“I'm still smiling thinking about our March wedding - it was absolute perfection at Crossed Keys.
We were originally interested in the venue from the gorgeous pictures we saw online. The grounds are stunning but because we knew we were leaning more towards a winter/early spring wedding and NJ weather is famously unpredictable, we wanted to make sure that the indoor area was beautiful as well. CKE definitely fit the bill.
I have a reputation for being a foodie so I was skeptical of most venues and caterers as we were still deciding, but when Katherine, the owner, told me during our tour that they serve lechon (I'm Filipino and my husband's Peruvian), I thought OH, these people actually know what they're talking about. And I was completely right! Multiple people told us that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had, and we have a pretty tough and selective crowd. I'm not sure how many other venues can serve good lechon and ceviche at a cocktail hour.
The whole team was super communicative and responsive throughout the entire process. Katherine always says to give her a call if you need anything, and she really means it. And the planning spreadsheet they provide you helps you think about lots of things you might otherwise miss.
Jess and her team did such a stunning job on our florals and decor. I think she actually did a better job than the inspiration photos we showed her, which is incredible to say. She was also flexible in working with us within our budget.
Kyle did an amazing job as our maître d’ and was constantly checking up on us throughout the night. My dad said it was like he was "everywhere." And Rosemary, our waitstaff for the night, was also so sweet, making sure we were always topped off and fed.
Danielle was our venue coordinator, but more importantly our literal angel. She was with us every step of the way during planning, and was on top of absolutely everything. On the day of, she didn’t take of just us, but she also showed our families so much kindness. My parents in particular were really grateful to her, especially for helping them resolve a vendor issue, which I had no idea about until after. The day went perfectly from my lens. But that's how you know you have a good coordinator!
From the venue to the food to the decor and the service, the CKE team made what could have been a very stressful day utterly seamless. We felt truly taken care of, and the sweet note and pictures they left us at the end of the night were the cherry on top. We're just hoping to one day be invited as guests to a wedding here so we can experience it all for ourselves!
Photo Credit: Forged in the North”
