Love Letters

From pre-ceremony drinks in the garden, to a seamless indoor/outdoor cocktail hour, to a reception during which guests danced in the bay breeze, Mallard’s expansive premises & thoughtful layout left nothing to be desired. On our first visit, we were awed by how stunning it looked in the daylight. But the nighttime views – with a candle-lit chapel, moon-lit terrace & fire-lit garden – knocked our socks off.

Another draw was the bridal suite… just WOW! It’s an oasis with a separate salon space that housed hours of stress-free bridal prep. A blissful way to start the day, for sure! The guys found their perfect home in the Groom Shack: a rustic cabin nestled right on the bay. With drinks in their hands – and a view that inspired deep breaths & total serenity – their day-of vibes were certainly brought to life!

As avid foodies, we wanted to be sure that we fed our guests and fed them well! Based on overwhelming praise, we can say: Mission Accomplished! Scallops served in shells, tomahawk steak sliced on the spot, a locally-sourced raw bar, cacio e pepe, lobster rolls – and that’s just the cocktail hour! For 6 straight hours our group was met with a feast beyond their wildest dreams, all facilitated by the most wonderful & attentive staff.

Working with Gianna & Merri-Makers was a stellar experience. They are professionals, through-and-through! In the wedding lead-up, they offered helpful hints & checked in often to ensure major milestones were met. Once we selected our outside vendors, they coordinated logistics, ensuring we had as little to worry about on our Big Day as possible. Day of, their kindness & compassion made us feel calm & cared for and allowed us to focus on what mattered most: spending time with loved ones & getting married! We also can’t say enough about our attendants! When the bride’s feet needed a break, sneakers magically appeared under the sweetheart table. When the groom needed a drink, it was in his hand without asking. The same impeccable care was shown to our parents, family & friends. People make such an incredible effort to be with you on your wedding, and you want them to feel as loved and appreciated as you do. Merri-Makers can give a Master Class on how to do just that.

We also hosted our afterparty at Mallard! Oddly enough, it’s not too hard to encourage folks to have a few extra cocktails when the next stop is just downstairs! From arrival to departure, our guests were with us for 8 hours. To us, that’s the sign of a great party!

Our family stayed overnight at Mallard. When we awoke the next morning, all of our things were packed and ready to go: a fitting ending & further proof that, from start-to-finish, the service at Mallard is unparalleled. Special thanks to LouAnn, who took great care of our troupe and sent us off with the warmest wishes.

Whenever we’re asked about our wedding, we smile and say “it was the most perfect day.” We’re eternally grateful to the Mallard & Merri-Maker team for helping make it all happen.

Gorgeous venue, amazing staff, it truly felt so luxurious to be getting married there. I felt like a queen the whole day, anything I needed was immediately taken care of and they were consistently asking me if I was okay or needed anything.

Laura helped us thru our entire planning process and I couldn’t be more thankful for her. All the comments from our guests include something like “that was the most gorgeous venue” or “that venue was perfect” and they are so accurate.

If you are thinking about having your special day here, I absolutely recommend it.

Our extended family and friends raved about the food! Thank you to the whole catering team. 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!

All the logistics before the event were handled with such ease. Laura was attentive, relaxed, and excited for us, and made the planning as easy as the day was enjoyable. Cannot recommend this venue and caterer enough for any bride/groom, in any season!