The Ruins at Sassafras was an INCREDIBLE wedding venue!! 10/10 would highly recommend! We could not have been happier with how our wedding weekend went. First of all, the venue is STUNNING, with so many amazing places to take pictures all over the property. It was also so much fun to have our wedding party stay over the whole weekend on the property with us. It was really special having everyone stay over together, and the house where you sleep is gorgeous, spacious, very clean, and has a beautiful back patio with amazing mountain views where we did our morning after brunch. Another special thing about the venue was the stone ruins area where we held our after-party. We had the venue set up fire pits and votive candles in the stone walls, and it was a really fun and beautiful way to end the night. In addition, the chair factory is perfect for a reception (we had ~160 people) with two beautiful bars (one upstairs and one downstairs) and plenty of room for dancing. Carol, the owner of the venue, made us feel right at home and so welcomed and taken care of the entire weekend. Everything was top notch at the venue, and the surrounding area is truly breathtaking. We had multiple wedding guests tell us it was the most beautiful wedding venue they had ever been to. And since we had the venue for the entire weekend we had total freedom and so many choices of where to do our ceremony (we did it at Deere Pond at golden hour in front of the pond and willow trees - beautiful!), reception, first look, etc. I can't rave about it enough, and we could not recommend this venue more, especially to couples looking for a venue that's elegant and surrounded by natural beauty. We are so thrilled we chose it for our wedding weekend!

This review is a long time coming as my husband and I got married at the Ruins at Sassafras on May 18th, 2024. We toured the property back in 2023 when the Chair Factory was still being renovated, and we instantly fell in love with the property. It was the first and only venue that we toured, and we knew when we left that we had to book it. The venue was extremely responsive to questions and requests and truly wonderful to work with, making it easy to plan our wedding.
When the wedding weekend finally came, we were beyond excited to get married. Being able to stay on the property made the weekend go by smoothly, as we were able to walk right to the ceremony space after getting ready and walk right back after the ceremony was done.
We had our ceremony in the ruins themselves, and I couldn't picture a more beautiful ceremony space. We hardly did any decorations other than florals on the archway because the surroundings were already so stunning.
Our cocktail hour and after party were in the Moroccan bar, and the guests loved it! Carol did such a wonderful job decorating it that it required very little additional decor from us.
Our reception was in the Chair Factory, and it never felt cramped with our 112 guests. We had so much fun and the dance floor was packed all night long.
The true gem of this already wonderful venue is Carol, the owner, herself. She is so kind, genuine, responsive, knowledgeable, and an all around delight to work with.
Our friends still talk about our wedding weekend, it was truly an unforgettable experience.

We recently had our wedding at The Ruins at Sassafras, and it was truly extraordinary. We toured many beautiful venues, but this one stood out for its Shaker charm, the natural beauty of the grounds, and, most of all, for Carol herself. She and Jerome are the heart of the property, and it’s clear they’ve poured so much of themselves into creating this incredible, unique space. Carol’s passion and joy are contagious, and it was such a gift to get to know her and benefit from her warmth, generosity, and wealth of Shaker knowledge.

Throughout the planning process, communication with Carol was excellent — she graciously answered our many questions and offered thoughtful advice. During the wedding weekend, she struck the perfect balance of being present and helpful while also giving us and our guests space to fully enjoy ourselves. So many of our family members and guests loved chatting with her and commented on how awed they were by the property. Several guests reached out afterwards to tell us that this was the most beautiful wedding they’d ever attended.

We had our first look in the Sister’s Workshop, ceremony in the Rose Dwelling, cocktail hour in the Ruins, reception in the Chair Factory, and after party in the Moroccan Bar and terrace, and took additional photos at the pond. One of the most incredible things about this venue is how many permutations are possible for your event - you can truly make it your own. And in August, the wildflowers were in full bloom, offering a spectacular backdrop for photos.

We also absolutely loved staying in the cottage and house, which are comfortable, beautifully renovated, and full of character. Our guests are still raving about the hidden visual treasures tucked into every corner of the property.

The Ruins at Sassafras is pure magic, and we feel so grateful we could share it with the people we love. If you are lucky enough to celebrate here, you will have the experience of a lifetime.

The Ruins at Sassafras is such a special place and we feel so lucky that we were able to get married here. The property is beautiful beyond imagination – from the landscaping to all of the decorations inside the house, every little detail has been considered with love and care. There are so many spaces dotted across the property and we loved wandering around over the weekend.

But, above all, the owners Carol and Jerome are they heart and soul of Sassafras. Their love and personality shines through every part of the property and the transformation they've done on the property is inspiring. While we loved the property, it was Carol's electric personality and humor on the initial tour that led to us choosing Sassafras.

My husband and I got married at the Ruins at Sassafras 9/30/2023 and words can't even describe how absolutely perfect the venue was. We toured the property for the first time in January 2023 and we knew from the moment we stepped foot on the property that it would be where we got married.
It made it all the more special to be able to watch the Chair Factory be transformed into what it is today! Every detail of the restoration of the property was done with intention and thoughtfulness. Personally, I think the Shakers would be proud :). We had our rehearsal dinner in the Moroccan bar below the Chair Factory, ceremony in the Rose Dwelling, cocktail hour on the terrace behind outside the Moroccan bar, and the reception within the Chair Factory. We stayed on the property with our bridal party for the weekend too! Carol, Jerome, and Lara made sure we were well taken care of, and were incredibly accommodating! Our guests have nothing but compliments. We can't speak more highly of Carol and Jerome and the team at The Ruins and how they made made a vision, reality!

The Venue is beautiful, the staff amazing and very accommodating. It was a Wonderful Wedding and everything was perfect!

The Ruins at Sassafras is an absolutely stunning wedding venue. It’s feels both dramatic and intimate—beautiful stonework, mountain views, and a space that you can truly make your own. Our vision was elegant, natural, traditional, and European-countryside-esque, honoring both of our heritages while staying stateside, and this venue allowed us to bring that to life.

A quick note for future couples: the venue is in an isolated location, which is perfect if you want your wedding to feel secluded and intimate—even with 185 guests, ours did. We had everyone stay in the nearby town of Lenox in the Berkshires (a beautiful but $$$ area), and it worked wonderfully.

Because the Ruins is essentially a breathtaking estate and blank canvas, you do need to plan for full rentals (chairs, linens, tableware, glassware, catering, etc.). It is a big planning process—but Carol and her team are incredibly responsive, hands-on, and genuinely invested in your wedding’s success. Moreover, they don't really limit what vendors you choose (most venues dictate who you go with). It’s a family-run business, and you feel that - Carol even personally drove one of our guests back to the hotel when she wasn’t feeling well.

For us, one of the biggest selling points was the ability to stay onsite in the beautifully renovated Stone House and Cottage House. Eighteen members of our wedding party stayed with us, which eased logistics, reduced stress, and gave us so much more time together over the weekend.

We absolutely loved having our wedding at The Ruins at Sassafras Museum.

I’ve held off on writing this review because I typically only share positive experiences, but after needing to plan a redo of my wedding, I felt compelled to share my honest perspective.

Value vs. Cost
Unfortunately, I cannot give a star here. After researching at least six alternative venues in the area, I found that others provided more overall value for the price.

Location
This was another challenge. The venue is not very accessible—about 45 minutes from the nearest airport—and with limited third-party transportation, it made things difficult for both myself and my guests.

Uniqueness
This is where The Ruins shines. The setting is absolutely one of a kind—beautiful, romantic, and reminiscent of an Italian estate, which connected deeply with my heritage. It’s unlike many other options in the U.S. and was one of the main reasons we booked.

Professionalism
Here is where our biggest concerns lie. When we contracted in early 2023, the venue was still undergoing renovations, and while the aesthetics did not disappoint, the professionalism did. Being a relatively new venue (property purchased in 2020), I believe the owners need more time and experience before they can deliver the level of service expected for such an important event. We encountered numerous issues that caused significant stress.

Overall Experience
Sadly, we were left feeling like we needed a second chance at our wedding day. After six years together, we are now planning a vow renewal to create the joyful, drama-free celebration we originally envisioned.

Advice to Future Couples and planning all aspects of your super special day --

Get at least 3 referrals from couples who have actually had their weddings at the venue.

Speak to local vendors to get an honest read on professionalism from all vendors you hire.

Get everything in writing—do not rely on verbal agreements.

Most importantly, trust your gut. If something feels off, it usually is.

We learned a lot through this process, and while The Ruins at Sassafras offers breathtaking scenery, our experience unfortunately did not measure up in the other areas that matter most for a once-in-a-lifetime day.

If you would like to hear more about my experience, feel free to get in touch -- my husband, family and friends are happy to share more.