Becky Sent on 11/10/2025

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Highly Recommend the Merri-Makers team!

We worked with Merri-Makers Catering for our wedding, and they were phenomenal! We knew we were a bit difficult, requesting a fully custom vegan menu. Our event coordinator Haley and the team crushed it!
Haley was kind, responsive, and genuinely excited to take on our unique request. She worked directly with the chef to design a creative, thoughtful menu that honored everything we envisioned while still impressing our non-vegan guests. The food was delicious, and our non-vegan guests were impressed!! Highly recommend!

Alexa Sent on 10/23/2022

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Delicious!

Everything was so delicious! There’s lots of flexibility in the menu selection, but you’ll find it hard to go wrong with any of their standard stations/ selections. As a bride I thought I’d miss out on the cocktail hour food but to our surprise the staff arranged mini plates for us to try a bite of everything! It was so thoughtful and the food was so yummy! My personal favorite was the ramen bar!

Michael Sent on 09/12/2022

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Exceptional event

My daughter's wedding was this weekend. The event went off perfect . A huge thank you to Mary,Ellie,Robert and Cindy who assisted in orchestrating our perfect day. I would highly recommend them.

Pamela Sent on 06/20/2022

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The food and staff are top notch!

This catering business was nothing short of phenomenal. They are extremely professional, their staff are kind and attentive and genuinely happy doing what they love to do, and that is to create joyful experiences for their customers. The food is far superior to any event I've ever attended. The guests raved about all of the appetizers and main dishes, and not a single plate was left with food on it. It was all prepared perfectly, and and it was all served with such pride and grace. Beautiful work!

Lisa Sent on 12/21/2021

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The best wedding food we've had!

When we first booked our venue (a Weddings of Distinction property), we were a little nervous that they had a caterer we HAD to use — what if we weren't impressed with the food? Well, we should never have worried! We were floored by the variety, quality, and quantity (!!) of food that our guests were treated to on our big day.

We got our first taste of how lucky we were at our tasting, where we sampled a little bit of everything and were able to make little adjustments, like mixing and matching the various meats and sauces, to customize the menu to our exact taste.

As for the big day, it exceeded all of our already high expectations. Starting with cocktail hour, the spread was truly eye-popping — there was something for everyone, and each hors d'oeuvre and station-based dish was as beautiful as it was tasty. The Chinese food station, the mini tacos, and the grilled cheese/tomato bisque shooters were the biggest hits — we had guests cornering the staff to chase down seconds of their favorite dishes.

The entrees, though, are what really differentiates Merri-Makers from the competition — they were by far the best wedding mains we've ever had. People loved the fish, the filet mignon, and even the chicken and the vegetable napoleon. They accommodated every dietary restriction, even the more unusual ones. Dessert was the cherry on top. It was such a treat to have passed sweets in addition to our wedding cake. A little something for everyone!

Really, I'm so impressed. So much better than the other wedding food we've enjoyed. We never thought people would walk away from our special day still raving about the food, but here we are!!!

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Nicole Sent on 12/24/2020

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Best caterers to work with

Planning a wedding during a pandemic is not easy by any means. Without Merri makers, I probably wouldn’t have had my wedding in October. They are extremely accommodating, supportive and helpful while rearranging plans and working with me to ensure our guests were safe. We had to move everything outside and change a lot of things but all in all, it was a successful day. Gianna, Rick and the rest of the team went above and beyond to make our wedding day truly special and memorable. I can’t recommend them enough!

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Cassandra Sent on 11/12/2020

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Best Caterer EVER!!!!!!

We hired Merri-Makers when we decided to change our wedding from an indoor venue to my parents street in a tent. We had worked with them before (not for a wedding) and knew that they were awesome. Let me tell you, everything happens for a reason. They made our wedding more amazing than we ever could have hoped or dreamed possible. The food was off the charts. I am still getting calls with compliments about the food. They made sure that I had everything that I needed. I never felt stressed out when I was working with them. They really created an unforgettable experience for us and our guests. Patty is the most amazing. She made sure everything was taken care of at all times, that I had no freak outs, and throughout the night any time I needed anything I would turn around and she was there. We were sad to have to change our initial plan, but after all was said and done I am so so happy that everything worked out the way it did. It was the best day of our lives, and a huge part of that was Merri-Makers.

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Alyssa Sent on 08/24/2020

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Nothing short of exceptional!

My review will likely be a little long, but my experience with Merri-Makers Catering was nothing short of exceptional, and in a time when there are a lot of brides feeling unsure, I hope that this provides some comfort and confidence in your decision-making because if you book with Merri-Makers, you will not be sorry. When I booked my wedding at The Mallard Island Yacht Club for June 19, 2020, at that time Merri-Makers was not the caterer for the property yet but were going to be as of 2021. In the early days of COVID-19, my original wedding date was cancelled, and we picked a back-up date of July 24, 2020. Just about 8 weeks before the new date, the original caterer ended up having to close their operations and Merri-Makers took over earlier than their scheduled date. As stressful as it was to have to start over with a new caterer on top of everything else, I cannot even begin to express how much it turned out to be the greatest blessing in disguise. We were introduced to Gianna, who over the course of the next 8 weeks became our lifeline, our greatest cheerleader, our strategist, and most importantly, our friend. I can't imagine anyone else putting in the time and effort that she did and being so dedicated to making our wedding how we were envisioning it and keeping it within the ever-changing constraints set by the state. At one point we had 3 different plans, layouts, and menus. She had a back-up plan for her back-up plan and she and the team at Merri-Makers were not going to give up on giving us our dream wedding. We ended up bringing the entire wedding completely outside, utilizing the beautiful veranda for our seating instead of the ballroom and it was gorgeous. We were able to have all of our family and bridal party there to celebrate with us, and it was the perfect evening. I haven't even gotten to the food yet, which was absolutely fabulous. We have two big (and opinionated) Italian families, and all we heard from everyone was how incredible the food was. I've had multiple people tell me that the filet was not just a good "wedding filet," but one of the best filets they have ever had, period. There is a reason Merri-Makers has been around 40 years, they are the best at what they do. The best part of all of this was not only did everyone walk away saying that it really felt just like a completely "normal" wedding, but because Merri-Makers took every precaution possible (temp checks, masks, gloves, sanitizing stations, etc.) every single guest at my wedding also walked away completely safe and healthy. There just aren't enough words to express how grateful we are to Gianna and her staff at Mallard Island, as well as all of Merri-Makers for making our dream wedding happen. If you are considering Mallard Island, or any of the Merri-Makers properties, do not hesitate at all and know going in that you have the best of the best catering your special day.

Julia Sent on 10/30/2019

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Delicious and creative

Everything from Merri-Makers was absolutely delicious. Everyone said it was the best food they have ever eaten at a wedding. The team was wonderful to work with and helped us tailor the menu to our own tastes and traditions!

Kyle Sent on 10/19/2019

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Amazing service

Patty was the MVP for our wedding planning process. She answered all of our questions thoroughly, and helped to keep us sane. Every little detail was handled with care, and her hard work was a crucial part in making this the best day of our lives. The chefs at Merri-Makers make delicious food! They even let us customize our menu in very specific and unconventional ways-- and the flavor did not disappoint! Furthermore, the servers were all helpful, exceptionally courteous and friendly.

Emily Sent on 10/12/2019

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Beachside in Belmar

We used Merri-Makers for our wedding last weekend at Taylor Pavilion in Belmar, NJ, and we are so glad we did. Our maitre'd Patty was incredibly helpful, responsive, and executed our event flawlessly. The food was great -- especially the appetizers/burrata bar (they offer a tasting after booking) -- and the waitstaff was incredibly friendly (including the head chef, who came down to the beach to personally deliver my now husband and I appetizers while we were taking some post ceremony pics). Taylor Pavilion was the perfect venue -- from the floor to ceiling ocean views, to the beach ceremony, to the late night bonfire -- and Merri-Makers was super accommodating when we wanted to bring in a few special items of our own (including a larger than life antipasti station and dessert platters for the tables). Thank you Patty and team, for helping to make this day the best one ever!

Darah Sent on 09/13/2019

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wow just wow... truly amazing food

The food at our wedding was UNREAL! Merrimakers catered our wedding at The Ashford Estate and truly the food was MOUTHWATERING. Thank you for making my wedding such a tasteful, delicious event!!! xo

Melissa Sent on 07/15/2019

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Amazing! Above and beyond

Merri-Makers was outstanding!! They not only catered our wedding at the Taylor Pavilion but their catering package includes a wedding coordinator. We had Patty as our coordinator and she was absolutely fantastic; from when we first met with her when we were just thinking about booking them and then all through our year long planning process Patty answered our millions of questions as well as thinking of details and solutions before we even had questions. The whole company was easy to work with and quick to respond for every interaction, and everyone we met at Merri-Makers was friendly and super helpful. The actual day-of the wedding went without a hitch because Patty and her team saw to everything and we didn't have to worry about a thing. The food was DELICIOUS and was served so nicely, we even got special bride and groom plates delivered right to our table! We would 100% recommend Merri-Makers to anyone looking for the best catering service and wedding coordinators.

Michael Sent on 02/13/2019

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Repeat Customer

We have used Merri-Makers Catering three times in the last year and we would not keep coming back if they were not outstanding. From set-up, hors d'ouevres and dinner to service, dessert and clean-up the Merri-Makers team was incredible. Cindy and Rick Bott have a terrific organization top to bottom including most especially Patty K. who was our event manager for all three events. We were able to relax because we knew Patty would manage everything, solve every problem and make sure we were able to enjoy our event. The best recommendation we can give is to say we will use Merri-Makers again and again at all of our future events.

Elizabeth Sent on 10/25/2017

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My husband & I are still on cloud nine from our dream wedding that MerriMakers brought to life. Moreover, my family & friends endlessly rave about the food, service, & amazing atmosphere that Chef Rick & his team delivered. After a relative recommended MerriMakers for catering, I met with Gianna and Chefs Rick & Jack and I knew instantly that I was in good hands. I was immediately sold with this group of passionate, creative, dedicated & incredibly talented professionals as they explained their mission & operations and encouraged me to share my own. Chef Rick & Gianna genuinely listened to our ideas & hopes for the wedding, which was off-premise at the Seaside Park Yacht Club, and immediately understood the flow & feel we were looking for. Moreover, they helped us fully formulate our vision for the wedding & opened our eyes to all that our big day could be. As our coordinator, Gianna answered our questions, asked us important questions we hadn't previously considered, and routinely communicated with me & my vendors to ensure all was on track for a perfect event. Any logistical issues or concerns that came about throughout the process were quickly solved by Gianna & the incredible Chef Rick. When Rick returned to the club both in the weeks ahead & the day before our wedding, my fiancé, family and I were in awe of his layout & plans for the big day and his ability to truly connect with us. On the eve of our wedding, we became even more energized & excited thanks to Chef Rick. When our wedding day rolled around, I cried twice: the moment my father hugged me & handed me over to my husband, and the moment I walked into the venue & saw the unbelievably beautiful wedding that MerriMakers had brought to life. Chef Rick, Gianna & their incredible team put the many wedding planning puzzle pieces together and gave me and my husband the greatest day of our lives. You will not find a company that values their clients, quality of service, or food, more than Merrimakers does.

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Carley Sent on 10/24/2017

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Our wedding was almost a year ago, and I feel ashamed that I have not written a review until now. I am actually shocked that this staff does not have 5 stars. They are the most professional, attentive, passionate and lovely group of people that you could ever trust leading up to your wedding, and on your wedding day. They anticipate your every move, get to know you so that they can do everything they can to make your day better... they simply go above and beyond. Andrea & the crew at Bonnet Island Estate deserve every credit. Of course, the catering and the food is amazing - the best on the East Coast, I assure you. You won't get better quality anywhere else. I highly, HIGHLY recommend Merri-Makers and their Bonnet Island team. I wish you all the best and THANK YOU!!!
-Carley & Mike (11/5/16)

Joe Sent on 10/16/2017

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Merri-Makers were by far the best decision we made for our wedding day - from start to finish, with the planning, consultation, food selection and overall day-of service we couldn't have had our day go as smoothly as it did without them! Gianna, our planner, was fantastic - very responsive, helped us turn our vision into reality, worked with the chef to help everything was within our budget. Geri, our day-of planner, was just as great - super responsive and dedicated to making things go very well and helped my wife and I relax and enjoy our day. Rick (co-owner and chef) and Cindy (co-owner) were on-site the day of our wedding to make sure everything went as planned - and the servers and other chefs helped feed their excellent food to our happy guests. Couldn't be any happier!

Claire Sent on 09/21/2017

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Merri-Makers Catering was a dream to work with! Gianna was extremely professional and organized; she really did much more than we ever expected of her on our wedding day. She kept everything running smoothly, from ceremony to cocktail hour to reception, and we couldn't be more grateful. We had multiple food stations at our wedding, and people are still raving about the food! Everything we had was delicious. The dessert options were also fantastic - I loved the cookies and milk! We are so happy that Merri-Makers was involved in our wedding day!

Meredith Sent on 08/18/2017

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Oh. My. Goodness! The food and level of service provided by Merrimakers was UNREAL! So many options and an attention to detail that we have never experienced with food! The number of stations and the variety of food provided was unlike anything we had ever seen before and they did not disappoint! Our only wish is that they had a restaurant we could visit! Their staff was also fan-freaking-tastic! From planning sessions with Laura and Kelsey who are FABULOUS -- quick to respond, accommodating, friendly...we could go on and on, to our incredible MVPs of the day: my bridal attendants Taylor and Lisa, to the extremely friendly wait-staff...they just helped to make our day a serious dream come true! I personally am so sad I won't be working with them anymore.

Joan Sent on 08/12/2017

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We had a fantastic experience with Neshanic Valley Golf Course from start to finish. Gianna was truly amazing! They did an excellent job helping us set everything up, and were so organized. Gianna was super responsive any time we had questions. The wedding turned out exactly how we wanted! Our guests all had an amazing time, and everyone raved about the food. We really could not have been happier with the service!!! Thank you so much!

Bryannah Sent on 08/11/2017

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Merrimakers catering with Weddings of Distinction is unreal. The food is just incredible and the service is unmatched. They do not make mistakes and it truly is fine dining. I was married in July at the Bonnet Island Estate and my guest are still raving about the food - it was the best they ever ate!

Bryannah Sent on 08/11/2017

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Merrimakers catering with Weddings of Distinction is unreal. The food is just incredible and the service is unmatched. They do not make mistakes and it truly is fine dining. I was married in July at the Bonnet Island Estate and my guest are still raving about the food - it was the best they ever ate!

Samantha Sent on 07/20/2017

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Delicious! We are very satisfied with their service.

Ashley Sent on 06/06/2017

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Laura was an absolute pleasure to work with from the moment we booked our wedding at The Ashford Estate. She was there every step of the way and we could not have done it without her, making the process so much easier. The entire staff beyond exceeded our expectations the day of our wedding. My husband and I received exceptional service the entire day and our guests are still raving about the food. We would recommend them to anyone!

Neena Sent on 03/30/2017

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There is no question: The Ashford Estate is perfect. THANK YOU, thank you, thank you to everyone at Merri-Makers, especially Laura & Gina, for making our wedding day so perfect. We knew we were in good hands from the start and Merri-Makers exceeded our (high) expectations. The food was delicious, and every detail was hit. Rain or shine - Merri-Makers is certainly prepared. The Ashford Estate is such a special place, and Merri-Makers helped to make all our dreams a reality at this picture-perfect venue.

Andrea Sent on 02/07/2017

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When looking for my wedding venue I was pretty sure of a few things. I wanted a beautiful atmosphere, fantastic food, friendly and accommodating staff and top notch service. I got all of those things at the Ashford Estate.

People left our wedding in awe because it was truly an incredible experience for us, our families and all of the people who joined us on our special day. You can not beat that place. It is a fairytale venue.

My husband and I were thrilled with our choice and if we could do it all over again we wouldn't hesitate to choose The Ashford again and again.

Allison Sent on 01/02/2017

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Merri-Makers Catering deserves 5 starts across the board. Their staff exceeded all of our expectations with a smile on their face. From their tasting to the wedding, my husband and I could not be any happier. They were so flexible when it came to meeting our vision. We were able personalize our menu in way that best suited us. All of our 225 guests ranted and raved about the quality of service and magnificent food. Merri-Makers truly is exceptional!

Ashley Sent on 12/28/2016

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My husband and I held our November wedding at the gorgeous Neshanic Valley Golf Course, using Merri-Makers Catering. It was wonderful - we couldn’t be happier! We received compliment after compliment from our guests regarding everything from the delicious food to the stellar service. The food was fresh, tasty, and of the highest caliber. Gianna Verdoni was our event specialist, and she was EXCELLENT! Gianna and her team were friendly, patient, professional, and flexible. Gianna kept in touch with us throughout the planning process, making herself available whenever we had a question, concern, or simply needed advice. She made us feel so comfortable, it felt as if we were working with an old friend. As soon as we stepped into our reception, Gianna and her team put us at complete ease. Merri-Makers truly made the vision for our wedding a reality, and we couldn’t be more grateful or pleased. We highly recommend their services!

Samara Sent on 11/08/2016

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Our September wedding at The Ashford Estate has been described over and over by our guests (and even people who just saw the pictures) as "a fairy tale." But, to us, it was the culmination of more than a year's worth of coordination with one of the most amazing groups of professionals ever! From our first meeting with Laura to our incredible tasting experience (which made it really hard to narrow down our menu) to our maître d' meeting and rehearsal with Kelsey to our wedding day with Kelsey and Lisa, Merri-Makers greatly exceeded our expectations and even our wildest dreams! Laura was incredibly responsive to my many, many questions, especially in the weeks leading up to the wedding. At our rehearsal and on the day of the wedding, Kelsey and Lisa made sure everything went smoothly and tended to our every need (and even things we didn't know we needed). And, despite hosting several beautiful weddings that weekend, the entire Merri-Makers team, including the first-class wait staff, made us feel like our wedding was uniquely special and important. We were able to enjoy our wedding day without any concerns that our guests would be treated with respect and receive impeccable service, and we had the wedding of our dreams! The only downside is that, despite having the best day of our lives, we can only get married once...but, true to form, Merri-Makers has invited us to come back for our anniversaries or when we're in the area. And, of course, we'll be taking them up on that offer :-)

Kaitlin Sent on 11/03/2016

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Where do I begin? My husband and I were lucky enough to be married at The Ashford Estate last month and I can say that they surpassed our wildest dreams of what our wedding would be like. From that very first visit with Laura 15 months before the wedding, down to the very day of our wedding I couldn't believe how easy they made the process. With a background in event planning I was concerned that I would be managing my wedding throughout the day. Everyone at Merri-Makers and Ashford made sure that the only thing that we were focused on was taking in the day and having an amazing time. They thought of everything and if they noticed that something wasn't right they took the initiative to make it right without stressing anyone out. The grounds at The Ashford are stunning-- everything from the surrounding area, to the charming barn that we were married in, to the jaw-dropping beauty of the ballroom. The food was exceptional and our guests said it was the best food they've ever had at a wedding. As the cherry on top, we were lucky enough to have rented The Estate for the entire night so both my grooms family and my own family were able to stay in the 12 guest rooms upstairs, that are truly nicer than any five star hotel's accommodations. I can't thank Merri-Makers and Ashford enough for helping provide my husband and I the wedding of our dreams! We are so excited to be coming back next summer when my sister gets married there and I know her wedding with be just as perfect! You are the best!! THANK YOU THANK YOU! Xo, Kait and Dan

Lori Sent on 10/27/2016

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DO it ASAP!!! the Ashford and the Merri Makers team were first class!! If I had another daughter, we would be back!!!

Danielle Sent on 10/26/2016

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Our wedding was on September 3rd, 2016! We had the most fantastic and memorable day at The Ashford Estate. From the beautiful landscapes, to the gorgeous barn where we had our ceremony, are to die for! The main estate and ballroom are out of a fairytale, for sure! Our day was just magical! This venue is truly a spectacular place. Everywhere you look there is a gorgeous 'backdrop'.
The entire process was amazing as well. We worked with Laura, who was fantastic the entire time. From phone calls and emails, to our meetings leading up to the day, it was all such an enjoyable process. The entire Ashford Estate and Merri-Makers team made the planning extremely easy and incredible. Taylor and Lisa were our bridal assistants. Helping me out all morning, then attending to my husband and I the entire evening. So eager to help and make our nights as enjoyable as possible. They were absolute dolls, too!
The 12 beautiful suites they accommodate in the main estate are pristine in every way possible. Each room has its own decor style and feel. The bridal suite is such a dreamy room. We loved staying here and so did our guests.
Merri-Makers did an awesome job, as well! The food was out of this world amazing! From cocktail hour, up until our dessert displays, everything was on point! Our guests were in awe with every detail during cocktail hour. Our dinner courses were spectacular!!!
You will not regret having your gorgeous wedding day at The Ashford Estate! We highly recommend it!

Melissa Sent on 08/29/2016

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Dream wedding is an understatement. For years I joked with my family and friends that I would get married at Bonnet Island Estate. We knew the minute we walked in for the tour with Mary, from Merri-Makers, that this was our wedding venue. It was so beautiful by itself there wasn’t much left to do besides show up! Mary was definitely an added bonus. She was so helpful throughout the entire planning process. The day of the wedding went so smoothly. I was weary about a Friday wedding but being able to get into the estate by 10am made the day feel less rushed and allowed us to relax before the big event. Ellie and Colleen were AMAZING and were there for us every step of the way that day. Most importantly our wedding was a lot of fun. We felt like everything came together perfectly with the help of the staff, they were extremely accommodating and professional. We have gotten so many compliments about the entire day. Everything from the beautiful venue, the delicious food, to the amazingly attentive staff. We cannot thank you enough for making our day one that not only we will remember but one that our guests will be talking about for years to come! We stopped by a few days after the wedding to pick up a few things. As we left we were told to come back to visit, take anniversary or family pictures anytime since we are now part of the Bonnet Island Family.

User2666626 Sent on 08/02/2016

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Merri Makers was the BEST decision I made in all of my wedding planning. Their venue, the Ashford Estate, is absolutely stunning. They say "it is your house for the day" and they mean it. Their staff is incredibly accommodating, professional, and genuine. Giana, one of our staff for the day, actually cried when my dad walked me down the aisle! She was making friends with the groomsmen too! It feels great to have staff that are incredibly dedicated to you and to weddings in general surrounding you on your special day. Leading up to the event, Laura was incredibly responsive, helpful, and organized. I can't recommend the Ashford Estate and Merri Makers enough.

Stephanie Sent on 07/26/2016

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Laura, the contact for Merri-Makers at the Ashford Estate was incredible. She was available, attentive, knowledgeable, and patient every step of the wedding planning process.

The service provided the day of the wedding was outstanding. Kelsey our Maitre'D and Laura were both available for the rehearsal the day prior. While we hired a day of wedding planner who was helpful, we would have felt as easily as comfortable knowing that Laura and Kelsey were there to help organize the event.

The wait staff was extremely attentive and courteous and were diligent to make us and our guests feel welcomed and happy every step of the way. We do not believe there was a moment when we had to worry about what was happening next and we certainly had a drink in hand without even making a request.

The food was wonderful but not over kill and Laura was excellent at customizing our menu to suit our personal options. If you want amazing service and an excellent experience, I highly recommend using Merri Makers catering for your event!

Kristina Sent on 07/26/2016

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I literally cannot say enough about how wonderful everything at the Ashford Estate was. I had my dream wedding at this magical venue on 7/2/16. The Ashford Estate is literally the most beautiful wedding venue I have ever been to. I love that everything is on site- and the different spaces for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception keep the day unfolding for guests like little surprises. The food was excellent! We had salmon and Chateaubriand for our dinner choices and I've never seen so many plates licked clean at a wedding. My guests also told me that they were offered second helpings as there was extra in the kitchen - what a nice touch! The cocktail hour food was amazing as well, as were our strolling desserts - guests thought this idea was different and fun and couldn't stop raving about the options. More than anything, what puts Ashford Estate over the top were the absolutely amazing on site staff. Laura of Merrimakers was by far the most attentive, responsive and wonderful person that I could have asked for in planning my wedding. I am in PR and have planned many events and she and her staff were like I had 100 versions of myself day-of. I like to have my hands in everything to make sure it's all perfect and I have never met anyone who could replicate things exactly as I would have done it. Laura totally got me and my vision and I felt like I could relax and TOTALLY trusted her and her team the day of. Kelsey of Merrimakers was our maitre'd and was equally as amazing as Laura -helping my day run smoothly. Lastly, my bridal attendants, Taylor and Lisa, were so BEYOND amazing and attentive. They made sure me and my groom always had drinks and were able to eat, literally had everything ready and attentive. I cannot say enough about everyone at Ashford Estate. There was not one thing that went wrong, the venue is perfect, the gardens are perfect, the food is perfect, the staff is perfect. I cannot recommend them enough! They gave this bride her dream wedding!

User2474864 Sent on 12/18/2015

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Merrimakers catered our wedding at the Ashford Estate in Allentown, NJ. The food was incredible! They helped us create a custom menu that was unique to my husband and I. We had 8 stations at our cocktail hour...everything from a sushi bar, to sliders, to grilled cheese and tomato soup shooters. We had four choices for dinner and we are still hearing from our guests about how delicious the food was!! Food is SO important at a wedding and we are so thankful we had a great experience with Merrimakers!

User2257571 Sent on 08/05/2015

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My husband and I had our wedding reception at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in June 2015 and worked exclusively with Merri-Makers catering. The quality of the food was PHENOMENAL- every guest commented on that for both cocktail hour and entrees. I would most definitely recommend Merri-Makers for any catered event!

Danielle Sent on 09/28/2014

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For years I have known that I wanted to be married at Bonnet Island Estate. I never thought we could afford it, but we were able to get a great deal by booking one of the last dates left in 2014. From the day we booked until the wedding night, the Merrimakers staff were extremely helpful. Mary walked us through everything, and was great handling all of my indecisions (we changed the menu a million times). They recommended vendors to us and were quick to respond to emails. The rehearsal was quick and easy and the staff made sure everyone knew exactly what they had to do. The day of the wedding, the staff literally catered to our every need. From delivering a champagne cart to the bridal room, to keeping track of where the groom was at all times making sure we did not see each other. They were so professional. I literally felt like a queen. I was assigned an attendant while we were getting ready, and then assigned another attendant to be with us the entire night. I don't know what I would have done without Cheryl. She carried my train, fixed my veil, and brought me food when I asked. Needless to say, we were both very spoiled that night. I will never forget my wedding. It was a dream come true. It has been two weeks and everyone is still talking about the amazing service we received. The staff organized all of the outside vendors and made sure everything was running smoothly and on time. Ellie even reminded the photographer about taking sunset photos (because we almost missed it), and helped to bustle my dress! I would not only recommend Bonnet Island Estate to anyone, but also any of the other venues where Merrimakers is the house caterer. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Aimee Sent on 08/06/2014

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The woman in charge is Wendy and she is amazing. Very accommodating and friendly. She's professional and knows her stuff! She has an answer to every question and is very flexible. Everything went smoothly and the food was
a-maze-ing! People were gaga about the venue of our wedding (as am I every time I see it). Overall fantastic wedding and it's all because of Merrimakers at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Branchburg, NJ!

User1824996 Sent on 05/22/2014

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Merri-Makers food was outstanding and I am a big foodie! I was so happy with the outcome of the food, the presentation was so beautiful, and the options are endless.

Alexandra Sent on 12/27/2013

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I cannot begin to express how grateful we are to have had the Merrimakers & WOD team by our side during this wonderful, but at some points stressful time. I cannot tell you that your wedding won't be costly, if you choose a WOD venue...but I can absolutely tell you that you will remember it for the rest of your lives, and it will certainly be the best night of your life! Merrimakers has an unmatched professionalism about them, that I do not believe is available anywhere else. We worked with Laura D., Mary, Jamie, Kevin, and Kevin, Kate (my bridal attendant, whom I will be grateful for her presence that night for the rest of my life LOL), and Ginny for WOD, and I really cannot express into words how instrumental each and everyone of these people were in making our night BEAUTIFUL. I cannot say one off color thing about this team...I promise you WOD venues are worth the price. The food was exceptional, our ballroom was setup exactly to my specifications, and the staff that worked our wedding were among the nicest people I have ever met. I know for a fact, that people will discuss our wedding for years to come...can't say enough great things. The only thing that upsets me is that I can't do it again 100 times over. We love WOD and Merrimakers!

Michelle Sent on 09/25/2013

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The food was delicious, the price was reasonable, and the maitre d' and waitstaff went out of their way to make sure our wedding day went perfectly.

Ryan Sent on 09/12/2013

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Merri-Makers did such an amazing job! I have received so many compliments on the food. Several saying it was the best they had ever had at a wedding!!!

Jennifer Sent on 06/08/2013

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Merri-Makers catered our wedding at The Ashford Estate in Allentown, NJ. The food was delicious, the staff was very professional and the service was perfect. The cocktail hour appetizers were the perfect start to the evening. They offered a large selection of reception meals for us to choose from. The food was served at the perfect temperature and the sides were arranged very elegantly. Our guests are still talking about the passed desserts and fondue table. We would not have changed a thing about our food.

Jennifer Sent on 04/24/2013

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When we first saw the Ashford Estate we knew it was the perfect venue for our Wedding, the only downside we could see was that we had to use a caterer and that they did not have an actual kitchen and staff on-site. We were very weary but than we met with Laura and all of our questions were answered and she made us completely comfortable. Merri Makers Catering is such a professional company, the food was FANTASTIC! All of our guests complimented the cocktail hour and the dinner. We were very pleased with all the coordination and details that were handled by Merri Makers. If you are looking for a great caterer, Merri Makers is the perfect choice.

Alison Sent on 01/10/2013

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Laura and Ellie were out of this world! Laura was very gracious through our entire menu planning process (which means we changed it 3000000 times). The night of our wedding, we had everything we asked for and so much more. Everyone raved about the food and exceptional service all night long!

Anna Sent on 10/29/2012

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AMAZING! The food and service were absolutely PERFECT. They are extremely easy to work with and very accomodating. They ensure that they're with you throughout the wedding planning process and work very hard to make sure that you have everything that you request for the big day. All of our guests could not stop raving about the cocktail hour - the stations and food presentations were absolute works of art. The steaks they served as entrees (we ordered filet mignons) were the best steaks we've had at a wedding -- and we've been to plenty of weddings within the last year and a half! Overall, we are VERY pleased with our caterer selection. Everything went so smoothly - Merri-Makers makes sure that you are satisfied with every choice that you make... they helped make our dream wedding a reality!

Stephanie Sent on 06/13/2012

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Merri Makers is definitely the caterer to use. The food was incredible which of course is first and foremost. Laura, who was my contact person was super nice, attentive and wasy to work with. Everything was flawless and if it wasn't I no one ever knew. A very nice perk that they do is that the bride and groom get any meal of thier choice...and I mean anything....so that was really fun and of course yummy....

Angela Sent on 09/27/2011

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Not only were they one of the most beautiful locations we scouted, it was absolutely the best value. Everyone was so nice and very willing to make sure we got what we wanted (not that we were too picky from their default set-up - they know how to throw a great party!). They even include a horse-and-carriage arrival to your reception as long as the weather plays along. We found out our original consultant was no longer with the company a few weeks after booking but it was not even a problem - her manager took over our event. She was so willing to work with us, and so nice on the wedding day - I was really glad to have someone keeping it going smoothly so I didn't have to worry about it. Our guests absolutely raved about the food and we were over the moon with everything and how it all went. A++!

Melanie Sent on 08/09/2011

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Laura and Mary are an amazing team and literally gave me everything I asked for. They were very organized, which I appreciated and really listened to what I wanted. They also had great recommendations about what works well, but were never pushy or impatient with us despite constantly changing our menu. I wanted a few items that weren't on their menu and they were more than happy to accommodate us including filling 150 cannollis from a bakery in my hometown. Their food is amazing and they have such a great variety to choose from, but also are very flexible with changes you want to make.

Nicole Sent on 05/15/2011

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The location is incredibly beautiful, and everyone who was working the night of our wedding was very nice, friendly, and professional. Everything went perfectly. We had no stress at all dealing with them.

Suzanne Sent on 01/17/2011

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Fabulous job! We dealt with Laura from MerriMakers and she made our day absolutely wonderful. I must have emailed her 72,000 times before the big day and she was extremely helpful through each one. She went above and beyond to calm our nerves and make the day of the wedding flawless. She was there with us throughout the night and made sure everything went smoothly. As for MerriMakers as a whole, the food and service were more than we could have imagined. So many of our guests simply raved about the food, especially cocktail hour! They were worth every penny, I highly recommend them!!

Kristin Sent on 01/08/2011

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My husband and I got married on a farm with no heat or electricity, let alone a proper cook's kitchen. We knew we needed to hire a catering company that could handle such a difficult event, so Merri-Makers was the obvious choice.

Laura Daly was so easy to work with, and she always offered fresh, creative menu ideas. She came to the farm to do a walk-through with us to determine where the cook tent needed to go with all of their equipment, where our reception tent would go, how far away the cook tent would be from the reception tent to make sure the food stayed hot... she really cared about making sure our wedding would be perfect.

She helped us create the menu for a traditional New England clambake (a tribute to my home state), as well as the best cocktail hour menu our guests had ever seen. Rick did a great job directing the Merri-Makers staff on our wedding day, and everyone was dressed very professionally. The staff was polite, and the bartenders knew how to make drinks well.

In addition to working hard for our guests' experience, they also made sure we, as well as our bridal party, were well taken care of. They had our drinks of choice ready and waiting for us as we arrived at our cocktail hour, and while we were mingling with guests, they were thoughtful enough to make my husband and I plates of food, as we didn't have time to make our own plates. That type of service continued the entire night. I never had to get my own drink or serving of food, as it was all provided for me and my family, before we could even ask for it.

If they can handle our wedding, on a farm, with no electricity, heat, or even a roof over their heads, they can handle your wedding! Merri-Makers is THE best catering company in the state of New Jersey, period.

Donna Sent on 11/05/2010

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Merri Makers provided all the rentals for our outdoor Tent wedding over looking the valley at Neshanic Valley Golf Course and the catering. They helped make my dreams come true. It was a beautiful set up. They were very flexible and got me everything I asked for. Danielle was so great. The food was delicous, and we are foodies. More like being at a fine dining restaurant. My ceremony however was held at Neshanic Reformed Church in Hillsborough, NJ. This lumps ceremony and reception together for some reason.

Lori Sent on 08/04/2010

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When we first booked Bonnet Island Estate, we were a little concerned that we did not have a choice of caterers. Coming from an Italian family where food is EVERYTHING at a wedding, I am very happy to report that the food was delicious and my whole Italian family agreed! Laura Daly was our coordinator and she was amazing as was her assistant Mary. Mary was so attentive to my husband and I are on wedding day. We constantly had fresh drinks in our hands. Laura was very accommodating to the many changes I made to our menu and drink order as the wedding got closer. She made sure everything was taken care of on our wedding day.

Emily Sent on 05/27/2010

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Merri-Makers was such a pleasure to work with and they were absolutely fantastic at everything they do! Laura Daly was our coordinator and she was so amazing and accommodating and helped us to achieve our exact vision for our wedding. We had several meetings over the course of several months to help fine tune our wedding menu. We loved working with them because they really allowed us total freedom to start from scratch and create our own culinary dream for our wedding. We gave them several home recipes that they very willingly helped us to recreate for our wedding which gave such a wonderful and personal touch...we even created an international cocktail hour with flavours from India, Vietnam, Cuba, etc. It was incredible to have them say yes to anything we asked when it came to food. And come wedding day, everything was executed so beautifully and several guests came up to us telling us how amazing the food tasted. Even though we didn't get to eat as much as we would have liked to at our own wedding, everything we tasted was a pure delight. Merri-Makers is wonderful if you're looking for a catering group that is willing to work with you to create your own culinary vision.

Kelly Sent on 12/29/2009

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We had our reception at Merri Makers in Sea bright, nj. They were unbelievable! THey did everything we asked, and made sure we were as comfortable as possible. Sally was our coordinator, Sal was our MAter D' and Tara was the bridal parties own waitress. The staff was phenomenal and the reception hall looked gorgeous. All of our guest were raving about the food and beauty of the place. They made my day the best day of my life. I would recommend them for your special day!

Jennifer Sent on 12/16/2009

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What can I say? They were perfect! The food was amazing and the service impeccable. They went over and above in every area. From planning to flexibility, to the day before and night of. People even commented to me afterward regarding the "on point" service they received. Bruce and Sheri at Neshanic Valley Golf Club were wonderful to work with and really made our day very special. I did not have a florist and created my own tables and bouquets but b/c there was a party the night before, I could not set everything up for them. They did so for me exactly how I pictured everything and really went above expectations! And the food!! Amazing....I am still getting compliments on the food! I just wish I could enjoy the night all over again! Thank you Merrimakers!

Erika Sent on 06/28/2009

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We worked with Laura Daly and she really pulled it all together for us. Food was great, service was great, and Laura went above and beyond to manage every little detail for us! She made the day stress free so we could enjoy our wedding day! We highly recommend her and the Merri Makers team!

Carolina Sent on 04/14/2009

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We loved the food and service, and we got great feedback from our guests.

Kelly Sent on 09/05/2008

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You get more than you pay for and the Holmdel location sells itself, its stunning. The coordinators cater to you and have great communication. Merri Makers food is delicious. I will admit you should choose your bar tender because the two that I met had a sense of humor that my family didnt like too much.

Andrea Sent on 07/02/2008

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Amazing food, very friendly and accommodating staff serving our every need! Laura Daly is awesome and excellent at her job. We picked our own menu with cultural flares. Thanks so much for making our day even more special! HIGHLY recommend.

Ema Sent on 01/03/2008

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Service was awesome! The food dynamite! They were excellent to work with and wanted nothing but the best and most ideal day for us. Our wish was literally their command. They even went out of their way to get my new husband something that wasn't on the menu---he wanted philsbury biscuts with dinner---they went to the grocery store & purchased them for him!!

Amanda Sent on 11/04/2016

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What sets Merri-Makers Catering, at Neshanic Valley Golf Course, apart from the rest, is the staff. The team of this venue runs everything from the beginning of planning your event to the day of with knowledge, expertise, efficiency, flexibility, valuable advice, and guidance. From the very beginning, when we first visited this location on our search for a wedding venue, the staff and location stood apart from the rest. The location alone is beautiful. The staff makes you feel welcome and by the end of your event, it feels like you've become part of the family. Our wedding was exactly what we dreamed of and so, so much more. The team here has a willingness to help in any way possible, to the degree that from the moment we set foot on the premise the day of our wedding for photos, through our ceremony, and reception, we didn't have to think about a thing. Everything ran flawlessly. We feel so lucky, privileged, and blessed to have been able to work with Gianna. (We would be lying if we said we weren't secretly dreaming of ways to have another event soon, just to have the opportunity to work with her!)

Jessica Sent on 01/02/2016

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Merri-Makers was absolutely incredible! The service of the staff was above and beyond anything I could have ever imagined to make things easy for my husband and me the day of the wedding and our parents. And all of the food was delicious! The catered the menu to our liking and helped guide us on quantities and a menu that would appeal to the masses given we had a large wedding with guests with dietary restrictions and some very picky eaters :) It was truly some of the best wedding food we've ever had!

Sommer Sent on 04/27/2012

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Merrimakers wasn’t supposed to be one of my favorite vendors. Our venue uses Merrimakers Catering exclusively, so this was the only vendor that we did not actively select. And things got off to a rocky start- we didn't fall in love with the sample food at our group tasting and called Laura to ask her how to proceed. She suggested we design our own menu and then come up to Edison, NJ and try the proposed hors d’oeuvres and 3-course dinner. We did just that, even providing a few family recipes, and were thrilled with the results. Merrimakers was flexible, even allowing us to change from duck to chicken a few weeks before the big day to accommodate someone in the wedding party with a new dietary restriction. The salad was perfect- and I loved that they served the dressing in a small glass so that no one had wilted lettuce or needed to wait for the wait staff to bring them extra dressing- perfect! The golden roasted capon was moist and delicious and the Madeira wine sauce, mushrooms and asparagus/ truffle cake were so good that I wish I had leftovers the next day! Broccolini was crisp and flavorful, cheese plate was supposedly wonderful- although I was too busy dancing to eat mine- and the crème fraiche that accompanied the cake was dense and sour, just like in Paris! The only tiny piece of constructive criticism I have is that timing was a little bit off. I know that the wait staff was being polite by not putting dinner down during speeches- but I had planned it that way so that there would be no down time when speeches were over. We ended up running about an hour behind- luckily the photographer was kind enough to stay for cake cutting. All in all, I would hire Merrimakers again to cater my wedding- the food was FABULOUS.

Margaret Sent on 11/07/2016

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We got married last April and merri makers made our wedding so special! The food was wonderful and everyone was very responsive to my family's multiple requests to revise the menu. On the day the people that worked at the venue went above and beyond to ensure that my husband and I actually ate some food and tried all the desserts! They even sensed when I was stressed out and brought me some wine. Mary was our main contact who we are always going to be indebted to for coming with us to city hall to be our witness for the marriage license. We had the best wedding experience I could have imagined and most of it was because of merri makers. Not to mention I had multiple guests tell me this was the best food they have ever had at a wedding!!! Definitely recommend them to anyone looking for great food and service for their NJ area wedding!!

Brittany Sent on 07/03/2014

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Amazing people. Once we got close to the date and meet with the maître d', any worries I had were taken away. Food was great

User1475595 Sent on 08/21/2013

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

Wow! I was a little nervous to higher Merri makers in the beginning but they were the exclusive caterer at the venue I got married so really I was left with no choice. Throughout the process I was reassured that Laura was going to make my day wonderful. She and her staff defiantly deliver quality food that your guests will love! They will make anything you want and you can attend several tastings. My guests really enjoyed the strolling desserts! They are truly there to please their client. Thank you for making our day memorable and delicious!

Amanda Sent on 10/26/2016

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

I grew up with Merri-Makers as THE caterer for big events so that and the fact that it was the vendor our venue exclusively worked with made the decision really easy. In addition, the menu packages were easily customized and the food on the day of was delicious. Very happy with Merri-Makers overall.

User6951931 Sent on 10/01/2014

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had our wedding at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course. The staff at Merrimakers ensured that my husband and I had everything set up perfectly. we were battling the rain early in the day and the team worked fast to ensure our wedding ceremony could take place outside once the rain stopped. The food was incredible. we received so many complements from our guests on how good the food was. The views at Neshanic Valley are amazing, some of the best according to our photographer and videographer. We would highly recommend Talkign to Wendy at Merrimakers. She will make sure your wedding is perfect for you.

Kathleen Sent on 11/07/2014

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Running up to the wedding we had some hang ups with miscommunication because we were using a venue that was off-site. Once all the back and forth was done, the wedding day was amazing!!! They were professional, we had our own waitress just for us to make sure we got hors d'ourves while we were taking pictures!! The food was outstanding and everyone raved about the service. They truly are out to make the customers happy.

User2212915 Sent on 05/04/2015

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Our Daughter got married at Bonnet Island Estate on April 17, 2015. The day was beautiful from beginning to end and way beyond our expectations. The Chapel is so quaint and the Ballroom so grand- you don’t need much décor because the spaces speak for themselves. There are no words to describe the views from the property, and the Sunset…WOW! The Staff at Merri Makers Caterers made us feel comfortable and so special, not only on the day of, but every day leading up to it. We worked with Mary and she was always there to answer any questions we had along the way. Going into the Wedding Day we had no worries at all. Our Matre‘d, Ellie and Bridal Attendant, Jessica, were with us throughout the day and into the evening to ensure everything went as promised. The Service was impeccable and the food was extraordinary! We are still receiving phone calls from our guests raving about the day! We would recommend Merri Makers and Bonnet Island Estate to everyone. The staff was outstanding and the property is beautiful. Once you arrive, you never want to leave!!

Barbara and Gordon Kirk

Stephanie Sent on 06/24/2010

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Merri Makers Neshanic- It was really important for us to find a reception hall that "fit" us. This was definitely it. The food was amazing! It is a relatively new wedding site, and they are still ironing out kinks (I had dealt with a few different salespeople due to turnover). The only issue I really had was that the girl who was supposed to be waiting on us all night wasn't very attentive. The maitre 'd was great and the room looked absolutely perfect. My wedding reception was amazing due in large part to Merri Makers!

Melanie Sent on 01/01/2011

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We had our wedding at the Neshanic Valley Golf Course through Merri-Makers. There were some good things and bad things about using this vendor.

BAD: We booked the site about 10-11 months before our wedding date, and during the course of that time our wedding coordinator changed 4 times. Not once, did Merri-Makers notify us of these changes. I would just call or email to ask a question, and would get a "no longer works her response". I found this to be a bit frustrating, especially having to re-confirm everything. There were definitely discrepancies between what one said and what the next said. Because this was a new site for MM, there were a lot of other changes throughout the process: They changed the ballroom chairs (I personally loved the original ones from when I booked), They didn't decide till two weeks before my wedding whether the tent was going to be up or down, etc....

The site is beautiful, but the site is owned by the county not MM, so 1) Despite the fact that they show pictures of bride and groom on the golf course taking pictures, they will not let you on the course to take pics. This was told to us about 2 weeks before the wedding, which was annoying, but we still managed to get some good pics with the course in the background. 2) If you have the ceremony there, the parking lot is RIGHT there. Our first coordinator told us they block off the area closest to the ceremony for cars--Our final coordinator told us that was not possible. Needless to say a car alarm went off during our ceremony, which of course I had to laugh at!

They also didn't get our cake right, we were given vanilla instead of chocolate filling. Not a big deal.

GOOD: The food was excellent! This was extremely important to me, and one of the primary reasons I chose this vendor. I was not disappointed. I made sure to enjoy our cocktail hour, and was quite pleased with the selection and arrangement of food.

Our day-of coordinator made sure we were taken care of all day! She would check in with us often, get us drinks, etc. They had food, champagne, and drinks ready for us in the bridal room as soon as the ceremony was over too.

The ceremony site, golf course, reception room, and deck for cocktail hour was beautiful!! Our guests loved that they had the deck to use throughout the night for fresh air.

J Sent on 08/13/2009

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Bruce was very helpful in making my day perfect. Merimakers did a great job renovating Neshanic Valley Golf Course, and it looks great! All the guests loved it.

Laura Sent on 04/23/2008

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

The maitre'd was very accommodating, the food was excellent, the service was superb, and they were willing to convenience us in any way, and every way, possible. Excellent value for what you received, and they threw in the ceremony at no charge when they usually would! They are now Sterling Gardens, but the staff remains the same!

Chris Sent on 04/09/2009

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

They made my wedding perfect.

Breanne Sent on 08/04/2008

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

Anthony at Merri-Makers did an amazing job. He knew exactly what I wanted, he brought me one sample and it was perfect. The reception venue was decorated beautifully.

Traci Sent on 11/29/2011

4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

Merri-makers provided wonderful food during cocktail hour that everyone raved about. They also provided us tastings prior to the event so we had some ideas of what the food would taste like. I will say that the quality does vary from chef to chef so make sure you go to the tastings. They try to be responsive but take a few days to get back to you. Once they get back to you they work with you but to tend to up-charge a lot for changes even though they tell you to forget their pre-made menu and they'll do whatever you want. All and all for a wedding caterer, they are excellent and one of their special things is they make the bride and groom whatever they want to eat for their special day. I would recommend merri-makers to others, but depending on which chef they got.

Charles Sent on 07/13/2010

3.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
2.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We chose this location due to its location to our parents house. It was close to the majority of our guests, and would work well with what we wanted. We had a destination wedding and this reception was too be a party. We made sure we had a very diverse menu, choosing a short plate / cocktail style reception. We had 5 short plates, open bar and and ice cream bar instead of a cake.

The food was ridiculously good, and the guests only had great things to say about the food. The only complaint I have is the fact that they disregarded our decorations, picture frames and other things we had brought for decorations. During cleanup then completly cleaned off all the tables in less than 15 minutes, which sent us scrambling trying to get some of the decorations for our scrap book. Inturn they threw out things without asking if we wanted them, then told us some ridiculous story about where they put it.

The overall staff at merrymakers was great. However, Danielle Gomez, really wasnt that professional. She seemed like she always had something else to do on the event date. They took our stuff and completely decorated the place without asking where we wanted things. When we arrived the had our table cards outside on the deck, which forced people to come into the facility, walk through the reception area and go outside with their personal belonging. Logistically they just dont know what they are doing.

For the money it was a very good location. I know there are multiple catering managers, so I recommend working with someone other than Ms Gomez.

Gina Sent on 06/28/2017

3.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3.5 out of 5 rating

The food was delicious and we were satisfied!

Christine Sent on 08/05/2008

3.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
3.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

They were great on our wedding day.

Paulo Sent on 02/10/2010

2.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1.5 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
3 out of 5 rating

MerriMakers provided great food and service at our wedding, but we were treated very poorly, arguably taken advantage of, when there was a dispute with our contract. We had a ZERO balance on the day of our wedding. Several months later, we received a nasty letter from MerriMakers saying our account was sent to collections and that, if she didn’t pay the balance due, she would be reported to our local police department for theft of services. MerriMakers “forgot” to put the sales tax on our initial contract, or any of the subsequent balance statements. We decided to split the balance with MerriMakers, since it was their mistake and we didn’t budget for this cost. It was almost impossible to get them to apologize for their mistake. We were more concerned about how my wife and I were treated than the money itself. MerriMakers was more concerned about the money itself over how they treated a well paying customer.

User1999933 Sent on 01/07/2015

2.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
3 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1.5 out of 5 rating

MerriMakers catered my wedding this past December (2014). The food was absolutely delicious - I cannot take that away from them. Additionally, all of of the responses via email and phone with the company leading up to my wedding were quick and efficient. However, on the night of my wedding, when it was most important for the caterers, maitre d, etc., to be efficient and offer exceptional service, they fell short. As bride and groom, we were told we would have our own personal maitre d, but apparently ours "had a family emergency" right after our ceremony and we spent the evening looking for someone to help us, possibly get us a drink, answer questions, help us out in general, etc., and no one was around. Moreover, and really the worst part, was that at the end of the evening, when the wedding was over, no one helped to clear up decor, gather gifts/cards, etc. I had specifically asked weeks before the wedding who would take care of clearing up at the end of the night and was told by MerriMakers that they "of course" would do it. When the wedding was over, I was left standing in my wedding dress with my groom, being told by our "maitre d'" that myself and my groom would be responsible to clearing up, collecting any decor we wanted to keep, and carting everything up to our room (we got married in a hotel) on our own as they had "already exceeded what they normally do" in terms of service. When our "maitre d'" said these words to us, I was astounded. Needless to say, I was terribly disappointed and angry. So, myself and my groom spent the time after our wedding cleaning up. The food, however, was delicious.

Rebecca Sent on 07/07/2018

2.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
0.5 out of 5 rating

Dealing with Merri Makers was a complete nightmare. Unfortunately, we were forced to use them because of the location we chose (Bonnet Island Estate).
Let me start with the owners, Rick and Cindy Bott. I have never witnessed such unprofessionalism from business owners in my life. My husband and I ordered the platinum menu along with five other stations. However, this still was not enough for them. They squeezed us for every nickel and dime they could get out of us. The worst of it all: THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THEIR OWN CONTRACT. My husband is a lawyer, he reads contracts every day for a living. Any ambiguity in a contract goes against the drafter. This made a difference of a little over $300. After all of the money we had already given them, he (Rick Bott) aggressively argued with us over this error in his contract. OWNER, RICK BOTT, THREATENED TO CANCEL MERRI MAKERS' SERVICES TWELVE DAYS BEFORE OUR WEDDING. Because we were exploited by this threat, we were forced to pay it.
I highly recommend staying as far away from Merri Makers as possible. Rick and Cindy Bott clearly don't play by the rules. They will take as much money as they possibly can from you. Save yourself the stress and aggravation and go elsewhere.

Karyn Sent on 04/01/2009

1.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
2 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

We thought we had made the right choice by going with Merri Makers. Their food was excellent as well as their presentation at their tasting. Needless to say we were disappointed when they did not carrythrough on promises made (and paid for ) at our reception. Not to mention that after the wedding we received multiple calls from them after our bill had been paid and settled stating that they had "miscalculated" a variety of charges and taxes and wanted more money. I dont know of any company that would be so unprofessional as to go so far and ask couples for additional money after their bill was paid in full and on time.

User1096699 Sent on 02/23/2013

0.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
0.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
0.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0.5 out of 5 rating
Value
0.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
0.5 out of 5 rating

Extremely accomodating- excellent staff, great food and remarkable service. Not your typical looking wedding venue. If you are looking for something with a spectacular view, no other place in NJ can top this. Truly is a hidden jem. My fiancé and I wanted to have our wedding somewhere none of our family and friends had ever been to. Merri Makers truly exceeded our expectations. If you are looking for a venue with originality, this is your place.

Merri-Makers Catering Reviews

Reviews

Merri-Makers Catering