Bretton Woods Recreation Center Reviews
Reviews
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![David]()
David Sent on 11/21/2019It was truly a dream wedding
Let me first say that Phillip Grossman, who was our main point of contact, was a very fine gentleman who seemed as excited for our wedding as we were. What I loved about Phil and the team was that their effort to make us feel comfortable was more of a priority to them than the payments. We felt cared for and any reasonable request was always a "yes" to them.
We held both of our ceremony and reception indoors in their beautiful main hall. With an hour of cocktail hour to flip the ceremony room to a reception, the staff worked professionally and quickly to accommodate a 150 guest party. Every staff had a friendly smile, and everyone made sure we were worry-free.
Most importantly, the amazing food. Portion and quality of food is always a worry in any wedding. And I've attended plenty of weddings where food was an issue. Some places are even inconsistent in the quality and quantity of food during the tasting session vs the wedding day. But BW was phenomenal. Food tasted great, quantity was very generous, waiters were quick with passing out the plates, and presentation was great! We had three hors d'oeuvres during the cocktail hour and the guests expressed how delicious they were and the staff even saved us a plate to try at the dinner! Every action and decision made by the staff were thought out thoroughly to best serve us and the guests.
Pictures on websites don't quite do justice. I really recommend you going and seeing the venue in person. From the amount of natural light in the main hall, to the secondary room you can use (we set up our photobooth there), to the beautiful patio outdoor with a fireplace was all breathtaking. I highly recommend Bretton Woods. Contact Phil Grossman to get the best experience! -
![Laura]()
Laura Sent on 09/24/2022Absolutely best
The whole team was very responsive and quick at fixing little issues we had with the other vendors. The location and views made the whole event unforgettable to all our guests. -
![Blanca]()
Blanca Sent on 06/22/2021The perfect venue!
We are so happy we chose Bretton Woods for our wedding! Our experience with Bretton Woods was great from beginning to end. From the first time we walked into the venue for a tour it stood out to us in a very unique way no other venue could. From the amazing staff members, to the beautiful grounds and the many options and flexibility, it was everything we needed. But most of all the staff members. Everyone there is so nice and very professional! We had the pleasure of working with Phillip throughout our wedding process and he was AMAZING! Very responsive, very helpful and very knowledgeable. He was there to help us from the start and even on our wedding day. We got to meet with Billy as well who was very helpful and welcoming. On our wedding day all of our guest were talking about how great and attentive the waitstaff and bartenders were. Our wedding day felt like a breeze, thanks to all of their help. My husband and I literally just showed up and enjoyed our ceremony and reception. We had so much fun and wish we could do it all over again! Thank you Bretton Woods for the beautiful memories you have created for us :) -
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![Kellie]()
Kellie Sent on 08/03/2020Our wedding wouldn’t have happened without Bretton Woods
We got married during the COVID-19 crisis. The staff at Bretton Woods worked with us through every single change that came our way. From changing our date, reconfiguring our guest count, figuring out whether to have our celebration indoors or outdoors, getting our cake delivered that didn’t show up in time, the staff was there for us in every single detail. We don’t have the words to express our gratitude for their patience, responsiveness, and helpfulness during our crazy wedding process. We love Bretton Woods and give them the highest recommendation to anyone who is looking to get married at a stunning venue. -
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![Claudia]()
Claudia Sent on 06/20/2020Beautiful venue, great service!
From the beginning to the end, Bretton Wood staff was so helpful and professional. There was a change in staff which made communication slow for over a month, but other than, we have no complaints. Our day was so fun and special! Highly recommended. -
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![Kanto]()
Kanto Sent on 12/31/2018Made our day very special with their service
Bretton Woods is a beautiful venue that we fell in love with for our civil wedding events. The staff was very responsive and helpful from the start with accommodating our needs and overall service really showed that they wanted to make our day unforgettable. Megan, the catering coordinator, made sure to meet with us whenever we were back in town to check on important details and Brittney was super patient and helpful during the coordination of the wedding day itself. We had the option to have our ceremony outside on the patio and the reception inside the Potomac ballroom. We would definitely recommend this venue to other couples who are looking for an intimate, beautiful place with amazing views! -
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![Amanda]()
Amanda Sent on 11/12/2018Great venue
My husband and I are so glad we held our wedding at Bretton Woods. From the very beginning, Brittney and Megan were wonderful to work with. They let us come to the venue multiple times before we even booked, were very responsive to my many emails of questions, and went above and beyond the day of the wedding. They even accommodated changing the ceremony location just a few hours before the wedding, and set up the ceremony decor so that we had plenty of time to get ready despite the last minute change. So many of our guests mentioned how beautiful the location was and how delicious the food was. We loved the food during the tasting, but it tasted even better at the wedding (and yes, they made sure my husband and I actually got to eat at our reception!). Everyone we interacted with from Bretton Woods was courteous, helpful, and professional. We highly recommend Bretton Woods! -
Jaimie Sent on 08/20/2018Had my wedding at Bretton Woods this late July. It is such a beautiful and affordable venue. The outdoor area is gorgeous but the main room is also beautiful with huge windows and plenty of natural light. A true hidden gem!!
My guests could not stop raving about the amazing food catered through them also. I owe many thanks to Brittney and Megan for being so accomedating and helpful before and during my special day! -
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![timeka]()
Timeka Sent on 07/16/2017My day was absolutely amazing!!! Let me start off by saying Megan was the best from the very beginning to the very end. My husband and I live in NY, but when it came time to look at venues we both agreed that we wanted to find a venue in my home state which is Maryland, of course. We spent a week in Maryland looking at wedding locations. Bretton Woods was our last stop and from the moment we pulled in to the moment we left we could not stop talking about how perfect it was. As soon as we got back to NY we called and booked with Megan. I never had to wait for her to respond to an email and she even offered phone calls so that it would be easier to discuss things in more details. She went above and beyond when it came to helping us customize our buffet menu to fit the taste of both of our families and let me say that the food is amazing to the point our guest were still talking about it weeks after our wedding. The staff was so helpful on the day of our wedding and making sure the day ran as smooth as possible. My girls and I arrived early to get hair and make up done and they made sure we were comfortable and anything that we needed, they were right on top of it throughout the whole night. Things were being done before I even had to ask. If you are looking for a space where you can get your needs met to have your perfect day, Bretton Woods is definitely the place for you. You don't have to worry about meeting a minimum when it comes to food or alcohol and as a bride who tried to stick to a budget, that was so helpful. We got to create an amazing menu with plenty of choices and a full bar. Between the gorgeous ceremony setting on the lawn, to our cocktail hour on the beautiful patio and a great reception space in the ballroom with the huge windows, our guest loved the venue as much as we did. It was gorgeous and picture perfect. Thank you Bretton Woods for helping us to have the best day ever!! -
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 12/31/2016We absolutely loved having our wedding reception at Bretton Woods! The staff was so friendly and truly went above and beyond for us. I had lots of questions and sent many emails for about a year before our wedding. Megan was especially patient and helpful with me. I was able to visit the ballroom with vendors and family several times to scope things out and plan. Before the wedding, we had a wonderful evening where we met the manager and the chef and were able to try appetizers and entrees. The food was so yummy and we were happy to hear every attempt was made to use local products. We had several people with dietary restrictions and allergies attending the wedding, the chef made sure it was not a problem and the food was safe for them to eat.
Our reception was on November 11th. Cocktail Hour started at 4 PM, an hour before the sunset and it was magnificent. The sun set just outside the wall of windows, it was a perfect backdrop and start to a wonderful evening. The ballroom is a beautiful room with a breathtaking view. You have to see it to truly appreciate it. (I wish I could post pics.) Our guests had a fantastic time. They told us the bartender and waitstaff were great, very attentive and helpful. The grounds are immaculate, very clean and so well taken care of.
We looked at about 100 other local venues. We appreciated the transparency of BW's prices. A lot of other venues sell packages (like $15 per person for beverages), BW charges for what is consumed and you pay for that after the party. It was a little scary budgeting for that, as we had no idea how much people would consume but it actually worked out to be more cost effective. We appreciated the options for food and drink. Our guests really liked the batch cocktail!
BW did a great job setting the room and tables, it was exactly how we wanted it. Bretton Woods is a great value and makes for a beautiful place to have a great time! -
![Katty]()
Katty Sent on 11/13/2014Our wedding day couldn't have been more perfect at Bretton Woods Country Club. Clubhouse manager, Kevin Kozak, is absolutely wonderful, helpful and delightful to work with. I cannot speak highly enough of Kevin and his staff. Kevin was very professional and responsive and he offered great ideas and suggestions which made wedding planning a lot easier and much less stressful. The grounds of the venue and golf course are absolutely beautiful for an outdoor wedding. There are two gorgeous backdrops that provide just the perfect setting for an outdoor ceremony. You can choose to say your “I Do’s” under a pair of gorgeous trees or in front of a pond overlooking the golf course. We chose to have our ceremony under the trees and it was absolutely beautiful. Unlike most hotel ballrooms which are boring, simple and lack that extra oomph, the Potomac Ballroom at BWRC offers a different experience for your reception; it has cathedral ceilings, large windows overlooking the golf course, decorative ledges and a fireplace with a mantle. We were SO glad to have found a venue that offered beautiful grounds, spectacular views, and excellent service at a reasonable price. The venue is a little tucked in but accessible to major highways. It is off 495N on River Road (190) and just about 45 minutes from the DC/Northern VA area.
We continue to receive several compliments from our guests about how excellent everything was; from the venue, the décor, the flowers, the service, and the food. We chose to have a sit-down dinner and hors d'oeuvre passed during cocktail hour. We served the semi-boned chicken breast with roasted potatoes and asparagus to our guests for dinner and it was delicious. All in all it was a wonderful experience. My husband and I have nothing but positive things to say about Bretton Woods and manager Kevin Kozak. Please do yourself a favor and make sure you check out this venue when planning your wedding. Highly recommended!
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![Jamie]()
Jamie Sent on 06/30/2011We used Bretton Woods for our wedding reception and were thrilled.
First, their event coordinate, Kevin Kozak, was such a joy to work with. He took care of every detail and thought of so many ways we could personalize our reception and cocktail hour. The day of our event, I had no worries about the reception knowing that Kevin had it all in control, and he came through- the night was amazing.
The food at Bretton Woods is fantastic. I had so many guests commenting on how good the passed hors d'oeuvres and dinners were. Kevin special ordered in the liquor to create a signature cocktail to offer our guests, which really gave the night even more of a personal touch.
The value at Bretton Woods was fantastic for the DC area. I feel the service and quality of food/alcohol we received was unlike what we could have gotten for our money at any other venue in the area.
The ballroom at Bretton Woods was renovated in 2010 and is a beautiful setting for a "country club" wedding. The ballroom has floor to ceiling windows that look out over the golf course and there is deck off the ballroom where guests can sit and relax whiling enjoying the views.
I really cant say enough good things about Bretton Woods. I would HIGHLY recommend this venue to other brides! -
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 11/27/2007Bretton Woods is a hidden treasure for those seeking a wedding venue! You would never find the place searching online for venues. We heard about it by word of mouth (from a friend that had been to another wedding there).
We were sold after taking one look at the ballroom! It is open, with floor to ceiling windows and the placement of the dancefloor is ideal - right in the center of the room. There is not a bad seat in the house for guests watching the first dance, cake cutting etc! The room just has warm glow and creates a beautiful setting.
The food quality is very good. We wanted to do something different, and served a family style BBQ as a tribute to my Texas roots. Let me just say that it was the most attractive presentation I have EVER seen for BBQ. It was done in a very classy way and tasted fantastic! Many of guests complimented us on the quality of the meal. The Bretton Woods staff was very open to our request for BBQ, even though it wasn't on their standard wedding menu. They embraced the idea and helped us present a casual meal in a wonderful way, allowing us to keep the formal feel of the reception.
Aki, the manager, is great to work with. He has many years experience and offers his expertise and ideas when you ask. He has done this hundreds of times and it shows! Prices for facility rental and meals are very competitive. Actually, Bretton Woods offered the best pricing of all the venues we looked at - and the quality was outstanding.
We highly recommend this venue! -
![Halley]()
Halley Sent on 10/27/2020COVID didn’t stop us
Of course when we first selected Bretton as our wedding venue, we had no idea that we’d be planning a wedding in the middle of a pandemic. Throughout the entire process, Bretton never missed a beat. Phill was flexible and always responsive. The food was AMAZING and everyone had a blast. I would recommend having a day of coordinator to ensure that everything is exactly the way you want it. Phill and my day of coordinator worked well as a team to ensure everything was perfect. -
![Shannon]()
Shannon Sent on 06/23/2019Great venue, need better communication
I had a mostly great experience working with Bretton Woods. The day of my wedding went off flawlessly, with many staff members going out of their way to take care of us and polite and quick services throughout the day. The venue is beautiful and the food is amazing. Unfortunately, there was tremendous turnover leading up to my wedding. While I understand that this occurs in this industry, the communication during these transitions was poor and often non-existent. I had to make several calls only to be told that whoever I was previously working with no longer worked there. My day-of coordinator at the venue was not responsive leading up to the week of my wedding, which led my own coordinator and my mother to have to track her down repeatedly over email and phone. There was also multitudes of confusion regarding my menu and bar choices, as their packages changed and the paper copy I was given did not match the PDF file I was later sent. Due to the turnover I was also not given a final quote before we were billed after the wedding. In the end, my day was smooth, and the management was extremely accommodating and understanding when I reported errors in my bill and miscommunications prior to the day. I'm hoping that after my experience they have learned a lesson on how to properly communicate during times of turnover, as the venue is beautiful and there are so many positive things that came out of it.
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