The Cookery Reviews
Reviews
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![Danielle]()
Danielle Sent on 11/04/2025The perfect wedding venue!
What an amazing venue! Katie and all of The Cookery staff made us feel welcome and reassured, and they were incredible partners throughout the wedding planning process. In the lead up, we appreciated the staff’s vendor recommendations and guidance on the complimentary wine tasting. On the day before the wedding, Katie told us that at this point, there are only solutions, and we really appreciated that reminder, though we didn’t end up needing it – everything went flawlessly! The drinks at the bar were excellent – even my bartender friends were impressed. The space was beautiful, and our guests appreciated that they could mingle on the patio in between the front room and the ballroom. We are so glad we had our wedding here! -
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![Emma]()
Emma Sent on 07/22/2025Amazing Wedding Venue and Bar Service
We had our wedding at The Cookery on 5-24-25, and we could not have chosen a better venue! We loved having a space where we could have our ceremony outside, with the dinner and reception inside. We had about 100 guests in attendance and the space was perfect for being able to spread out throughout the evening. We also loved the aesthetic of the venue, and that it was such a beautiful space that was not in need of many extra decorations. From our initial tour to the big day, everyone we worked with there was extremely kind, helpful, and knowledgeable, and they all did everything they could to ensure we had a perfect day. Additionally, the venue's bar service was wonderful, and we loved being able to have so much say in the beer, wine, and signature cocktails being served. Overall, the venue and staff provided us with everything we needed to have the best day! -
Chase Sent on 10/19/2024
Amazing Venue!
We had our wedding ceremony and reception at the cookery. Very wonderful experience! The entire grounds is beautiful and great for pictures. Having a bar package and their recommendations for vendors took a ton of stress out of planning. Virginia was amazing and super helpful with all of our questions even on the day of the wedding! Everything went smooth and better than I could have imagined. Highly recommend!! -
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![Courtney]()
Courtney Sent on 01/24/2024A Perfect Blend of History and Hospitality
We recently celebrated our wedding at The Cookery, and we couldn't be more thrilled with our choice. From the moment we laid eyes on the historic building with its ties to the city of Durham, we knew it was the perfect setting for our special day. The ambiance created by the venue's historic significance added a touch of magic to our wedding day.
What truly sets The Cookery apart is the exceptional staff. From the initial stages of planning to the big day itself, the staff went above and beyond to make sure every detail was perfect. Their warmth and friendliness made us feel like we were among friends, and they extended the same hospitality to our guests. Communication was seamless, and their attention to our needs was commendable.
The flexibility of the multiple spaces within the venue allowed us to create the wedding of our dreams. Our guests were equally enamored with the versatility of the venue, praising its unique charm and inviting atmosphere.
We are grateful to the entire team at The Cookery for their dedication and commitment to making our day truly special. It exceeded our expectations in every way, and we wholeheartedly recommend it to couples seeking a one-of-a-kind wedding experience. -
![Kelsey]()
Kelsey Sent on 10/20/2019Loved having our wedding at the Cookery!
The Cookery had everything we wanted for our wedding. The main thing we loved about the venue was that there was a separate space for the ceremony, the cocktail hour, and the reception. While the venue was a dream come true, it really was the staff that made our night turn out so perfectly. Starting with Tammy, I felt like I could reach out to her about anything, big or small, without feeling like I was inconveniencing her. This was huge for me. Planning a wedding when you have not planned any large event before can be a bit scary and I felt very comfortable with the whole process knowing I had her support.
On the actual wedding day, the staff were amazing and so friendly. I felt like they went above and beyond. We really appreciated all that the staff did to keep things moving seamlessly. We had so many compliments about the space, it was a huge hit with the guests. I can honestly say that The Cookery as a venue coupled with the amazing staff, made all of our wedding dreams come true.
Photo Credit: Copper Key Photos
https://www.facebook.com/copperkeyphoto/ -
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![Tara]()
Tara Sent on 06/26/2019Book the cookery!
We had our wedding at the Cookery June 15, 2019 and it was the PERFECT day. The Cookery and their staff played such a big roll in making the day perfect. For the past year and half Juli answered my thousands of questions with quickly and kindly. I am event planner myself so my questions were very detailed and frequent and seriously Juli was so great dealing my with constant inquiries. She made sure my rental order matched the layout, helped navigate parking issues, recommended vendors, and so much more!
The venue itself is also amazing. We loved being able to have our ceremony in the garden area. We did decide to have a tent due to the heat and sun around 4:00 p.m. The ceremony still looked beautiful. Our guests loved just being able to go right to the cocktail area after the ceremony. We got so many compliments on the flow of the wedding, the beauty of the space, and the location.
BOOK THE COOKERY! -
![Lauren]()
Lauren Sent on 06/02/2019An excellent space with excellent service
Definitely go see the venue in person first if the location is a potential concern, once you're inside it's private and inviting. Having four distinct spaces gave us plenty of flexibility to deal with potential weather issues, while being able to create comfortable areas for all of our guests. The entire venue was beautiful and did not require much additional decoration to make it special. The team did a great job taking care of us and our guests, even incorporating small details from our design without prompting to make everything feel more cohesive. Tammy was on top of things from start to finish, communicating everything we needed to know during the planning process and being quick to answer any questions we had. -
![Sondi]()
Sondi Sent on 05/03/2019Fantastic to work with!
We absolutely LOVED working with Juli at the Cookery. She was professional, kind, supportive, and super super helpful. I can’t tell you how many times my fiancé and I said “how would we ever have done this without Juli?”! The Cookery makes the very daunting task of planning a wedding feel easy, and we are forever grateful for the role they played in ours. On the day of, the space worked out perfectly and the bartenders and drinks were amazing. Our guests had so much fun and felt totally taken care of, which is all we could’ve hoped for. Thank you to the whole Cookery team for everything!!! -
Caitlin Sent on 07/08/2018The Cookery was the only venue we saw and we booked it immediately and I’m so glad we did! We wanted something that strayed from the traditional, and the exposed brick walls and industrial feeling of The Cookery gave us all we wanted. We actually booked before the expansion, and we loved the venue even more after the expansion was finished. We actually worked closely with Juli first before transitioning over to Tammy so that Juli could focus on her own wedding. They were both very kind and responsive and easy to work with. We rented on a Tuesday afternoon which cut the cost substantially. I will say, others have said that the rental included dinnerware, but we didn’t have dinnerware included, we were referred to American Party Rentals. Tables, chairs, and glassware was included, though! We were also able to have our ceremony and reception in the same place, which was nice since our families drove 2 1/2 hours to come. We received many compliments on how gorgeous the venue is and there was ample space for our 50 guests. We had a dance floor and photobooth along with eight tables in the front room where we had our reception. Most ceremonies face the windows in the ballroom, but we opted to have ours facing the gorgeous archways and I loved it so much more. The bridal suite was also AMAZING — we had six bridesmaids, myself, a makeup artist, my mom, several friends moms, and more all in there at once at one point. There’s tons of room and gorgeous light and they actually gave us a complimentary bottle of champagne! Another perk is that the venue is so stunning that minimal decoration makes everything pop. We used beakers and flasks for flowers and it was simple and stunning. We adored The Cookery and would absolutely choose them again.
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![DesertPolarBear]()
Jennifer Sent on 01/15/2018Choosing the Cookery was a pretty easy decision - we were thrilled to have such an elegant venue in such a central location. We loved the glow of the market lights and immediately I could picture the reception in the Front Room. Since we booked, the added space (and especially the bridal suite) was a huge bonus and I can't imagine my day without that now. Tammy, the venue manager, is just incredible. She knows her stuff and is extremely high energy and from day one she was on top of our event process. I felt very safe in her hands. The venue looked like a dream on the day of and the intimacy of the Front Room made for a lively party. I am so thrilled with our choice and would recommend it to anyone looking for a downtown Durham venue! -
Kate Sent on 08/02/2018We had the most wonderful time having our wedding at The Cookery! It was the first venue we viewed last summer (even prior to the expansion) and we knew immediately it was exactly what we wanted. The expansion just adds to the venues beauty. We were lucky enough to work along side Juli who was there to respond to our every question at all times. She certainly made the process so much less stressful!!! Every corner of The Cookery is beautiful and left for amazing backdrops in photos. Our family and friends could not stop commenting on how gorgeous the venue was. My HUSBAND and I would choose The Cookery all over again! Thank you for making our big day so special!
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![Katie]()
Katie Sent on 04/20/2019Perfect from Venue Tour to Reception Send Off
Working with Juli and Tammy was a dream.
The venue tour not only showed the 4 amazing spaces, but the knowledge and story of the building's history really draws you in. They also have a PHENOMENAL bridal suite with leather couches, full length mirrors, champagne and so much space for getting ready. Two spaces are the front room and ballroom which both provide space for dinner, dancing, etc. and have great bars! The front room is attached to the kitchen so all food can be prepared on site (no hot trays needed), and the courtyard and garden space can host the ceremony, cocktails, or any space in between.
They coordinate catering and alcohol directly and it is priced through them - you choose from a preferred catering vendor list and varying alcohol packages - which really streamlined the process. When beginning to contract other vendors, every time we mentioned our venue the response was "Oh, we LOVE The Cookery".
Day of, Tammy kept water and champagne in the bridal suite, kept an eye over the vendors/set up and the entire day ran perfectly. We are still getting compliments about the gorgeous and unique venue. -
![Erin]()
Erin Sent on 01/03/2019Beautiful venue, easy to work with
We did a lot of research on venues in the Durham area before landing on The Cookery, and we are so glad that we did! We worked with Juli, who was responsive and flexible, and worked with us throughout the process to make our vision come to life! We loved having all of the separate spaces - an outdoor ceremony in the garden, dinner in the ballroom, dancing in the front room, and space in the courtyard for guests to step out for some fresh air. We had a band in the front room and the sound was excellent (it would have been too loud in the ballroom). I really liked that The Cookery took care of payments and delivery for Durham Catering Company and American Party Rentals. Your day of coordinator or planner will have to coordinate with the rest of your hired vendors. The only surprise we had was that there isn't a microphone for the sound system in the ballroom for toasts, so we had to pull our ceremony speakers and microphone inside, it wasn't a big deal but hopefully they upgrade that soon! All of our other expenses were clear from the start. The drink packages were excellent, he bridal suite was perfect for an 8 person wedding party, and there are so many beautiful backdrops for photos. We highly recommend this venue! -
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Laura Sent on 10/08/2018The Cookery was the perfect wedding venue for us! From the moment we toured, we fell in love with the beautiful event space. The Cookery has tons of charm, and we received many compliments from our guests. It's warm and inviting and has the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor space, which made our event even better because we had beautiful weather for late August. There was such a great flow between indoor/out.
We held both our ceremony and reception at The Cookery, and we were pleased with the various options for layout. We opted to have our ceremony inside facing the back, and it was a gorgeous backdrop. During planning, there was some confusion at times between what The Cookery provides (which tables, glassware, etc), as I think they had recently changed "the rules" and the website/marketing materials didn't always reflect the changes. They might still need to work out the kinks. That said, we had a wonderful wedding at The Cookery and are SO happy we chose it as our venue! -
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Hannah Sent on 10/22/2021
Versatile Venue with Beautiful and Unique Details
I recently had my wedding at The Cookery after having postponed from our original date in September of 2020. Throughout the rescheduling process, The Cookery was responsive to all communication from me and my wedding planner to make sure our new date was quickly secured. The entire Cookery team is extremely professional and well-organized.
In terms of aesthetic, The Cookery is beautiful. It offers several indoor and outdoor spaces, making the venue very multi-purpose (i.e., reception only, ceremony and reception etc.). The Cookery shines with an understated elegance and boasts a rich Durham history.
The Cookery works closely with several preferred catering vendors. Likewise, they use American Party Rentals for linen, tableware, tent etc. rental. While this arrangement makes choosing vendors easier, it does complicate payment. All charges are funneled through The Cookery, and combined with The Cookery's own fee, making it difficult to distinguish who is charging what. This was a minor inconvenience that often could be cleared up with just a few extra emails.
Overall, working with the team at The Cookery was a real pleasure and we were thrilled with how our wedding reception turned out. It truly is a stunning space and will be an excellent fit for any couple looking for a versatile venue with beautiful and unique details. -
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Hannah Sent on 09/04/2019
Professional service, classy space
My husband and I got married at the church across the street and had our wedding reception at The Cookery. When I was evaluating wedding venues, what I liked the most about The Cookery is the large space, the ambiance, and the customer service. For our party of 150 guests, this space was excellent. We used the front room for cocktail hour, dinner and dancing in the ballroom, and used the garden and bridal suite as additional spaces for folks to mingle. I can't imagine having our event in a smaller venue; it was very nice to have options and spaces for people to wonder. Secondly, the ambiance of The Cookery is very elegant and classy. We were able to save on decor because the event space itself is already very nice. Thirdly, the customer service experience from Juli, Tammy, and the entire staff was superb. They were very responsive, knowledgable, and were able to offer great suggestions based on their experience. Overall, I would recommend booking The Cookery for your event! -
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Nettie Sent on 12/28/2018
Beautiful Venue, Very Smooth Planning Process
This venue is wonderful! I toured the Cookery before the ballroom had been completed. When we walked through the space, the floor was still dirt and definitely a work in progress. Even then the space brought tears to my eyes! This venue has four main spaces that each provide a different feel for the guest. The Front Room incorporates items from Durham’s past and incorporates them for a revamped, industrial feel, and includes a mezzanine. The courtyard has a mural and is a cozy outdoor area that goes between two larger indoor spaces. The ballroom provides that formal feeling and the garden is a great area with greenery bordering the space. We utilized each of these spaces for our wedding: Front Room was used for cocktail hour and the reception, the courtyard for our dessert, the ballroom for dinner, and the garden for our ceremony. We really enjoyed being able to utilize each of these different spaces without requiring guests to drive from place to place. Throughout our planning process, the venue managers were responsive and helpful, always responding within one to two days to any questions or concerns we had. Our wedding ceremony and reception were great! The only problem we ran into occurred during cocktail hour: for nearly 20 minutes of the hour, the venue was playing a slideshow of photos of a different couple rather than the ones we had submitted. The manager on duty was unable to be located for that amount of time to correct the situation. If you choose to project a slideshow during your event here, I suggest trying to locate the manager on duty ahead of the start time on the day of your event to be sure the proper set of photos will be displayed! Other than that, we had a great event.
Photo credit for this review belongs to FireRose Photography. -
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![Hatten>Best]()
Mill Sent on 08/22/2015Tammy @The Cookery ROCKS!! She is very professional and informative about her work. She is pleasant and always responsive. My future husband and I have enjoyed our exchanges with her so far and know she will make our day that more special for us when the time comes.
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