The Umstead Hotel and Spa Reviews

We want to share a heartfelt thank you to the Umstead for making our rehearsal dinner, ceremony and reception incredibly special and stress free! From the moment we reached out about having our events at The Umstead, they were professional, responsive, courteous and detailed oriented. They have consistently had such a “can do” approach and offered valuable insight and suggestions. Additionally, for those team members who we did get a chance to interact with during the special day, each and every one of them was positive and upbeat and had a smile on their face. Our experience at The Umstead was top notch. The hotel and grounds are incredibly beautiful and carefully and thoughtfully maintained. Our decision to have our rehearsal dinner and terrace wedding ceremony and reception at The Umstead was hands down the best decision. The special touches like providing glasses of champagne and a light snack for a quiet moment for the bride and groom prior to the reception and delivering thoughtful surprises and hand written notes to their room each day elevated an already incredibly wonderful experience. The food at both dinners was top notch. Most guests who attend organized dinner events at hotels usually expect the food to be just okay. We had so many of our guests tell us how delicious the food was for both of our dinners. Who knew a buffet dinner at a hotel could actually be incredibly delicious. We highly recommend the Umstead for anyone else looking for a phenomenal wedding venue and catered service & planning for their special day

The Umstead Hotel and Spa is the absolute BEST venue to have your Wedding, I truly cannot recommend it enough! Every aspect of our day was perfectly executed from start to finish and the staff was so friendly and helpful. Haley was a true pleasure to work with and made everything so easy in the planning process. Every thing I thought of, she took care of and made happen. Every meeting with her and other staff members was so fun and easy and she made sure that every detail of our wedding day was taken care of for the most perfect day. The level of professionalism from The Umstead was unmatched and I was blown away with the whole staff team and how special they made my husband and I feel. We were so blown away by how fabulous the staff and venue were, that we had BOTH our Wedding and our Wedding Celebration here. Hosting our Wedding at The Umstead was worth every penny and I would recommend them every single time for an incredible and special event!

We cannot say enough wonderful things about The Umstead, Haley, and Elizabeth. Choosing the Umstead as our wedding venue was the best decision we made for our big day, and we are forever grateful to this incredible team for making it truly unforgettable.

We toured over 30 venues from NYC to North Carolina, and as much as we debated getting married outside of where we live, my mother (who’s local to Raleigh) made an appointment at The Umstead. Having visited for my mom’s 70th birthday party a few years back, I was familiar with the space but hadn’t seriously thought about getting married outside of NYC. That all changed the second I stepped onto the Umstead property for a tour.

The picturesque lawn with beautiful white chairs overlooking the water, the luxurious terrace, and the stunning ballroom all took my breath away. Plus they said they would allow my pooch, Bella Mia, to participate in the ceremony!! In that moment, I just knew it was the right place. My husband (still so fun to say!) and I have said countless times since then how grateful we are to have chosen The Umstead. An absolute blessing.

Haley, our Umstead coordinator, was an absolute gem from start to finish. Her warmth, patience, and professionalism made the entire process seamless and enjoyable. She answered every question, adjusted her schedule to meet us when we were in town, and guided us through every detail with care. From our numerous emails about table layouts and settings to the exquisite tasting she hosted, Haley’s attention to detail and genuine passion made the planning process so smooth. She truly went above and beyond to ensure our day was perfect.

And Elizabeth, our day-of coordinator, was just as phenomenal. She kept us on track with such a positive and calming presence, guided the wedding party throughout the day, and even bustled my finicky gown twice with a smile and so much grace. She made everything feel effortless and fun, allowing us to fully enjoy the day. I was so grateful to have her near - she has the most wonderful presence!

Honestly, the entire Umstead team is remarkable, from the thoughtful welcome champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, cards, and complimentary mimosas and pastries Hayley sent to the kind bellhops who knew our names, every detail was top-notch and made us feel so special.

Our wedding was truly the most magical day of our lives, and we owe so much of that to The Umstead, Hayley, and Elizabeth. Their kindness, expertise, and passion for what they do made all the difference. My husband and I can’t wait to return to The Umstead to celebrate anniversaries and relive the memories. If you’re considering getting married here, do it—you will not regret it. We are forever Umstead fans!

We cannot say enough good things about this venue. The team executed our big day so flawlessly. It was a pleasure to work with them from the start all the way to the end of the wedding night. We felt we could always reach out and ask questions and that no request was too weird. Our friends and family all spoke high praise as well. If you really want to feel taken care of and supported by a venue, you have to have your event here. The staff and attention to detail cannot be beat. Truly, we are blown away.

Kayla and the Umstead planning team were fantastic; she made sure every detail was perfect and we received so many compliments on the venue. The lawn was beautiful and perfect size for our ceremony, and the ballroom was stunning! The food was delicious and the catering team was so attentive the entire evening. Kayla made sure we were being fed during cocktail hour (it's a long day!) and really helped to make our wedding absolutely perfect!

Wow! There is no better venue than the Umstead for a wedding in the Triangle, or probably anywhere for that matter. The venue itself is stunning. The food was incredible, our guests are still raving about it. The staff has incredible attention to detail and service. And most importantly, the venue coordinator, Kayla, is not only incredibly professional, easy to work with, but also the coolest. She made sure every concern we had was heard and handled, and went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect. 10/10. We can't wait to celebrate many anniversaries here in the future!

The Umstead was amazing! Kayla our wedding coordinator was absolutely fantastic!! During all of the stresses of COVID, Kayla really helped us and answered all of our questions! We wouldn’t want to get married anywhere else! It all turned out amazing and it was all due to the Umstead and their amazing help!!!!

I’m not even sure where to begin with this post. From the moment I toured the Umstead and met with Ms. Kayla Bower, I knew it would be my top choice. I can’t express how deeply grateful I am that I went with my gut. We were forced to postpone our wedding one week before our original date due to COVID. Kayla and her team at the Umstead were so incredibly thoughtful, gracious, and flexible with us, given the circumstances. They truly helped us make the best of what seemed like an awful situation. When the day came to finally celebrate our wedding, of course we faced further COVID hiccups and weather issues. The Umstead acted quickly to accommodate us and the situation and did their absolute best to make our wedding as close to our original vision as possible, while keeping in mind COVID restrictions and guidelines for everyone’s health and safety. As an anxious bride I fully trusted Kayla and her team at The Umstead and they completely alleviated my stress and worry about perfecting the big day. Their bridal suite accommodation is wonderful And spacious, and they go out of their way to make you feel special and spoiled on such a momentous occasion. Our guests were blown away at the natural beauty of the grounds, the delicious quality of the food (GET THE WHIPPED POTATOES AND STEAK DIANE, YOU’LL THANK ME LATER), and the amazing service from everyone from the bellhop to the waiters in the dining room. O truly cannot imagine having gone with any other venue, especially given the large burden of re-planning during a global pandemic. The Umstead (and Ms. Kayla) will forever hold a special place in our memories and hearts!

To have your day be nothing less than amazing look into the Umstead Hotel and Spa. Not only getting to marry my best friend but we had our dream wedding with the most amazing staff! From the moment you walk in to when you leave you will have nothing to worry about. Kayla and her staff listen to what you would like and make it all and then some happen! Do not over look this hidden place or think it might be to much. It is worth every penny and more!
Can’t say enough or thank them enough for everything they did for us!

Kayla Bower was truly the best to work with! She went above & beyond in sharing her vast knowledge and wedding planning expertise for our recent wedding. She made our entire wedding planning process run smoothly and made sure that nothing was out of place — everything looked absolutely perfect! Kayla continually worked with us and helped us create personalized touches, an amazing day, and truly unforgettable memories. Our wedding was truly the best day of our lives and we loved every minute of it! We owe it all to Kayla and the wonderful Umstead team!

Kayla Bower, the Umstead event coordinator, along with Gina, our day of wedding planner, went above and beyond to make our big day an absolute dream, the kind of day you imagine having as a little girl! From the ceremony location outside, to the reception in the grand ballroom, the entire day felt like a fairytale with attention to every last detail. We were adamant on including several personal touches into our wedding that could not have been incorporated without their help. Our guests were completely blown away by the high-quality service, friendly staff, beautiful venue, and overall experience at the Umstead. There is no other place I could’ve pictured having my wedding or a better team out there.
The food was absolutely incredible -- the best meal we have ever had. It was so good, we wish we could have it all over again! The service was, unbelievably, even better. The staff treated us and our guests like royalty.

We could not have asked for a better venue to host our large, Italian/Colombian/Southern wedding. The Umstead staff and service is incredible as our many guests complimented them to us throughout the evening. We knew from the initial meeting to expect an excellent wedding weekend but they far surpassed anything we could have imagined. Terri and her team answered all of my questions in a timely and helpful manner throughout the planning process. The wedding packages at the Umstead include so much that the planning on me and my husband was really quite minimal. And none of that even begins to touch on how INSANE the food was!! Good luck whittling down your choices of meals and hor d'oeurves, because they were all spectacular and delicious. I cannot thank this venue enough! You will want to book your wedding here!!

Oh my gosh! Where do I start???!!! First of all, I’m a photographer in the industry and have been shooting weddings for 15 years so I knew exactly where I wanted to get married! The Umstead did not disappoint and exceeded my expectations 100 times over. From the room, to the food, to the attention to every little detail I was blown away by them. We ended up extending our stay by 4 days!! My parents wouldn’t even stay with us(we’re local) because they love the hotel so much! None of us wanted our time to end! I just can’t say enough good things about The Umstead and their staff. We felt like royalty!! And Amanda...I could go on and on! This is a person that is beautiful inside and out not to mention amazing at her job! Even though we have a personal relationship, she treated me with the utmost professionalism and I felt so special throughout the entire process. I get teary-eyed just thinking about it. Umstead, Amanda, Heavenly and the rest of the team, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating a magical experience for myself, Brad, our family and friends! Much love, Cara

We recently got married in November and it was an absolute dream!! The Umstead treated us with such class and grace from the very first day! Amanda and Heavenly are truly a god send! From the beginning until the end they were there to support in every way! The Umstead service was out of this world and the food is amazing. I would recommend anyone to choose The Umstead as their wedding venue! Truly world class!! I can't thank them enough!!!

The Umstead made my daughter’s wedding a dream come true! Her wedding was perfect. Amanda Coftler and Heavenly was amazing. Thank you to the whole team!

Just all around amazing experience. We were equally as impressed as our guest. We pushed the envelope with our numbers but they accommodated my wishes and served and fit everyone comfortably with amazing food! They also gave me a beautiful suite overlooking the ceremony so I was able to watch it all unfold that morning. The hotel set up a mimosa station with pastries and surprised us with a beautiful gift! Amazing weekend!

The Umstead was beyond fabulous. Everything we planned for our big day turned out as we expected or better. The staff was great to work, efficient, and flexible. The food was delicious. Our guests said our wedding was by far the best one they had been to and people still ask me about the food we selected for our reception. I would get married again at the Umstead any day. It was worth every penny.

The Umstead was the perfect place for our wedding! The service, hotel, grounds, food... everything was amazing! Amanda Colfer did every thing she could to ensure our day was the day of our dreams-including holding an umbrella over my head when it started raining. She treated me like a princess and I will never forget her stellar customer service and kindness. She genuinely cares and made wedding planning far less stressful! If you’re thinking about the Umstead, don’t think anymore! Book them!

Choosing a venue for our wedding last June was a very easy decision. Hands-down, there is no competition. The Umstead is our favorite venue in the Raleigh Durham area, more precisely in the entire state of North Carolina. In fact, one of the best venues in the Southeast. Amanda and her team are top notch and every detail was effortlessly addressed. The cuisine and service is top notch! Usually the process of wedding planning can be very stressful, but I have to say that was not a moment of stress the entire process. The Umstead is a world class destination and I’ll have to say it will be our choice for special events and corporate functions in the future. I like to call it the art of “warm and unpretentious elegance”, which is rare these days. Thank you so much!

The team at the Umstead was a dream to work with! Everything went off perfectly, down to the fine details. Amanda was especially wonderful throughout the whole process and over the course of 6 months. I highly and enthusiastically recommend the Umstead!

Everything Amanda and The Umstead did was absolutely perfect! I had little to no doubts throughout the entire planning of the wedding because I knew it would be taken care of! The whole ceremony was flawless and the service and accommodations were beyond my expectations. I would without second thought recommend Amanda Colfer to anyone looking to plan their wedding or any event at The Umstead.

Having just had my wedding at the Umstead Hotel, I must say that the memories are still really fresh in my mind. Everyone on staff that night was fabulous, my now husband and I left with more friends than when we got there. The food is absolutely fantastic and our venue coordinator Amanda made sure that every little detail about it was executed flawlessly. Amanda is the sweetest, most diligent, compassionate, understanding, hard working, creative, and friendliest site coordinator you could ask for! As a bride you want to make sure that you don't have anything to worry about on your wedding day and Amanda is definitely the person you can hand the reigns over to without a doubt. The Umstead grounds are beautiful and every area is picture worthy. Never has the expression you get what you pay for been more apt than the Umstead, and its worth every penny. The one note I will make to brides who chose to get married on the wedding lawn: if it has even considered raining recently, invest in heel savers for yourself, bridesmaids, and guests. They were a total hit at my wedding and definitely spared a few shoes and wardrobes from grass destruction.

The entire team at the Umstead Hotel and Spa is incredible. Every single aspect of our wedding weekend was executed to perfection. We had multiple guests comment and praise everything from the professionalism of the staff to the delicious food at the reception. The attention to detail was above and beyond our wildest expectations and made for a stress free of a day. To this day, friends and family comment that the Umstead made for the best wedding they had ever attended. We looked at multiple venues in the area and could not have been happier with our decision. The Umstead provided the feel of a destination wedding while being convenient and affordable for our guests. If you are looking for the absolute best place for the wedding in the triangle then look no further than the Umstead. They made our dream wedding come true and we look forward to spending many staycations and anniversaries in the future.

The Umstead’s luxury amenities and accommodations coupled with premier service made it the perfect venue for us to host our wedding reception. From the moment we visited the Umstead to conduct a site visit, we felt the ultimate guest experience. By the time, we had concluded our site visit, we needed to look no further. The Umstead offers such a warm, private, and open event space. We absolutely loved that the pre-function (cocktail) area offered our guests an indoor and beautiful outdoor terrace that overlooked the grounds and pond. The pre-function area is also adjacent to the Ballroom, which was equally grand in décor and space.

The entire service provided by the Umstead’s event, valet, and catering staff was equally impeccable and we cannot say thank you enough. In fact, our wedding guests have also conveyed similar compliments regarding their guest experience. There was not one negative comment about the food selections nor the bar selections; which is rare for a hotel. In fact, we received stellar feedback on the bartender’s expertise in liquor and wine selections. Similarly, our guest’s favorite menu entrée/side was the BBQ chipotle ribs & brocolini. I even recalled one catering staff employee expressing her gratitude to us for allowing the Umstead to be of service and she welcomed us back for our anniversary. Every employee that we encountered during our stay was helpful and very kind.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to Ms. Amanda Colfer, Social Catering Manager for her outstanding customer service and hospitality. From start to finish, Ms. Colfer was pleasant, proactive, and detail-oriented. Her attention to detail is an attribute that every bride-to be can appreciate. The qualities displayed by Ms. Colfer helped foster a genuine and trusting relationship among us where we felt at ease throughout our event planning. Ms. Colfer accommodated every special request and at no point did we feel that Umstead could not deliver on service!

Great place for any celebration. Excellent staff to assist with the arrangements and vendors.

The Umstead has always been a special place for me and my husband. We had our first "fancy date" there a month after we met (Jan 2012) and he proposed to me there on Christmas Day 2015. So it was an obvious choice for us when we decided to marry. We wanted to have a private ceremony with just us, the officiant, two witnesses, and the photographer. Our coordinator, Amanda Colfer, went out of her way to make sure everything was perfect from the moment we met her. We'd reserved the boardwalk for the ceremony, but she let us use the terrace with the gas fireplace because no one else was using it -- and it was just perfect. We really didn't expect more than just a place to marry, but she stepped up to be a full coordinator for us, making sure everyone got where they needed to be and walking my father and I down the hall. It seemed like there was a handwritten note from her with a new, thoughtful gift every time I turned around (from fruit for breakfast to champagne in celebration)! All of her special touches really made the weekend for us, and we'll continue to think of The Umstead as our special place.

The Umstead Hotel and Spa was an amazing wedding venue. Carrie Cassidy, the catering director at Umstead, was extremely helpful throughout the planning process! She made sure everything was taken care of down to the smallest of details. The whole staff at the Umstead was top-notch. The professionalism and friendliness of everyone is evident when you walk in and our guests made numerous comments about how much they loved the venue and how accommodating the staff was. Thanks to everyone at the Umstead for making our wedding weekend so amazing! We can't highly recommend them enough!

It's near impossible to say anything negative about The Umstead. We had our daughter & new son-in-law's wedding a couple of weeks ago, and it was incredible! From the nature preserve-like grounds to the lovely ceremony lawn to the hotel interior are all stunningly beautiful! The newlyweds said that they couldn't have asked for a more perfect place because it was everything they hoped for and dreamt of. We must compliment the outstanding staff and all the services that they provided. You will not be disappointed working with Carrie Cassidy, the banquet manager, and her fantastic staff, Amanda and Margaret, and especially Heavenly! Since this was a Five Star Hotel we expected a certain degree of excellence, but when they told us that on the day of the wedding we would have no worries at all, they well exceeded our expectations. From the porters to the chamber maids to the waiters and servers everyone was attentive, respectful and flawless. All the details that we had been discussing all year were acted out with such great precision that we never did worry about anything. My husband and I enjoyed the wedding as if we were actual guests! No worries at all! Above all, we truly appreciated how they took such extra special care of our daughter and son-in-law in making sure they ate and stay hydrated. Heavenly actually anticipated anything and everything that our daughter needed or wanted. She's an absolute angel! Something else that impressed us was the mouth-watering, delectable food! All our guests, and I mean ALL, were so impressed with the preparition and presentation of the entrees that they are still talking about them (FYI - get the beef it's unbelievable!). We are so happy that we choose The Umstead. We truly cannot thank Carrie, Heavenly, Amanda and Margaret enough for making the day and evening so magical for our daughter & son-in-law. My husband and I look forward to staying at the hotel again and staying in the suite on the ground floor - it was fabulous!

My wife and I just had the wedding ceremony and reception of our dreams at The Umstead this past weekend. We had toured the Umstead before a few times when choosing our venue, but to see it all come together was a sight beyond words. The location is just amazing - from the beautiful ceremony lawn, to the surrounding woods, to the lovely lake, it all combined to make an atmosphere that was upscale, elegant and serene, all at the same time. We briefly considered other venues during our initial search of the area, but one walk through the Umstead was enough to convince us right away. The ballroom was the perfect size, providing more than enough space for all our guests to move about, eat, mingle and dance, while not feeling at all empty or overcrowded. The pin-spot lighting highlighted our centerpieces perfectly, and the decor provided by the Umstead was very beautiful. Our guests could not stop raving about how amazing the venue location was, and I'm sure we'll continue to hear about it for months and years to come.

Carrie, the catering director, was excellent in tailoring the event to our exact specifications, and helping us manage our guests, wedding party, and various vendors so that the proceedings and events were timely, adaptive, and perfect in execution. The staff were impeccable, catering to all our guests' needs, as well as constantly providing the best quality service possible for my wife and I, so that we constantly had drinks and food at our table, as we were very busy with interacting with our guests. And lastly, the Umstead provided us with the Bridal Suite to stay at for our wedding, which was one of the most luxurious suites we've ever stayed at. The room location was perfect, as it allowed my wife and her bridesmaids to get ready easily and walk only a hallway to reach the ceremony lawn. The accommodations went beyond all expectations, and truly showed off why the Umstead is the prime location to host an event in the area.

Hands down, the most beautiful venue I have ever seen. They take care of everything here and make you feel like you own the place! From the second we met Carrie, she was so nice and helpful, she helps plan every detail of your big day with you and she is always accessible. Going into the planning process was new and very stressful to me at times but Carrie made sure to reassure me and keep me on track the whole time.

I don't know how to put into words our experience with The Umstead. They are the best of the best! Not only is the venue absolutely stunning for both a ceremony and reception, their attention to detail is beyond anything I have ever experienced. I started out planning my wedding with one events coordinator and by the time our wedding was a few months away we had a different coordinator - Margaret. She is amazing! They literally think of everything. The food is out of this world. They are so flexible with their packages and can really do whatever you dream up. Margaret coordinated our ceremony rehearsal and came to check on the bridal party throughout the day. She is so calm and reassuring, I knew everything would go off without a hitch. If you are considering having your wedding at the Umstead or are trying to decide between venues, there is no comparison! The Umstead is gorgeous and we couldn't be happier with the experience we had.

Superior service! The staff at the Umstead Hotel and Spa is top notch; they went above and beyond to make sure that everything was absolutely flawless for our wedding day. From the moment we starting planning our event with them, through the end they took care of every detail and delivered above and beyond our expectations every step of the way.

Everything about this venue was perfect! They organize the vendors you choose, which helps make planning so much easier. Kelley Ann is the social catering manager, and she helped make our day seamless and special. We could not have been happier with our choice of a beautiful venue!

The Umstead Hotel & Spa is worth it! From my first meeting to the wedding (a span of 11 months), I felt like the only bride they were working with for the entire year (compared to other, similar venues I considered that felt more like wedding factories!). Kelley, the coordinator, is hands-on and flexible. She listened to our wants and needs and helped create our dream wedding. Most importantly, she is super responsive and thorough. I felt totally at ease knowing she was at the helm!

Our guests raved about the beauty of the venue and the quality of the food and beverages. Seriously, many of us will continue to dream of food served as it was cooked in their restaurant to-order and not pre-prepared like other wedding venues. The hotel and event staff were attentive to our guests throughout the weekend, too. There were so many lovely little extras throughout the weekend - fresh fruit and mimosas served the morning-of, for example - that again, just made us feel so special. I cannot more highly recommend this venue to other brides, it was the best choice we made during wedding planning!

Beautiful Place with TOP Notch service. They treated my guest like royalty. They made my weekend a Fairy Tale.

An absolute dream!! From the moment I contacted The Umstead to the day we checked out....everything was perfect!! The staff and Kelley Ann are second to NONE!! I told everyone that Kelley Ann doesn't know the word "no"!! The food was incredible and all of our family and friends agreed!! This is THE place to have your dream wedding!!

Absolutely amazing! Everything about my day went smoothly and they made sure that everything fell into place! Kelley Ann is awesome!

We JUST got married at the Umstead and loved EVERY minute of it. From the moment we walked in and were discussing possibly using it as a location for our wedding to the moment we walked out after our wedding weekend with a small tear in our eye that it was over, we felt like we were treated as royalty the entire time. We TRULY appreciate everything they did to make our wedding a memorable experience.

HIGHLY recommended!!!

Our wedding was beyond what we could have hoped for! The ambiance, food and service were amazing! Our day was perfect and any guests said it was one of the best weddings they had ever even to!

Having our wedding at The Umstead was an absolute dream come true! We fell in love with the location and everything that their wedding packages had to offer. Amanda was our coordinator and she was very responsive to emails. As a bride, I wanted answers fast, haha! Amanda was so patient with us and accommodating. She definitely put us at ease and we were reassured that everything would be taken care of. Amanda pays close attention to all of the small details. We loved that their wedding package included a wedding planner. Amanda and the wedding planner had a great relationship and they took care of everything! The second we stepped into the hotel on our wedding weekend, we were treated with the utmost respect by the entire staff. Everyone was so professional. We were extremely impressed and felt like royalty. We received several hand-written notes during our stay and special yummy treats were delivered to the room. Our guests loved the classy environment and had a great time!! And, of course, the food was OUTSTANDING! They have many event spaces and they are all great! Unfortunately, it did rain so we were not able to use the beautiful lawn for our ceremony. I'm just glad we got some shots during our engagement session. The outdoor space is breathtaking <3 I highly recommend The Umstead Hotel to all couples who are in search of a wedding venue. You will not be disappointed!

I was thrilled to have my wedding celebration with the Umstead Hotel and Spa! Everything was beautiful and to our liking, our vendors were able to work with them perfectly, and our guests were extremely happy. I would highly recommend having your wedding reception here, it was a memorable experience!

Our experience at the Umstead was fantastic. We got married in October 2024 and it was beyond our imagination. The grounds and foliage were beautiful. The Umstead staff helped us coordinate and plan our day beautifully. Our guests loved all of the food and said they felt like they got a five star experience. A few of our guests also stayed at the hotel and had a great weekend as hotel guests. Haley Meinholz and Lacey Hardee were our two primary points of contact. They were incredibly responsive and clear in their communication. They also provided recommendations for additional vendors, including Kevin Holland (our officiant), DJs, florists, bakeries for wedding cake/desserts, and photography. It was great that we had those options but we were also allowed to utilize our own vendors if we went outside the recommendation list.

My only feedback is that the outside areas should have a little better lighting and signage leading guests from the outside sidewalk by the pond back to the hotel. It's easy to accidentally head the direction of SAS campus instead back up to the hotel itself. Additionally, my bridal bouquet was accidentally left in our room at checkout as was thrown away by housekeeping. Anything that was left up in the ballrooms or getting ready spaces was accounted for and we were able to get back (they even found one of our groomsmen's cuff links!) except for my bouquet. We think it was an honest mistake, but since we stayed in the "Bridal Suite" we wish housekeeping would have known to communicate the found flowers with Haley or Lacey for us to come back to get.

All in all, the Umstead gave us an incredible experience. Lacey and Haley were so attentive to detail, keeping us on time, coordinating staff, and assisting our guests. They treated us with honesty and respect and always kept me at ease throughout all of our wedding planning process.

we had our dream reception at the Umstead and everything was perfect!! We live out of state and planning and coordinating was so easy with them.

Very nice venue and great service!

For a special night, the Umstead is tops. Our room was wonderful and we enjoyed a beautiful view. They decorated it specially for us to make the night truly feel romantic. They also brought a mini-fridge to our room especially for our leftovers, which was very welcome. I will also say that the valet did a great job finding a car that someone had left for us (and not valeted) when we arrived. As someone who doesn’t stay at 5* hotels very often, I was anxious about the stay, but the staff made us feel like we belonged. Overall, it was a great experience for a special night.

The staff at Umstead was simply amazing. Every detail of our day was executed and exceeded our expectations.

The coordinator we worked with, Kelley Ann, was amazing. The venue was beautiful and they know exactly what they are doing. However, the hotel staff needs a little work. We spent a lot of money making gift bags with snacks and drinks in them to be given to the guests upon check in. We learned later that night that several people weren't given bags and then after we complained, some guests received multiple bags so that there weren't enough. You are 5 star hotel folks, get it right, it's not that hard. Our wedding was beautiful and the food was delicious. Some promises were made to us that were not fulfilled such as which suite I would have, how many bars would be available, etc but overall, everything was perfect.