My husband and I got married at Independence Harbor last Saturday (7/29/23), and the entire day was truly a dream. We didn't meet Matt, the day of wedding venue coordinator, until the rehearsal, and when we did, we were instantly put at ease over any stress. (Including the possibility of rain) He was honestly the best, extremely professional, and helped make sure everything ran smoothly from start to finish. Jocelyn was another coordinator for the day of the wedding, and she was really so wonderful as well. She collaborated with us, our photographer, and our dj to constantly make sure everything was on schedule. I really can't speak enough of the professionalism and kindness of these two, as well as the rest of the staff. They were always 10 steps ahead and took care of everything so that we could be fully present and enjoy our day. The grounds, the food, the bar, the space - every element of this venue exceeded our expectations. Independence Harbor is a hidden gem. Don't sleep on this amazing venue! Our guests keep reaching out to tell us how they had the absolute best time. I think a lot of the photos on IH's website and social media don't fully do it justice. If you're a future bride or groom looking at this venue, please check out my photographer's social media pages, Brittany L. Austin Photography, to see how magical Independence Harbor truly is! (Attaching some of her photos to this review)

Independence Harbor does weddings like no one else. We had my daughters wedding there 3/4/23, and it was the best experience. They are most professional and knowledgeable on how to manage/direct a wedding, with also keeping in mind what you want done. They pay a lot of attention to detail. There is not one thing we would change. Connie, Anne, and Matt were wonderful to work with. They just know how to help you make a beautiful wedding. Just a bit of information. My husband and i were also married there 33 years ago and it was wonderful, and Connie was there at that time as well to help us too.

Even though my wedding day had lots of issues (which had nothing to do with them) the best part of our special day was Independence Harbor! They were the BEST part of our special day by far. The staff, grounds, food (soooo delicious), professionalism etc....exceeded my expectations. There’s absolutely nothing negative about them. I highly suggest Independence Harbor if you’re considering them. Literally the BEST experience I’ve ever had with any important event. Don’t even question it just go for it you won’t be disappointed at all!!! Words can’t explain has much I appreciated how attentive and amazing they are! And the grounds are just beyond beautiful and well kept!

I absolutely love Independence Harbor. The garden is stunning, the food is delicious, the staff is knowledgeable and helpful, and the coordinators are prompt and professional. And to be blunt, the prices cannot be beat for everything that's included. I can't tell you how much I appreciated how transparent IH is - having the full menu and prices easily available on their website not only saved me a ton of time, but convinced me it was worth taking time off work to see in person because I already knew it was in my budget. I was thoroughly impressed by the landscaping every time I visited, and the flowers, lush green grass, and decor were the perfect backdrop for our gazebo ceremony. I was so excited to find a venue that offers a brunch buffet, and it certainly did not disappoint! There were so many options, all absolutely delicious, especially the deep fried apple french toast 😍. I was so anxious leading up to the wedding because we didn't have a planner, but the IH coordinators and staff made everything run seamlessly, from giving tips on timeline down to telling me how to hold my train. I will definitely be going to their public brunches again in the future, and I hope to attend many more weddings at IH!

We just had our wedding at Independence Harbor last month in January. Everything was great from the decor to the food we had nothing to complain about. We had roast beef and scrod as our meals. The scrod was delicious! Everything was fabulous, the staff was friendly and helpful which made wedding planning easier. I would recommend Independence Harbor as a wedding venue, especially if having a winter wedding... prices are a little bit more reasonable!

We could not be happier with our wedding at Independence Harbor. Everyone was so professional, helpful, and knowledgeable. Connie and Anne were always available to answer any questions we had whether it be about the venue or wedding advice in general. On the day of our wedding, the staff made sure that I got some Mac and cheese from cocktail hour when I was taking pictures. The room was gorgeous and the passed appetizers were decorated with fruit art! Our guests could not stop talking about how great the food was and how comfortable the atmosphere was. We cannot thank you enough for all you did to support the best day of our lives.

This review is long due! My husband and I are very happy with Independence Harbor. The garden view is beautiful and the service is amazing! All my family members and friends love taking pictures in the beautiful garden and inside the grant dining reception area. Connie and Amanda are quick to response throughout the planning. Matt and Stephanie are stars in coordinating with my Wedding Manager to run everything smoothly throughout the ceremony and the reception. Right at the beginning of the ceremony and during some part of the ceremony there was an unexpected quick rain shower. Staff were quick to respond in drying up the chairs and providing umbrellas just in case for another one. Well, we got a bonus from the shower! There's a rainbow above us during the ceremony!!! Priceless!!! All my friends and family gave great compliments about Independence Harbor, their service, and food! I would highly recommend this place to any couples! Thank you so much for making us feel so special on our big day!!!

After glancing over the very mixed reviews my husband and I went with hesitancy to view Independence Harbor. We met with Connie who at first came across somewhat stern but then after explaining what we wanted and our clear vision of our day she softened. We were able to take advantage of their off season rates which were VERY reasonable and fit in perfectly with our tight budget. Connie and Anne ALWAYS responded to any and all of my questions right away putting my anxious nature right at ease. Even at our final meeting Connie was EXTREMELY flexible as it was supposed to rain the day of and allowed the bridal party to be on site earlier than previously discussed. She also allowed my very good friend to set up the centerpieces for me the day of which relieved a lot of stress. Matt was on site that day and he made sure that everything went perfectly smooth from start to finish. I had forgotten to bring the card holder and he quickly stepped in to provide a make shift one until my mom arrived with the real one. I also have to give a shout out to Debbie. She was our hands on gal the ENTIRE day. Form the second we stepped out of the limo she was waiting there with an umbrella to walk us inside. She made sure we had drinks all night and even brought out appetizers for us while we were busy taking photos. It had stopped raining for photos and before we stepped foot inside the gazebo she had a linen cloth wiping down the edge of the gazebo so that my dress would not get wet. She truly paid attention to every detail and took care of us all night long. She also made sure that things were done on time and not once did I feel rushed. The food was incredible. My grandmother is a very picky eater and complains about EVERYTHING but she could NOT stop raving about how good the food was! All of our guests thoroughly enjoyed the food. My mother-in-law is extremely allergic to seafood and they paid close attention to detail and made absolutely sure that nothing was cross contaminated. Everything was labeled and they were sure to put the fish at the end of the buffet line covered so she would not have to go near it. I also can't forget about the grounds. They are absolutely stunning! All of our guests could not stop talking about how gorgeous the grounds and the inside of the building was. Connie may seem gruff at first meeting but let me assure you that these people have been doing this a very long time and they know what they are doing. Don't be fooled by the bad reviews they will be sure that your day goes better than you could have ever imagined!

We planned our wedding in 5 months and the staff at IH made it a breeze! We enjoyed working with Anne & Connie. They both really made it very easy for us and our wedding day went perfectly. Shout out to Matt & the staff on our wedding day for making the day better than we even imagined!

This venue was absolutely perfect. Could not of asked for a better place to host our special day!