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About

Choose The White Dog Bistro for a Southern Manor style wedding. The Bistro unites artistry, simplicity and elegance with beautiful fireplaces set in a classic 1840′s southern mansion. Windows and glass-paned doors along the outside wall allow natural light to stream-in; then if you’re looking for a more upbeat and causal vibe you have the option of adjourning to either the indoor/outdoor Key West inspired bar or spacious outdoor courtyard for dancing or you can start here with your outdoor cocktail hour all served on silver trays butler-style. This is an area where we can accommodate your additional guests as well. All areas provide a sense of warmth, serenity and comfort for your wedding reception.

Choose Pavilion at the Tabernacle for a Rustic yet Regal barn/pavilion style wedding. This 7 acre property is tucked away in a beautiful wooded enclave with 7,000 sq ft under-roof and a full stage for bands; all that plus its on the Virginia historic registry too. The all wood interior has soaring 20ft cathedral ceilings. Large and spacious but still very much in-tune with nature. You can have your ceremony or reception in this beautiful salute to the outdoors. Your wedding here is all about getting back to nature, organic elements with a little bohemian flair will set the scene for your romance. Think cafe lights, a farm to table menu and beautiful wild flowers. If you love vintage elements then this is your dream location.

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Frequently asked questions

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

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season?

$1,800

What is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season?

$2,900

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

Yes

What is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during peak season?

$500

Which of the following are included in starting site fee?

Bridal Suite
Chairs
China
Event Planning
Flatware
Glassware
Parking
Set Up
Tables

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

Cake Cutting
Server(s)

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

Bartender(s)
Champagne Toast
House Wine

How many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer?

6

Describe your venue:

Historic Building
Mansion
Restaurant

What kind of settings are available?

Indoor
Covered Outdoor
Uncovered Outdoor

Which of the following wedding events does your venue service?

Ceremony
Reception
Bridal Shower
Engagement Party
Rehearsal Dinner

What event services do you offer?

Bar Services
Catering Services
Clean Up
Event Planner
Event Rentals
Get Ready Rooms
Liability Insurance
Outside Vendors
Wifi

What catering services do you offer?

Buffet
Cocktail Reception
Dessert
Hors d'oeuvres
Outside Cake
Server(s)
Stations

What bar services do you provide?

Bartender(s)
Cash Bar
Champagne Toast
House Beer
House Liquor
House Wine
Liquor License
Open Bar
Premium Liquor
Signature Drink
Specialty Beer
Specialty Wine

What event items are available?

Audio Equipment
Chairs
Dance Floor
Lighting
Tables

What food and beverage items are available?

Barware
China
Flatware
Glassware

What transportation and access is available?

Parking
Valet
Wheelchair Access

What months are included in your peak season?

May
June
July
August
September
October

Reviews of White Dog Bistro

A
Audrey Sent on 04/25/2021
5 out of 5 rating

White Dog Bistro is a must try! Best service and food!

I can't say enough about White Dog Bistro. I am a wedding planner and we had my sister's wedding reception there as it was a small amount of people. From my original conversation with Walter I knew it was going to be an awesome night. I never expected the service to be as top notch as it was. Amanda was overly communicative helping ensure everything from the time we arrived until we left was taken care of. We had a couple of people who didn't order appetizers and at the last minute we had to add them on and Amanda and team made it appear so effortlessly to have them added. Not once during our night did they ever seemed it was frustrating or a challenge for them.
Now let's talk about the amazing menu or food they provided. Not one of our guests said anything but raving reviews of how good the food was from apps to Salads and entree. The portions are big so you definitely won't go home hungry. So when you are looking for your next evening out or special gathering contact White Dog Bistro as you want be disappointed. Top notch service and food for sure! Thank you White Dog for all you did to help my sister and husband have an incredible night!
V
Valarie Sent on 08/29/2018
5 out of 5 rating
I had my wedding at the White Dog Bistro in August 2018 and it was simply a dream come true for us. The venue space has so much character and charm. It was simple and just what my husband an I were looking for. It was an easy choice after viewing multiple venues, that we would choose this one. The owners, Walter and Amanda, helped make my vision come true. Walter is an amazing chef and our food was AMAZING! Food quality was very important to us and our guests raved about it! Our guests also enjoyed the specialty cocktails and wine/beer selection The White Dog had to offer. Having our wedding at a restaurant just made things easier because they already have everything on premises, which made things much more simple for planning purposes. There is an upstairs area with separate rooms, one for the guys and the other for the girls, to get ready in. The staff who worked our wedding, were so professional and hospitable.. I cannot say enough about how great the service is. We also had our rehearsal and rehearsal dinner here, which went perfect. We had a private room to ourselves, which we were able to decorate and bring in floral arrangements for. Walter and Amanda have such great relationships with vendors in the area and were able to make recommendations for us, such as Cindy's Cakery for our cake (!!!). The added final touch from the White Dog was Walter and Amanda gave us a gift certificate to come back on our one year anniversary to celebrate. This was truly an amazing experience for us and I am so glad we choose The White Dog as our venue. We look forward to returning for our anniversary.
Aleece
Aleece Sent on 06/19/2017
5 out of 5 rating
It is hard to adequately describe how much we love The White Dog Bistro. My husbands family has had a house in Mathews for decades and for the last few years, since my first visit, we always make a point to eat at the White Dog- the food is amazing. When it came to planning our wedding in Mathews, we live in CA, there was only one option in our mind for the reception. Mac and JC are the absolute best. They are were so communicative during every step of the process and I truly feel like our day would not have been as it was without their help. The food was above and beyond as usual and the house is beautiful. Honestly, they are so accommodating and flexible and the nicest people you will meet. We are so appreciative of them and our experience that I would recommend them to everyone.
E
Estrella Sent on 04/25/2017
5 out of 5 rating
WHITE DOG BISTRO!!!!! That is all you need to know. Whether you are a go-getter and want to plan everything yourself or need someone to help you plan the entire event, Mac and JC have you covered. I live in Norfolk and all the Hampton Road venues were either extremely out of budget or very sub-standard. The hour and a half drive to Matthews was well worth it. I could write a review the length of a short story but I know if you are reading this, you want a concise and clear cut summary. We planned the wedding with three visits to WDB and made a dinner date out of it. Although our budget was our largest factor, WDB sold us on other things. Their food is number one. They have been awarded top food reviews in all food categories (vegan, GF, steak, dessert, etc.) and their menu is always different. So, they asked us what WE wanted on our menu. They order the alcohol in house, they cater their own to the venue of your choice OR their own venue, they are event planners, they are cake and pastry bakers, they referred us to Larry for music, and so much more. If you do not even glance their way, you will regret it.
C
Courtney Sent on 02/09/2016
5 out of 5 rating
I'm a bartender at a large chain restaurant in Newport News so this part of my wedding was really important to me and my friends. I visited 5 other places before choosing the WhiteDog and I wanted to make sure they could handle a large drinking crowd before I booked them. The owners JC and MAC answered ALL my questions and I had a lot and they also took a long time with me, which I appreciated because I didn't realize it then but I was super nervous. I have to say they handled everything with a calm confident domineer and that settled me down right from the start. As for the Big Day well that went fabulously from start to finish, they even let us stay an extra hour because our guest wanted to stay and keep dancing. (no extra charge) The place is stunningly beautiful with tons of old world charm and the food was Soooo Good it was the icing on the cake (pun intended) I can not recommend this place enough. Best of the Best - ***** 5 Stars in my book!!!!!
T
Tanisa Sent on 01/21/2016
5 out of 5 rating
Really couldn't have had a better experience, they made everything so easy & effortless that it was almost to easy! You hear all the horror stories and I was very very nervous when first looking for a venue to host my wedding but after a few minutes of talking to the owners Mac & JC all my fears were gone; I knew right then I was picking the right place. The White Dog Bistro had everything: great food, beautiful location, elegant presentation & great servers. The other thing I LOVED was the the owners were there with me thru the whole experience, anything I needed was right there and they even let me use one of there upstairs rooms to change and have my makeup done *(No Charge) If you'd like a elegant wedding at a bargain of a price this is the place for you!!!
J
Jessica Sent on 04/01/2015
5 out of 5 rating
We checked all around for venues in Virginia, one was $7,000 and they gave you nothing except the property, the other in Gloucester was $10,000 with no food, liquor or servers plus we had to rent everything out of pocket in addition to the rental of the grounds. We were at our wit-send when one of our friends recommended The White Dog Bistro, in Mathews what a God-Send! They took care of everything including the rehearsal dinner the night before and I have to say we could not be happier. JC is amazing and all of her recommendations were spot on. Our 200 guest had a night to remember in a beautiful setting and we paid less than the other two venues with everything included. I couldn't believe how reasonable the White Dog was, honestly when I drove up to there place I thought I wouldn't be able to afford a place like this but from the moment we had our initial consultation they made us free at right at home and then they followed it up with a perfectly executed affair. Thank you again for everything JC & Mac, a very grateful mother of the bride.
M
Michelle Sent on 03/28/2015
5 out of 5 rating
My wedding is the first week of June. The white dog bistro will be hosting our rehearsal cocktail hour and our farewell brunch. I'm so pleased with the service so far and very excited to see everything come together. Gloucester/Mathews va is not big, and there aren't many options for large parties 50+ but the white dog bistro stepped in and now I'm so relieved that all this has been taken care of. I will write a review after the wedding.
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.

Awards

8

Map

White Dog Bistro frequently asked questions

White Dog Bistro includes the following items and services for wedding events in its starting site fee:
  • Bridal Suite
  • Chairs
  • China
  • Event Planning
  • Flatware
  • Glassware
  • Parking
  • Set Up
  • Tables
White Dog Bistro includes the following items and services in its wedding catering costs:
  • Cake Cutting
  • Server(s)
The bar service starting price at White Dog Bistro includes:
  • Bartender(s)
  • Champagne Toast
  • House Wine
The space offered by White Dog Bistro for wedding events is known for:
  • Historic Building
  • Mansion
  • Restaurant
White Dog Bistro offers the following indoor/outdoor options for weddings:
  • Indoor
  • Covered Outdoor
  • Uncovered Outdoor
White Dog Bistro offers the following types of wedding events:
  • Ceremony
  • Reception
  • Bridal Shower
  • Engagement Party
  • Rehearsal Dinner
White Dog Bistro offers the following services for wedding events:
  • Bar Services
  • Catering Services
  • Clean Up
  • Event Planner
  • Event Rentals
  • Get Ready Rooms
  • Liability Insurance
  • Outside Vendors
  • Wifi
White Dog Bistro offers the following furniture and decor items for weddings:
  • Audio Equipment
  • Chairs
  • Dance Floor
  • Lighting
  • Tables
White Dog Bistro 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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