Graduate Annapolis

Our wedding journey was nothing short of a fairytale, thanks to the exceptional team at The Graduate. From the ceremony and cocktail hour to the reception and day-after brunch, every moment was flawlessly executed, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

The staff at The Graduate truly deserves accolades for their unwavering dedication and friendliness. At every turn, they went above and beyond to ensure our special day was nothing short of perfection. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence were evident in every aspect of our celebration.

A standout among the incredible staff was Megan Ritter, an absolute gem who played a pivotal role in making our wedding extraordinary. Megan's professionalism and impeccable organizational skills were evident from the beginning. She not only answered our countless emails promptly but did so with a level of enthusiasm and expertise that surpassed all expectations.

Megan's ability to anticipate our needs and think ahead on various occasions truly set her apart. Her proactive approach ensured that every detail, big and small, was taken care of seamlessly. Megan's dedication to her work and genuine passion for creating unforgettable experiences were palpable, and her positive energy added an extra layer of joy to our celebrations.

The Graduate itself provided a stunning backdrop for our festivities, and the flawless coordination by the entire team made the transition from ceremony to reception seamless. The attention to detail in the decor, the delectable offerings during the cocktail hour and reception, and the overall ambiance created an enchanting atmosphere that left our guests in awe.

Our day-after brunch was equally delightful, offering a perfect conclusion to our wedding festivities. The venue's commitment to excellence extended to every aspect of our celebration, leaving us with nothing but gratitude and fond memories.

In summary, we wholeheartedly recommend this venue to any couple seeking a magical and stress-free wedding experience. The staff, especially Megan Ritter, went above and beyond to ensure our dreams became a reality, and for that, we are truly grateful. Thank you to the entire team for making our wedding an unforgettable celebration of love and joy!

If I could give this venue 10 stars, I absolutely would. Our entire wedding weekend lived here …welcome party, ceremony, reception, after-party, AND Sunday brunch … and somehow it all felt effortless. By the second day, it genuinely felt like we owned the hotel. The staff all around was so kind, patient, and accommodating. Valet was lovely, parking was easy, and everyone made us feel taken care of from start to finish. And honestly we would a rowdy group of 225 insane people and no one even batted an eye at the dancing in the lobby or the excited screams coming from all directions.

Now let me keep it real: I was stressed to the brink leading up to the welcome party. But the moment I stepped onto the property, my whole body just… exhaled. I finally felt at peace. Everything clicked. Everything felt handled. I actually got to enjoy my wedding because of how supported I felt.

We originally worked with Megan, who was amazing. When she left mid-planning, I braced for chaos, but then Hilary stepped in like the wedding fairy godmother I didn’t know I needed. She picked up every detail without missing a beat. Hilary is fun, honest, warm, and just incredibly easy to talk to. She made me feel grounded when I was supposed to be spiraling and genuinely cared about getting everything right. She is a star.

The venue itself has so much character, it’s definitely a busy place, and I can see how that could be a turn-off for some couples. But honestly? It ended up giving our weekend so much personality. Our guests LOVED it. The energy made everything feel alive instead of stiff or too quiet. And we captured some incredible photos that we cannot wait to upload.

If you’re planning here, I highly recommend booking the Presidential Suite. Not only is it huge and perfect for getting ready… but you get access to the rooftop, which was such a gem for quiet moments, photos, and just having a private space above the buzz.

If you want a wedding venue that’s vibrant, welcoming, flexible, and supported by actual humans who care, this is it. And absolutely ask for Hilary. She truly made our weekend unforgettable.

Hilary, Jeffery and their team executed a flawless wedding for us. Hilary joined the team later in the planning process but didn’t skip a beat. She took our wedding to the next level with her many years of experience in the field. She is well known by several of our vendors and has a great reputation - she is amazing! We appreciated her outstanding communication from start to finish even when she was sick. All of our vendors had experience with working events at the Graduate Hotel and all said they are by far the best venue in the area to work with due to their willingness to accommodate their customers and their unwavering professionalism. My guests were also blown away! I heard people were guessing we spent way more than we actually did. The food was amazing!! Our dinner portions were huge which is uncommon for large events like this. The bartenders and wait staff had great customer service skills and took care of us very well throughout the entire night!! Thank you Hilary and your team for delivering a wedding we will never forget!!!

We booked the Graduate for our wedding reception that followed our USNA Chapel wedding. I highly recommend The Graduate, Hilary, and her extraordinary team for your Annapolis wedding. We planned the entire event during my husband’s deployment and a cross country move. Hilary was kind, detail oriented, and helpful every step of the way. We got so many compliments on the food and the bartenders did an excellent job keeping the drinks flowing. I wanted an orange crush station and they put together the cutest little bar just for my signature cocktail. The atrium was the perfect back drop for cocktail hour and the ballroom made for the most elegant dinner setting for our black tie optional reception. We got married in the middle of July, so the Graduate even brought portable air conditioning units into the ballroom to keep our guests comfortable throughout the night! We had about 200 guests and almost everyone stayed at the hotel. We felt like we could really relax and enjoy the night knowing no one was driving to and from a venue and hotel. Thank you thank you thank you to Hilary and her wonderful team!

If there was one person who I had to work with for over a year to plan my daughter’s wedding, it wouldn’t have been anyone but Megan Ritter! From the very beginning she was pleasant, friendly and helpful.

Lindsey and Liam’s wedding was everything and more, it was beautiful from start to finish. I couldn’t have imagined navigating the planning process without Megan’s guidance and patience. Her flexibility and willingness to go above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of was greatly appreciated. The wedding wouldn't have been such a success without all her help.

It went amazingly well, and I cannot express how appreciative I am of everything that Megan and her team did to make it an incredibly special day.

Megan is a master at her craft and the industry. Graduate Annapolis is so lucky to have her.

Megan and the crew at The Graduate are pros when it comes to coordinating and executing weddings. From the time leading up to the day helping us plan every detail to the day of our wedding seamlessly coordinating the front and back of the house. They were absolutely perfect. This is coming from a client who has 13 years experience in the restaurant/wedding catering industry and I can say with 100% confidence that they delivered on every front. The food was fantastic, the service was superb, and the catering staff might be the most efficient crew I have ever seen.

If you’re looking for a venue in Annapolis, please look no further

Megan was amazing to work with!
She answered so many questions for us. And revised our final set up so many times until we were happy.

All the staff was amazing actually. The chef even learned how to make a custom dessert for us.

Our guests loved the beautiful Atrium and we loved the cozy ballroom.

The bridal suite was beautiful with its own patio with lounge chairs and a four person table. Our room came with champagne, bottled AND canned water, chocolate covered strawberries and other gifts.

Many people commented that they loved the Bistro Steak dinner option!

Megan & the Graduate crew made our dream become a reality. The venue itself is a stand out and we were grateful to have the awesome indoor spaces on a muggy and rainy Saturday in late June! Megan worked through every detail with my planner and I and confirmed every detail ahead of the big day. She was incredibly flexible with us and some very late cancellations - over the top flexible. On top of all of this, after a booking error on my end, she was able to find a way to accommodate us in the bridal suite for getting ready the day of the wedding with all of my girls. I'm not so sure other venues would have been so accommodating. The food - I mean, my gosh, the FOOD! Our guests were all raving about their meals - every steak cooked just right - and the crab cakes were on point. If there were any hiccups (other than ones I created myself, ha) on the day of, I had no idea as the staff @ the Graduate kept everything moving along smoothly. I really can't say enough great things about this venue. It's such a special place, especially now. :)

First off, the venue is beautifully decorated, where added decor is not necessary. Second, they are very reasonably priced compared to some nearby venues and the service and quality doesn't get skimped. Shannon was so responsive and amazing to work with throughout the entire planning process.

I cannot express enough how happy my family and I were with the job the Graduate did for our wedding. First off, Shannon was amazing to work with. She was always there to answer my questions and made everything so easy to understand and arrange. Not only that, but she was always on point with breakdowns of costs, timelines, and anything else I needed. Second, there was nothing Shannon couldn't help us arrange. Rehearsal dinner? Done. After-party? Done. Post-wedding brunch? Done. She helped us create a spectacular weekend for our guests that went well beyond what I expected we could arrange. Third, the food at the Graduate is phenomenal. Every meal and drink we had was amazing, and well worth what we spent. Fourth, the staff at the Graduate is incredible. Patrick and Al in the Trophy Room kept our rehearsal dinner guests topped off on drinks and were so kind and attentive. And fifth and finally, you cannot beat the look and location of the Graduate. My bridal suite had the most incredible view of downtown and just affirmed to me why we chose the Graduate for our wedding. It's not your standard run-of-the-mill hotel, and really incorporates the culture and feel of Annapolis into its theming. My husband and I loved that we could deliver a true 'Annapolis' style wedding to our guests, and help all of them discover how unique and special Annapolis, Maryland is.