Merri-Makers at Mallard Island Yacht Club Reviews

Mallard Island Yacht Club is pure magic!
Where to begin?!

To start, the site itself is absolutely exquisite! Our priority was an intimate & meaningful ceremony, with the chapel serving as the most magnificent backdrop. Though on-property, it feels separate & sacred: a beautiful, blank canvas upon which you can build the wedding of your dreams. When the doors were thrown open on our Big Day - and we were greeted by a room full of sunlight, flowers & love - our breaths were genuinely taken away.

From pre-ceremony drinks in the garden, to a seamless indoor/outdoor cocktail hour, to a reception during which guests danced in the bay breeze...Mallard's expansive premises & thoughtful layout left nothing to be desired. On our first visit, we were awed by how stunning it all looked in the daylight. You can't help but glance across the water or look up at the vaulted ceilings and not feel special! But the nighttime views - with a candle-lit chapel, moon-lit terrace & fire-lit garden - knocked our socks off. You feel like you're on your own private island, surrounded by the people you love the most...who doesn't dream of that??

Another draw was the bridal suite...wow, just WOW! It’s an absolute oasis, with a separate salon space that housed hours of stress-free bridal prep. A blissful way to start the day, for sure! (Getting to spend the night there was also a plus!). The guys found their perfect home in the Groom Shack: a rustic & relaxing cabin nestled right on the bay. With drinks in their hands - and a view that inspired deep breaths & total serenity - their day-of “vibes” were certainly brought to life!

As avid foodies, we wanted to be sure that we fed our guests and fed them well! Based on overwhelming praise, we can confidently say: Mission Accomplished! Scallops served in shells, tomahawk steak sliced on the spot, a locally-sourced raw bar, cacio e pepe, lobster rolls - and that's just the cocktail hour! For 6 straight hours our group was met with a feast beyond their wildest dreams, all facilitated by the most wonderful & attentive staff. We're praying for friends to get married at Mallard, so we can try it all again!

Working with Gianna & the Merri-Makers Team was a stellar experience. They are professionals, through-and-through! In the wedding lead-up, they offered helpful hints & checked in often to ensure major milestones were met. Once we selected our outside vendors — many of which were on their preferred list and all of which were superb — they coordinated logistics, ensuring we had as little to worry about on our Big Day as possible. Day of, their kindness & compassion made us feel calm & cared for and allowed us to focus on what mattered most: spending time with loved ones & getting married! We also can’t say enough about our attendants - so thoughtful, helpful & lovely! When the bride’s feet needed a break, sneakers magically appeared under the sweetheart table. When the groom needed a drink, it was in his hand without asking. The same impeccable care was shown to our parents, as well as family & friends. What a gift! People make such an incredible effort to be with you on your wedding, and you want them to feel as loved and appreciated as you do. Merri-Makers can give a Master Class on how to do just that.

We also hosted our afterparty at Mallard - an unbelievable perk! Oddly enough, it’s not too hard to encourage folks to have a few extra cocktails when the next stop is just downstairs! From arrival to departure, our guests were with us for 8 hours. To us, that’s the sign of a great party!

Our family stayed overnight at Mallard, and when we awoke the next morning, we found all of our things packed and ready to go: a fitting ending & further proof that, from start-to-finish, the service at Mallard is unparalleled. Special thanks to LouAnn, who took great care of our troupe and sent us off with the warmest wishes.

Whenever we're asked about our wedding, we smile and say “it was the most perfect day." We're eternally grateful to the Mallard & Merri-Maker team for helping make it all happen.

We had our wedding in early September and it was the best day of our lives thanks to the team at Mallard Island. We toured many venues but nothing compared to the vibe at Mallard. The venue is stunning and romantic, the food is excellent and the staff is top-notch. Our wedding day was so magical and every detail was perfect. The process of planning a wedding is so stressful especially towards the end but they did everything they could to make our lives easier. Everything we asked for (no matter how seemingly crazy it sounded), they rolled with and made it happen. You do really get what you pay for at Mallard. We have absolutely no negatives. Special shout-out to the event coordinator, Gianna, who is so helpful, responsive and such a pleasure to work with! She answered our never ending emails and went above and beyond.

Mallard is an amazing place to get married! The venue is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. I grew up on the Jersey Shore so it was important to me that my wedding day tied that in. However, the best part of Mallard isn't the gorgeous view, or the jaw-dropping bridal suite. The best part about Mallard is Danielle. Danielle is the wedding coordinator that helps you through the entire process of planning your wedding at Mallard. She is hands down, the absolute best wedding planner/coordinator on this Earth. Danielle made my wedding process fun, relaxed and amazing. I would not have had the wedding I had if it wasn't for Danielle! I highly recommend this venue and Danielle!