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Weddings

About

We have four beautiful indoor/outdoor event spaces to chose from, all different and unique in their own way!

  • The Oliver Jensen Gallery is a bright 1,000 square foot private room featuring wooden floors and white walls adorned with rotating art and photograph exhibits. The gallery is an ideal space for ceremonies with up to 110 guests.
  • River Valley Junction Hall is perfect for a larger ceremony of 110-200 people with 2,100 square feet of open space.
  • The South Lawn at Essex Station is a grass field nestled in between the Yellow Label Store red barn and large trees with natural leaf canopies. Historic train equipment serves as the back drop. Standing ceremony can accommodate up to 200 people.
  • The MV Becky Thatcher is a 70′ Mississippi-style riverboat that comfortably holds 220 passengers for sightseeing cruises, 150 people for a cocktail reception or 66 guests for a sit-down dinner. This classic vessel includes 3 decks.
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Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue?

No

Do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue?

No

Which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering?

Server(s)

Which of the following are included in the starting price for bar service?

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Liquor
House Wine
Limited Bar
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

4

Describe your venue:

Banquet Hall
Boat/Yacht
Historic Building

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Pet Friendly

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
Flatware
Glassware
Linens

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Wheelchair Access

Reviews of Essex Steam Train & Riverboat

We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
5.0 out of 5 rating
5.0 out of 5 rating
9 reviews
100% recommend it
  • Quality of service
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    5 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    5 out of 5 rating
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

Review summary

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The Essex Steam Train venue received rave reviews for its unique setting and exceptional service. Multiple reviewers praised the helpful and accommodating staff, particularly event coordinator Meredith, who ensured a seamless and enjoyable wedding experience. Guests appreciated the charming atmosphere, delicious food, and the added touch of a train ride, making it a fun and memorable celebration. The all-inclusive package, beautiful reception hall, and picturesque ceremony spaces like Deep River Landing were highlighted as key highlights of this highly recommended wedding venue.

Review summary

Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.

The Essex Steam Train venue received rave reviews for its unique setting and exceptional service. Multiple reviewers praised the helpful and accommodating staff, particularly event coordinator Meredith, who ensured a seamless and enjoyable wedding experience. Guests appreciated the charming atmosphere, delicious food, and the added touch of a train ride, making it a fun and memorable celebration. The all-inclusive package, beautiful reception hall, and picturesque ceremony spaces like Deep River Landing were highlighted as key highlights of this highly recommended wedding venue.

Susan
Susan Sent on 11/15/2024
5 out of 5 rating

An incredible venue - and staff

This is a wonderfully unique venue, with a wonderful staff! The even coordinator was responsive and helpful throughout the entire experience, and very accommodating to our off menu wishes. Our day went off without issue, and everyone had an amazing time. My favorite part of the day was the bridal suite - which is a full, completely transformed 1920s train car!
Alyssa
Alyssa Sent on 11/03/2024
5 out of 5 rating

Most fun ever

On top of the unique experience of a train ride for our wedding, there are several reasons we initially decided to book the Essex Steam Train and even more reasons to why I know it was the best choice for our wedding.
Initially, as soon as we walked onto the railyard, everyone was so friendly and joyful, and that was exactly how I wanted our wedding to feel for others! The reception space is large with the same beautiful, classic charm as the train. It was perfect for our 120 person wedding with plenty of space for each table without the space feeling empty. The dance floor space was huge and well separated from the tables- during the wedding there were so many people dancing and I feel that the layout really encouraged this! Meredith, the organizer, is very helpful and flexible to any suggestion and last minute changes. On the day, she made sure we stayed on schedule and were happy without interrupting. She is a calming force and very irreplaceable. She allowed us to decorate the reception hall the day before to our liking which made me so happy. The bridal train suite is stocked so thoughtfully and is beautiful, affording many unique pictures! We elected to have our wedding ceremony at Deep River Landing with a train ride to and from the space.
On the day of the wedding, the quality of the venue is unmatched due to the train, ceremony space, and reception hall. For the train, we reserved two train cars for our guest. It was beautiful; the train ride was so nice because it permitted me to relax, reflect on my emotions, and sink into the moment. Pictures at Deep River Landing and at the Steam Train were beautiful for our October Wedding! As I mentioned, the reception hall was perfect.
The value for all this is incredibly worthwhile! On top of being an all inclusive wedding venue (dinner & appetizers, open bar, an organizer, bridal suite, etc.), we got a fun and memorable train ride! Overall, People have told me it was the most fun wedding they’ve been to- in the words of my ring bearer, it was “the most fun I’ve had anywhere ever”!
Christa
Christa Sent on 12/17/2023
5 out of 5 rating

Like a fairy tale

We got married in August of 2023. We weren’t exactly sure what we wanted when we started looking at venues, but something just clicked when we discovered that the Essex Steam Train does weddings! We loved the idea so much that we abandoned our original ideal wedding date, since it wasn’t available. It was so worth it. I now can’t imagine having done this anywhere else. The food was incredible, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and fun. We went for the Deep River Landing option; for a relatively small extra fee, we put all of our guests on the train, got married at the Landing, and rode the train back to the venue for the reception. It was magical. Meredith Redway, the event coordinator, went above and beyond to make sure that everything was perfect… and it was. We can’t express our joy loudly enough! Most highly recommend!

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Essex Steam Train & Riverboat frequently asked questions

Essex Steam Train & Riverboat includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at Essex Steam Train & Riverboat includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Liquor
  • House Wine
  • Limited Bar
  • Open Bar
  • Premium Liquor
  • Signature Drink
The space offered by Essex Steam Train & Riverboat for wedding events is known for:
  • Banquet Hall
  • Boat/Yacht
  • Historic Building
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Pet Friendly
Essex Steam Train & Riverboat is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.

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