Spillian: A Place to Revel Reviews

My husband and I cannot express how in love we are with Spillian, after they helped execute the perfect wedding day beginning to end. Not only is it a stunning magical place, they are communicative, their food is perfection, drinks delicious, absolute perfection. You can't get a better deal, if you are on the fence because wedding planning is hard, this is your sign to go for it. It was the best decision we ever made!

Mark, Leigh and their team are beyond phenomenal. Spillian is such a magical, wonderful place and we are so grateful we were able to have our wedding there. Spillian was exactly what we dreamed of and the staff were so helpful. It truly felt like an enchanted forest and that we weren't just another couple getting married. We would 100% recommend getting married at Spillian!!

The best word to describe Spillian is magical. We had our queer, nontraditional, multi-day, summer solstice wedding here complete with a pre-wedding bonfire welcome reception and post-wedding day of tasty tacos, axe throwing, games, guided tour of the grounds, and screening of Werewolves Within, which was filmed onsite. The venue and scenery are breathtaking and the food is outstanding. Leigh helped transform our ceremony into a truly personal and meaningful experience, Mark replied masterfully to our long and detailed emails, and the entire staff worked extremely hard to make our entire celebration special, including adapting to several last-minute changes and a tearful phone call right before we arrived when a bad weather forecast and pre-arrival covid exposure threw many plans up in the air. There are inevitably some bumps and hiccups during any major event, but even when we were stressed or worried, Spillian did a wonderful job responding to all of it in stride. It’s truly a special place.

We had our daughters wedding on Saturday, September 12, 2020 at Spillian. Mark and his team made our wedding experience magical. They went over and above making a perfect experience for all who attended. The food was absolutely fabulous. We had a lobster 🦞 rehearsal dinner, breakfast on both Saturday and Sunday morning, and the prime rib and trout was the best we’ve ever had. They could not have been more accommodating for all who stayed at the mansion. We had a great weekend with family since we could all stay together. Our original wedding date was in May and Mark made all Covid accommodations to make everyone comfortable and safe. I can’t say enough to express how overjoyed we were with this venue. You will not be disappointed

I cant thank enough Leigh and Mark for the experience they provided at their mansion. They were the most welcoming and accommodating hosts. Everythign they promised they accomplished.
The venue is a beautiful old mansion with a little pond, a spectacular view of the mountains and a separate outdoor place for the ceremony. It provides a feel of a bygone era when ladies wore evening gowns for dinner but at the same time it is welcoming and cozy.
The service was seamless, the food was an excellent farm to table fair.
I am thinking of having an anniversary party there

TL;DR Trust us – don’t hesitate, choose Spillian for your wedding (or literally anything else). It’s a magical experience from the first communication to the final goodbye, the staff is absolutely incredible, and the food is to die for.

Where do we even begin? From the first moment of contact, everyone at Spillian made us feel like part of their family. Truthfully we were sold from the online photos alone and never could have imagined what a magical experience the entire process would be. Mark and his team were a joy to work with and we could barely tear ourselves away from the property after each visit. They anticipated our needs and went above and beyond to make each of us feel welcomed. Spillian itself is a remarkable location with a rich history that’s almost tangible as you walk amongst the beautifully detailed bedrooms, each with its own story. It felt a little something like being transported to Narnia while being immersed in a gilded 1920s fairytale. Walking from the warm wooded glow of the ornate mansion into the cool crisp November air, down the light-lined path to the forested cathedral of a ceremony site was a singularly transformative experience. Logistically speaking everything was stress-free and streamlined, and we didn’t have to worry about renting tables, chairs, flatware, or even linens. Mark’s email response time is feat in and of itself – we were never waiting on an answer to any one of our late-stage questions, no matter the time of week or day. And the food? Words just won’t do it justice. After sending over a plethora of past menus, they worked with us to develop a plan for the entire weekend (did we mention you get the entire place and the grounds ALL weekend??). Their chef, Christian, makes food fit for the gods, and uses seasonal, local ingredients whenever possible to make it more sustainable, too. Every single guest was mesmerized by the entire experience. We are so grateful to each and every staff member. The only negative? Having to leave.

(photos by storyandgoldweddings, and I will updated as we get more!)

Choosing a wedding venue is one of the first-placed building blocks in the wedding planning process. And that venue helps to fundamentally shape in many ways what will become your wedding day. It is a leap of faith; it was especially for my fiancé and I as we had a 15 month engagement period and booked our venue before we entirely knew what we really wanted our wedding to be. I am here to say: unreservedly, wholeheartedly, place your faith in Spillian. The home, the property, the team are all far above and beyond more special than words can describe. Your wedding at Spillian can really be anything you want it to be. Owners Mark and Leigh are not interested in a cookie-cutter-wedding-mill, but rather are fearless leaders of a kind and creative team of professionals, at once brimming with creative and unique ideas of their own and simultaneously receptive of your ideas, collaborating to create an incredibly personal and stand-out wedding day. We wanted a sentimental, intimate, jazzy, family party in the woods, and we got that and so much more. The most special day of our lives to date, and one we will never forget. From the out of this world incredible food (yes, we built the menu from the ground up too with the team), to the Spillian staff juggling with ease and grace evolving wedding logistics (thunderstorms, quarter moon photo props, and more), through to finding a venue where we could be married outside under the pines, eat dinner inside a warm and stately family home, push the tables aside and dance to the jazzy tunes of our hired band, and then gather around a giant bonfire with s’mores under the stars, I can say with confidence that nothing compares to the heart and imagination of Spillian. We are so thankful to Mark and Leigh for sharing their most special and magical corner of the Catskills with us and with our families. We can’t wait to come back and visit as Mr. and Mrs. soon.

I don't know where to start. Our wedding was magical. Every single guest have said it was the best wedding they've ever been to and we have to say, it starts with the owners. Mark and Leigh make you feel like you're home. If you're looking for an intimate and special experience for you and your guests, this is your place. The team they put together is exceptional and the food is so fresh and so creatively put together, our friends who are NYC restaurant owners talk about the food every time we see them. Let me back track a little. We are from NYC, we googled and found a photo of this beautiful mansion. I immediately wanted to see it because we wanted a stress free wedding, secluded from the rest of the world but figured it was too far from NY. A quick google maps found out it was only 2 hours and 40 minutes! We quickly reached out and just the same, Mark responded back with open arms to meet us. We pulled up on a cold April day but we loved the drive. We knew in our hearts when we drove up the long driveway that this was it. When we met Mark we had expressed that we did not want a stress filled wedding and definitely did not want the typical structured wedding hall. He reassured us that they did not work like that after getting to know each other we realized we had so much in common. The venue itself was breathtaking, the rooms were so detailed and well done... and clean! The house has its own energy that makes you feel like it's wrapping its arms around you. The way Mark and Leigh coordinate it, they are prepared for rain, sleet, snow or shine. They can convert the rooms as needed on minutes noticed and I saw it first hand without our guests even noticing.

They walked us through it all, answered all my stupid questions with grace and referred me to venders to help me navigate the wedding planning since I was doing this on my own.

The day of was nothing but magical. It's so hard to explain Spillian because it's really this feeling. It's like you're home where you're there. When I approached the altar outside under the beautiful forest, my eyes locked with my soon to be husband and low and behold, the heavens open and it rained. It didn't just rain, it was a torrential down pour for 10 minutes. Our bridal party tried to stand firm but soon took shelter with our 87 guests under the shelter/bar. We sang until the sun came out. Nobody cared. It was beautiful, magical, a rainbow appeared, the animals watched us (yes a totally Snow White moment chipmunks and all), and we were dry in minutes. Our pictures are extraordinary while we sheltered from the rain together. Thats just the beginning! The cocktail hour spread was incredible and our band loved the venue and owners so much, they stayed to play a little longer. Our dinner was so good, my brother in law asked if we had extra pockets to put the sage raviolis in (get them they are addicting!) The bonfire was a show. I've never seen such a beautiful bonfire against the artwork, below the colored lights with our DJ playing all the music we loved. Oh! And the rehearsal BBQ.... DO IT! Mark knows how to do this right and if you love BBQ, this is the real deal. The chef is phenomenal. The next day, breakfast was rough. We stayed up really late partying and while we were in bad shape, they made sure we were fed and caffeinated before we set out to the next part of our journey. I was sad to leave but the memories that Spillian created with us we will never forget and hold dear to our hearts. We think back to our wedding and can honestly say it was the best day of our lives. I hope you too can enjoy your unique experience like we have. Go with this venue, you will not be disappointed.

We got married at Spillian! These beautiful people made our wedding perfect. Mark was always available to answer any questions and make adjustments as needed leading up to our big day. Christian was magic in the kitchen; from morning coffee to insanely delicious dinners, he and the kitchen staff went above and beyond for us from Friday through Sunday. Brandon the groundskeeper and the rest of the staff were informative and helpful to an extent I didn't think possible. The wonderful experience at Spillian and the stunning scenery were well worth the price, and I hope to find an excuse to go back soon!

My husband and I had our wedding here this past September and I honestly could not recommend Spillian more. Mark and Leigh are two of the kindest and most accommodating people in this business. Anything you can imagine, they will make it happen. They don't have classic wedding "packages" which I loved. You build your day from the ground up, and Mark and Leigh will make your wildest dreams a reality. They relish in creating unique experiences and events and truly channel who you are as a couple.

We spent three days and two lovely nights in the gorgeous, enormous mansion (sleeps 18+!) along with our wedding party, which made our wedding feel that much more intimate. This place is truly transformative. You can feel the love and memories that have been celebrated there throughout the years.

Our wedding was around 115 people which is close to the max capacity for Spillian, but the staff is excellent and well equipped for that guest count. The food was incredible, the grounds were beautifully maintained, the staff was so great, everything went off without a hitch. Our guests sing nothing but well deserved praises when they talk about the wedding. Spillian has done it right.

One of the most enchanting and special places that I will ever get the opportunity to spend time at and now I hold dear to my heart as the place our marriage began. The perfect wedding at the perfect place. If you have the chance, book this place. It's magic.

The most amazing hidden gem in the catskills.
We had a perfect wedding around a bonfire and then danced the night away.

I cannot say enough positive things about Spillian, and the utterly magical space it is. My husband and I held a three-day wedding celebration there in early October and it was perfect in every possible way. We hosted guests from all over the country, many of whom were reticent about trekking into New York City and then making the road trip to the Catskills, but every single guest left completely enchanted. No one wanted to leave! We heard all weekend long, and still now, about how exquisite the house and experience was. Many won't stop asking if we'll host reunion events there in years to come.

Mark and Leigh are Spillian's incredible owners, and their divine energy radiates throughout the house and its grounds. These two have a true gift for bringing people together. They do with it joy and love, throwing the most fabulous parties and memorable events, and it shows. Leigh and Mark, Laurie, and their fabulous chef Liza helped us craft the wedding weekend of our dreams--far beyond what we could have ever imagined. They all went above and beyond the make our day stress-free, to take care of us and our guests, and to ensure our entire weekend went as seamlessly as possible. Which it did. Who gets to say that their entire wedding experience was completely stress-free?

Spillian will forever be one of the most special places in the world to me, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Whether for a wedding, a weekend retreat / gathering with friends, or a reunion, you are ensured, without doubt, a beautiful and uniquely curated experience you'll never forget. Thank you to Leigh, Mark, and all who lent their gifts and talents to Spillian for giving us the most fabulous weekend of our lives.