The Ashford Estate Reviews

I’ve heard people say it’s more fun to be the guest as your wedding than it is to be the bride and groom, and I disagree. The team at the Ashford Estate all made it feel like we could really be “guests” and party and enjoy the celebration like our guests could. Everyone was so attentive to my husband and me. We felt special and cared for the whole night! My parents did as well.

Our extended family and friends raved about the food! My husband and I were so grateful to have a few moments together to enjoy it all before the reception began. So delicious, and again the team made it possible for us to each and try it all so we could enjoy the whole day. The rooms upstairs were comfortable and gorgeous, and blew the 26 people who stayed there away. Another amazing touch for the family!

The logistics were easy, any changes were welcomed with open arms, and Laura and the team made it stress-free. Anything we asked about / requested was returned with a "no problem" response. Absolutely would recommend this venue to any bride/groom, in any season!

I have dreamt of having an elegant, extravagant, and memorable wedding my entire life. The Ashford Estate made all my dreams come true--and then some! We looked at dozens of wedding venues around NJ and NY, but none even came close to the magnificence of this estate. The grounds are stunning and perfectly maintained. The food (which is customized however you like) was nothing short of exquisite. The staff goes so far above any other venue I have ever seen--they attend to each tiny detail, coordinate with every vendor, and are a complete joy to work with. To say the Ashford Estate is exceptional is, quite honestly, an understatement. We love this venue, and could not recommend them more highly. Thank you, Laura, Debbie & team!

After looking at 10+ venues all around NJ & NY, not a single one came close in comparison to the Ashford Estate. Yes, this was the most expensive venue we were considering - but every dollar more we paid to have our wedding here was worth it 100x over.
The moment you drive through the wrought iron gates at the base of the driveway, you are no longer in NJ - you have been transported to the European countryside. The property is massive and immaculate. There isn't a single part of the entire property that you think to yourself "ehhh" - truly every corner is magical. And it just keeps on going! The main estate is beyond what words can capture; it's unreal. We had our parents and wedding party stay there the night of the wedding and it was freaking awesome. Every one of our guests couldn't get over how spectacular it was and said they'd never been to a place like that before (nor knew a place like that even existed in NJ...).
The staff at the Ashford is elite. Laura McCann is truly phenomenal. She was amazing to my husband & I in the very beginning as we finalized our date and throughout the entire planning process. She is a professional to the very end and also just a super lovely person. She made everything as easy and stress-free as it could have possibly been - from guiding us through the decision-making process for our reception to coordinating with our vendors on our behalf to making sure everything was falling into place the day of the wedding. I am beyond grateful for Laura. Her co-hort, Debbie, is also great - very responsive, pleasant, and helpful always.
Merri-Makers, the exclusive caterer of the Ashford, was fantastic. Their food is off-the-charts good. I didn't try a single thing at the chef's tasting or at our wedding that was mediocre - everything was superb. Ridiculously fresh seafood, thoughtfully curated cocktail hour stations, and top notch entrees. The wait staff service was outstanding throughout the evening - it felt like we were at a gala or some super high-end event.
I can't rave enough about the Ashford Estate. You will be working with the best of the best if you get married here. And speaking from experience, if you are on the fence with choosing the Ashford as your venue because of the price - know that it is so exquisite that you don't have to spend a single dollar on decor (other than your flowers, which don't have to be crazy) to make this place special - it does that all on its own. No doubt it is a financial commitment (especially if you're paying for it on your own, like my husband & I did), but I promise it is worth every single dollar.
One other suggestion I would like to pay forward to future Ashford brides & grooms is to use the estate's preferred vendors. They are the "A Team" and will execute the wedding of your dreams flawlessly without bothering you whatsoever leading up to and on your wedding day, which is invaluable if you ask me.

There are no words to explain how incredible the Ashford estate is! They made our wedding beyond incredible, the food, the atmosphere and the service was perfection, we would highly recommend this venue!

Everything was pure perfection. From the very first visit everyone and everything about the Ashford was fantastic! Nothing but professionalism and a true appreciation for making each wedding day special. We visited the venue many times and emailed Laura many questions but she and the staff are all amazing! Shoutout to Megan and Taylor for all of your support as well! If any bride out there is considering this venue you and your guests will not be disappointed! Multiple guests said it was the best wedding they had been to and the venue was THE factor in those comments. The day was magical and I only wish there were more hours in the day to enjoy the venue!

My daughter and son-in-law were married at the Ashford Estate Saturday, September 10, 2022. We selected this venue in January 2021 and had 18 months of anticipation. Our decision was made when we met Laura, who was down-to-earth, warm, and easy to talk to. To be surrounded by elegance and yet a level of humility was so inviting. We visited the venue two more times in the winter/spring. Each time we found the setting stunning, and the people friendly and accommodating.

Our September wedding was beyond what we could have imagined. Laura and the entire staff went above and beyond to make an enchanting wedding. We had 211 guests with 20 children ranging from 11 months up. Meghan served as maitre'd and ran the event smoothly with attention to every detail.

Our daughter had bridal attendants that looked after her every need and pampered her from noon to night. Meghan organized the procession into the chapel like clockwork, not an easy task with 9 bridesmaids, 4 flower girls, and 3 ring bearers.

The staff moved the wedding party and guests through a tight schedule with photographs, cocktails, and reception seamlessly. We never felt hurried, and yet the day unfolded perfectly.

The food was outstanding. As a vegetarian, I was doubly pleased that Merri-makers offered a wide variety of choices for all diets. The cocktail hour had creative station choices including all of the usual options but also a ramen bar and lobster rolls. Our guests could choose from ravioli, salmon and beef at the reception. The vegetarian option, ravioli with wild mushroom sauce, was delicious. Our guests raved about the salmon and beef as well. We had passed ice cream sandwiches and a gelato bar along with cake and creme brûlée for dessert along with espresso martinis.

We danced and shared emotional moments filled with joy and cheer. Throughout the day, evening and well into the night, the Ashford staff took care of our every need. Our after-party carried on into the morning hours giving us memories that will last a lifetime.

One last comment, the grounds are gorgeous - with photo opportunities in every direction.

We cannot thank Laura, Meghan, the chefs, the attendants, waitstaff, night-time personnel and everyone at the Ashford/Merrimakers enough. We wholeheartedly recommend this venue.

We had our wedding at The Ashford Estate on August 13th, 2022, and it was truly magical and perfect. Laura and the rest of the team at Ashford made it so easy to plan our dream wedding from the very start. Laura in particular is super prompt, so sweet and accommodating, and very organized. My husband and I are huge planners, so we appreciated that our main venue contact/coordinator was responsive, had a great attention to detail, and asked all the right questions (especially about all of the various, small things we didn't think of!). Laura is a pro whom you can trust!!

That being said, the rest of the staff at The Ashford Estate also deserves a huge shoutout! Many of my guests commented on how flawlessly the day unfolded, and that takes a whole team. The building night manager was extremely friendly and helpful, ensuring all of our guests made it home from the after party safely and that our guests (they can fit 24-26 total I believe) staying overnight at the venue were well taken care of and also made it home (heck, she was willing to drive one of our guests to the airport when his Uber kept canceling, but luckily one finally showed up). She and the rest of the staff also gathered all of our items neatly and made it easy to pack up our car- we definitely needed and appreciated the help! Last but not least in terms of staff were the bridal attendants!! I was given THREE attendants to cater to my every need, I truly felt like royalty. They went above and beyond.

Ok, now the venue itself. Have you seen the pictures?! It's absolutely gorgeous, and many of our guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they've ever been to- and I don't think they were just being nice! My husband and I originally thought we wanted to get married at a real historic estate, but quickly realized that many feel as old as they look, aren't used to hosting weddings, have a bunch of restrictions, and just weren't the best choice to ensure a spotless event. When we saw Ashford (the last venue we visited, actually), we knew it had the best of both worlds and was perfect for us- the look of an historic estate, the feel of a new/well-kept venue, and the expertise in planning and execution that comes with a purpose-built wedding venue. Additionally, we could get married in the barn chapel, which really is the original barn from the 1800s, adding that very nice touch of history. The grounds are very well landscaped and manicured, which made for amazing photos. They have 12 GORGEOUS rooms onsite for wedding party/parents/special guests, which was really fun, and there are lots of hotel options in nearby Hamilton for the rest of the guests. We loved that we could have our after party onsite in their library, which made it so easy to keep the festivities going until the early hours of the morning!

Last but not least, the food. Merri-Makers is the sole caterer for the venue, and let me just say that you wouldn't even want to consider anyone else, anyway, as they are FANTASTIC. My husband and I are huge foodies, and we think it's very important to provide our guests with high-quality food--and lots of it. Merri-Makers delivered, and then went above and beyond!! We had to warn our guests that there would indeed be a three-course meal after the cocktail hour, as we had eight buffet stations and 10 passed canapes, which is their standard! And it wasn't trashy buffet food, it was extremely high-quality (think huge, succulent bacon-wrapped scallops and handcrafted sushi rolls). The dinner was also excellent, and they let you customize the menu as you wish (e.g. I wanted nuts so our fish option was a pecan-encrusted halibut, which I HIGHLY recommend). We of course had a wedding cake (provided by Bakeworks- AMAZING), but Merri-Makers also provided "dessert canapes", such as heavenly carrot cake truffes, fruit tarts, and delicious brownies. We also opted to use their gelato station, which was just so cool and you need to see it to know what I mean! Food and drinks were served promptly, and my parents couldn't get over how amazing the waitstaff was--they constantly checked in, which I think elevates just a "great" dinner to an "excellent" one. Any request, dietary restriction, etc., they immediately and promptly responded to.

I could keep singing Ashford's praises, but don't just take my word for it- go visit!!

Choosing Ashford was perhaps the best decision we made in the entire wedding planning process. They made our dream wedding come true -- from customizing a fusion menu for us to meeting multiple times on every single little detail of the wedding, Laura and team treated us with such kindness and attention from the beginning that we are forever grateful. Not to mention, during the actual wedding weekend they took such good care of us -- I always had an attendant giving me water, helping me go from one thing to the next, and the Laura, Megan, and the entire team knew what was happening at every step. When things could have gone wrong, they stepped in and saved the day. Ashford was stunningly beautiful and the perfect place to get married with the best team :)

My son and his wife were married at The Ashford on June 3, 2022. It was one of the most exceptional experiences of my life. From the initial visit, to the chef's tasting, to the rehearsal to the wedding day, every moment was extraordinary. Their staff, from the office administrators to the servers, were genuinely kind and helpful and joyful. I felt like they were all part of our family! Thank you all for helping to make my son and his wife's wedding day one that will be cherished forever.

On behalf of Zach (my husband and I) and my family, the Ashford Estate was the BEST decision we could have possibly made. Our day was beautiful from start to finish. The attention to detail and the personalized care and treatment we received from The Ashford Estate staff cannot be matched. I would love to give a special thanks to Laura, Megan, Celeste, and so many others for making this experience so enjoyable-they genuinely make you feel like royalty. Our guests had a fantastic time and have told us it is one of the best weddings they have ever been to. It is all absolute perfection, from the food to the charming dairy barn, grand reception hall, magnificent guest suites, and grounds-to name some of the WONDERFUL THINGS about this venue; however, the list is endless—top-notch service and luxury. We will never forget this day-the most memorable experience. I 100 percent recommend The Ashford Estate- It will be the best day of your life!!!

My wedding day was literally the best day of my life. I can't thank them enough for all they did for me and my Bride. I will cherish this day forever.

The Ashford Estate is truly a fairytale wedding venue. It does not compare to others, the entire Estate is stunning beyond words and the staff are extraordinary.

Where do I even start!? Everything on my wedding day was a dream from start to finish. The grounds are gorgeous. The staff is unbelievable. People are still talking about the food. It really does not get any better than this!! Ashford team - thank you so much for making my wedding day...and all the days leading up to it so amazing and stress-free!!

WOW. I'm speechless. I want to thank Laura, Kelsey, Taylor, Lisa, Kim and SOOOO many more people for making my wedding dreams come true. I couldn't have dreamed of a better wedding. It was SOOOO perfect. The Ashford Estate team is truly the greatest. They are so attentive, loving, caring, special and beyond my expectations. I LOVED WORKING WITH THEM ALL.

WOW! What a fabulous wedding... the joy started and concluded with you at the helm and what a delight you have been throughout the entire process. Thank you for your delightful ways - your smiles, your ability to answer our many queries with kindness and ease, your thoughtful suggestions and guidance and, your amazing calm manner. Everything about working with you was truly wonderful. We are so appreciative of your professionalism and goodness.

The Ashford Estate is a truly magical setting for a wedding... We loved the barn for our ceremony, the beautiful room for our cocktail reception and the magnificent ballroom -- not to mention the amazing sleeping rooms. The food we enjoyed was delicious (although we wish we could have a rerun -- as you already are well aware, hosts don't seem to dine much at their own wedding). All of our guests say the food was terrific. Most importantly, everyone at the Ashford Estate - Kelsey, Lisa, Taylor, Kim (oh how I wish that everyones' names stayed in my brain) was lovely, kind, attentive and in command of the needs and wants of the bride, groom, wedding party, family and all of our guests. Thank you - two small words that we hope fully detail our appreciation.

We truly could not have asked for a better wedding and weekend -- we will ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND the Ashford Estate to everyone we know. Our night, our weekend was simply magical and our daughter and now new son had the best, most special evening of their lives thanks to all involved with the Ashford Estate. And, additionally, every vendor you recommended was an absolute pleasure and delight to work with as well.

Laura, thank you for making our wedding planning and wedding perfectly magical. We greatly appreciate your effort, your kindness and your talents.

We fell in love with the venue the second we drove through the big gated entrance, continued along the long driveway, and witnessed the magic of the barn chapel and estate. Exploring the grounds and the grand ballroom sealed the deal. We toured many venues and not one made us feel as though every single aspect of our big day was covered and well-thought out. Skepticism grew during our year-long wait after initially booking - could this really be as good as it sounds? Yes, Laura and Kelsey made it so. Every worry dissipated and any concerns were settled, always in a timely manner! Our guests have asked us if there is anything we would have done differenlty and we are one of the very few couples to say no, there wasn't. Our big day was nothing short of perfection (and we are the furthest from that normally!). Every single person on staff was incredibly friendly and attentive to us and all of our guests. We couldn't be more appreciative to our day of coordinators, Gianna and Justin, for making every moment special. Our two wonderful new friends Lisa and Taylor made sure we always had a drink in our hand, we were well fed, I never needed to hold my own dress, and that my husband's pants stayed up :). Every detail was executed with such warmth and care, and it showed all night long. "Best wedding ever" was ringing through the halls and we owe a big deal of that to the amazing staff at the Ashford Estate. The estate and grounds are beautiful, no one can ever argue that, but the people who work here make this the potential to be your dream venue.

My husband and I couldn’t have imagined getting married anywhere more beautiful and more perfect. The area, the grounds, the staff, everything was just simply divine! Working with Laura and Kelsey couldn’t have been any easier. Their professionalism and their attentiveness did not go unnoticed! They answered every email/call extremely fast. Even details of the wedding they helped to make our day extra special! Our bridal attendants were just amazing. They didn’t let my train hit the floor once while we were taking pictures on the grounds. I had a migraine, and within minutes she had come with a cup of coffee for me. I couldn’t even begin to tell you the compliments we’ve received saying it was the best wedding they’ve ever been to and the best wedding venue they’ve ever seen. If you’re thinking of getting married at Ashford Estate, you won’t regret it!

I really don’t even know how to start this review because I feel I’m going to get super emotional…The Ashford Estate is one of the most sought after venues to have your wedding for a reason, they are literally THE BEST IN THE BIZ! Laura, Kelsey, & Debbie are an absolute dream team to work with. Those 3 ladies are so incredibly genuine, amazing, and talented, there are just not enough thank yous I can give to them and everyone there. Every person who went to our wedding said it was the best and most fun wedding they had ever been to and I owe it all to them! The flow of the day was an absolute fairy tale, the food was delectable and sensational, and it really felt like our home for the whole day and night. If I could relive that day and night over a million times I would! Thank you Ashford Estate for everything, you are all simply wonderful!
Also, I cannot forget to thank my girls Taylor(Weather Vibes) and Alex(Bustle Queen) for helping me that day, you two were the best :)

I had my wedding at the Ashford Estate in September 2018. This venue is obviously stunning and immaculately maintained, but what you don't see in the photos is how PERFECT the staff is. Everyone, from Merri-makers to the cleaning crew to the bridal attendants, was professional and extremely competent. Kelsey, our coordinator, was super organized, kind, and responsive, no matter what time it was. She checked in with me throughout the night and was so energetic and sweet the whole time, even though she had probably seen hundreds of weddings in her years working at the Ashford. Laura and Debbie were a pleasure to work with during the planning process. My dozens of emails were always answered promptly and thoroughly. My bridal attendants, Lisa and Taylor (might have mis-remembered her name) were so incredibly kind and hardworking. They kept offering me water with a straw during photo sessions, held my veil, and offered umbrellas when it drizzled a bit. I didn't even know that I would have bridal attendants so they were a very pleasant surprise. Everyone raved about how fantastic the staff was and it really made all the difference. In addition, the grounds are spectacular and everything is kept meticulously clean. I can't imagine how hard it must be to keep everything so spotless when there are weddings every weekend. Everyone was so impressed at how many different beautiful areas the venue has, from the majestic gates to the barn chapel to the huge reception hall. Even the bathrooms are gorgeous. There are so many places to take amazing photos. The bedrooms are so luxurious. My guests said that they only wished they had enough time to explore every area. Decor-wise, it's great that the chapel is completely white on the inside so you can easily customize it to your color palette and design preferences. The venue also has plenty of easels (for signage) and tables you can borrow, which I didn't realize until the week before the wedding. They truly thought of everything.

By far the best place you will EVER get married. Period. Every single person that works there truly has a passion for making your day perfect! Laura is by far the nicest/most helpful person you will ever meet she made everything so smooth! The estate is breathtaking, every single guest was amazed by how perfect the grounds were (butterfly’s everywhere, flowers on point) The cocktail and reception rooms were set up absolutely perfect they really looked breathtaking. I have been to a lot of weddings and NONE were set up this nicely! If you get married anywhere else then get invited to a wedding at the Ashford you will truly regret not checking the place out! Honestly 100% best decision we ever made!

Where do I even begin? The moment I stepped foot at the Ashford Estate, I knew it was where I was going to get married. From day one, Laura was such a pleasure to work with and I felt completely at ease in all of my wedding planning. She was available for any questions I had and helped us plan our incredible event, down to every last detail. On the wedding day, there was not a single thing I would have changed. Kelsey did such an amazing job making sure everything went smoothly. Lisa was the BEST bridal attendant that exists (I truly believe that) - I don't think I could have gotten through the day without her. There is not enough to say about how perfect this venue is and I would recommend it to any couple who truly wants the dream wedding that everyone will talk about for years and years to come.

Having hosted our daughter’s wedding at the one-of-a-kind Ashford Estate,
we found the stunning elegance of this venue equal to the culinary expertise of Rick Bott and his Merrimakers team! These are wedding professionals deserving of your utmost confidence. There was attention to every detail of food quality, taste and presentation. All staff members had that intangible hospitality gene for serving guests with a generous spirit and dignity. These included the strolling servers, the bartenders, the wait staff, the early morning breakfast crew, the cleaning staff and the after party bartenders, to name a few. Laura, who was our main contact, was an absolute pleasure to work with and was an integral part of our decision to choose the Ashford Estate. She helped ease and simplify the decision making process and her recommendations were spot on. We found her confidence contagious and quickly felt comfortable to allow these amazing professionals do what they do best – make all the memory magic happen. Our hearts are grateful and full. It was the event of our dreams. Thank you Ashford Estate and Merrimakers!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!!!! From the moment we stepped out of the car we knew that the Ashford Estate was the venue for us. Throughout the course of wedding planning everyone was a dream to work with!
The grounds are stunning, the converted barn/chapel was a dream location for our ceremony, my bridal attendants: Taylor & Lisa were FABULOUS, as were Kelsey and Laura who helped us plan out every detail of the day! Did I mention that they were super patient and accommodating?! We had so many questions and never once did they get annoyed with us -- they graciously, and quickly, answered every question. This was the most perfect place for us to celebrate our marriage and we will forever be grateful for all that the Ashford provided us with.

Words cannot describe how exceptional The Ashford Estate is. From day 1 Laura was by our side for every step of the way, we truly could not have done it without her. She not only provided exceptional service, she is genuinely a very kind person who made us feel so special and cared for. Our wedding day we were treated like royalty by the entire staff making sure we had each and everything thing we needed. Making sure we were eating, drinking and enjoying ourselves. Our guests are still raving about the food, service and beautiful estate. We would recommend The Ashford Estate to anyone and wish we could do it all over again ??

We had my wedding reception at The Ashford in December 2016, and also had our wedding party stay at the house over night. We couldn't have been happier with all aspects including: the responsiveness from Laura, the on site coordinator between The Ashford and MerriMakers, and the day of coordinator, Gianna, who was incredibly flexible, kind, organized and gracious. CJ was also assigned to our wedding and stayed throughout the after party and was incredibly kind and helpful. The Ashford provided outstanding service at all points of the night - from welcome drinks, to cocktail hour, the reception and after party. Food and drinks at both the cocktail hour and the reception - including desert - were superb. We loved how flexible the caterers were with changes we wanted in order to personalize the menu options, and how Laura worked so closely with us and our other vendors in order to ensure that our vision for the space came to life. For example, we wanted to get creative with the floor plan, during both the cocktail hour and reception, and Laura and Gianna were more than happy to work with us. In addition, we wanted to personalize our after party menu that Ashford hosted and MerriMakers catered, and not only were they willing to do this, but we were extremely pleased with the amount and quality of food at the after party. We had a little over 250 guests at our wedding and it was a very comfortable fit. They also do an incredible job of making the bride and groom, as well as their families, enjoy every minute of the night by taking care of every "Behind the scene" moment and coordination the day of. The Ashford provides a bridal attendant who helps the bride with any and all individual needs upon arrival. Lisa was assigned to our wedding and she was so kind, thoughtful accommodating. Lastly, we found all of their vendor recommendations very reliable. We got our wedding cake vendor and florist through recommendation from Laura, and we were extremely happy.

My husband and I got married at the Ashford Estate and it was perfect ! As soon as I pulled in I knew that this is where my wedding would be. We had our wedding booked before we drove away that day, and it was one of the best decisions we made. Laura from Merri-Makers was so amazing throughout the whole process. They give you a list of preferred vendors and it is so helpful. The Studio Photographers, Magnolia, and Merri-makers all work together so well that I didn't even have to worry about anything leading up to my wedding day. We were able to customize our menu, and even had a special entree for my father and husband. One of my favorite parts of my wedding day though was having Kelsey, Taylor, and Lisa as my Maitre'd and bridal attendants. I felt like I was walking around with my best friends. I can't even say enough great things about just spending the day with them. The whole staff at Ashford and Merri-makers is like nothing I've ever experienced. They made me and my whole family so at ease and happy. I am forever grateful for having the opportunity to have my wedding at Ashford and creating the most amazing memories.