The James Ward Mansion Reviews
Reviews
4.7 out of 5 rating
4.7 out of 5 rating
27 Reviews
94% recommend it
Awards
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Alexis A. Sent on 05/29/2024
Our Art Deco Wedding at The James Ward Mansion
This venue was perfect for our intimate Art Deco wedding we had during memorial weekend. Most our vendors were recommended by James Ward and set-up was flawless day of our wedding and Anna was amazing she was with us all day and was super helpful with managing vendors.The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much for the wonderful review Alexis. It was a pleasure to work with you and we are thrilled you had such a special day. -
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Arielle R. Sent on 06/10/2024
The wedding of my dreams came true
My now husband found this place with a simple google search. After looking at photos I knew if we toured the venue this is where we would get married. I was right. We just got married 6.2.24 an our experience was spectacular.
The staff: Julie was great to work with when it came to booking, visits and scheduling my rehearsal. She was kind and knowledgeable when it came to answering my many questions, and she always did so in a timely fashion. On the day of Anna was on site to make sure everything ran smoothly and it did. I could not be more thankful for her!
The Venue: It was love at first sight. After booking Julie let us know the mansion would be undergoing some updates/changes from when I first toured and they came out amazing. The whole place is very bright and airy. I chose to have a day time wedding and the skylight in the cocktail room provided so much natural light for the best photos. Along with the large windows in the main space.
The bridal suite can easily accommodate a large bridal party. I had a very small one and it was the perfect spot for getting ready and the photos that come along with it. The groomsmen suit received an update and it is the PERFECT spot for the boys to lounge and get ready in. It feels very much like an upscale whisky/cigar lounge (according to my husband and his friends).
The venue is extremely budget friendly and honestly speaks for itself. This is perfect if you are looking to provide minimal décor. There is not a set caterer on staff but the venue does work closely with two (2) specific ones who were a pleasure to speak with while choosing the best option for us.
There are three (3) styles of events and due to our small guest count we were able to have a dance floor. I do recommend if you have 7-8 tables to request they remove one after dinner to create a larger floor.
All in all I had the wedding of my dreams here, it was everything I wanted and more. I will always recommend this Venue for Weddings, and other major celebrations.
Photo of main space: Natalie Marie Photography https://www.nataliemariephotog.com/menuThe James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much for writing such a wonderful review. It means the world to us. We loved working with you and your entire wedding party and we are delighted you had a day to remember. We wish you much love and hope you'll be back at the mansion again. -
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Natasha L. Sent on 11/11/2022The James Ward Mansion/ Bridgerton
If you are looking to have a micro wedding or smaller size wedding this is your place! My now husband and I always wanted a smaller wedding. We had a final guest count of 60 people, and this was the perfect venue of our dreams. Not to mention in our budget! It has that old vintage French/ Bridgerton vibe mixed with the atrium area out of a storybook. This venue is very responsive and will work with you. Also, the mansion staff for the wedding night were also amazing and incredibly helpful. The mansion has a few food vendors that you have to choose from which made it extremely easy for me being a first time planning a wedding. Also, they provide you a list of vendors that they have worked with and love. Everything was amazing and our wedding was magical!The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much Natasha. It was a pleasure to work with you and we wish you both a future of happiness together. -
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Jocelyn Sent on 03/20/2020Let Me Tell You About The Mesmerizing Mansion of Westfield
To say that our experience with The James Ward Mansion was excellent is an understatement. If you are looking for a venue that has an upscale feel with a romantic intimate touch this is the place for you. Not only is the mansion breath-taking, the people behind the business are even more wonderful. When my wedding got cancelled 22 days before the date due to corona virus protocols, The owners of the James Ward Mansion were the first to reach out and offer their assistance. Not only did they offer their venue, they assured us that they would help plan an entire wedding with us. They worked tirelessly with to recreate a whole new wedding with a new budget and because of their help our wedding was even better than the one we had originally planned. I can not speak their praise enough! Planning a wedding is extremely stressful to begin with, let alone having a massive wrench thrown into your plans. I have never felt more like family with their support and dedication to making sure our wedding was just as magical as we had been dreaming.The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you both. We are glad we were able to help you out. We can't wait to see you all again soon. Stay safe
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Casey B. Sent on 02/05/2020Stunning location!
The James Ward Mansion is a vision.
I cannot thank the Mansion's team enough for making our wedding reception memorable and simply gorgeous. The venue had our guests exploring and taking photos of every inch of the property. And if you plan on having young children attend your event, the upstairs rooms provided an excellent place for them to lay down and/or take a break from the event's festivities.
In addition to the glamorous interior of the Mansion, downtown Westfield, NJ provided an excellent backdrop for more photography locations.
I highly recommend the James Ward Mansion! -
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![Claudia]()
Claudia Sent on 12/10/2019Perfection!
We had our wedding here last month! It is truly an incredibly beautiful and unique space! We had the most perfect day. Julie was always quick to accommodate and answer any of my questions throughout the planning process, and Susie oversaw my wedding day from start to finish! She refreshed our rooms and kept the event space spotless. She even came in the following day (a Sunday) to help us retrieve some of our items from the reception! The James Ward made our wedding unforgettable. It was perfect. There is no other venue like it!The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much Claudia for choosing us for your special day. It was an absolute pleasure to work with you. Wishing you both many years of love and happiness together. -
![Rhonda]()
Rhonda Sent on 01/01/2019Elegance with pride
James Ward Mansion exemplifies elegance and the atmosphere exudes beauty and Julie is amazing with a style of classic professional pride.The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you so much Rhonda for your comments and feedback. We are so happy to hear you are happy! Thank you for choosing The James Ward Mansion. We hope you will always have wonderful memories of your day. -
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Dallas Sent on 08/25/2019Exceptional
Our family and friends can’t stop talking about how amazing and unique the James Ward Mansion is. Our wedding is described as the wedding of the year and one of the best experiences to be had. The personalized service and the intimacy of the venue is indescribable. Everything surpassed our expectation, from the mansion, to our caterer, the Ultimate Caterer and of course the Beauty Artist Group, who did my hair and makeup. I knew from the moment I saw the mansion online to visiting in person, we could not have made a better choice. If you want a beautiful, unique and an intimate setting that we leave your guest talking, the James Ward Mansion is your place. -
Liza P. Sent on 05/03/2020
Beautiful place
We loved this place! It’s a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding, and there are so many places to take pictures. Ceremony in the Ball Room, cocktail hour in the Atrium, upstairs for more photos, and reception back in the Ball Room. We had a smaller wedding (about 50), and there was plenty of space while not feeling it was empty. Dance floor is a decent size in front of the fireplace. We both got ready upstairs in the bedrooms, and there was plenty of room for everyone I needed there with me. It really sets the tone, and everyone told us how beautiful it was.
You rent the space for your event, and they have 3 caterers they use for events. They have other recommended vendors, but none are required. However, if you use the Beauty Artist Group, you can get in earlier without extra costs (and they were fantastic!) There is an elevator which you can access from the rear of the building, although it does not go to the top floor.
A few details were missed. There is an iPad available connected to their sound system, which we planned to use for part of the wedding. Unfortunately, this did not work the way it was planned, and nobody there was able to assist. Also, the front door was locked before the event. I had guests arrive early, and the door was locked again. Numerous times people were calling me and/or knocking loudly on the front door.
Overall, it’s a fantastic place, and we were thrilled to get married there. We would absolutely recommend it, just make sure to take care of those details that were missed for us. -
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Malka Sent on 04/24/2023
Georgie Venue
Absolutely loved having my sweet 16 here. The place was beautiful and in a great location. The DJ and catering in the lists they provided were so accommodating and lovely. This was perfect for a “small” party (I had about 35). I would recommend this place to anyone! -
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![Jackie]()
Jackie Sent on 06/15/2022Beautiful Venue for Smaller Parties Looking for a Relaxed Atmosphere!
The James Ward Mansion was a hit with our guests! It's great for smaller parties, and it's clean, classy, and one-of-a-kind in terms of ambiance. My family and I were especially impressed by the ballroom/dining area and the beautiful rooms upstairs where you could get ready for the party. We also liked that we had the whole venue to ourselves and that guests were free to move from room to room when they pleased. Julie was also amazing to work with and was very attentive to our needs and feedback.
Just a few things to be mindful of... this is not the most disability-friendly venue. There are quite a lot of stairs, and the service elevator in the back of building js older and can be difficult to find. If you have guests that need assistance going up and down stairs, it's best to keep tabs on when they will arrive, so you can tell them about the elevator and alert the mansion representative to work the elevator for them. Also, if you are bringing in food, party favors/decor, or any heavy equipment, you can't use the elevator to transport them, you have to use the stairs.
Moreover, since the venue is on a main street in a downtown area, its main entrance is accessible to whoever wants to enter from the street. Because the venue does not offer security for adult parties, it's easy for people to come in and crash the party if the door is not locked.
And although kids are welcome at the venue, it's not the most kid-friendly place. There are again lots of stairs and antique furnishings, so if you are having kids at your reception, make sure they are well-supervised and have things to do to keep them occupied. I think it's also important to mention that since the mansion is a historic building, the staff is very mindful of keeping the property well-maintained. Unfortunately, the mansion attendant at our party was hyper-vigilant in terms of keeping eyes on us and our children in order to make sure we weren't "damaging the property", so check in with Julie to see which attendant would work best for your guests/event and also confirm ahead of time which specific spaces are off-limits for you and your guests.
With all those things in mind, we would definitely consider having another event at the James Ward Mansion. It really is a hidden gem in New Jersey, and it photographs so well! If you want something that is different from the usual banquet hall, the mansion leaves a great impression and can give you a more tailored, relaxed, and intimate experience with your loved ones.The James Ward Mansion's reply:
Thank you for your review and feedback Jackie. We take all feedback on board and will always endeavour to improve. We hope you'll come back to the mansion again. It was a pleasure to work with you.
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Shakeria G. Sent on 03/01/2022Beautiful venue but....
I recently had my wedding at the mansion. And most of my communication up until that point was good. No issues, all of my questions and concerns was answered.
Now as we fast forward from two days before my wedding and the day off, I have gotten nothing but negative feedback from my vendors regarding the manager. Although I didn't experience this my vendors did. The manager was extremely rude to them... and although it was handled professionally it still left a bad taste In my mouth... I would be very reluctant to refer people to this venue if the persons working hands on needs a lesson in communication.
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![Yensy]()
Yensy B. Sent on 05/09/2021So regal !
What can I say, the venue is gorgeous! Anna and Julie were the BEST to work with. I love them so much. There were just a few slight issues the day of that my husband was put off a bit; he brought an equipment ( last minute decision as he is a photographer and had it already) that was not allowed to be used, which we understood and assured them we would not use it after learning this however, a staff requested it off the premise completely requesting my husband the morning of the wedding to leave the venue with it; he had explained that the limo just dropped him off and had no means to go back to the hotel to remove it and was ok with them putting it in a locked closet or anything else they needed to do, they did allow him to put it in the outside stairwell at the end as a compromise. They did have an event the following day and requested all decorations removed off the property that same night or before 7 am. Luckily my father in law volunteered to wake up at 6 am after the wedding day to pick up the decorations. The other minor issue was that some of the bathroom locks did not lock. Overall, it’s a fabulous venue, so regal and intimate. I would work with Julie and Anna 10000x more they made it perfect coordinating and communicating.
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