That being said, the rest of the staff at Ashford also deserves a huge shoutout! Many of my guests commented on how flawlessly the day unfolded, and that takes a whole team. The night manager was extremely friendly and helpful, ensuring all of our guests made it home from the after party safely and that our guests staying overnight at the venue were well taken care of (she was willing to drive one of our guests to the airport when his Uber kept canceling, even). She and the rest of the staff also gathered our items neatly and made it easy to pack up our car- we definitely needed 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 felt like royalty. They went above and beyond.

Ok, now the venue itself. It’s absolutely gorgeous, and many of our guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they’ve ever been to- I don’t think they were just being nice! We 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, and just weren’t the best choice to ensure a stress-less event. When we saw Ashford, 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 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 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. 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 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 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 scallops and handcrafted sushi rolls). The dinner was also excellent, and they let you customize the menu as you wish. We of course had a wedding cake (provided by Bakeworks- AMAZING), but Merri-Makers also provided “dessert canapes”, such as heavenly carrot cake truffes and fruit tarts. Food and drinks were served promptly. 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.

Don’t just take my word for it- go visit!