The Ashford Estate by Merri-Makers

The Ashford was a dream venue. It was like something out of a fairytale! You absolutely do not need to hire a wedding planner or day of/month of coordinator if you are getting married at the Ashford Estate. They were incredibly detail oriented and professional throughout the entire planning process, I had two maître ds and two bridal attendants on the day of the wedding. Every last detail was perfect and I did not have to worry about a thing on my big day. I can’t speak highly enough of the staff, they were incredible. The grounds looked absolutely perfect, they coordinated with all of my vendors, the food was spectacular and my guests had an incredible time. Staying overnight at the Ashford was amazing, the rooms are spectacular.

Having photographed over countless weddings at Ashford Estate, and being on their preferred vendor list for many years, I can honestly say this venue is absolutely stunning! I love how the natural light pours in through the windows, and the outdoor spaces are a dream to shoot in, especially during golden hour. If you’re looking for a venue that combines timeless elegance with a peaceful, private setting, Ashford Estate is the place. I always look forward to capturing love stories here!

I’ve heard people say it’s more fun to be the guest as your wedding than it is to be the bride and groom, and I disagree. The team at the Ashford Estate all made it feel like we could really be “guests” and party and enjoy the celebration like our guests could. Everyone was so attentive to my husband and me. We felt special and cared for the whole night! My parents did as well.

Our extended family and friends raved about the food! 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!

The logistics were easy, any changes were welcomed with open arms, and Laura and the team made it stress-free. Anything we asked about / requested was returned with a "no problem" response. Absolutely would recommend this venue to any bride/groom, in any season!

I have dreamt of having an elegant, extravagant, and memorable wedding my entire life. The Ashford Estate made all my dreams come true--and then some! We looked at dozens of wedding venues around NJ and NY, but none even came close to the magnificence of this estate. The grounds are stunning and perfectly maintained. The food (which is customized however you like) was nothing short of exquisite. The staff goes so far above any other venue I have ever seen--they attend to each tiny detail, coordinate with every vendor, and are a complete joy to work with. To say the Ashford Estate is exceptional is, quite honestly, an understatement. We love this venue, and could not recommend them more highly. Thank you, Laura, Debbie & team!

After looking at 10+ venues all around NJ & NY, not a single one came close in comparison to the Ashford Estate. Yes, this was the most expensive venue we were considering - but every dollar more we paid to have our wedding here was worth it 100x over.
The moment you drive through the wrought iron gates at the base of the driveway, you are no longer in NJ - you have been transported to the European countryside. The property is massive and immaculate. There isn't a single part of the entire property that you think to yourself "ehhh" - truly every corner is magical. And it just keeps on going! The main estate is beyond what words can capture; it's unreal. We had our parents and wedding party stay there the night of the wedding and it was freaking awesome. Every one of our guests couldn't get over how spectacular it was and said they'd never been to a place like that before (nor knew a place like that even existed in NJ...).
The staff at the Ashford is elite. Laura McCann is truly phenomenal. She was amazing to my husband & I in the very beginning as we finalized our date and throughout the entire planning process. She is a professional to the very end and also just a super lovely person. She made everything as easy and stress-free as it could have possibly been - from guiding us through the decision-making process for our reception to coordinating with our vendors on our behalf to making sure everything was falling into place the day of the wedding. I am beyond grateful for Laura. Her co-hort, Debbie, is also great - very responsive, pleasant, and helpful always.
Merri-Makers, the exclusive caterer of the Ashford, was fantastic. Their food is off-the-charts good. I didn't try a single thing at the chef's tasting or at our wedding that was mediocre - everything was superb. Ridiculously fresh seafood, thoughtfully curated cocktail hour stations, and top notch entrees. The wait staff service was outstanding throughout the evening - it felt like we were at a gala or some super high-end event.
I can't rave enough about the Ashford Estate. You will be working with the best of the best if you get married here. And speaking from experience, if you are on the fence with choosing the Ashford as your venue because of the price - know that it is so exquisite that you don't have to spend a single dollar on decor (other than your flowers, which don't have to be crazy) to make this place special - it does that all on its own. No doubt it is a financial commitment (especially if you're paying for it on your own, like my husband & I did), but I promise it is worth every single dollar.
One other suggestion I would like to pay forward to future Ashford brides & grooms is to use the estate's preferred vendors. They are the "A Team" and will execute the wedding of your dreams flawlessly without bothering you whatsoever leading up to and on your wedding day, which is invaluable if you ask me.

There are no words to explain how incredible the Ashford estate is! They made our wedding beyond incredible, the food, the atmosphere and the service was perfection, we would highly recommend this venue!

Choosing Ashford was perhaps the best decision we made in the entire wedding planning process. They made our dream wedding come true -- from customizing a fusion menu for us to meeting multiple times on every single little detail of the wedding, Laura and team treated us with such kindness and attention from the beginning that we are forever grateful. Not to mention, during the actual wedding weekend they took such good care of us -- I always had an attendant giving me water, helping me go from one thing to the next, and the Laura, Megan, and the entire team knew what was happening at every step. When things could have gone wrong, they stepped in and saved the day. Ashford was stunningly beautiful and the perfect place to get married with the best team :)

Everything was pure perfection. From the very first visit everyone and everything about the Ashford was fantastic! Nothing but professionalism and a true appreciation for making each wedding day special. We visited the venue many times and emailed Laura many questions but she and the staff are all amazing! Shoutout to Megan and Taylor for all of your support as well! If any bride out there is considering this venue you and your guests will not be disappointed! Multiple guests said it was the best wedding they had been to and the venue was THE factor in those comments. The day was magical and I only wish there were more hours in the day to enjoy the venue!

My daughter and son-in-law were married at the Ashford Estate Saturday, September 10, 2022. We selected this venue in January 2021 and had 18 months of anticipation. Our decision was made when we met Laura, who was down-to-earth, warm, and easy to talk to. To be surrounded by elegance and yet a level of humility was so inviting. We visited the venue two more times in the winter/spring. Each time we found the setting stunning, and the people friendly and accommodating.

Our September wedding was beyond what we could have imagined. Laura and the entire staff went above and beyond to make an enchanting wedding. We had 211 guests with 20 children ranging from 11 months up. Meghan served as maitre'd and ran the event smoothly with attention to every detail.

Our daughter had bridal attendants that looked after her every need and pampered her from noon to night. Meghan organized the procession into the chapel like clockwork, not an easy task with 9 bridesmaids, 4 flower girls, and 3 ring bearers.

The staff moved the wedding party and guests through a tight schedule with photographs, cocktails, and reception seamlessly. We never felt hurried, and yet the day unfolded perfectly.

The food was outstanding. As a vegetarian, I was doubly pleased that Merri-makers offered a wide variety of choices for all diets. The cocktail hour had creative station choices including all of the usual options but also a ramen bar and lobster rolls. Our guests could choose from ravioli, salmon and beef at the reception. The vegetarian option, ravioli with wild mushroom sauce, was delicious. Our guests raved about the salmon and beef as well. We had passed ice cream sandwiches and a gelato bar along with cake and creme brûlée for dessert along with espresso martinis.

We danced and shared emotional moments filled with joy and cheer. Throughout the day, evening and well into the night, the Ashford staff took care of our every need. Our after-party carried on into the morning hours giving us memories that will last a lifetime.

One last comment, the grounds are gorgeous - with photo opportunities in every direction.

We cannot thank Laura, Meghan, the chefs, the attendants, waitstaff, night-time personnel and everyone at the Ashford/Merrimakers enough. We wholeheartedly recommend this venue.

We had our wedding at The Ashford Estate on August 13th, 2022, and it was truly magical and perfect. Laura and the rest of the team at Ashford made it so easy to plan our dream wedding from the very start. Laura in particular is super prompt, so sweet and accommodating, and very organized. My husband and I are huge planners, so we appreciated that our main venue contact/coordinator was responsive, had a great attention to detail, and asked all the right questions (especially about all of the various, small things we didn't think of!). Laura is a pro whom you can trust!!

That being said, the rest of the staff at The Ashford Estate also deserves a huge shoutout! Many of my guests commented on how flawlessly the day unfolded, and that takes a whole team. The building night manager was extremely friendly and helpful, ensuring all of our guests made it home from the after party safely and that our guests (they can fit 24-26 total I believe) staying overnight at the venue were well taken care of and also made it home (heck, she was willing to drive one of our guests to the airport when his Uber kept canceling, but luckily one finally showed up). She and the rest of the staff also gathered all of our items neatly and made it easy to pack up our car- we definitely needed and appreciated 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 truly felt like royalty. They went above and beyond.

Ok, now the venue itself. Have you seen the pictures?! It's absolutely gorgeous, and many of our guests said it was the most beautiful wedding they've ever been to- and I don't think they were just being nice! My husband and I 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, have a bunch of restrictions, and just weren't the best choice to ensure a spotless event. When we saw Ashford (the last venue we visited, actually), 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/well-kept 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 very 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/special guests, which was really fun, and there are lots of hotel options in nearby Hamilton for the rest of the guests. 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 let me just say that you wouldn't even want to consider anyone else, anyway, as 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 indeed 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 bacon-wrapped scallops and handcrafted sushi rolls). The dinner was also excellent, and they let you customize the menu as you wish (e.g. I wanted nuts so our fish option was a pecan-encrusted halibut, which I HIGHLY recommend). We of course had a wedding cake (provided by Bakeworks- AMAZING), but Merri-Makers also provided "dessert canapes", such as heavenly carrot cake truffes, fruit tarts, and delicious brownies. We also opted to use their gelato station, which was just so cool and you need to see it to know what I mean! Food and drinks were served promptly, and 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. Any request, dietary restriction, etc., they immediately and promptly responded to.

I could keep singing Ashford's praises, but don't just take my word for it- go visit!!