The Monte Bello Estate Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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Carolina Sent on 09/11/2025
Monte Bello is THE BEST!!!
My husband and I got married at The Monte Bello Estate in June and we really can’t express how head over heels we are with this venue. From the moment we stepped onto the property, there was this magical feeling and we all looked at each other like “this is it”. It’s so perfectly whimsical and just breathtakingly beautiful. Like seriously, I still have guests months later gushing about how they felt like they had walked into a fairytale wedding. The grounds and landscapes are perfectly manicured and the inside is no different as far as attention to detail and stunning design. Aside from its beauty, the service and team at Monte Bello is truly outstanding. They made the already stressful planning SO easy and helped us every. step. of. the. way. Huge shoutout to Abbey (Director of Sales & Events) who answered our every question, whether big or small, with such care and detail. If you are someone who appreciates fast replies and to feel like you were heard, you will love the team at Monte Bello. It can be nerve-wrecking knowing there are many moving parts to such a big event, but seeing how it came together that day, largely due to Monte Bello’s attention to detail, was so satisfying and emotional in the best way possible. We loved even how beautiful and unique the food tasting event was (they had a harpist there who we ended up hiring for our wedding!). We weren’t able to attend their Raise the Bar event for engaged couples getting married at Monte Bello but they graciously allowed a couple of our family members to attend in our absence and help us decide on cocktail selections. Another very important thing: the FOOD was amazing! From the hors d’oeuvres to the main entree and sides, everything was delicious. This is another thing our guests still bring up and appreciated. We especially loved our mini grilled cheese shooters with tomato soup :) Before you make your grand entrance as a married couple, they give you and your partner a moment alone together and bring you a plate of hors d’oeuvres that you may have missed during cocktail hour which was such a sweet detail. They also work so well with your vendors and communicate with them as needed. Speaking of vendors, Monte Bello provided a list of recommended vendors, and I was blown away by how amazing they were. It felt like they were an extension of the venue itself—professional, kind, and truly wonderful to work with. It’s obvious they choose their partners with great care and attention to detail. All in all, I truly can’t say enough wonderful things about Monte Bello and their team. If you are considering them as a venue, I promise you they will not disappoint. Thank you Monte Bello for the most beautiful day of our lives!!! -
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![Alyssa]()
Alyssa Sent on 12/17/2024Thank you!
I simply cannot recommend The Monte Bello Estate enough. We had our wedding there in September and everything was so perfect. Abbey & Lauren are truly the kindest people and will move mountains to ensure you have the best experience. Even though are wedding was a few months ago, we continue to receive compliments on every aspect. The food was delicious and warm, along with the appetizers. The bar staff was incredible. We truly are forever thankful we decided to have our wedding at The Monte Bello Estate. It was truly a day we wish to relive over and over, thanks to the amazing venue and staff. -
![Kelley]()
Kelley Sent on 10/03/2024The Monte Bello was MAGICAL
Where do I even begin with Monte Bello? It truly was the perfect venue for our wedding. The grounds were stunning, the food was delicious, and the staff was incredible in every possible way. From start to finish, we felt completely cared for, especially on our big day. Abbey, you were such a pivotal part of our experience, and our wedding wouldn't have been the same without you. Choosing Monte Bello was the best decision we made, and we can't recommend it enough for your special day! -
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![Kali]()
Kali Sent on 11/10/2023The Most Magical Day Ever, Thanks to The Monte Bello
This venue was the only venue that my now husband and I visited. We knew we didn't want the traditional hotel or country club venue and wanted something different but with a twist of our personality. The Monte Bello was everything we were looking for and exceeded expectations for not only us as the bride and groom but all of our guests raved about how amazing the venue was and it’s still being raved about two months after the wedding! -
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![Katie]()
Katie Sent on 10/25/2023Unforgettable Day!
My wedding day at The Monte Bello Estate was beyond words! Everything ended up more beautiful than I could've imagined even with the light rain that day. My venue coordinator Lauren and the whole team last minute changed my ceremony location due to the rain and set everything up in a new spot outside by the clock tower so my guests would be able to walk on concrete and not the wet grass. That is the upside of choosing this venue, it is so large there are so many options and no matter what it will be beautiful!
My guests raved how delicious the food was, I had multiple guests the next day and even weeks after telling me it was the best food they have ever had at a wedding! Our signature cocktails we chose were a hit and our guests enjoyed them throughout cocktail hour and the reception!
Lauren our venue coordinator eased all my stress the day of and she was so attentive to me and my family. After the ceremony the venue had mine and my husbands favorite drinks on standby and a tray of appetizers for us. My mom even wanted a different white wine from what they were serving and they grabbed it for her right away!
Before the wedding day the venue even does events so you can have your food tasting and then a separate day to experience their signature cocktails and desserts and see the add-ins you can include for your wedding day.
The guest bathrooms were just remodeled as well and made a great backdrop for my guests to take pictures in!
The reception space, the big glass windows, and the landscaping made for a perfect day that we will always remember! I cannot emphasize enough how happy we were with the Monte Bello Estate for our wedding! -
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![Brittany]()
Brittany Sent on 10/21/2023The dream wedding venue
The Monte Bello Estate was the best decision that my husband and I made during our wedding planning process. First and foremost, every aspect and detail of the property is STUNNING. The beautiful scenery combined with their exceptional team, made our decision easy. Lauren and their team invested time in understanding our unique preferences as a couple and maintained consistent and timely communication throughout the process. They extended their support by providing recommendations for other vendors and valuable planning insights. Their readiness to address our questions and concerns was greatly appreciated. On the day of our wedding, their meticulous coordination was instrumental in ensuring that everything ran as planned. Our guests were exceptionally well-cared for, ensuring a worry-free experience while vendors set up. Furthermore, the attentive team ensured that both my husband and I were never without food or drinks. Even in the face of a minor dress bustle mishap, Lauren's quick thinking and resourcefulness helped save the day. The beautiful landscape, reception space, the team's level of professionalism and dedication truly made our wedding day perfect. We wholeheartedly credit the Monte Bello team for the beautiful, perfect day that we had! -
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![Emily]()
Emily Sent on 08/09/2023Amazing Wedding Venue!
We had Abbey as our venue coordinator at the Monte Bello Estate - and we couldn’t have had a better experience. Abbey was so sweet and kind - she made the process so smooth and helped hold our hands through each step.
She always made herself available for calls, visits, etc. She was also very quick and thorough when responding to emails. She was an enormous help in making sure our big day was perfect - and in the end - it was perfect.
The Monte Bello Estate makes for the perfect backdrop to your event - all staff members (coordinators, grounds crew, servers, bartenders, etc.) are all the best of the best. Every single person we interacted with there was helpful and kind, and the grounds are absolutely stunning.
We would highly recommend Monte Bello and we are so happy we had this beautiful place for our wedding! -
Betsey Sent on 07/17/2023
Fairytale Venue
The Monte Bello is the most spectacular Wedding Venue ever. Our wedding was so absolutely perfect. The venue and the grounds are like a fairytale and the staff is just Top Notch! They made our day perfect in every way. The food was delicious. All our guests were raving for weeks after about our wedding. Highly, highly recommend the Monte Bello for any event!!! -
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Maggie Sent on 06/15/2023
A fairytale wedding venue
My husband and I had our wedding at Monte Bello in June and it was one of the best decisions we've ever made! Monte Bello was the first and only venue we toured because while we had other venue tours planned, once we visited Monte Bello we knew we weren't going to find anything better. Abbey, our venue coordinator, and the rest of the staff were nothing short of amazing throughout the planning process - always staying in touch and offering to help. Throughout planning, I received so many praises about the venue, food, drinks etc so I knew I was in good hands, however, I never expected them to surpass my expectations the way they did. I would joke to my friends that I never heard Abbey and staff tell me "no" to anything - it was always "yes, we can do that!" I received compliments on the food, drinks, and serving staff. While I fell in love with Monte Bello in January 2022, they underwent renovations before my wedding and made the venue even more beautiful than before. We especially enjoyed the updated bridal suite (with balcony!!), gorgeous bathrooms, and additional patios. We are so happy with Monte Bello and I will miss working with Abbey and the rest of the team. -
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![Natalie]()
Natalie Sent on 09/07/202210 star venue!
WOW, just wow. I don't even know where to beginning other than, they deserve more than 5 stars. Planning my wedding was SO easy, seamless AND enjoyable when it comes to working with all the employees at The Monte Bello Estate. Lauren K. is a true saint, she was always responsive and such a joy to work with. My dreams were absolutely surpassed when it came to working with them. I recommend anyone in the market for a wedding venue to go here. I even said that, WHEN, Elias and I get pregnant, I would LOVE to have my baby shower here because of how much I loved everything about the venue, the employees, the food, the service and so much more. -
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![Eva]()
Eva A. Sent on 08/15/2022Everything was absolutely amazing.
Monte Bello Estate is a stunning venue for a classic, elegant wedding. It's easy to design a wedding around such beautiful grounds. I never felt like I had to bring a lot of outside design in - the florals and backdrop are beautiful without having to go overboard with styling. We knew we wanted a venue where we could do it all - ceremony & reception. Not to mention the food is exceptional. The grounds and venues were stunning and we had the most picturesque day. It was truly magical from start to finish. -
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![Nikki]()
Nikki Sent on 12/10/2021Look no further for your wedding venue!
I got married this past October at The Monte Bello Estate, and I can't begin to describe the perfection that is this venue. I'm from the area and knew I wanted something cozy, unique, beautiful and accommodating of 250 guests, and I found that at Monte Bello. From the different location options to have our ceremony at, to the twinkly lit cocktail hour, all the way to our beautiful, fun and elegant reception space. It was nothing short of a fairytale. You can have a beautiful space, but what is it without the TLC of the staff? I couldn't even imagine planning my wedding without the help from our wedding coordinator at Monte Bello, Abbey Casteel. Abbey is friendly, responsive, organized, thoughtful and really makes you feel taken care of. When the bakery we chose at the food tasting was no longer available for our date, and we were pretty set on their flavor, Abbey went above and beyond to reach out to approved baker vendors to help us find our perfect cake. We absolutely couldn't love her more!! I was blown away with the different events MB had for the future couples like the food tasting, and cocktail hour tasting which just added to our wonderful experience at the estate. I wish we could go back to 10.16 at Monte Bello every day and I could not recommend this space more for your wedding!! -
![Jenna]()
Jenna Sent on 10/07/2021Could not have asked for a better venue!
The Monte Bello was an absolute dream wedding venue. I could not have been happier with the service, the food, the ambiance etc. The grounds are absolutely gorgeous and lend themselves so well to photos. I've gotten SO many compliments on how beautiful our venue was. It's a one stop shop! Ceremony, photos and reception venue. Made our day so special.
Sarah S. was specifically so delightful to work with. She was kind, helpful and made my family feel so comfortable. She was a joy! -
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Aleks Sent on 10/04/2021Picture Perfect
This venue is a fairytale come true!! Every detail from the house, to the decor, to the lovely prairie is mesmerizing! The first time we visited took my breath away! I love how personal we made it and the space allowed for endless possibilities. Our guests were beyond impressed with the venue, with our wedding coordinator (Sarah), and with the FOOD!!! A huge bear hug for Sarah! We had some scheduling issues and the way she still kept us on track was incredible. To make a COVID bride happy is nearly impossible, but I couldn’t be more happy with the outcome! My biggest tip if you have the ceremony at the venue is to get early access because you’ll want all the prep time you can get. This is a very unique way to celebrate your big day!! There’s no need to look anywhere else. The Monte Bello Estate will blow you away! -
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![Sarah]()
Sarah Sent on 09/23/2020Outstanding planners, the most beautiful venue we have ever seen, amazing food!
My husband, family, and I were beyond impressed with this venue. I am SO happy we picked this place to have our ceremony and reception. When initially looking for wedding venues I knew that I was going to be very picky. I work in the wedding industry as a florist and have seen dozens of venues in the area but have never been here before. After seeing pictures online I knew I had to see this place. When pulling in, our jaws dropped - it was even more beautiful than the pictures and the property was massive. One piece of advice I would give is to book this place fast because spots fill up quickly (rightfully so since it is gorgeous). We booked our July 11th, 2020 wedding date in January 2019 and had about a year and a half to plan. Abbey was our coordinator at Monte Bello and she was wonderful with the planning process. She was kind, organized, and always replied in a timely manner. By the time of spring 2020, we were panicking about our wedding due to Covid-19 and whether it was going to be canceled or not. We debated postponing but there were, unfortunately, no summer dates left for 2021. Monte Bello was so amazing with the constant change of plans and even held a tentative date for us in the spring of 2021, but we were all still hoping we could go forward with our wedding on July 11th. Finally, about 2 weeks before the wedding we got the go ahead from the mayor and the team at Monte Bello to go forward with our wedding with some adjustments. We also had another change of plans in that we were originally supposed to have our ceremony in a catholic church but were unable to do so with their Covid restrictions. Monte Bello helped us plan an entire ceremony in a matter of only about a week and I'm so happy we had this change of plans because it was the most beautiful outdoor ceremony in the woods. My parents and family kept bringing up that this was the smoothest wedding they have ever been to, down to the cocktail hour, dinner, late night snacks, and everything in between - every server was friendly and brought things out in a timely matter. I have to bring up that the food was AMAZING. We had the option of filet mignon and champagne chicken for our guests and everyone was raving about the food and how they could cut their steak with a butter knife. My husband is vegetarian and I am pescatarian and they even made special entrees for the two of us upon request. My husband said his pesto tortellini was amazing and my shrimp were THE BEST shrimp I ever had! All of our guests said that this was the best and most beautiful wedding they have ever been to and we definitely have Abbey and the Monte Bello Estate to thank for that. We wish we could re-live our wedding date over and over again at this amazing venue :) -
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![Tina]()
Tina Sent on 08/23/2020The best venue!
Monte bello is the best wedding venue around! My husband and I looked at over 12 places at the beginning of our venue search, and the moment we saw Monte Bello we knew it simply could not be beat. Not only are the grounds beautiful but the staff are amazing. There are so many options when it comes to photo spots, ceremony location, room set-up, food, etc. so you can truly personalize your special day. We worked with both Courtney and Abbey, and we never could have planned a wedding (especially during the pandemic) without them. They remained calm and professional throughout the process, and helped us plan the most beautiful day. The food is amazing and the tasting was so fun! The cocktail hour spot was awesome too! They are always doing upgrades to make the place even more beautiful (in the time I was working with them, they got a new dance floor and redid the entire indoor cocktail hour/ceremony space). My friends and family absolutely loved it. We highly recommend Monte Bello for anyone looking for a beautiful venue whose staff will make sure you have your dream wedding. -
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![Lanie]()
Lanie Sent on 02/18/2020Monte Bello went above/beyond for our wedding!
My husband and I ultimately chose Monte Bello as our wedding venue because of the beauty of the estate itself, the flexibility it offered with its packages as well as the staff's overall responsiveness to our wants/needs. We felt confident that our wedding would be executed smoothly because Monte Bello is a "well oiled machine" when it comes to weddings. We were not disappointed. Monte Bello went ABOVE AND BEYOND when it came to planning and executing our wedding. The venue's coordinators and directors were incredibly responsive, impeccable with details and very organized. We did not experience any issues throughout the whole process. Having our wedding at Monte Bello was by far the best decision we made with our wedding. -
![Ashley]()
Ashley Sent on 12/16/2019August 2019 Wedding
I cannot say enough wonderful things about The Monte Bello Estates. My husband and I had our August 24, 2019 wedding there and it was exactly as I had always dreamed my wedding would be. We worked with Courtney and she was always extremely responsive and helpful. We had our ceremony in the outdoor wooded area. There is so much natural beauty out there that there is really no need for any extra decor. Our cocktail hour was outdoors, and our reception was in the four seasons tent. The Monte Bello photographs extremely well and all our pictures came out beautifully. The food was absolutely amazing as well. We are still receiving compliments on how beautiful our wedding was! -
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![Dave]()
Dave Sent on 10/27/2019Moore/Barclay
Wow! What an amazing venue. Since day one, the girls at Monte Bello were so helpful and great all the way through our day. Abbey is a rockstar. They put on a great wedding. From early access, to set up, to end of night s’mores. Couldn’t of pictured our wedding anywhere else. So sad we won’t be able to have that experience again. Worth every penny. -
![Catherine]()
Catherine Sent on 10/22/2019Amazing place for a wedding!
We had our wedding at the Monte Bello Estate in September 2019 and it was INCREDIBLE!!! Abbey was our coordinator and we loved working with her and all the staff at the Monte Bello. She was knowledgeable, responsive, helpful, easy to work with and kind. We had the use of the full mansion and grounds from noon until midnight and we took full advantage! The bridal suite and groom suite are both amazing and very different. There was plenty of space to get ready in both and take some pictures. The interior of the mansion and the grounds are just beautiful and well taken care of. We were married under the gazebo on the grounds and we took all our wedding photos there as well. Our photographs are incredible, and we will cherish them forever. Abbey made sure that all the details of our wedding went smoothly. She personally went above and beyond to make sure that our guests that needed a little extra assistance received it. We will always be grateful for this. The meals that we selected were delicious, our guests still talk about how tender their steak (or chicken) was and how it could be cut with a butter knife. Everything from the location, staff, bar/cocktails, appetizers, meal and dessert were just perfect. Our guests are still talking about how beautiful and unique our wedding was. We cannot say enough about the Monte Bello and their team. We loved our wedding at the Monte Bello and we highly recommend them! -
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![Dana]()
Dana Sent on 09/04/2019Fairy-tale
From day 1 of working with The Monte Bello Estate it was a breeze. The ladies are amazing at making you feel at ease throughout the whole planning process. Not only is the venue absolutely beautiful but it is a timeless experience. Everything is done in house for an easy planning perspective.. one stop shop!! We got married on August 3rd of 2019 and the landscaping was a dream. Every guest from our wedding is still talking about how amazing the food, venue and service was. We cannot thank the Monte Bello enough for how amazing they were and how beautiful our wedding was. We highly recommend having your wedding here, you will not be disappointed and who doesn't loving having a wedding where your guests cant stop talking about it!? -
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![Autumn]()
Autumn Sent on 09/03/2019Amazing Venue!
The Monte Bello Estate was nothing short of perfect for our wedding. The grounds were absolutely breathtaking. Everything was stunning and ran so smoothly. We got so many compliments on the venue, the food and the cake. Abbey was so amazing to work with throughout our year and a half of planning. She was helpful, sweet, organized & passionate. We loved our wedding at Monte Bello SO much! Highly recommend! -
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![Melissa]()
Melissa Sent on 05/28/2019Beautiful Venue, Beautiful Wedding!
I cannot recommend Monte Bello Estate enough! This venue is not only absolutely beautiful, but all of the girls that work there are so extremely helpful and very good at what they do! My husband and I instantly fell in love the moment we toured this venue and had so much fun working with the MB team to execute our perfect wedding day! Despite not being able to have our wedding outside (it rained AND snowed on our April wedding day), it was still the most magical wedding. Abbey deserves a very special shout-out for all of her help - she went above and beyond helping us plan our wedding and was extremely patient and kind with answering every email/phone call that was sent to her. We are so extremely happy we chose to have our wedding at Monte Bello and want to say a HUGE thanks to everyone that helped make it happen. You guys are the best! -
![Bethany]()
Bethany Sent on 11/21/2018Happiest Place on Earth
I still have dreams about my wedding because of how beautiful The Monte Bello Estate is. I could not have asked for a better place to have my wedding. My husband and I had family flying in from Arizona as well as family that was local in Illinois and everyone was blown away by this venue and still talk about how gorgeous it was. It is timeless and stunning, inside and out, and my husband and I could not have been more happy with our magical wedding location. Wedding venue's are everywhere and relatively easy to come by, but if you want a gorgeous venue AND an amazing support system to get you through this wedding planning process, you NEED to use The Monte Bello Estate. Courtney Troyner is not only one of the best Venue Coordinator's out there, but she is truly just the sweetest person. I live in Arizona now and she was willing to have non-stop communication with me throughout the entire planning process. Courtney was so patient with me when figuring out our guest count and floor plan as we had several family hardships that came up towards the end. She offered so many helpful suggestions that I wouldn't have even thought about, AND when my makeup lady bailed 9 days before the wedding, Courtney was able to suggest an awesome makeup artist and SHE did the research to see if she had availability. It meant the world to me. The staff, all around, goes unmatched at The Monte Bello Estate. My husband and I, as well as my family, couldn't have been any more thrilled with how our wedding went at their venue. All of the support from the staff was unlike any other, the venue is absolutely beautiful and the food and extra services was worth every (incredibly reasonably priced) dime we spent. I cannot say thank you enough to them for making the entire process everything a bride could ever dream of. If you are looking for a place to blow your guests away and have a magical wedding, The Monte Bello Estate is the place to be! -
![Andrea]()
Andrea Sent on 11/16/2018Every guest said "best wedding ever"
There are no words to explain how amazing our wedding day was and it was all thanks to all of you at the Monte Bello. You all made our day so enjoyable and Tony and I were able to focus on our wedding and our guests and not worry about any of the logistics. You all made it seamless and I know that takes a lot of effort. We have heard nothing but praise from many of our guests. From the food to the service to the beautiful estate. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you!! -
Geraldine Sent on 06/04/2018I highly recommend the Monte Bello Estate for your dream wedding!!! Abbey and the team are awesome! I just got married last month and my wedding turned out so beautiful and perfect I wish I could relive that day over and over again. Abbey was so helpful throughout the entire wedding planning process I can't thank her enough. Everyone talks about how stressful and crazy wedding planning can be but I did not feel like that after booking with the Monte Bello. They took care of everything for us and the team was always there to help and give their best recommendations
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![Lauren]()
Lauren Sent on 10/05/2023The dream venue
This venue leaves me speechless, it is absolutely stunning. Worth every penny but it is very expensive and every little thing is extra. Only complaint is they changed our coordinator three times and things got lost in translation a few times. All and all the team was fabulous on the day of and I couldn’t have asked for a more magical day. -
![Kim]()
Kim P. Sent on 06/19/2022Monte Bello is a Standout!
Picking a wedding venue can be overwhelming, and during my search, Monte Bello was a clear standout from the rest. A few things that made it so appealing was the fact that I could host my guests for the ceremony and reception (as opposed to traveling from one place to another). My husband and I wanted to have an outdoor ceremony, but we knew a wedding in April in Chicago was a toss up, so he was adamant that our plan B would not look like a plan B. Even though we ended up being blessed with a beautiful 80 degree day, we would not have been disappointed indoors with the beautiful floor to ceiling windows in the ceremony space. Total win-win. Another thing that stood out to us was the food as well as the dietary accommodations. We were interested in a brunch menu and Monte Bello was incredibly creative in the options they offered. The service was wonderful and after our wedding we had a number of guests rave about how wonderful it all was. One guest told us it was the best wedding food they had ever had! It meant so much to us that our family had a good time celebrating with us. It was the perfect wedding and we would 100% recommend it to others -
![Nina]()
Nina Sent on 10/24/2019Not Your Golf Course Wedding
Monte Bello was the first and only venue my husband and I visited. As soon as we got out of the car and saw the beautiful grounds with big, mature trees, we knew that's where we wanted our outdoor wedding. The entire venue is gorgeous, both inside and out. I loved the tent-feel of the reception area without actually being outside. June 15 was, unfortunately, a rainy day, but moving everything inside worked out perfectly.
Courtney was our coordinator and she was extremely helpful from beginning to end. I lost my dad unexpectedly the week before my wedding and she took initiative and did whatever she could to help my family and me with whatever we needed to finish planning.
The food was delicious and we still have guests talking about it. I think the grilled cheese shooters were everyone's favorite and the late-night burgers were perfect for the dancing fools!
The only reason I gave 4 stars was due to the cost. Like most venues, the extras really add up and the packages are pretty expensive.
With that being said, I would still choose Monte Bello again. Our day was perfect. -
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![Kathleen]()
Kathleen Sent on 10/01/2019Beautiful space, great team!
Overall, we had a great experience and a dream wedding at The Monte Bello Estate. Many of our guests commented on how special and beautiful the space was. We were also able to capture lots of one-on-a-kind pictures on the grounds.
We had to move the cocktail hour at the last minute due to rain but there wasn't any impact to our timeline or guests' experience. The servers, bartenders, etc. were also all great and made sure the bridal party and family were well taken care of.
The team was easy to work with, we started planning with Sara, then worked with Abbey, and finally worked with Courtney for the day of. Everyone was very responsive to email questions and special requests (for example, we asked to bring in a custom sweet table, a tradition with Greek weddings).
Would highly recommend the Monte Bello for your wedding or event, unique space and great team!
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