“If you are considering Jedediah Hawkins for your wedding, here are the 5 things I’d most like to share about our experience there.
1. Nothing went wrong. As soon as we were greeted by Ilias, who manages the entire operation, we knew he will not allow anything to go wrong. At that point my stress dissolved, and I began to really enjoy the happiest day of my life.
2. The food: appetizers, entrees and desserts, was consistently excellent and abundant.
3. The venue is gorgeous, rain or shine. The staff deal with weather issues instantly if things change. I have personal, happy experience with this.
4. The staff is friendly, professional and trained to please the guests as well as the wedding party.
5. In addition to sending thank you notes, I receive them from family and friends who had the time of their lives.
We had the luxury of an outstanding wedding planner, a wonderful string quartet, and a gorgeous wedding cake. Yet had we not been able to afford those luxuries, our day at Hawkins would have been the grandest day of our lives. That is due to the people who manage and staff this lovely venue.
On the day of our wedding the weather wasn’t optimal, but rain wasn’t a sure thing. Ilias patiently waited while we watched the JHI staff, musicians and florist setup our outdoor garden wedding. About half an hour before the scheduled start, Ilias determined that we were moving indoors. Then, it started to pour. Nobody batted an eyelash. The Hawkins team converted the beautiful reception “Barn” into a lovely wedding chapel. Ilias and a small army of servers with umbrellas led us through the wisteria covered pathway to the Barn. After the ceremony, we enjoyed the cocktail hour in the historic restaurant/inn while the staff restored the Barn for dinner and dancing.
When we went for a tasting to select the food that would be served, the chef prepared full entrees and appetizers so we would know exactly what would be served, how it would taste and how it would be presented. We were served each of the available first course appetizers that our guests would choose from. On our wedding day, my husband and I had all these things served at our table.
The cocktail hour includes both hot appetizers served by staff constantly moving through your crowd of guests and a wonderful Tuscan cold appetizer table. When I spent a selfish amount of time listening to the string quartet we brought in, my bridal attendant Kelly (provided by JHI to shadow me in case I needed anything) noticed it and appeared with a platter of hot appetizers just for my new husband and me. Kelly also perfectly arranged my fresh flowers on our wedding cake, coordinated the presentation of a birthday cake we brought for our flower girl’s fifth birthday and made sure that our guests had boxes to take home desserts from the huge dessert table of cookies and pastries. Kelly was a great example of the Hawkins staff knowing how to pre-empt any chance of something going wrong. She was always with me to connect a need with a service.
We had the luxury of staying at the Inn during our wedding weekend. - You must see the rooms if you are thinking of staying!! Eugenia was our house mother, housekeeper, breakfast coordinator and all around resource. She kept us comfortable and ready to enjoy our stay.
The many Hawkins staff devoted to our wedding did small and incredibly large things to make everyone comfortable, satisfied and happy. ALL of our guests raved about them. Yours will too.”