Wells Reserve at Laudholm Reviews

Reviews

• Emily Sent on 07/08/2018
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Simply awesome. No place we looked at offered this combination of natural beauty, flexibility, capacity, value, and authentic character. Tracy and Mark were our primary points of contact, and they were a pleasure to work with and very welcoming. The facilities were simple and beautiful. Really good set-up for just about anything you want to do. The barn is incredible. Feels like a space that has a lot of history and still serves multiple purposes. Also great for dancing! We loved that Laudholm was not just a picture-perfect wedding venue, but is also a working, living community space and environmental research center. Glad to introduce our guests to this place and support its mission.

  Simply awesome. No place we looked at offered this combination of natural beauty, flexibility, capacity, value, and authentic character. Tracy and Mark were our primary points of contact, and they were a pleasure to work with and very welcoming. The facilities were simple and beautiful. Really good set-up for just about anything you want to do. The barn is incredible. Feels like a space that has a lot of history and still serves multiple purposes. Also great for dancing! We loved that Laudholm was not just a picture-perfect wedding venue, but is also a working, living community space and environmental research center. Glad to introduce our guests to this place and support its mission.
• Ashley Sent on 11/11/2014
  5 out of 5 rating

  5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  The landscape is absolutely breath-taking! A unique setting that offers a tranquil and intimate atmosphere - so perfect for a wedding. The possibilities are also endless (how to use the barn, farmhouse, ceremony space, tent, etc), and Tracy is wonderful to work with to help make all these fun decisions. The best and easiest decision of my wedding planning was choosing this venue!

  The landscape is absolutely breath-taking! A unique setting that offers a tranquil and intimate atmosphere - so perfect for a wedding. The possibilities are also endless (how to use the barn, farmhouse, ceremony space, tent, etc), and Tracy is wonderful to work with to help make all these fun decisions. The best and easiest decision of my wedding planning was choosing this venue!
• Luisa Sent on 10/13/2016
  4.9 out of 5 rating

  4.9
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Laudholm was the perfect place for our wedding on 10/8/16. We held all of our wedding weekend events there (welcome party, ceremony and reception, and Sunday send-off brunch) to get more bang for our buck. If you don't want to plan every detail yourself, I'd recommend looking elsewhere, as this venue is very DIY-oriented, but if you don't mind coordinating a lot of details and want a unique, BEAUTIFUL spot, this place is ideal. Tracy was very responsive to questions. If you plan to hold events there at night, make sure to bring some lighting. There are lights on the side of the barn, which light the footpaths surrounding the area, but the beams of light don't extend very far, so guests could be eating in the dark if you're doing something outdoors at night and you don't bring lighting.

  Laudholm was the perfect place for our wedding on 10/8/16. We held all of our wedding weekend events there (welcome party, ceremony and reception, and Sunday send-off brunch) to get more bang for our buck. If you don't want to plan every detail yourself, I'd recommend looking elsewhere, as this venue is very DIY-oriented, but if you don't mind coordinating a lot of details and want a unique, BEAUTIFUL spot, this place is ideal. Tracy was very responsive to questions. If you plan to hold events there at night, make sure to bring some lighting. There are lights on the side of the barn, which light the footpaths surrounding the area, but the beams of light don't extend very far, so guests could be eating in the dark if you're doing something outdoors at night and you don't bring lighting.
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  User1396980 Sent on 10/23/2013
  4.9 out of 5 rating

  4.9
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  We had a fantastic time at our Laudholm Farm wedding in October 2013. This is a great venue for anyone wanting complete control over their event. There is no wedding planner and no pre-set wedding. Instead it is the perfect blank canvas for a rustic Maine wedding. You get the farm for the full weekend, and the site fee probably isn't worth it unless you use it for multiple events (though we loved that the fees go towards maintaining the reserve). We had a Friday night pig roast, Saturday football game, ceremony and reception, and Sunday brunch - plus guests hiked around the grounds to check out the foliage - so we clearly used it to the max. The grounds manager went above and beyond to help us through the entire weekend - showing us where cool decorations were in the barn, helping set up heating for the tent, handling any electrical issues. There are endless options for ceremony sites and photo options. Basically, they let you do anything you want (within reason). And the barn is gorgeous.

  We had a fantastic time at our Laudholm Farm wedding in October 2013. This is a great venue for anyone wanting complete control over their event. There is no wedding planner and no pre-set wedding. Instead it is the perfect blank canvas for a rustic Maine wedding. You get the farm for the full weekend, and the site fee probably isn't worth it unless you use it for multiple events (though we loved that the fees go towards maintaining the reserve). We had a Friday night pig roast, Saturday football game, ceremony and reception, and Sunday brunch - plus guests hiked around the grounds to check out the foliage - so we clearly used it to the max. The grounds manager went above and beyond to help us through the entire weekend - showing us where cool decorations were in the barn, helping set up heating for the tent, handling any electrical issues. There are endless options for ceremony sites and photo options. Basically, they let you do anything you want (within reason). And the barn is gorgeous.
• Jess Sent on 10/19/2015
  4.8 out of 5 rating

  4.8
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
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    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5
  • Flexibility
    4.5 out of 5 rating
    4.5

  After looking at several barn venues in Southern Maine, my husband and I visited Laudholm Farm and instantly knew it was where we wanted to hold our wedding. The grounds are gorgeous - our guests loved milling about before the ceremony and during cocktail hour - and we chose to have our ceremony under the grand old beech tree. It makes such a statement on its own that we really didn't need additional decorations. At 140 guests, we chose to have dinner in a tent, and used the barn for dancing, a lounge, and the bar. PROS: The staff at Laudholm is great to work with and your venue fee supports an important mission; unlike most barns you have access to bathrooms and a kitchen prep area; music is allowed until 12:30 a.m. CONS: Like most barn venues, hidden costs abound with rentals -- you must bring in chairs, tables, catering equipment, etc. While the venue fee seemed cheap initially, we paid about 2x that amount in rentals. However, if I had to do it all again, I would absolutely choose Laudholm Farm. The setting is so picturesque, and I love that my husband and I can go back there whenever we want to walk the trails and reminisce.

  After looking at several barn venues in Southern Maine, my husband and I visited Laudholm Farm and instantly knew it was where we wanted to hold our wedding. The grounds are gorgeous - our guests loved milling about before the ceremony and during cocktail hour - and we chose to have our ceremony under the grand old beech tree. It makes such a statement on its own that we really didn't need additional decorations. At 140 guests, we chose to have dinner in a tent, and used the barn for dancing, a lounge, and the bar. PROS: The staff at Laudholm is great to work with and your venue fee supports an important mission; unlike most barns you have access to bathrooms and a kitchen prep area; music is allowed until 12:30 a.m. CONS: Like most barn venues, hidden costs abound with rentals -- you must bring in chairs, tables, catering equipment, etc. While the venue fee seemed cheap initially, we paid about 2x that amount in rentals. However, if I had to do it all again, I would absolutely choose Laudholm Farm. The setting is so picturesque, and I love that my husband and I can go back there whenever we want to walk the trails and reminisce.
• Jess Sent on 04/22/2016
  4.8 out of 5 rating

  4.8
  • Quality of service
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Average response time
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Professionalism
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0
  • Value
    4.0 out of 5 rating
    4.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  After looking at several barn venues in Southern Maine, my husband and I visited Laudholm Farm and instantly knew it was where we wanted to host our wedding. The grounds are gorgeous - our guests loved milling about before the ceremony and during cocktail hour - and we chose to have our ceremony under the grand old beech tree. It makes such a statement on its own that we really didn't need additional decorations. At 140 guests, we chose to have dinner in a tent, and used the barn for dancing, a lounge, and the bar.
  
  PROS: The staff at Laudholm is great to work with and your venue fee supports an important mission; unlike most barns you have access to bathrooms and a kitchen prep area; music is allowed until 12:30 a.m. CONS: Like most barn venues, hidden costs abound with rentals -- you must bring in chairs, tables, catering equipment, etc. While the venue fee seemed cheap initially, we paid about 2x the amount in rentals.
  
  If I had to do it all again, I would absolutely choose Laudholm Farm. The setting is so picturesque, and I love that my husband and I can go back there whenever we want to walk the trails and reminisce.

  After looking at several barn venues in Southern Maine, my husband and I visited Laudholm Farm and instantly knew it was where we wanted to host our wedding. The grounds are gorgeous - our guests loved milling about before the ceremony and during cocktail hour - and we chose to have our ceremony under the grand old beech tree. It makes such a statement on its own that we really didn't need additional decorations. At 140 guests, we chose to have dinner in a tent, and used the barn for dancing, a lounge, and the bar.
  
  PROS: The staff at Laudholm is great to work with and your venue fee supports an important mission; unlike most barns you have access to bathrooms and a kitchen prep area; music is allowed until 12:30 a.m. CONS: Like most barn venues, hidden costs abound with rentals -- you must bring in chairs, tables, catering equipment, etc. While the venue fee seemed cheap initially, we paid about 2x the amount in rentals.
  
  If I had to do it all again, I would absolutely choose Laudholm Farm. The setting is so picturesque, and I love that my husband and I can go back there whenever we want to walk the trails and reminisce.
• Megan Sent on 09/08/2009
  3.2 out of 5 rating

  3.2
  • Quality of service
    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
  • Average response time
    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
  • Professionalism
    3.0 out of 5 rating
    3.0
  • Value
    2.0 out of 5 rating
    2.0
  • Flexibility
    5.0 out of 5 rating
    5.0

  Having your wedding reception (or ceremony) at Laudholm is great but it is not for those who want someone else to take care of most of the details. The facility is beautiful and there are some nice things that will make it easier for your caterer (nice room for them to prep, big dumpsters, small permanent kitchen area) but it is very expensive for a "space" (even a remarkable space) and I found that Tracy Kay (who was doing the coordinating for us) was very nice but not as on top of things as I would like. It took many attempts to schedule a walk through with her, and information that I really could have used in June or July (our wedding was in August) I didn't get until the week before the wedding because she had not been able to make any other dates I tried to schedule (my schedule is difficult, too, I admit).
  She also did not have answers to questions that I thought were pretty standard (can I put wine bottles on the tables?) and instead of calling another caterer who works there frequently to ask (or at least I don't think she did that) she called the Maine State Liquor Board, and then told me I couldn't have ANY liquor at the reception unless it was purchased in Maine. Imagine how I was feeling after that conversation in early July (having already contracted to purchase several thousand dollars worth of wine from a friend, not in Maine). Anyhoo, that worked out. We just couldn't SELL wine at our reception, which was no problem since we had open bar. And we had the wine shipped to Maine (purchased on the internet - this is legal) to avoid the tricky purchase in Maine problem. Additionally, on the day of the tent set up, she seemed very frustrated that it took me 1/2 hour to call her back (I didn't think that was so bad, and my cell phone battery was dying due to constant use!) and some of her questions were exactly what we had discussed at the walk through. She had also promised to have some things put out or cleaned, etc., and none of that was done when we came on Friday pm or Saturday am.
  In general:
  The pros are that you get the space from noon on Friday until the afternoon on Sunday, so you can have an event there (like a rehearsal dinner) on Friday night and/or a breakfast Sunday am. The place is extremely beautiful. They are pretty relaxed and will let your guests walk around anywhere on the Reserve as long as they are not smoking. There is a lot of space for kids to run around if you are having kids. There is a lot of scope for imagination - you could probably transform it into anything with time and resources. We loved it for what it is, and we wanted the kind of atmosphere that it is (a house and a barn and really natural surroundings) so we didn't do a lot except for with lights.
  The negatives are no open flames (except under your tent) so you can't have a lot of candles or lanterns or citronella candles or anything like that you might be thinking about. We had a lot of mosquitoes (although it had rained that night). Unless you are having a very small wedding, you will need a tent, and then you have to use their tent provider - which is ok, but does limit your options. You need a lot of time/people/ and/or money to decorate since the tent providers don't really provide that service, so you need to do it yourself, or hire someone, or find a caterer who is willing to do it as part of their services - but then you will probably be paying a lot more for catering. We also ended up hiring a sound guy so we could have better sound in the tent (just for toasts, and some background music before the dinner), which was an unexpected (but definitely worth it!) expense. And we had to think about and make plans for all of those things - they did not provide a lot of guidance. It was generally our caterer or Day of Coordinator or a helpful friend who helped us think of some of these details. And, again, they charge quite a bit for the place. I originally thought we would be able to "make up" the money we spent here somewhere else, but I would advise against calculating your expenses that way - it probably won't work out!
  
  

  Having your wedding reception (or ceremony) at Laudholm is great but it is not for those who want someone else to take care of most of the details. The facility is beautiful and there are some nice things that will make it easier for your caterer (nice room for them to prep, big dumpsters, small permanent kitchen area) but it is very expensive for a "space" (even a remarkable space) and I found that Tracy Kay (who was doing the coordinating for us) was very nice but not as on top of things as I would like. It took many attempts to schedule a walk through with her, and information that I really could have used in June or July (our wedding was in August) I didn't get until the week before the wedding because she had not been able to make any other dates I tried to schedule (my schedule is difficult, too, I admit).
  She also did not have answers to questions that I thought were pretty standard (can I put wine bottles on the tables?) and instead of calling another caterer who works there frequently to ask (or at least I don't think she did that) she called the Maine State Liquor Board, and then told me I couldn't have ANY liquor at the reception unless it was purchased in Maine. Imagine how I was feeling after that conversation in early July (having already contracted to purchase several thousand dollars worth of wine from a friend, not in Maine). Anyhoo, that worked out. We just couldn't SELL wine at our reception, which was no problem since we had open bar. And we had the wine shipped to Maine (purchased on the internet - this is legal) to avoid the tricky purchase in Maine problem. Additionally, on the day of the tent set up, she seemed very frustrated that it took me 1/2 hour to call her back (I didn't think that was so bad, and my cell phone battery was dying due to constant use!) and some of her questions were exactly what we had discussed at the walk through. She had also promised to have some things put out or cleaned, etc., and none of that was done when we came on Friday pm or Saturday am.
  In general:
  The pros are that you get the space from noon on Friday until the afternoon on Sunday, so you can have an event there (like a rehearsal dinner) on Friday night and/or a breakfast Sunday am. The place is extremely beautiful. They are pretty relaxed and will let your guests walk around anywhere on the Reserve as long as they are not smoking. There is a lot of space for kids to run around if you are having kids. There is a lot of scope for imagination - you could probably transform it into anything with time and resources. We loved it for what it is, and we wanted the kind of atmosphere that it is (a house and a barn and really natural surroundings) so we didn't do a lot except for with lights.
  The negatives are no open flames (except under your tent) so you can't have a lot of candles or lanterns or citronella candles or anything like that you might be thinking about. We had a lot of mosquitoes (although it had rained that night). Unless you are having a very small wedding, you will need a tent, and then you have to use their tent provider - which is ok, but does limit your options. You need a lot of time/people/ and/or money to decorate since the tent providers don't really provide that service, so you need to do it yourself, or hire someone, or find a caterer who is willing to do it as part of their services - but then you will probably be paying a lot more for catering. We also ended up hiring a sound guy so we could have better sound in the tent (just for toasts, and some background music before the dinner), which was an unexpected (but definitely worth it!) expense. And we had to think about and make plans for all of those things - they did not provide a lot of guidance. It was generally our caterer or Day of Coordinator or a helpful friend who helped us think of some of these details. And, again, they charge quite a bit for the place. I originally thought we would be able to "make up" the money we spent here somewhere else, but I would advise against calculating your expenses that way - it probably won't work out!