strong passion for creating a wonderful day. During the reception, subtle details made our day even more memorable. From saving us a sampling of all the hors d’oeuvres, to sending us to our hotel with champagne and meals. All of our guests commented on the high quality food, stunning historical sight and high level of service. Cathy also accommodated not only all of my requests, but also all of our guests. The Club obviously hires the best and trains their staff superbly. I cannot thank the University and Whist Club enough for creating a perfect wedding day. If you are looking for quality service, outstanding food, and sophistication the University and Whist Club will assist you in creating an amazing wedding.

, Dominique, Deborah and all the staff at the Club made our wedding day dream a reality and I couldn't be more pleased with how the venue looked the day of the wedding. All my guests commented on how delicious the food was, how responsive the staff was and just how gorgeous the entire Club looked. I cannot thank the staff enough for the great job they did.

o quick with all her responses and really accommodated every request that we had. During the food tasting Kathy was awesome and the all the food was amazing. We were worried that it would not be as good when preparing for a large number of guests, but it was exactly the same. One the big day Kathy was there to greet us and she really went above and beyond to make sure every part of the day was flawless. It was an outstanding day and I know that it would not have been at all possible without all the staff at the Whist club. I would highly recommend the venue to any bride and groom!!

d a uniqueness to it that many other venues did not. Our guests told us how amazing the food was and what a great time they had. We could not have asked for a better day.

kage includes everything - gratuity, service, valet parking for guests, wedding cake (with great coffee and tea), open bar, linens, fresh flowers throughout the venue (we got $ off because I am allergic and we decided to not use fresh flowers). We did the cocktail hour indoor as well (we didn't want summer heat for our guests), and there are plenty of rooms to mingle. They set up a bridal suite for us, brought hor d'oeuvres to us, and when we were walking around to take pictures/talk to guests, there was a staff following us (with food and drinks in her hand) just to make sure we get food. They have a nice big dance floor, and we had lots of fun with our guests that night. They even went out of their way to accommodate us for a Chinese tea ceremony in the middle of the reception. And EVERYBODY was raving about the food and cake. Overall, this has got to be one of the best place to celebrate a wedding in Delaware! Thank you, University and Whist Club. We will surely be back and recommend you to everyone we know around the area!

castle, and dates back to the late 1700's. When I first saw the outside of this venue I gasped! The walls surrounding the property, the structure of the building, and the greenery on the grounds created a "royal" atmosphere. One could also infer that the building looks "masonic." If you are a history buff or looking for a "royal" affair this is the perfect place! The University and Whist Club offers everything you need for your special day. The club offers an "in house" baker, florist, coordinator,and linens. The venue also provides a list of local photographers, DJ's,and limo services (which you don't have to use, but it helps to give you an idea on how much everything is going to cost. ) that couples can contact. The best part about having our reception at the University and Whist Club; besides the fairy tale ambiance, the impeccable service, and the attention to detail.... The FOOD! Wow! Our guests couldn't stop talking about how delicious our entree selections were. Our guests had the choice of the duck, filet, striped bass, and a vegetarian (vegan/gluten free) entree. Yes, they offer VEGAN! Our wedding cake was also delicious! Our cake was made with butter cream icing, vanilla cake, and we had it filled with a custard and blueberries! Yummy! The cake was fresh and moist; tasted like it was fresh out of the oven! We also had it served with fresh fruit! My husband and I recommend The University and Whist Club for any special event! The venue is about thirty minutes from the PHL airport, forty-five minutes from New Jersey, and about two hours from Baltimore. Did I mention there is NO TAX in Delaware! That's right, no tax! Which makes this venue reasonably priced! My husband and I are planning on having my 30th birthday there next year! I know the University and Whist club will provide excellent service, exquisite cuisine, and an elegant affair! Margaret and Cathy helped us plan our wedding reception down to every little detail! Ryan and I thank you so much for being a part of our special day! Margaret and Cathy, both of you made my fairy-tale wedding come to life! Ryan and I look forward to meeting with you again! Thank You!

ey were provided the moment they did valet, and raved about the quality of the food being like no other 'wedding venue food' they've experienced. The staff at the Whist Club was accomodating and helpful. Thank you!

commodating and helped to make our special day perfect.

ound, but the staff, catering coordinator, and service manager were the most professional and flexible. My husband and I keep wishing we could have our wedding every month just to be able to eat the food again! P.S. The cake was delicious!

tastic at what they do. They guide you ever step of the way and help you with details that you wouldn't even think of. The U&W Club offers an all-inclusive per-person charge which was a great way to go. There was no nickel and diming charges. They include appetizers, full-course meal, 5 hour open bar, which includes amazing wine and sparkling choices, all table centerpieces, all linens and even the cake. The food from beginning to end was the best I've ever had at a wedding. They are a dinner club after-all. The crab cakes and filet mignon were praised by all of our guests. The florist they work with was also amazing and she created all of the flowers for my day which went beyond what I imagined. The venue is yours for the day. We used it for both the girls and guys to get ready (in separate areas of course). The dance floor is huge and held our 8 piece horn band with plenty of room for dancing. The building is interesting and unique with a staircase which is a must for pictures. I can't say enough about the extraordinary venue and staff that created a magical day for my wedding.

smoothly. Cathy & Margaret were great to work with as well. I was so at ease all day knowing that everything would be taken care of. The food was AMAZING, all of my guests loved their meals! The service was impeccable, all the waitstaff was on top of it all night! We also got a lot of great photos around the club. It's a picture perfect place to have your wedding reception! I'm so pleased with the service and everything for that matter!

verything was perfect. The space is nice and the dance floor is huge. They are extremely accommodating and go out of their way to ensure that everyone is happy. Every meeting and all the planning was also perfect. I could not imagine any other location being better. We also got some really great pictures on the grounds.