The 228 In Sterling Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
Featured
![Kim]()
Kim B. Sent on 05/05/2022Beautiful Evening!
We hosted our 10 year vow renewal at The 228 in Sterling. We worked with Maria. She made the entire experience stress free. We expressed what we were looking for and she helped us make it happen. She answered every phone call. She made great vendor recommendations. And, she made the whole experience beyond our expectations. The building and the grounds are absolutely stunning. Especially at night with the twinkle lights. -
-
Freddy Sent on 09/07/2023
Freddy and Leanne Wedding day
The 228 in Sterling is a wonderful place to have a wedding with the comfortable atmosphere. Great people who are attentive to all of the guests that come there. The venue is beautiful, and for the event is totally your for the time desire , making your celebration so special. I would and will recommend this venue as the best place to celebrate your wedding. -
-
![Susannah]()
Susannah Sent on 12/08/2022Beautiful venue, affordable, and customizable!
Sharon and Marie were so great to work with from the 228! When we did the initial site visit, we could immediately picture how beautiful our reception would be there! They have the perfect blank template and so many rental options to customize decor and beyond. Their experience was also very helpful with figuring out the timeline and layout of everything. We maxed out the barn capacity, so we rented a tent for the dinner portion and had the dancing portion in the barn. We were able to bring (or rent) lawn games, have s'mores by the fire, and cocktail hour on the patio, so there was something for every guest's preference! There are some sound restrictions due to the neighbors, but it didn't end up being a problem at all for our reception - the music and microphone were the perfect volume for a fun night of celebrating and dancing. There was a drought, so the grass wasn't green for our August wedding reception, but that couldn't be helped (and we still managed to get beautiful photos :D) The day-of staff was very attentive and helpful too. Overall, the 228 in Sterling helped us keep our venue cost reasonable without sacrificing quality and beauty! -
Karen Sent on 10/10/2022
Wonderful Venue
We had our wedding at the 228 in Sterling on 9.24.22. The venue is a beautiful space from the land to the building. We had our ceremony under a huge beautiful tree on the property. There was a perfect spot outside for photos with great lighting. We had around 45 guests and it was just perfect. The staff was so helpful throughout the entire process. Items were available for rent and the staff set up everything exactly how we wanted! I would definitely recommend this venue! -
-
Tommy Sent on 09/19/2022
The 228 was the perfect venue for my wedding
I recently had my wedding at The 228 and it was amazing. Sharon and Maria really made the planning process easy and stress-free. The actual day went so smoothly. My favorite part of the venue is the huge grounds. We had a gorgeous ceremony under the tree, enjoyed cocktail hour on the patio, and then went into the barn for dinner and dancing. It was a beautiful night and my guests took full advantage of the fire pit roasting marshmallows. My covid-concerned guests were also very happy with the outdoor dining option under the pavilion. My biggest advice for those planning at The 228, is to take advantage of Sharon and Maria's experience. They were great and really knew what they were doing. They were really responsive by email and were really flexible even to last minute changes. The weather took a turn at the last minute and it was very hot during our ceremony. Maria and Sharon were able to provide cold water bottles for my guests, which made a huge difference. -
-
Kamally Sent on 07/27/2022
Amazing experience
We couldn’t have picked a better place. The 228 is beautiful, the staff is amazing and our event was a dream come true. Our family and friends enjoyed every minute of it and they were impressed with the service and the location. Thank you for making our night so special. -
-
![Kristen]()
Kristen Sent on 06/27/2022Excellent Experience!
My (now) wife and I got married at the 228 and couldn't have been happier with the experience! From the beginning, it was fantastic working with Maria and Sharon. I had about a million questions over the months leading up to the wedding and my questions/emails were always answered and encouraged. They have been putting on events for many years and it definitely shows. The questions I didn't think of, they did, to get every detail possible that my wife and I would want. We fully appreciated the "a la carte" aspect of the 228 and being able to pick and choose the things we wanted, and didn't want. I had the utmost confidence in Maria and Sharon leading up to the big day and the wedding day went amazingly! Part of that due to Mother Nature being on our side, but the rest went so smoothly due to our vendors, the 228 being the top one. Not to mention the beautiful property and charming barn. We wanted our wedding/reception to be a mix of elegant and rustic, and to be a fun time overall for everyone and accomplished exactly that. I highly recommend the 228 for weddings and events! -
Erika Sent on 06/17/2022
Amazing place
Sharon and Maria were the best! Very kind, attentive and well thought out, they helped us with everything. I don't speak English so I'm using a translator, but what I want to say in a few words is that if you are looking for a beautiful place for your wedding, then it is The 228 -
-
Kathy Sent on 05/11/2022
Perfect rustic but modern location
A beautiful, flexible venue for our bridal shower. The team at the 228 are top notch professional who will listen and respond. Options for indoor or outdoor participation. We had a beautiful afternoon bridal shower with the staff packing up all the gifts and decorations for us! -
-
![Deb]()
Deb G. Sent on 12/21/2021The perfect venue for a country vibe!
The 228 in Sterling hosted my daughters bridal shower in May 2021 and it was absolutely amazing. Convenient location for all of our guests and the country setting was so on point. The restored barn is rustic but with a new, clean feel. They have so many decor options available. They are flexible and helpful. You can use your own caterer, although we did use one from their suggested vender list and they were great! I loved that we did not have to share the venue with any other events for the entire day. The outside covered veranda is also nice to have, so guest can step outside. I searched everywhere from NH through MA for a venue that was affordable and flexible. Look no further, I've done the work for you! This is by far the best venue around, especially if you want a country setting with indoor and outdoor accommodations. They even did all the clean up and packed the cars for us, so we could maximize our time with our guests. My only regret is that we didn't discover it earlier for the wedding instead of the shower, as the wedding was already booked. My daughter is still talking about how perfect her shower was and how we found the perfect spot! Highly recommend this venue. -
Jennifer Sent on 12/06/2021
Excellent. Professional. Caring. Way helpful.
Sharon and Maria were AWESOME!!! -
-
![Melissa]()
Melissa Sent on 08/31/2021The 228 was Amazing!!!
My husband and I got married at The 228 at the beginning of August, 2021. When we envisioned our wedding, we wanted something laid-back, but beautiful and The 228 delivered. From the beginning, it was an easy process. Sharon and Maria asked about things that we hadn't even thought of. They decorated exactly as we wanted and the space was magical, from the outdoor ceremony space that we chose, to the patio surrounded by twinkle lights, to the quaint barn...it was all beautiful. The venue is affordable and completely customizable to any couple's vision. They also have amazing preferred vendors. I would highly recommend The 228 for any wedding or function!!
Melissa and Ken -
-
Keith Sent on 08/11/2021
Perfect outdoor and indoor venue.
From the start my wife loved this venue. We booked the date and the team at 228 worked with us to get everything we wanted. We had the perfect day and I would not have changed a thing. Staff was polite to the guests we had everything we needed to make the day perfect. The BBQ food was awesome. perfect outdoor venue with indoor dance floor great place would do it again all over - Keith and Marion Sullivan -
-
![Marie]()
Marie Sent on 06/30/2021Our wedding 😊🤗
The 228 was perfect for us. This venue is beautiful inside and outside. Lots of room for our ceremony, Many beautiful spots for pictures, dancing. And Everyone Just loved the fire pit for s’mores. Sharon and Maria are very helpful and very accommodating. We would recommend this venue very highly. Thank you so much Marie and Joel -
Sara Sent on 12/13/2020
Superior Flexibility, Attentiveness & Professionalism
It would be safe to say that no one expected the 2020 wedding season to go as it did. We were one of those couples that spent much of March and April anxiously wringing our hands and nervously watching the TV as we realized that our wedding day would likely come and go without the anticipated fanfare and celebration. But in April, we zoomed with Sharon and Maria at The 228, and they oh-so kindly presented our options (which were more than thoughtful and generous), and we decided to keep our original wedding date and hold a VERY small COVID-safe ceremony on The 228 grounds with only a handful of close friends and family.
The professionalism, thoughtfulness, and flexibility that The 228 demonstrated throughout this entire process has been remarkable and truly appreciated.
If you are looking for a venue in the central / western MA area, we couldn't recommend The 228 enough. The grounds are spacious and well-kept and include a covered patio to the side of the [beautiful] barn, and a fire pit for evening s'mores and fireside fun. The staff is attentive and friendly. The barn itself is well-kept, clean and the perfect spot for customizing your Instagram-worthy event! What more can we add? Oh, you are supporting a woman and veteran-owned business too!
We can't wait to hopefully host our wedding celebration later there in 2021! -
-
![Lacey]()
Lacey Sent on 11/24/2020I wish i could give more than 5 stars
I cannot say enough good things about the 228. Sharon and Maria made our COVID wedding absolutely beautiful. We faced a lot of challenges when COVID hit, having to alter our guest count, changing everything to outdoors, ensuring we could have dancing, a bar, food, etc. They made sure that we had a healthy and safe wedding. They went above and beyond helping us every step of the way, especially during the rehearsal and day of the wedding. Our older guests were very impressed with how attentive these ladies were to making sure they made it to their seats safely and how accomodating they were. -
![Michael]()
Michael Sent on 01/02/2020Happily Ever After!
Sharon, April and the staff of The 228 in Sterling made our dream wedding, come true! Our wedding was held in September of 2019 on a beautiful autumn day. We were married under the colorful oak tree, which is set in the field to the right of the barn. Sharon and her team executed all of the wedding details flawlessly and made our wedding party and guests feel so welcomed. The cozy intimate barn was the perfect place to hold our reception. It allowed my husband and I to mix and mingle and enjoy our guests. We would definitely recommend this venue to others. We can't thank Sharon, April and the Team enough for making our dream come true!
Christopher & Michael xoxo -
-
User4986125 Sent on 12/19/2019
Love!-Highly Recommend
My husband and I recently got married on our high school anniversary (11/22) at the 228. If you book your wedding/event/shower through the 228, you'll receive heart-warming personalized service. It was a pleasure working with Sharon and Maria. They will go above and beyond to make sure your vision becomes a reality. The 228 is a hidden gem in a world full of wedding factories nowadays. I received personalized service and a memorable event at an affordable and very reasonable cost. There is plenty of parking and multiple spaces on property to set up a wedding ceremony or outdoor event as well. I would highly recommend and can't wait to book another event here in the future. -
-
Breana Sent on 12/11/2019
8/18/19 wedding
Our experience with the 228 was amazing. My husband and I got married 2 months to the day we got engaged due to my father/in-law being sick with cancer. We planned a wedding in 6 weeks thanks to the 228 being so responsive & quick to accommodate us on such short notice. They made everything SO EASY for me. Sharon had so many decorations already there that I was able to use. I didn’t have to worry about finding centerpieces, table linens, chair covers, nothing. She had SO much stuff to pick from to decorate with that was right in line with what I was looking for. Aside from that, the 228 speaks for itself with its rustic beauty and charm inside and out. I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect wedding day. If I had waited 1 year or more to get married, I would have done everything exactly the same at the 228. -
-
Chelsea Sent on 12/11/2019
Can we get married again?
When people have regrets about their wedding, they obviously didn’t have it at the 228. Not a single request went unfulfilled. My wife even asked if we could get married again. The venue was perfect, accommodating and stress-free. Can’t recommend the 228 more. -
-
![Mary Lou]()
Mary Sent on 10/28/2019Amazing venue!
Right from the start Sharon was extremely helpful and gracious! We had a blast at our wedding and would highly recommend the 228 to anyone. The grounds are beautiful the buliding is quaint and rustic. -
-
![Monqiue]()
Monqiue Sent on 08/22/2019Great venue!
This venue was perfect for our I DO BBQ. This is a family run business, where the owners and staff are amazing, accommodating and had very helpful ideas to incorporate into our event. Everyone raved that both the outdoor and indoor space were perfect! -
![Monique]()
Monique Sent on 08/15/2019Prime Location
We worked with Sharon approx. 12 months prior to our wedding. She was very professional, friendly and always responsive. She worked with me to create my wedding ideas into reality. Her ideas and suggestions were always on point. Our wedding reception was amazing and EVERYONE raved about the property. Sharon and here entire staff were friendly and courteous.
I would absolutely recommend The 228! -
-
Stacy Sent on 09/24/2018Great experience all around. Easy worry free day for me as the bride.
-
-
![Ally]()
Ally Sent on 04/30/2018My husband and I had a small wedding of about 45 people and we wanted to have it at a more intimate venue. I found the 288 through Wedding Wire and I knew it was the place. The property is beautiful with a renovated barn, a pond, a gazebo and an outdoor fire pit. Sharon was absolutely incredible. She made me feel very comfortable and helped me every step of the way to get all of the details ironed out for my wedding. The staff was friendly and professional. I'm so grateful I could spend my special day here!! -
Kimberly Sent on 01/05/2018I couldn't have found a better place to have my wedding. It was exactly what I was looking for and at a very affordable price. The owners are very friendly and easy to work with. If I had any questions, they were quick to respond and help. They made planning my wedding much easier than I thought it was going to be and provided a bunch of vendors contact information. I highly recommend having your wedding here.
-
-
Brian Sent on 09/23/2022
Great venue. Great service
All things considered, our wedding was almost perfect. The venue is very charming, and considering the outdoor space, super spacious. We had 60 guests, and I wouldn’t go bigger than that, personally. However, if the weather cooperates, the outdoor space accommodates many more than this.
Maria was a true professional. She and her small team added some very nice decoration to our self-provided items, ensured everything went without a hitch, then cleaned and packed up everything for us, even helping load containers into our vehicles when leaving.
The cost of this venue is fair, and the value they offer is excellent. I would highly recommend them for your small to mid-sized events, and definitely for your wedding. -
-
![Nicole]()
Nicole Sent on 12/12/2019A beautiful New England reception venue!
We had our reception here, and it was everything and more that I dreamed of! Sharon was great to work with for planning. The staff was amazing during the event, making sure that everything moved along smoothly, coordinating with vendors, then packing up all of our things at the end of the night. She even accommodated for those of us who needed to pump breast milk. The outdoors area was beautiful for photos, and all of the guests loved being outdoors! S’mores around the fire pit was fun! This was a really fabulous, affordable, flexible venue. -
![Shannon]()
Shannon Sent on 09/25/2023Overall good; communication could be better
Overall we had a good experience with the 228. Our reception went really well and several of our guests mentioned how much they loved the venue. It was perfect for a smaller wedding/reception (60-70ppl), inside or outside. We didn’t have to set up or clean up, the on-site staff took care of everything and they were extremely polite. We loved their bartending vendor partner. The one issue we had was communication leading up to our event; there were some missed emails/details that were skimmed over that caused me stress. Otherwise, we were happy with the venue. -
![Jen]()
Jen Sent on 09/16/2022Beautiful Venue
The 228 is a special venue. There is a lot of space for guests to spread out, multiple locations for the ceremony and a blank canvas for decor indoors and outside. We loved the venue for our wedding and likely wouldn’t change our pick.
Working with the venue staff was both pleasant and unpleasant at times. At times it would take several prompts for emails to be returned, which is totally fine. At times it felt the venue manager and assistant manager would talk down to me or be unpleasant in tone. Not sure if they realized how they came off, but it at times was uncomfortable. My wedding party also mentioned how rude one of the staff was when talking to me. Small details were not completed like linens on the picnic tables or blue table cloths for the buffet. The staff did catch several things I’d forgotten though; which was hugely helpful. They helped to coordinate glassware, the outside ceremony chairs (and out the chair covers and bows on free of charge!) and a cake cutter! All of that was very much appreciated.
The outdoor lawn/landscape needs serious help. We were married outside and it looks like a dead field. We had to ask for the tree to be cut back, and in general the pictures outside do not look as good due to the state of the grass (we’ve had a bad drought this summer).
What I find very unsettling about the venue was how guests were treated during the reception. There is no outside alcohol or marijuana allowed on the grounds. They were very clear about this from the beginning. We had an open bar and would never smoke marijuana during our wedding. Anytime a guest went to their car they were openly and repeatedly asked if they were getting alcohol. This didn’t happen once or twice. Multiple guests were asked several times every time they stepped out to their car. People felt genuinely uncomfortable with the constant questions and monitoring them. While smoking cigars staff would hover and ask if people were smoking marijuana. The fact guests were monitored in this way and asked if they were breaking the rules is the only reason I would consider a different venue. Personalities and small mistakes are fine, but treating our guests, who were perfectly behaved, as if they were breaking the rules every time they went to their car or smoker a cigar was not acceptable.
We thank the venue for all they did and hope they consider some changes for others in the future. -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?