The Elkridge Furnace Inn Reviews
Reviews
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Awards
Weddingwire
221 reviews
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1160 reviews
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Cathleen Sent on 09/29/2024
They helped make our 27th anniversary feel special!
We chose Elkridge Furnace Inn to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary last night and are so glad we did! From the moment we set foot on the romantically-lit path winding toward the beautifully-preserved historic buildings we knew this was going to be a special night. As we approached the entrance, we were greeted warmly by a server and escorted into the building and upstairs to our table. Everyone we encountered made sure to ask us if we were celebrating a special occasion and wished us a happy anniversary. Our table was set in a lovely room and our friendly and professional server, Tony, arrived immediately, introduced himself and very sweetly brought us a complimentary champagne toast to celebrate the occasion. Tony was very helpful in describing and recommending dishes and we thoroughly enjoyed everything from Chef Dan's signature Cream of Baltimore soup and the duck confit egg rolls to my roasted pork tenderloin topped with bourbon peaches and pork bourdelaise and hubby's Supreme of Pheasant with an outstanding mushroom cream sauce. And everything paired perfectly with our tasty Paul Hobbs Crossbarn pilot noir. And, last but not least, the gorgeous chocolate mousse with Chambord creme and limoncello ricotta cake were the perfect ending to a delightful dinner. Chef Dan even stopped by our table to make sure we were having a wonderful experience and to offer us best wishes. Thank you to everyone who helped us feel special last night, we will definitely return and will recommend Furnace Inn to all of our family and friends!The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
Cheers to 27 years Cathleen! We love to help make wonderful memories for our guests and so appreciate your thoughtful, detailed review! -
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![Abby]()
Abby Sent on 05/24/2024The Most Beautiful Venue
The Elkridge Furnace Inn owners and staff helped me and my husband have the most magical, amazing night ever for our wedding on 4/20. Everything was so perfect and we especially want to emphasize how amazing our day of coordinator, Naina, was. She made everything run so smoothly and hustled all night to ensure our night was amazing! I couldn't have asked for a better coordinator for our wedding day. I received so many compliments in regards to Naina from MULTIPLE guests at our wedding. The food and drinks were so delicious and the service was amazing! I would recommend this venue and Naina as their coordinator to anyone who is looking for a wedding venue.The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
As the seasons change during your first year as husband and wife, we are grateful to have been part of your Wedding Journey, Abby! Naina is a true professional and wonderful caring person. And so glad everything was delicious! Keep dancing and enjoying life to the fullest! Thanks for the review and do stay in touch... -
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![Jamie]()
Jamie Sent on 12/22/2023We Love EFI!!!
My husband and I got married at EFI in November and are so happy we chose the Manor House as our venue. The indoor/outdoor venue was perfect for both our ceremony and reception and had so many amazing spots for photos! Naina was incredible to work with and kept me calm throughout the planning process no matter what came up. She felt more like a close friend helping us plan our wedding. We loved having her with us the day of as well to keep things running smoothly. Their planning documents, floorplan software and pre-scheduled meetings/menu tastings made planning super easy and kept everyone on the same page. I especially loved that most things are taken care of in house and the pricing is all up front so we didn't have any surprises at the end which made budgeting super easy as well. It was an incredible value for what we got! For any external vendors (florist, photographer, dj, etc.) they gave us a list of recommended vendors to work with and we ended up going with most of their list and loved them all. I was even able to set up a time to visit to check out another wedding the florist I was considering did there so I could see their work before signing a contract which was amazing! The venue staff took such good care of us the day of and made us feel so special. We did not lift a finger the day of and as soon as we dropped off our decor before our rehearsal, we were both so relaxed and could enjoy the night before because we knew everything was in good hands. The getting ready spaces for both myself and the groom were amazing too. We visited many other venues that shoved the groom and groomsmen into bathrooms or small conference rooms, so having a cool space with a balcony for the guys to get ready in was really special. We can't say enough good things about Elkridge Furnace Inn and are very grateful that we were able to celebrate our wedding there. We are still hearing amazing things from friends and family about how much they loved the historic home, the food and the ceremony point. -
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![Kendall]()
Kendall Sent on 11/27/2023Rocky Start, Picture-Perfect Finish!
The Elkridge Furnace Inn was my dream venue for the last 10 years. While I will admit there wasn't much that could have convinced me to go with another venue, very few other places really stood the chance when compared directly.
The food is absolutely phenomenal and wonderfully priced, whether for a buffet, duet plate, or choice of entree. We went with choice of entree and oh my GOD -- just delicious. The marinated flank steak melted in your mouth, and countless guests told us how perfectly their herb-crusted pork tenderloin was cooked. The green beans bercy were perfectly crisp, and the potatoes dauphanoise were raved about for weeks on end. We tried SO many amazing dishes at our tasting -- the amazing and delicious options are endless.
I could go on equally as long about dessert options, which are also endless, fresh, and incredible!
The venue itself is the perfect setting for a quiet, calm outdoor ceremony, and feels personal and intimate regardless of the size of your guest list. We had 160 guests RSVP yes, and about 150 actually attend, and my 94-year-old grandmother called it "the most intimate ceremony" she'd ever attended. We did not have to do much of anything to add to the decor -- the venue is simply stunning. We ended up being rained out, and had to move our ceremony inside the tent at the very last minute, but you'd never have known that wasn't always the plan. We had several rows of seating set up, and our coordinator (Naina -- AMAZING!) asked family to sit at tables surrounding the rows, which was a very nice, comfortable touch for a VERY high-stress moment. Each of our guests commented how nicely the ceremony was set up, and how smooth the transition to inside seemed to be.
The only drawback we experienced was with shuffling coordinators at the beginning of our planning process. The first coordinator we worked with left the venue, and we were transferred to another person two more times. When we asked later, we were told that changing coordinators wasn't abnormal -- we just hadn't been told that at the beginning. The first person you meet isn't necessarily the person who will help you the entire time, and note sharing isn't perfect. You may need to go over some details two or three times.
I will say that each of the coordinators we worked with was very responsive an open to questions, and flexible. Naina ended up being our day of coordinator, and she was truly the experience-saving piece we needed. She was committed to giving us everything we needed and hoped for, despite the last-minute changes and complications due to weather.
We couldn't recommend this venue enough to anyone and everyone that will listen. The Elkridge Furnace Inn was the venue of our dreams, and it will be yours too! -
Kelsey Sent on 10/08/2023
Dream Wedding at EFI!
We had a truly magical wedding weekend, and a joyful and fun wedding planning process at Elkridge Furnace Inn! We had our ceremony and reception at The Manor House and seated about 165 guests very comfortably. Everyone raved about the beauty of the venue and the tastiness of the food!
Naina took on our wedding as the main point of contact once our previous coordinator left due to a career change. Naina and the whole team made us feel so supported and celebrated every time we came for a meeting or tasting, called with questions, and especially during our rehearsal and the big day! We had a lot of ideas for personal touches, and the team worked with us to brainstorm how we could make those details work while also bringing in their expertise for making events flow.
There was a potential for rain the day of the ceremony, and everyone stayed calm and flexible with plans, in turn keeping us calm and collected. Camille, the bridal attendant, made sure I stayed hydrated and fed. The staff was waving glow sticks in the air with us by the end of the night! Everyone truly made our dream day come to life and we are so grateful. We can’t wait to return for anniversary dinners!!The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
Thank you so much for this thoughtful review, Kelsey! Every couple means the world to us and our whole team works hard to assure not just the details but to share in the joy of your day. Cheers and all the Best! -
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![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 08/04/2023Venue and food, perfect!
Hillary was great to work with, communicated and made the place exactly how we wanted it, nice and simple. The food and service in the restaurant were fantastic as always!The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
And what a beautiful day it was! Thank you so much for choosing to share your wedding day with us. What a happy little band you had to share in the celebration, Lisa. We are pleased our event manager, Hillary, was a big help as well. Cheers to married life! -
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![Jacquie]()
Jacquie Sent on 01/01/2023Beautiful venue even better food
Our wedding was my dream come true. I'm Thankful for the help of EFI helping that vision. We did the garden house and it was beautiful.
We loved the feel of the historic building and beautiful grounds.
Our wedding was small 40 people and it was the perfect setting. The tent was beautiful once I had my decor it really came to life. We also got lucky to have the most amazing helpers who made sure everything went perfect.
The food was delicious and the staff was wonderful. They were kind and funny! I am gluten free so it was awesome getting to eat what everyone else did. They served me the best gluten free bread I've ever had. I can't wait to go back for dinner.
The only thing I would change is they ran out of several liquors for my "open bar" and there weren't enough appetizers so I would add to what we got.
I would go back 1000% and can't wait for dinner.The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
Hey Jacquie and Michael! From your winter wedding to the warmth of summer, we trust you are doing well and are still savoring the memories of your December wedding. Your dress and decor were definitely stunning. So happy chef's gluten free skills met the bill and you could enjoy the cuisine on your special day. We appreciate the review! When you come back for date night, let me know and the appetizers will be on us... Cheers! Donna -
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Carolyn Sent on 08/17/2022
Amazing day!
We loved our experience with Elkridge Furnace Inn! We loved the historic vibe and the beautiful grounds. The food was excellent, and we love that they cater to lots of dietary restrictions/allergies. They provide so many services so you don't have to coordinate with lots of different vendors: you don't have to rent linens, dishes, etc. They do all the food, drinks, and desserts. The staff was really kind and flexible. Overall, we had a fantastic experience using Elkridge Furnace Inn for our wedding! -
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Kyrstin Sent on 08/17/2022
Such an amazing experience
The Elkridge Furnace Inn was an amazing vendor to work with. They are so family oriented and were able to personalize everything to my taste/ liking. They made my day so magical and perfect I cannot recommended this place enough to those who are looking for a unique vendor. I love the fact that they were with me throughout the day to hep aid with any needs and also made all accommodations for my guests and bridal party. The rehearsal process was a breeze which eased my nerves for the day of. The scenery is also beautiful so you can get your pictures with multiple different background all while at the same venue. I also loved that all my stuff was in one place. they handled the catering, my desserts, decorations, etc. -
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Rachel Sent on 08/09/2022
We had a wonderful experience with Elkridge Furnace Inn from start to finish!
The venue was exactly what we were looking for between the outdoor ceremony spot overlooking the river, the beautiful old manor house, and the (air conditioned!) reception tent and patio. Our guests are still telling us how much they loved the venue. Having everything included (catering, tables, chairs, cake) in the venue price made planning very easy and the team was very accommodating to all of our requests. Would definitely recommend EFI, and am looking forward to visiting the restaurant on our anniversary! -
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Abby Sent on 08/07/2022
Perfect Venue!
Donna at EFI was amazing! We had a pandemic rescheduled wedding and she was so kind and helpful at a difficult time. The food was amazing, the venue has great getting ready & photo areas, the ceremony point is naturally beautiful and our guests had an amazing time. 10/10 would recommend. -
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Taylor Sent on 08/03/2022
Picturesque-intimate October wedding
The team at Elkridge Furnace Inn made our wedding an absolute dream! We went for a tour with event manager, Sarah Hardy, in March 2020. We fell in love with the charm and intimacy of the venue, almost instantly. Once we booked our date, 10/16/2021, from there we met with Chef Dan and Donna Wecker, the owners. They made the experience leading up to the big day very special and one we will never forget. My parents and in-laws were also able to join in on the experience as well, a chance to bring us all together. A few days leading up to our wedding day, we had decided that we would have an indoor ceremony due to the forecast for rain. Although, it was not what we had planned, the EFI team came together along with my florist and family members to create an exceptional ceremony space. My guests said that the twinkling lights paired with the rain falling softly on the tent created a beautiful ambience. Later that evening, after the rain had stopped, we were able to explore the grounds and take pictures. The trellis in the ceremony space and the bridge in the garden were some of my favorite spots for pictures! Austin (my husband) and I will forever be grateful for the dedication and flexibility of the Elkridge Furnace Inn, from the day we booked to our wedding day. I felt they captured the feeling of what I wanted my wedding to be like- intimate and personalized, it made for a truly amazing and memorable experience. It is so special knowing that we can visit our wedding venue, 20 minutes away, whenever we'd like for brunch or dinner. We are looking forward to celebrating our one year wedding anniversary at EFI in a few months :)The Elkridge Furnace Inn's reply:
We continue to cheer for you both and how far you have come as a couple and now as parents! How special to have been there for you in so many special ways Taylor and Austin. Can't wait to meet the little one! And even though the wedding may seem like a long time ago now, we appreciate your taking the time to express your gratitude and experience in this review!
Hugs,
Donna -
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Alexis Sent on 08/01/2022
Everything one could ask for under one ceiling!
When we were looking for a venue to celebrate our wedding in 2019, we were looking for a venue that had history, character, and built in ambiance. Elkridge Furnace Inn delivered everything above and beyond. They are a complete family owned and operated one stop shop as they serve as the ceremony and reception space, with full service as the caterer, bakery, and bar. With Covid, naturally, we had to postpone the event, and the venue did everything they could to ensure that we were taken care of every step of the way. The evening was flawless. Kristin, the venue coordinator, was friendly, professional, and SO quick to answer emails and questions! She was also incredibly flexible and went the extra mile to take care of us on our big day. Thank you so much for all your effort and help! -
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Caroline Sent on 12/27/2021
Amazing Venue with Personal Service
We looked at a dozen venues around the Baltimore area and ultimately chose EFI for the value and personal service. Our original date was May 2020 and EFI was extremely flexible with shifting dates to allow us to have the wedding of our dreams in November 2021. The food and cake were delicious and menu was totally customizable. EFI also recommended most of our other vendors and didn't steer us wrong. There was some turnover of the staff (due to COVID) which led to some communication challenges, but overall we had a great experience and would recommend them to any engaged couple. -
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Kacey Sent on 10/28/2021
The Furnace Inn is a great venue
My husband and I were so happy to have our most special day at The Elkridge Furnace Inn. We booked back in 2019 and as everyone knows Covid happened. They were very flexible with us having to change our 2020 date to 2021. Such a beautiful whimsical venue. We planned to have our wedding outside. Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate. They made the inside reception area look beautiful for us for our ceremony. They truly helped my vision for my wedding day come true, despite not having the beautiful outdoor ceremony spot. The food and service was great. People are still talking about it months later. The Furnace Inn will always hold a special place in our heart. Thank you sooo much everyone! -
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![Johanna]()
Johanna Sent on 08/12/2021Reminded Me Of Home
This venue was absolutely stunning, from the gorgeous gardens to the canopy of trees, I truly felt like I was back at home in Vermont. Sarah, our wedding coordinator, truly catered to us and did not disappoint. She was very welcoming and flexible when I made changes even during the day. We also had Chef Dan and his daughter cater our wedding food and it was so delicious, I wish I could have taken more home with us! The wait staff were so attentive and helpful, even with other members of our party. It was truly a magical night and I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for top of the line service, delicious food and a stunning location that is on the outskirts of Baltimore. Thank you for everything you did for me and my family! -
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![Sophie]()
Sophie Sent on 05/27/2021Do not go with this venue
Planning was a nightmare. I circled 3 or 4 wedding planners (I lost count). Sarah was the best of all of them but then we were switched to Kristen a week before our wedding. I thought she had it and everything would be great. I provided a detailed list of all of our decor, provided a list of where things needed to go, how I wanted things presented in the list but also photos to give examples. I spent days typing all of this for them to make it easier. I labeled boxes and organized the decor. When we went to drop off they acted totally unprepared. The chef had no idea we were dropping off decor and large furniture (an arch, lounge furniture) which was discussed for over a year… I have a huge list of all of the things they did wrong. Biggest three: 1.) my floor plan was set up wrong. They put my parents table on the wrong side of the room. HOW DO YOU MESS UP A FLOOR PLAN AT A WEDDING!!!! 2.) my fiancé’s dad and brother passed and I had a super meaningful gift to honor them at our ceremony which was discussed months in advance and they didn’t put it at the ceremony. 3.)They had our sweetheart table set up wrong as well as having us sit as if mrs and mr & They didn’t put the cake toppers on our wedding cake!!! Our entire wedding party barely was served any of the Hors d’oeuvres so all of us were starving. The hot apple cider was absolutely disgusting. The mirror welcome sign I dropped off had smudges on it. They put the centerpieces for the cocktail tables as part of our centerpieces at the reception. Our lounge furniture was not set up as discussed, they were to provide a set of corn hole boards and they didn’t. We had a waffle cake and were supposed to have sauce to pour over it before we cut it and that wasn’t there. So much of our decor wasn’t even used (that I spent so much money on). OUR ARCH WAS BACKWARDS so you could see the nails sticking out of it! Some of the wait staff was rude, my mom asked for another piece of sausage and was told no after she spent over $15k at the venue. They claimed she had to wait until everyone got their plate and then she could come back for seconds yet it’s supposed to be a BUFFET meaning however much anyone wants. Kristen asked who would help set up when we’re paying thousands for them to do it (she acted joking and then said no but seriously). During our private last dance staff continued to clean up… need I say more? Don’t waste your money or time dealing with these people. Donna was the worst to work with who is the owner (chefs) wife. I refused to work with her. Honestly I believe we should receive some sort of compensation cause they didn’t do most of the things they said they would. I’m extremely disappointed in this venue and will NEVER recommend anyone to have their wedding here. Only pros is the food was good, the venue is beautiful and Sarah deserves a raise and a much better place to work than here. After posting my bad review on the businesses Facebook, the owner proceeded to blame ME for all the problems I had with their venue and lie that they had to set up for 7 hours and that decor wasn’t their “job”. The buffet was obviously not an actual buffet so FALSE ADVERTISING as well. -
![Liz]()
Liz C. Sent on 05/09/2021Unfortunate Experience
We booked this venue back in June 2019 and were originally supposed to be married in July 2020. Due to Covid, we pushed back our reception date to May 2021. The venue is gorgeous and the food is delicious, so heading into the morning of our wedding we were super excited.
Unfortunately, the level of service we received on our wedding day was appaling. Without telling us, there was a second wedding happening at the same time at another part of the venue, and our coordinator was stationed over there instead of at our wedding. We were given a woman (the restaurant manager from what I could gather) whom we had never met before, and was quite frankly, extremely rude to us. This was most upetting because throughout the rescheduling process we had been in communication with two other wedding coordinators for the venue, and neither of them were present either. On top of all that, my father has a very severe dairy allergy that I had been discussing in person and in writing for nearly two years, and his dairy-free plate came out an HOUR after dinner was served. And the woman insisted that she had no record of him needing a special plate and that it was my fault.
I would never reccomend this venue to a friend which is unfortunate because it is a really gorgeous location.
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