John Joseph Inn
Updated
John Joseph Inn Photos
John Joseph Inn Videos
About This Vendor
About This Vendor
Luxury Finger Lakes Weddings with a Culinary Focus
John Joseph Inn is an elegant wedding venue in Groton, New York. The country estate is perfect for creating a magical and romantic feel for any wedding. The orchards and landscaping provide a gorgeous backdrop for photos and videos, and will make guests feel both luxurious and comfortable. John Joseph Inn also provides delicious catering from their on-site restaurant, with a seasonal menu. Additionally, John Joseph Inn has eight on-site suites for the couple and their loved ones to stay in, granting privacy and serenity at the estate for the entire wedding weekend.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Covered Outdoors Space, Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Liability Insurance, On-Site Accommodations, Outdoor Event Space, Reception Area, Wireless Internet
Guest CapacityUp to 300
Ceremony TypesCivil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony
Venue Service OfferingsBar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Cupcakes, Other Desserts, Destination Weddings, Destination Wedding Packages, Destination Wedding Planning, Food & Catering, Planning, Rentals & Equipment, Tents, Service Staff
SettingsBackyard, Ballroom, Barn, Farm & Ranch, Estate, Garden, Historic Venue, Hotel, Mountain, Park, Restaurant, Tented, Trees, Vineyard & Winery
Business AttributesPricing for John Joseph Inn
| Option | Value |
|---|---|
| Starting Cost | Moderate |
| Cost Starting | |
| Price Range | |
| Couples Usually Spend | |
| Peak Season Months | |
| Peak Season Cost | |
| Peak Season Reception Cost | |
| Peak Season Ceremony Cost | |
| Peak Season Bar Service Cost | |
| OffSeason Months | |
| OffSeason Cost | |
| OffSeason Reception Cost | |
| OffSeason Ceremony Cost | |
| OffSeason BarService Cost |
Browse John Joseph Inn pricing PDF below for sample services and estimates.
View PricesJohn Joseph Inn Reviews
Matt Bruhn (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
In only a few words -- the John Joseph Inn is an incredible venue and was the perfect spot for our wedding, and we would recommend to anyone!The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous, and John is continually making additions and improvements year after year it seems. We were able to use the property for the entire wedding weekend, from:- having the entire wedding party staying onsite- the Rehearsal Dinner in the restaurant- Welcome Drinks on the porch and in the atrium of the Inn- Getting Ready onsite (girls in the Inn, guys in the Cook's Cottage)- Ceremony in the garden, Cocktail Hour in the orchard, Reception in the Tent- Afterparty in the InnThis not only made logistics easy for us, but meant we were able to explore and use every lovely inch of the property! Also cannot overstate how much we loved that we got to stay on site - it removed so much of the potential hassle for us on our wedding day! The well-maintained gardens and tent were just a stunning location for our day. The ceremony site is a dreamy garden escape, and the reception tent has several wonderful touches not common of other tented venues we toured, including stunning chandeliers, a stone floor, and farmhouse tables.John himself was a pleasure to work with in the year leading up to the event, and his relaxed and calm demeanor was a valuable asset to counter our own wedding stresses. He is a consummate pro at this, having done it for decades now and especially with Lauren's help for the day-of coordination everything went off without a hitch! In addition, the whole way he runs his business was such a breath of fresh air compared to other venues we had toured that gave off more of a \"wedding factory\" vibe. With John, there were no concerns about hidden fees or upcharges or that we were just another name in his ledgers, and on top of that the value at the JJI is better than any other venue we toured. For example -- many things were simply included as part of the package whereas they would've been upcharges at many other venues (champagne toasts, wine service at tables, passed cocktails at happy hour, etc.)Finally, I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't mention the food. From the rehearsal dinner BBQ, to the cocktail hour bites, to the main courses -- everything was so so good and we got many compliments from the guests on how delicious everything was. On top of that, any concerns we had about guests going hungry were completely wrong as the portions were incredibly generous. Overall - an absolutely incredible venue that truly made our whole experience!
Reviewed on 03-01-2024
In only a few words -- the John Joseph Inn is an incredible venue and was the perfect spot for our wedding, and we would recommend to anyone!The venue itself is absolutely gorgeous, and John is continually making additions and improvements year after year it seems. We were able to use the property for the entire wedding weekend, from:- having the entire wedding party staying onsite- the Rehearsal Dinner in the restaurant- Welcome Drinks on the porch and in the atrium of the Inn- Getting Ready onsite (girls in the Inn, guys in the Cook's Cottage)- Ceremony in the garden, Cocktail Hour in the orchard, Reception in the Tent- Afterparty in the InnThis not only made logistics easy for us, but meant we were able to explore and use every lovely inch of the property! Also cannot overstate how much we loved that we got to stay on site - it removed so much of the potential hassle for us on our wedding day! The well-maintained gardens and tent were just a stunning location for our day. The ceremony site is a dreamy garden escape, and the reception tent has several wonderful touches not common of other tented venues we toured, including stunning chandeliers, a stone floor, and farmhouse tables.John himself was a pleasure to work with in the year leading up to the event, and his relaxed and calm demeanor was a valuable asset to counter our own wedding stresses. He is a consummate pro at this, having done it for decades now and especially with Lauren's help for the day-of coordination everything went off without a hitch! In addition, the whole way he runs his business was such a breath of fresh air compared to other venues we had toured that gave off more of a \"wedding factory\" vibe. With John, there were no concerns about hidden fees or upcharges or that we were just another name in his ledgers, and on top of that the value at the JJI is better than any other venue we toured. For example -- many things were simply included as part of the package whereas they would've been upcharges at many other venues (champagne toasts, wine service at tables, passed cocktails at happy hour, etc.)Finally, I'd be doing a disservice if I didn't mention the food. From the rehearsal dinner BBQ, to the cocktail hour bites, to the main courses -- everything was so so good and we got many compliments from the guests on how delicious everything was. On top of that, any concerns we had about guests going hungry were completely wrong as the portions were incredibly generous. Overall - an absolutely incredible venue that truly made our whole experience!
Reviewed on 03-01-2024
Jenniellen Withers (other) 4 out of 5 Rating
First off, the venue is beautiful and the food is amazing! We loved the outdoor ceremony space and the huge tent for the reception, as well as staying right on property in the inn! We did have a good amount of issues getting in contact with John- there was a time we were supposed to have our final amount due and could not get a hold of him for over a week, less than a month before the wedding. We also had to take time to clean up decor from the last wedding (like the ceremony arch), so we could put up our decor. Additionally, there was a tour brought through the inn on the morning of our wedding and we received no warning-- I'm just glad I wasn't changing into my dress yet! We enjoyed our experience and would do it again, but as a couple that did DIY some decor, it was a pretty stressful time leading up to the actual wedding. Besides those things, the food was great, our guests raved about the venue, and the staff during the event was AMAZING!
Reviewed on 05-09-2023
First off, the venue is beautiful and the food is amazing! We loved the outdoor ceremony space and the huge tent for the reception, as well as staying right on property in the inn! We did have a good amount of issues getting in contact with John- there was a time we were supposed to have our final amount due and could not get a hold of him for over a week, less than a month before the wedding. We also had to take time to clean up decor from the last wedding (like the ceremony arch), so we could put up our decor. Additionally, there was a tour brought through the inn on the morning of our wedding and we received no warning-- I'm just glad I wasn't changing into my dress yet! We enjoyed our experience and would do it again, but as a couple that did DIY some decor, it was a pretty stressful time leading up to the actual wedding. Besides those things, the food was great, our guests raved about the venue, and the staff during the event was AMAZING!
Reviewed on 05-09-2023
Jack S. (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Getting married at the John Joseph Inn was incredible from start to finish. John is organized, personable, and an extremely talented chef which made our wedding day absolutely perfect. He made sure we were taken care of and put so much personal care into making sure our wedding vision came to life. The food throughout was the best wedding food we’ve ever had! We are still having guests reach out to us telling us how delicious it was. John’s staff at the Inn were attentive and helpful throughout the weekend. The rooms were beautiful, luxurious, and comfortable. Our families and friends absolutely loved staying on the grounds for the weekend. We couldn’t recommend the John Joseph Inn enough. We are so happy to have chosen this venue and would do it again in a heartbeat. You won’t find a more elegant, beautiful, perfect place to get married.
Reviewed on 08-08-2023
Getting married at the John Joseph Inn was incredible from start to finish. John is organized, personable, and an extremely talented chef which made our wedding day absolutely perfect. He made sure we were taken care of and put so much personal care into making sure our wedding vision came to life. The food throughout was the best wedding food we’ve ever had! We are still having guests reach out to us telling us how delicious it was. John’s staff at the Inn were attentive and helpful throughout the weekend. The rooms were beautiful, luxurious, and comfortable. Our families and friends absolutely loved staying on the grounds for the weekend. We couldn’t recommend the John Joseph Inn enough. We are so happy to have chosen this venue and would do it again in a heartbeat. You won’t find a more elegant, beautiful, perfect place to get married.
Reviewed on 08-08-2023
Briana Stone (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
John Joseph Inn was the best wedding venue I could imagine. John and Lauren were very professional and we’re always available to answer questions that I had. The rooms in the inn were in great shape and the property was well maintained. I would love to go back to the Inn just to dine at one of the chefs tastings- the food was that good. Oh and the cake- are you kidding me? Amazing. I could go on and on. Hands down best wedding venue in the central and upstate New York area.
Reviewed on 22-06-2023
John Joseph Inn was the best wedding venue I could imagine. John and Lauren were very professional and we’re always available to answer questions that I had. The rooms in the inn were in great shape and the property was well maintained. I would love to go back to the Inn just to dine at one of the chefs tastings- the food was that good. Oh and the cake- are you kidding me? Amazing. I could go on and on. Hands down best wedding venue in the central and upstate New York area.
Reviewed on 22-06-2023
Bucky Bordeau (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
Steve and John were very helpful throughout the entire process ( From booking the venue until the day of the wedding). John Joseph Inn is an all inclusive venue that includes onsite lodging forthe wedding party, rehearsal dinner in the restaurant, ceremony outside in the amazing garden, and the reception in an elegant heated tent. They also take care of the entire setup and breakdown of each area. The best part of the wedding was a tie between the fall view and the delicious food, which all of our guests raved about!
Reviewed on 12-12-2022
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
Steve and John were very helpful throughout the entire process ( From booking the venue until the day of the wedding). John Joseph Inn is an all inclusive venue that includes onsite lodging forthe wedding party, rehearsal dinner in the restaurant, ceremony outside in the amazing garden, and the reception in an elegant heated tent. They also take care of the entire setup and breakdown of each area. The best part of the wedding was a tie between the fall view and the delicious food, which all of our guests raved about!
Reviewed on 12-12-2022
Delia Russell (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-10-2022
My husband and I were fortunate enough to host our wedding at the John Joseph Inn. John and Steve were just such a vibe and guided us every step of the way. The venue itself is just so gorgeous, expertly manicured to be the perfect backdrop for the most romantic day of our lives. The inn where my bridal party and I got ready was absolutely perfect, very spacious to comfortably fit us all. The rooms are just gorgeous and well stocked. Every moment of the day went so smoothly, all thanks to John and Steve who went ABOVE and beyond the call of duty, I didn’t have to stress or worry about a thing the whole weekend. The FOOD… I am still getting complimented on how amazing all the food was. We had our rehearsal dinner and brunch there, it was amazing to just be in one spot the entire weekend. I can honestly say we had the best weekend there filled with the most wonderful memories. I can’t thank John, Steve and the rest of the staff enough for making our wedding day so special. Book the inn you won’t regret it!!
Reviewed on 03-12-2022
Wedding Date 01-10-2022
My husband and I were fortunate enough to host our wedding at the John Joseph Inn. John and Steve were just such a vibe and guided us every step of the way. The venue itself is just so gorgeous, expertly manicured to be the perfect backdrop for the most romantic day of our lives. The inn where my bridal party and I got ready was absolutely perfect, very spacious to comfortably fit us all. The rooms are just gorgeous and well stocked. Every moment of the day went so smoothly, all thanks to John and Steve who went ABOVE and beyond the call of duty, I didn’t have to stress or worry about a thing the whole weekend. The FOOD… I am still getting complimented on how amazing all the food was. We had our rehearsal dinner and brunch there, it was amazing to just be in one spot the entire weekend. I can honestly say we had the best weekend there filled with the most wonderful memories. I can’t thank John, Steve and the rest of the staff enough for making our wedding day so special. Book the inn you won’t regret it!!
Reviewed on 03-12-2022
Brooke Hosier (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-10-2022
John and Steve made the whole day BEAUTIFUL. Communication can be rocky but, that was expected with how busy this wedding season was. It had no effect on my actual wedding at all. Trust their judgement! They definitely made it the best day ever. It’s a naturally beautiful venue on top of that! HIGHLY recommend
Reviewed on 03-12-2022
Wedding Date 22-10-2022
John and Steve made the whole day BEAUTIFUL. Communication can be rocky but, that was expected with how busy this wedding season was. It had no effect on my actual wedding at all. Trust their judgement! They definitely made it the best day ever. It’s a naturally beautiful venue on top of that! HIGHLY recommend
Reviewed on 03-12-2022
Elizabeth Reamer (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-07-2022
We had our wedding at the John Joseph Inn in July 2022, and the day could not have been more perfect! The venue is as gorgeous as it gets – the Inn, decked out in Mackenzie Childs décor, is wonderfully charming. The shaded ceremony area is romantic and comfortable even on a sunny summer afternoon, and the cocktail area is reminiscent of the most luscious English countryside garden. I had initially considered going off-site for pre-ceremony pictures, but I’m so glad we didn’t – the Inn and its gardens are the perfect backdrop. Our guests also loved wandering the property and taking pictures on the porch, in front of a stunning sunset. All our vendors made the day easy for us. John and his staff are laid back, yet totally on-top of the day-of details – we felt we were able to relax, enjoy the day and be confident that everything would be handled well. The cocktails and food are top-notch – our guests raved about both specialty cocktails (limoncello Collins and tart cherry mint julep – both made with fresh ingredients), the elegant Jar Bar and passed hors d'oeuvres, all of our entrée selections and of course, the delicious summer strawberry cake. We appreciated how candid John was in the planning process, offering his opinion on what is necessary and what is not, which helped us stick to our budget. You really don’t need to add much to have a wonderful event at this venue. We would certainly recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking for an elegant, yet laid-back experience in Upstate NY.
Reviewed on 20-09-2022
Wedding Date 02-07-2022
We had our wedding at the John Joseph Inn in July 2022, and the day could not have been more perfect! The venue is as gorgeous as it gets – the Inn, decked out in Mackenzie Childs décor, is wonderfully charming. The shaded ceremony area is romantic and comfortable even on a sunny summer afternoon, and the cocktail area is reminiscent of the most luscious English countryside garden. I had initially considered going off-site for pre-ceremony pictures, but I’m so glad we didn’t – the Inn and its gardens are the perfect backdrop. Our guests also loved wandering the property and taking pictures on the porch, in front of a stunning sunset. All our vendors made the day easy for us. John and his staff are laid back, yet totally on-top of the day-of details – we felt we were able to relax, enjoy the day and be confident that everything would be handled well. The cocktails and food are top-notch – our guests raved about both specialty cocktails (limoncello Collins and tart cherry mint julep – both made with fresh ingredients), the elegant Jar Bar and passed hors d'oeuvres, all of our entrée selections and of course, the delicious summer strawberry cake. We appreciated how candid John was in the planning process, offering his opinion on what is necessary and what is not, which helped us stick to our budget. You really don’t need to add much to have a wonderful event at this venue. We would certainly recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking for an elegant, yet laid-back experience in Upstate NY.
Reviewed on 20-09-2022
Jessie Quinlan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-05-2022
From the moment I saw pictures of the John Joseph Inn, I knew I had to get married there. The actual experience was better than I could have imagined! John is friendly, confident, and (most importantly) incredible at what he does. As soon as I arrived, I knew John and his staff cared even more about every detail than I did - which allowed me to fully “clock out” and enjoy every moment of the weekend, trusting that everything would go off without a hitch. It did, of course, and John truly labored over every detail. All of the food was incredible, and the setting could not be more perfect. John helped accommodate a couple of unique requests that meant the world to us, and it was such a perfect weekend. I can’t recommend the John Joseph Inn highly enough!!
Reviewed on 29-08-2022
Wedding Date 07-05-2022
From the moment I saw pictures of the John Joseph Inn, I knew I had to get married there. The actual experience was better than I could have imagined! John is friendly, confident, and (most importantly) incredible at what he does. As soon as I arrived, I knew John and his staff cared even more about every detail than I did - which allowed me to fully “clock out” and enjoy every moment of the weekend, trusting that everything would go off without a hitch. It did, of course, and John truly labored over every detail. All of the food was incredible, and the setting could not be more perfect. John helped accommodate a couple of unique requests that meant the world to us, and it was such a perfect weekend. I can’t recommend the John Joseph Inn highly enough!!
Reviewed on 29-08-2022
Allen Jiang (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-06-2022
We absolutely recommend this venue for the perfect upstate New York wedding. From the very start of our wedding planning, John was always super accommodating and very easy to reach. This was especially important to us since we were not local for the planning and his responsiveness throughout the process made everything so much less stressful. We especially enjoyed the freedom and flexibility that we had in planning the menu to really celebrate who we were as a couple and John expertly guided us through this with his years of culinary experience. The day of the wedding, John coordinated everything seamlessly even though he was also busy with preparing the best wedding meal we've ever had. We highly recommend John and his venue for a wedding and we could not be happier with how our wedding went.
Reviewed on 21-08-2022
Wedding Date 04-06-2022
We absolutely recommend this venue for the perfect upstate New York wedding. From the very start of our wedding planning, John was always super accommodating and very easy to reach. This was especially important to us since we were not local for the planning and his responsiveness throughout the process made everything so much less stressful. We especially enjoyed the freedom and flexibility that we had in planning the menu to really celebrate who we were as a couple and John expertly guided us through this with his years of culinary experience. The day of the wedding, John coordinated everything seamlessly even though he was also busy with preparing the best wedding meal we've ever had. We highly recommend John and his venue for a wedding and we could not be happier with how our wedding went.
Reviewed on 21-08-2022
Chloe Spertus (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 19-06-2021
We had an absolutely amazing wedding experience at the John Joseph Inn! John was very pleasant to work with, and his cooking and baking are extraordinary! He really does it all. We loved being able to rent out the whole property for the weekend. We even did our rehearsal dinner at the venue. Our guests are still raving about the food from the rehearsal dinner and wedding! We would recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking for a beautiful venue with a very attentive owner/chef and excellent food!
Reviewed on 31-01-2022
Wedding Date 19-06-2021
We had an absolutely amazing wedding experience at the John Joseph Inn! John was very pleasant to work with, and his cooking and baking are extraordinary! He really does it all. We loved being able to rent out the whole property for the weekend. We even did our rehearsal dinner at the venue. Our guests are still raving about the food from the rehearsal dinner and wedding! We would recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking for a beautiful venue with a very attentive owner/chef and excellent food!
Reviewed on 31-01-2022
Marie U (other) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-08-2021
I gave John three opportunities to reply to me privately, but he never returned any of my messages. Pros-the property is beautiful the food is goodCons-it was hard to get ahold of him throughout the whole planning process, the reception date did need to be changed and there was a longer planning process but the lack of communication did not change.In the Inn itself, no one collected garbage(which of course accumulated over the weekend) and I was told where to find more trash bags, there was not enough toilet paper, a bench was broken in one of the roomsAn alarm was going off in the inn around 11pm he did not respond until 2amOur schedule was on his schedule because he was cooking and trying to run the wedding and rehearsal dinnerMost of the staff were children or teenagersDecorations had specific set up directions but they were set up wrong and I missed cocktail hour making correctionsThe decorating process began in late afternoon but the decorations were there the night beforeNo direction for table dismissal during dinner, one table of guests was told to sit back downHis girlfriend \"wedding crashed\" the reception LITERALLY No announcement of dessert or late night snack, some guests did not knowWe were told, from the beginning, that we would not have to worry about anything. The whole process would be taken care of and we could just relax, this did not happen. I understand that Covid has caused problems for this industry, but there were too many issues.
Reviewed on 02-10-2021
Wedding Date 21-08-2021
I gave John three opportunities to reply to me privately, but he never returned any of my messages. Pros-the property is beautiful the food is goodCons-it was hard to get ahold of him throughout the whole planning process, the reception date did need to be changed and there was a longer planning process but the lack of communication did not change.In the Inn itself, no one collected garbage(which of course accumulated over the weekend) and I was told where to find more trash bags, there was not enough toilet paper, a bench was broken in one of the roomsAn alarm was going off in the inn around 11pm he did not respond until 2amOur schedule was on his schedule because he was cooking and trying to run the wedding and rehearsal dinnerMost of the staff were children or teenagersDecorations had specific set up directions but they were set up wrong and I missed cocktail hour making correctionsThe decorating process began in late afternoon but the decorations were there the night beforeNo direction for table dismissal during dinner, one table of guests was told to sit back downHis girlfriend \"wedding crashed\" the reception LITERALLY No announcement of dessert or late night snack, some guests did not knowWe were told, from the beginning, that we would not have to worry about anything. The whole process would be taken care of and we could just relax, this did not happen. I understand that Covid has caused problems for this industry, but there were too many issues.
Reviewed on 02-10-2021
Allison Bankaitis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
We really wanted to give a 9 out of 10, so we did the next best thing.The wedding weekend itself was wonderful! The grounds were in good shape, especially for how early in the season we were. The staff did a great job setting up the decorations exactly as we had envisioned them! The food was fantastic (hors d’oeuvres and dinner)!! The cake was beautiful and delicious!! The event staff did an all around great job. John was very willing to work with us to make our wedding day very special, even when we had to move our date out a year because of the pandemic. We had to adjust our plan many times due to the constantly changing state restrictions, and John was accommodating and knowledgeable about the guidelines.The biggest critique we have is communication. Sometimes it was very hard to get in contact with John, with some emails going unanswered for weeks, which was very frustrating. He was usually more responsive via text or phone call, but for some things email is a better medium. He was more responsive as the date got closer, but the experience would have been better if the planning phase was a little smoother.
Reviewed on 27-05-2021
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
We really wanted to give a 9 out of 10, so we did the next best thing.The wedding weekend itself was wonderful! The grounds were in good shape, especially for how early in the season we were. The staff did a great job setting up the decorations exactly as we had envisioned them! The food was fantastic (hors d’oeuvres and dinner)!! The cake was beautiful and delicious!! The event staff did an all around great job. John was very willing to work with us to make our wedding day very special, even when we had to move our date out a year because of the pandemic. We had to adjust our plan many times due to the constantly changing state restrictions, and John was accommodating and knowledgeable about the guidelines.The biggest critique we have is communication. Sometimes it was very hard to get in contact with John, with some emails going unanswered for weeks, which was very frustrating. He was usually more responsive via text or phone call, but for some things email is a better medium. He was more responsive as the date got closer, but the experience would have been better if the planning phase was a little smoother.
Reviewed on 27-05-2021
Scott Bankaitis (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
We would really like to give a 9 out of 10.The wedding weekend itself was wonderful! The grounds were in good shape, especially for how early in the season we were. The staff did a great job setting up the decorations exactly as we had envisioned them! The food was fantastic (hors d’oeuvres and dinner)!! The cake was beautiful and delicious!! The event staff did an all around great job. John was very willing to work with us to make our wedding day very special, even when we had to move our date out a year because of the pandemic. We had to adjust our plan many times due to the constantly changing state restrictions, and John was accommodating and knowledgeable about the guidelines.The biggest critique we have is communication. Sometimes it was very hard to get in contact with John, with some emails going unanswered for weeks, which was very frustrating. He was usually more responsive via text or phone call, but for some things email is a better medium. He was more responsive as the date got closer, but the experience would have been better if the planning phase was a little smoother.
Reviewed on 27-05-2021
Wedding Date 08-05-2021
We would really like to give a 9 out of 10.The wedding weekend itself was wonderful! The grounds were in good shape, especially for how early in the season we were. The staff did a great job setting up the decorations exactly as we had envisioned them! The food was fantastic (hors d’oeuvres and dinner)!! The cake was beautiful and delicious!! The event staff did an all around great job. John was very willing to work with us to make our wedding day very special, even when we had to move our date out a year because of the pandemic. We had to adjust our plan many times due to the constantly changing state restrictions, and John was accommodating and knowledgeable about the guidelines.The biggest critique we have is communication. Sometimes it was very hard to get in contact with John, with some emails going unanswered for weeks, which was very frustrating. He was usually more responsive via text or phone call, but for some things email is a better medium. He was more responsive as the date got closer, but the experience would have been better if the planning phase was a little smoother.
Reviewed on 27-05-2021
Veronica D (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-10-2020
We want to start this review off by simply stating that we 100% recommend this venue for a wedding! We were an unfortunate couple that had booked our wedding for October 2020 long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. All of our original wedding planning had to be adapted to the situation we found ourselves in. Before the pandemic hit, John Hamilton was very easy going and very accommodating to our needs, concerns and desires. We were originally planning on having an event with 140 guests. Every step of the way, John was easy to talk to, courteous, and caring to all of our needs. Then the pandemic hit. We spoke with John a few months into the pandemic and all of our uncertainties were communicated. He was a great listener and was understanding of the unprecedented position we were all in. He always reassured us that he was on our side and will support whatever changes and adjustments we decided going forward. Once we were six weeks before the wedding when it was certain that the COVID-19 restrictions were not going to be relaxed, we made the difficult choice to slash the event down to only 15 guests. John was very flexible and helpful in guiding us through that emotional decision. We had a very small and intimate gathering with the wedding ceremony and a beautiful dinner afterwards. The site was still beautifully decorated, and the food was delicious and the service for our small reception was terrific. We want to highlight that despite how unprecedented and difficult last year was for everyone, John and his staff still managed to give us a great wedding day with memories we will cherish forever. Definitely recommend, and we hope that no other couple will struggle with any future COVID-19 restrictions like we did, but at least rest assured that if it does happen, John Hamilton will do everything in his power to still give you a great day!
Reviewed on 11-05-2021
Wedding Date 10-10-2020
We want to start this review off by simply stating that we 100% recommend this venue for a wedding! We were an unfortunate couple that had booked our wedding for October 2020 long before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. All of our original wedding planning had to be adapted to the situation we found ourselves in. Before the pandemic hit, John Hamilton was very easy going and very accommodating to our needs, concerns and desires. We were originally planning on having an event with 140 guests. Every step of the way, John was easy to talk to, courteous, and caring to all of our needs. Then the pandemic hit. We spoke with John a few months into the pandemic and all of our uncertainties were communicated. He was a great listener and was understanding of the unprecedented position we were all in. He always reassured us that he was on our side and will support whatever changes and adjustments we decided going forward. Once we were six weeks before the wedding when it was certain that the COVID-19 restrictions were not going to be relaxed, we made the difficult choice to slash the event down to only 15 guests. John was very flexible and helpful in guiding us through that emotional decision. We had a very small and intimate gathering with the wedding ceremony and a beautiful dinner afterwards. The site was still beautifully decorated, and the food was delicious and the service for our small reception was terrific. We want to highlight that despite how unprecedented and difficult last year was for everyone, John and his staff still managed to give us a great wedding day with memories we will cherish forever. Definitely recommend, and we hope that no other couple will struggle with any future COVID-19 restrictions like we did, but at least rest assured that if it does happen, John Hamilton will do everything in his power to still give you a great day!
Reviewed on 11-05-2021
Mary Conroy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-09-2020
My guests and my husband and I were blown away by the experience we had at the John Joseph Inn. John is clearly superhuman to create the most decadent 9(!) course tasting menu in such short time after we decided last minute on a micro wedding. The grounds are simply gorgeous with infinite photo opportunities, all the rooms at the inn were comfortable and adorably decorated, and the FOOD! One of my guests told me afterwards that it was the best meal she has ever had. What more do you want for yourself and your guests than that? John was also SO accommodating to my guests’ different needs. My parents basically want to adopt him into our family! We could not have wanted anything more for our day!
Reviewed on 07-09-2020
Wedding Date 05-09-2020
My guests and my husband and I were blown away by the experience we had at the John Joseph Inn. John is clearly superhuman to create the most decadent 9(!) course tasting menu in such short time after we decided last minute on a micro wedding. The grounds are simply gorgeous with infinite photo opportunities, all the rooms at the inn were comfortable and adorably decorated, and the FOOD! One of my guests told me afterwards that it was the best meal she has ever had. What more do you want for yourself and your guests than that? John was also SO accommodating to my guests’ different needs. My parents basically want to adopt him into our family! We could not have wanted anything more for our day!
Reviewed on 07-09-2020
Rachel Whidden (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-11-2019
My husband and I had our wedding here. To say it was exceptional, would be an understatement! John and his staff exceeded every expectation and were incredibly accommodating to us and our guests. It was important for us to have delicious food at our reception. We were told JJI had excellent food. One person told me they had the \"best bite of food they've ever had\". 100% recommend this place to host your wedding!!
Reviewed on 13-11-2019
Wedding Date 09-11-2019
My husband and I had our wedding here. To say it was exceptional, would be an understatement! John and his staff exceeded every expectation and were incredibly accommodating to us and our guests. It was important for us to have delicious food at our reception. We were told JJI had excellent food. One person told me they had the \"best bite of food they've ever had\". 100% recommend this place to host your wedding!!
Reviewed on 13-11-2019
Lauren Ryan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-06-2019
I could write a book about mine and my husband's experience with John, we just absolutely adore him and the property. We first met him & visited in April 2019 shortly after we got engaged. Immediately upon setting foot on the grounds we were blown away by its beauty. Then we met John and we were sold. John is the most talented and hard working man I've ever met. He runs the inn, maintains the property, acts as head chef and wedding planner/day of coordinator and probably many, many other things I don't know about. He does it all!! He also does only one wedding a weekend so he can fully focus on making your day amazing. The thing we loved most about working with John as we went through the planning process was how creative and outside the box he was. It was so important to my husband and I that we have a really unique wedding with personal touches and John made sure that happened. We did a custom menu based on our favorite foods (tacos with seafood and lamb, an entire BBQ station and my grandmother's eggplant parm recipe) that ended up being delicious. He also made us a custom chocolate cake with marshmallow and peanut butter filling with buttercream icing that is quite possible the best thing I've ever tasted. Everything about our wedding day was perfect - the venue, the grounds, the food, the service. Everyone in attendance was so in love with the property and was in awe of John's talent. They all said it was the best wedding they've ever been to and that's all because of John! If you want your wedding day to be the most memorable, fun and happiest day of your life, have your wedding at the John Joseph Inn!!
Reviewed on 09-07-2019
Wedding Date 29-06-2019
I could write a book about mine and my husband's experience with John, we just absolutely adore him and the property. We first met him & visited in April 2019 shortly after we got engaged. Immediately upon setting foot on the grounds we were blown away by its beauty. Then we met John and we were sold. John is the most talented and hard working man I've ever met. He runs the inn, maintains the property, acts as head chef and wedding planner/day of coordinator and probably many, many other things I don't know about. He does it all!! He also does only one wedding a weekend so he can fully focus on making your day amazing. The thing we loved most about working with John as we went through the planning process was how creative and outside the box he was. It was so important to my husband and I that we have a really unique wedding with personal touches and John made sure that happened. We did a custom menu based on our favorite foods (tacos with seafood and lamb, an entire BBQ station and my grandmother's eggplant parm recipe) that ended up being delicious. He also made us a custom chocolate cake with marshmallow and peanut butter filling with buttercream icing that is quite possible the best thing I've ever tasted. Everything about our wedding day was perfect - the venue, the grounds, the food, the service. Everyone in attendance was so in love with the property and was in awe of John's talent. They all said it was the best wedding they've ever been to and that's all because of John! If you want your wedding day to be the most memorable, fun and happiest day of your life, have your wedding at the John Joseph Inn!!
Reviewed on 09-07-2019
Gia Caron (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
love what they do
Reviewed on 26-08-2018
love what they do
Reviewed on 26-08-2018
Allison Best (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-06-2018
The good: -His venue is incredible. I loved how little I had to try to make this place absolutely gorgeous. Just a little decor can go such a long way. -The staff!! He had just some of the most amazing people working the wedding. -We had the carrot cake for our wedding cake and it was SO. GOOD. -The staff made sure that immediately after the ceremony they came to me and my bridal party to give us some appetizers. -We were collected to go to the ceremony by John. The Frustrations: The owner. -Hard to reach or takes long to hear back from. -Struggled to get final number bills or receipts for payments -We found him to be nonchalant, too familiar (calling me 'babe' and making nicknames for my bridal party), and ... to be honest, a little arrogant. -Rooms are WAY over priced for what you receive and the amenities. -As mentioned by other brides, you need to have someone ready to set up the decor the day of. John will tell you that his staff will set everything up but no one came to us to ask where we wanted things. And when I sent my brother and sister to check, the staff was setting tables and decor owned by JJI. Understandable. But could have been a major frustration considering John had told me it would take care of it the day of. Just be prepared. I've expressed all these concerns with John and he seemed to take t seriously and genuinely found him to be sorry for the issues I had and I hope he takes them seriously. However I also found him quick to explanation/excuse. While I wouldn't say that you should avoid this ven I would offer some caution. Everything will come ogether, your guests will have a great time, and the pictures will be beautiful but the wedding process and time leading up to it are likely to be stressful and frustrating. A very chill, go with the flow couple would do well at this venue. If anyone has questions, please feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to share more.
Reviewed on 21-07-2018
Wedding Date 10-06-2018
The good: -His venue is incredible. I loved how little I had to try to make this place absolutely gorgeous. Just a little decor can go such a long way. -The staff!! He had just some of the most amazing people working the wedding. -We had the carrot cake for our wedding cake and it was SO. GOOD. -The staff made sure that immediately after the ceremony they came to me and my bridal party to give us some appetizers. -We were collected to go to the ceremony by John. The Frustrations: The owner. -Hard to reach or takes long to hear back from. -Struggled to get final number bills or receipts for payments -We found him to be nonchalant, too familiar (calling me 'babe' and making nicknames for my bridal party), and ... to be honest, a little arrogant. -Rooms are WAY over priced for what you receive and the amenities. -As mentioned by other brides, you need to have someone ready to set up the decor the day of. John will tell you that his staff will set everything up but no one came to us to ask where we wanted things. And when I sent my brother and sister to check, the staff was setting tables and decor owned by JJI. Understandable. But could have been a major frustration considering John had told me it would take care of it the day of. Just be prepared. I've expressed all these concerns with John and he seemed to take t seriously and genuinely found him to be sorry for the issues I had and I hope he takes them seriously. However I also found him quick to explanation/excuse. While I wouldn't say that you should avoid this ven I would offer some caution. Everything will come ogether, your guests will have a great time, and the pictures will be beautiful but the wedding process and time leading up to it are likely to be stressful and frustrating. A very chill, go with the flow couple would do well at this venue. If anyone has questions, please feel free to reach out and I'd be happy to share more.
Reviewed on 21-07-2018
Courtney Schwarting (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-02-2018
John's number one priority is creating a memorable experience for you and your guests. He's an event planning expert with amazing culinary talent. If you'd like to spend your time comparing napkin colors, planning elaborate favors or freaking out over logistics– take a deep breath and let John simplify things and help you plan what matter most: A meaningful ceremony in a beautiful setting, BOMB food/drinks and a fun party that everyone will remember. Spending the entire weekend at the inn meant less logistical planning, and more time to relax with family and friends. John did everything from baking us fresh muffins in the morning, to keeping us on schedule while getting ready, to directing guests after cocktail hour. We're so glad we had our wedding at the John Joseph Inn, and would recommend it to anyone!!! Can't wait to go back for some tastings : )
Reviewed on 02-12-2017
Wedding Date 27-02-2018
John's number one priority is creating a memorable experience for you and your guests. He's an event planning expert with amazing culinary talent. If you'd like to spend your time comparing napkin colors, planning elaborate favors or freaking out over logistics– take a deep breath and let John simplify things and help you plan what matter most: A meaningful ceremony in a beautiful setting, BOMB food/drinks and a fun party that everyone will remember. Spending the entire weekend at the inn meant less logistical planning, and more time to relax with family and friends. John did everything from baking us fresh muffins in the morning, to keeping us on schedule while getting ready, to directing guests after cocktail hour. We're so glad we had our wedding at the John Joseph Inn, and would recommend it to anyone!!! Can't wait to go back for some tastings : )
Reviewed on 02-12-2017
Erin Dugan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-09-2017
It's hard to know where to even begin, but to start, we could not be any happier after getting married at the John Joseph Inn on 9.2.17...the day and the entire weekend at the Inn was better than we could have ever imagined! Before we get into the details, one of the best aspects about the Inn - especially for a wedding - is that your entire experience can feel more relaxed since you can stay overnight (in gorgeous, comfortable, decadent rooms), get ready with your bridal party, and then literally just walk right outside and get married in the beautiful gardens on the property. John and his staff (especially Ashley!) honestly makes you feel right at home immediately so that any nerves or wedding planning stress quickly melts away. We also decided to host our rehearsal dinner there which we highly recommend doing since the food, drinks and ambiance is fantastic. From the start, we loved John and his positive & humorous attitude, but he stepped it up a notch when it came time for our wedding weekend. He was so dedicated to our wedding & happiness that we honestly can't think of one thing that we would have changed. He was so much fun to work with, gave us great advice when we needed it, and gave us peace of mind since he has been in the wedding business for quite some time and really is a true expert. He wears many hats throughout the process (since he's both the owner/manager & chef) but he doesn't let anything slip through the cracks and will make sure your day is flawless. The food is incredible - huge portions, delicious/perfectly cooked entrees, AMAZING carrot cake (seriously our guests could not stop raving about all the food - we've been hearing constantly from our family & friends that it was the \"best carrot cake I've ever had\" \"my steak was cooked perfectly\" \"the chicken was juicy and so delicious\"), and John made our \"food dreams\" come true by surprising us during our cocktail hour with a specialized appetizer that he custom created for us because he knew it was a food we loved. The Inn is on a spectacular piece of property with manicured gardens, orchards, and a barn with horses and sheep, so both us and our guests had ample photo opportunities - again something that made it so easy for us since we didn't have to go off property and leave our guests during cocktail hour to shoot our wedding photos. As the day and night went on, the tent where receptions are held in, turned into an epic dance party and all the while John continued to make sure that all of our guests were taken care of and that everyone was having the time of their lives - which we sure did! All in all, John and his staff go above and beyond to make you feel like you're not just another wedding at the venue. The John Joseph Inn, John, and his staff made our 200 person wedding feel so intimate, beautiful, relaxed and SO. MUCH. FUN. We've already heard from many friends that it was the best wedding they've ever been to and our families (who stayed at the Inn for the weekend with us) are already talking about planning a future reunion there because they loved it so much! Thank you John, Ashley, and all the fabulous staff for making 9.2.17 a perfect memory <3
Reviewed on 11-09-2017
Wedding Date 02-09-2017
It's hard to know where to even begin, but to start, we could not be any happier after getting married at the John Joseph Inn on 9.2.17...the day and the entire weekend at the Inn was better than we could have ever imagined! Before we get into the details, one of the best aspects about the Inn - especially for a wedding - is that your entire experience can feel more relaxed since you can stay overnight (in gorgeous, comfortable, decadent rooms), get ready with your bridal party, and then literally just walk right outside and get married in the beautiful gardens on the property. John and his staff (especially Ashley!) honestly makes you feel right at home immediately so that any nerves or wedding planning stress quickly melts away. We also decided to host our rehearsal dinner there which we highly recommend doing since the food, drinks and ambiance is fantastic. From the start, we loved John and his positive & humorous attitude, but he stepped it up a notch when it came time for our wedding weekend. He was so dedicated to our wedding & happiness that we honestly can't think of one thing that we would have changed. He was so much fun to work with, gave us great advice when we needed it, and gave us peace of mind since he has been in the wedding business for quite some time and really is a true expert. He wears many hats throughout the process (since he's both the owner/manager & chef) but he doesn't let anything slip through the cracks and will make sure your day is flawless. The food is incredible - huge portions, delicious/perfectly cooked entrees, AMAZING carrot cake (seriously our guests could not stop raving about all the food - we've been hearing constantly from our family & friends that it was the \"best carrot cake I've ever had\" \"my steak was cooked perfectly\" \"the chicken was juicy and so delicious\"), and John made our \"food dreams\" come true by surprising us during our cocktail hour with a specialized appetizer that he custom created for us because he knew it was a food we loved. The Inn is on a spectacular piece of property with manicured gardens, orchards, and a barn with horses and sheep, so both us and our guests had ample photo opportunities - again something that made it so easy for us since we didn't have to go off property and leave our guests during cocktail hour to shoot our wedding photos. As the day and night went on, the tent where receptions are held in, turned into an epic dance party and all the while John continued to make sure that all of our guests were taken care of and that everyone was having the time of their lives - which we sure did! All in all, John and his staff go above and beyond to make you feel like you're not just another wedding at the venue. The John Joseph Inn, John, and his staff made our 200 person wedding feel so intimate, beautiful, relaxed and SO. MUCH. FUN. We've already heard from many friends that it was the best wedding they've ever been to and our families (who stayed at the Inn for the weekend with us) are already talking about planning a future reunion there because they loved it so much! Thank you John, Ashley, and all the fabulous staff for making 9.2.17 a perfect memory <3
Reviewed on 11-09-2017
chris Ha (wedding party) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-08-2018
We came here for a graduation party on May 27, 2017. We were charged about $120/person after he added alcohol, tip and tax. One would expect very good food for that price. It was not even at the level that could be characterized as good. The appetizers were an uninspired slice of baguette with some mush on top. The meal was a dry, dull salad that had no discernible dressing, that everyone at our table complained about. Then I was served a minuscule piece of dry chicken, and my dinner-mates had pre-cooked rewarmed steak that was not fresh. Dessert was some sort of flavorless bread pudding. Nothing was good enough to even pass as \"good.\" My kids can all cook better than this at this point, and none of them are Hotelies. The grounds are very nice, however. The owner was unreachable by phone for about a month in the winter months when our graduates were trying to arrange the meal there. When I tried calling him months in advance, he simply never returned calls. That was certainly a foreboding of the amateurishness of the place. When he finally does talk to you, he is a bit high strung and does not have a calm professional demeanor on the phone. He gives the impression he cannot navigate change or adapt easily. He needs a new chef, and some better menus. It was an absurdly tasteless and poorly executed meal. We ate better at Chipotle at lunch, believe it or not.
Reviewed on 01-06-2017
Wedding Date 01-08-2018
We came here for a graduation party on May 27, 2017. We were charged about $120/person after he added alcohol, tip and tax. One would expect very good food for that price. It was not even at the level that could be characterized as good. The appetizers were an uninspired slice of baguette with some mush on top. The meal was a dry, dull salad that had no discernible dressing, that everyone at our table complained about. Then I was served a minuscule piece of dry chicken, and my dinner-mates had pre-cooked rewarmed steak that was not fresh. Dessert was some sort of flavorless bread pudding. Nothing was good enough to even pass as \"good.\" My kids can all cook better than this at this point, and none of them are Hotelies. The grounds are very nice, however. The owner was unreachable by phone for about a month in the winter months when our graduates were trying to arrange the meal there. When I tried calling him months in advance, he simply never returned calls. That was certainly a foreboding of the amateurishness of the place. When he finally does talk to you, he is a bit high strung and does not have a calm professional demeanor on the phone. He gives the impression he cannot navigate change or adapt easily. He needs a new chef, and some better menus. It was an absurdly tasteless and poorly executed meal. We ate better at Chipotle at lunch, believe it or not.
Reviewed on 01-06-2017
Kate S (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-08-2017
My husband and I met John while looking at the John Joseph and Elizabeth Inn to host our wedding and reception. He seemed like a genuine, honest business man that wanted to give us the best experience that he could for our budget.We booked the venue 1 yr and 8 mos in advance, for our wedding on 8/12/17. In July of 2016 (over a year in advance), we had experienced financial turmoil, and called John to cancel our wedding. John answered, my husband introduced himself, and John said \"oh yeah I haven't done anything besides put your name in the computer\" and my husband said that wasn't a problem, because we would like to cancel the reservation. John refused to refund our deposit, even if the date were to be reserved by another couple.I realize that the contract says that the deposit will not be refunded, but our other vendors had the same wording within our contract, but refunded the deposit anyway because they already had inquiries for that date and it was so far in advance.We tried to compromise with him, saying that if he didn't book the date, we wouldn't expect anything back, but he refused. We were going to try to make our wedding a financial possibility again in January of 2017. I contacted John asking him where I could send the second payment. He replied, but we haven't heard from him since. If he really had intentions of hosting our wedding, he would have reached out to us.In our experience, this was poor business practice. I realize that he is trying to run a business, but there are better ways to do this than being greed driven and money hungry. We are very disappointed and will not be recommending this venue to any of our friends or family.
Reviewed on 28-03-2017
Wedding Date 12-08-2017
My husband and I met John while looking at the John Joseph and Elizabeth Inn to host our wedding and reception. He seemed like a genuine, honest business man that wanted to give us the best experience that he could for our budget.We booked the venue 1 yr and 8 mos in advance, for our wedding on 8/12/17. In July of 2016 (over a year in advance), we had experienced financial turmoil, and called John to cancel our wedding. John answered, my husband introduced himself, and John said \"oh yeah I haven't done anything besides put your name in the computer\" and my husband said that wasn't a problem, because we would like to cancel the reservation. John refused to refund our deposit, even if the date were to be reserved by another couple.I realize that the contract says that the deposit will not be refunded, but our other vendors had the same wording within our contract, but refunded the deposit anyway because they already had inquiries for that date and it was so far in advance.We tried to compromise with him, saying that if he didn't book the date, we wouldn't expect anything back, but he refused. We were going to try to make our wedding a financial possibility again in January of 2017. I contacted John asking him where I could send the second payment. He replied, but we haven't heard from him since. If he really had intentions of hosting our wedding, he would have reached out to us.In our experience, this was poor business practice. I realize that he is trying to run a business, but there are better ways to do this than being greed driven and money hungry. We are very disappointed and will not be recommending this venue to any of our friends or family.
Reviewed on 28-03-2017
Michael Heer (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-07-2016
Just married July 2nd at the John Joseph Inn and it was amazing! Our theme was \"vintage glamour\" meets \"old Hollywood.\" The early 20th century inn, manicured gardens, and countryside felt like we were hobnobbing with Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and The Roosevelts.John Joseph Hamilton, the proprietor and executive chef, describes himself as “the preppy farmer.\" He has great taste for architecture, food, decor, and even fashion. (He's well dressed)You aren't just renting the Inn, you are getting John. We met John when we toured the venue and knew that we could trust him with one of our largest purchases ever, our wedding.Things to note:- You can have both the ceremony and reception there. - Ceremony is in a garden or if it rains, inside the Inn. Cocktail hour is on the lawn and orchard. Reception is in a tent.- You have to use them for the catering, including the cake. Don't worry, food is outstanding!- You must rent all 6 guest rooms plus a 4 person cottage as part of the deal.- They also will do the rehearsal dinner if you choose (we did and it was great!) - The estate is private. You don't hear or see anyone other than your guests and the staff.- Your photographer will love shooting here!I wish we hired a day-of coordinator. John does a lot of the coordination but he's also running the kitchen. The groomsmen and I spent several hours unpacking and setting up decorations. The girls weren't able to do much as they needed a few hours to get ready. You also might not hear from John much beforehand, but trust that he will give you an amazing day!Overall it was a great experience! The John Joseph Inn has been open for about 8-9 years. They do one wedding a weekend. It might not be the most \"well oiled machine\" as far as venues go, but you won’t feel like you are in a wedding factory with two other weddings.I highly recommend booking here for farm-to-table food, privacy, unique classy venue, outdoor wedding, and the attention to detail.
Reviewed on 03-08-2016
Wedding Date 02-07-2016
Just married July 2nd at the John Joseph Inn and it was amazing! Our theme was \"vintage glamour\" meets \"old Hollywood.\" The early 20th century inn, manicured gardens, and countryside felt like we were hobnobbing with Clark Gable, Ava Gardner and The Roosevelts.John Joseph Hamilton, the proprietor and executive chef, describes himself as “the preppy farmer.\" He has great taste for architecture, food, decor, and even fashion. (He's well dressed)You aren't just renting the Inn, you are getting John. We met John when we toured the venue and knew that we could trust him with one of our largest purchases ever, our wedding.Things to note:- You can have both the ceremony and reception there. - Ceremony is in a garden or if it rains, inside the Inn. Cocktail hour is on the lawn and orchard. Reception is in a tent.- You have to use them for the catering, including the cake. Don't worry, food is outstanding!- You must rent all 6 guest rooms plus a 4 person cottage as part of the deal.- They also will do the rehearsal dinner if you choose (we did and it was great!) - The estate is private. You don't hear or see anyone other than your guests and the staff.- Your photographer will love shooting here!I wish we hired a day-of coordinator. John does a lot of the coordination but he's also running the kitchen. The groomsmen and I spent several hours unpacking and setting up decorations. The girls weren't able to do much as they needed a few hours to get ready. You also might not hear from John much beforehand, but trust that he will give you an amazing day!Overall it was a great experience! The John Joseph Inn has been open for about 8-9 years. They do one wedding a weekend. It might not be the most \"well oiled machine\" as far as venues go, but you won’t feel like you are in a wedding factory with two other weddings.I highly recommend booking here for farm-to-table food, privacy, unique classy venue, outdoor wedding, and the attention to detail.
Reviewed on 03-08-2016
Allison Boettger (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-05-2015
Highly recommend! Our wedding weekend was so special and carefree thanks to John and Elizabeth Hamilton! The venue is beyond beautiful and the food (including our wedding cake) was amazing!
Reviewed on 03-11-2015
Wedding Date 09-05-2015
Highly recommend! Our wedding weekend was so special and carefree thanks to John and Elizabeth Hamilton! The venue is beyond beautiful and the food (including our wedding cake) was amazing!
Reviewed on 03-11-2015
Lauren DeAugustine (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-10-2015
I got married at the John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant, and from the moment we stepped foot on the property until the moment we checked out, post-wedding, the experience was phenomenal. \r \rWe dealt directly with the owner, John Hamilton. John is straightforward--no shady business or hidden costs. We left our first meeting with a spreadsheet that clearly broke down costs, as well as a timeline of when we should expect to have things done.\r \rHe truly cares about this business, and will work with couples to make sure their experience is nothing short of magical.\r \rThe grounds consist of the Elizabeth Restaurant (we held the rehearsal dinner there. Its also available for brunch.), the John Joseph Inn (a luxurious bed and breakfast just across the driveway, with Jacuzzi tubs and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in), an arbor for the ceremony, a sweeping tent with chandeliers for the reception, an apple orchard and a sheep meadow.\r \rThe most consistent compliments we got were about the food. John and Elizabeth, who did our cake, both graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. The carrot risotto with sriracha is one of my all time favorite dishes. All of the food was fresh, seasonal, and delicious. My husband and I were so excited that we wouldn't have to have the mass produced rubber chicken with limp vegetables that you find so often at weddings. The food here was a star rather than an afterthought. \r \rI could not have hoped for a better wedding experience. Trust John and know that he will work tirelessly to make your wedding incredible. You won't be disappointed.\r
Reviewed on 21-10-2015
Wedding Date 03-10-2015
I got married at the John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant, and from the moment we stepped foot on the property until the moment we checked out, post-wedding, the experience was phenomenal. \r \rWe dealt directly with the owner, John Hamilton. John is straightforward--no shady business or hidden costs. We left our first meeting with a spreadsheet that clearly broke down costs, as well as a timeline of when we should expect to have things done.\r \rHe truly cares about this business, and will work with couples to make sure their experience is nothing short of magical.\r \rThe grounds consist of the Elizabeth Restaurant (we held the rehearsal dinner there. Its also available for brunch.), the John Joseph Inn (a luxurious bed and breakfast just across the driveway, with Jacuzzi tubs and the most comfortable bed I've ever slept in), an arbor for the ceremony, a sweeping tent with chandeliers for the reception, an apple orchard and a sheep meadow.\r \rThe most consistent compliments we got were about the food. John and Elizabeth, who did our cake, both graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. The carrot risotto with sriracha is one of my all time favorite dishes. All of the food was fresh, seasonal, and delicious. My husband and I were so excited that we wouldn't have to have the mass produced rubber chicken with limp vegetables that you find so often at weddings. The food here was a star rather than an afterthought. \r \rI could not have hoped for a better wedding experience. Trust John and know that he will work tirelessly to make your wedding incredible. You won't be disappointed.\r
Reviewed on 21-10-2015
Kim Member (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
Our wedding day could not have been more spectacular than it was. John and Elizabeth are truly the greatest. From the first time we met John we knew that this was our dream wedding venue. They are two of the most personable, down to earth, and multi talented people we have ever met. What makes their business stand out from the rest is their love for family. We didn't just get married on their property. We created irreplaceable memories with our closest family and friends. The food was top notch which was not a surprise as John and Elizabeth are both culinary experts. An exact quote from my uncle at the rehersal dinner who travels the world for business \"I have had chicken all over the world and only 5% of people can really cook chicken perfectly. This is some of the best chicken I have ever had.\" The signature drinks were a hit and the cake, absolutely breathtaking (thank you Elizabeth!) John was very flexible when it came to logisitical matters. He also tweaked the menu to meet our requests. The property is immaculate which made for perfect photos. John was there for us every step of the way even up until I walked down the aisle. He was there to hold my dress as I walked through the garden. He took the time to get to know us which I strongly believe is the reason our day went perfectly. My husband Jon and I cannot thank John and Elizabeth enough for making the best day of our lives come true. What they do for people is a very beautiful thing. We will be back in the near future for a tasting and cannot wait to roll up their driveway to be greeted with huge smiles. What an amazing team John and Elizabeth make. Nothing beats having a private estate to yourself for an entire weekend without the interruption of other wedding parties. The staff was exceptional as well. They were friendly and very attentive to us and our guests. We have received dozens of messages from our families and friends saying \"that was the best wedding we have ever been to!\". All of our thanks, love and appreciation to you, John and Elizabeth! - Kim and John Kearney
Reviewed on 24-08-2015
Wedding Date 22-08-2015
Our wedding day could not have been more spectacular than it was. John and Elizabeth are truly the greatest. From the first time we met John we knew that this was our dream wedding venue. They are two of the most personable, down to earth, and multi talented people we have ever met. What makes their business stand out from the rest is their love for family. We didn't just get married on their property. We created irreplaceable memories with our closest family and friends. The food was top notch which was not a surprise as John and Elizabeth are both culinary experts. An exact quote from my uncle at the rehersal dinner who travels the world for business \"I have had chicken all over the world and only 5% of people can really cook chicken perfectly. This is some of the best chicken I have ever had.\" The signature drinks were a hit and the cake, absolutely breathtaking (thank you Elizabeth!) John was very flexible when it came to logisitical matters. He also tweaked the menu to meet our requests. The property is immaculate which made for perfect photos. John was there for us every step of the way even up until I walked down the aisle. He was there to hold my dress as I walked through the garden. He took the time to get to know us which I strongly believe is the reason our day went perfectly. My husband Jon and I cannot thank John and Elizabeth enough for making the best day of our lives come true. What they do for people is a very beautiful thing. We will be back in the near future for a tasting and cannot wait to roll up their driveway to be greeted with huge smiles. What an amazing team John and Elizabeth make. Nothing beats having a private estate to yourself for an entire weekend without the interruption of other wedding parties. The staff was exceptional as well. They were friendly and very attentive to us and our guests. We have received dozens of messages from our families and friends saying \"that was the best wedding we have ever been to!\". All of our thanks, love and appreciation to you, John and Elizabeth! - Kim and John Kearney
Reviewed on 24-08-2015
Kim (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-09-2014
I found this venue on theknot.com and I could not have been happier with it. I had the pleasure of working with John and Elizabeth for my wedding on September 13, 2014. They made my wedding day perfection. Their attention to detail and their hard work makes for a wedding to be remembered. My wedding day started off rainy, grey and gross... John and Elizabeth were determined to create a day that would still be perfection in my eyes with plan of doing the ceremony here or there, whatever would work best. As the weather cleared up they dropped those plans and moved the ceremony back outside. They and their staff set up my reception area to perfection, they made THE best food, they took care of the cake which was phenomenal, John was there to guide us through every step of the day, which made for a stress free bride and groom who were able to sit back and enjoy themselves. Having the rehearsal, ceremony and reception all in one place made for easy planning and created a home away from home for the weekend. Having our family and friends stay or stop by the Inn whenever they liked made for a relaxing and fun time. The grounds, arbor, Inn, cottage, restaurant and tent all made a lovely backdrop for our beautiful day, not to mention BEAUTIFUL photo opportunities. As my groom still sleeps from post wedding exhaustion I could not help but recount my wonderful wedding day and brag a bit about how wonderful it turned out thanks to John, Elizabeth and the wonderful staff they surround themselves with. If you didn't know about the John Joseph Inn before, You're Welcome because now you do!
Reviewed on 15-09-2014
Wedding Date 13-09-2014
I found this venue on theknot.com and I could not have been happier with it. I had the pleasure of working with John and Elizabeth for my wedding on September 13, 2014. They made my wedding day perfection. Their attention to detail and their hard work makes for a wedding to be remembered. My wedding day started off rainy, grey and gross... John and Elizabeth were determined to create a day that would still be perfection in my eyes with plan of doing the ceremony here or there, whatever would work best. As the weather cleared up they dropped those plans and moved the ceremony back outside. They and their staff set up my reception area to perfection, they made THE best food, they took care of the cake which was phenomenal, John was there to guide us through every step of the day, which made for a stress free bride and groom who were able to sit back and enjoy themselves. Having the rehearsal, ceremony and reception all in one place made for easy planning and created a home away from home for the weekend. Having our family and friends stay or stop by the Inn whenever they liked made for a relaxing and fun time. The grounds, arbor, Inn, cottage, restaurant and tent all made a lovely backdrop for our beautiful day, not to mention BEAUTIFUL photo opportunities. As my groom still sleeps from post wedding exhaustion I could not help but recount my wonderful wedding day and brag a bit about how wonderful it turned out thanks to John, Elizabeth and the wonderful staff they surround themselves with. If you didn't know about the John Joseph Inn before, You're Welcome because now you do!
Reviewed on 15-09-2014
Jackie Romola (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-05-2014
I was married at the Inn in May. I had a fantastic wedding day, but this was because of my wonderful family and wedding party. The John Joseph Inn has great food and is beautiful, but thats about all it can be relied on for. \rJohn, the owner of the Inn, if very difficult to work with. When trying to contact him, I did not get a response for weeks after both emails and calls. This lasted right until my wedding day. I don’t think I can stress enough how difficult it was to get in touch with him throughout the process. \rWhen I could I would come up to the Inn from NJ, where he gave a lot of personal attention, but most of what he said would happen turned out to be empty promises once my wedding day came. \rOn my wedding day, I was told I would just get to relax and sip champagne while I got ready. Instead, I had to worry about the tent being set up and had to provide John with second copies of information I had already given him. My bridesmaids spent a few hours out in the tent setting up the tables and space around it because John didn’t do it. When I tried to give him the decor I had, he walked away. \rI had a beautiful wedding day because of a fantastic support group. It was extremely stressful and difficult to plan with John and I can honestly say I would not wish that on any bride. \rI would love to give details and please feel free to contact me and ask for more information.
Reviewed on 12-08-2014
Wedding Date 17-05-2014
I was married at the Inn in May. I had a fantastic wedding day, but this was because of my wonderful family and wedding party. The John Joseph Inn has great food and is beautiful, but thats about all it can be relied on for. \rJohn, the owner of the Inn, if very difficult to work with. When trying to contact him, I did not get a response for weeks after both emails and calls. This lasted right until my wedding day. I don’t think I can stress enough how difficult it was to get in touch with him throughout the process. \rWhen I could I would come up to the Inn from NJ, where he gave a lot of personal attention, but most of what he said would happen turned out to be empty promises once my wedding day came. \rOn my wedding day, I was told I would just get to relax and sip champagne while I got ready. Instead, I had to worry about the tent being set up and had to provide John with second copies of information I had already given him. My bridesmaids spent a few hours out in the tent setting up the tables and space around it because John didn’t do it. When I tried to give him the decor I had, he walked away. \rI had a beautiful wedding day because of a fantastic support group. It was extremely stressful and difficult to plan with John and I can honestly say I would not wish that on any bride. \rI would love to give details and please feel free to contact me and ask for more information.
Reviewed on 12-08-2014
Laura Noel (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-10-2013
Although some reviews said John was hard to get a hold of (which can be true at times) he made the day of the event seamless. It was magical! All our expetations were exceeded! I can not say enought about the help and calm approach John took to everything. He fufilled all of his promises and more! From problem solving and being the go-between for all of our other vendors the day went off without a hitch. Trust that he is a professional and makes your wedding day amazing.
Reviewed on 21-11-2013
Wedding Date 26-10-2013
Although some reviews said John was hard to get a hold of (which can be true at times) he made the day of the event seamless. It was magical! All our expetations were exceeded! I can not say enought about the help and calm approach John took to everything. He fufilled all of his promises and more! From problem solving and being the go-between for all of our other vendors the day went off without a hitch. Trust that he is a professional and makes your wedding day amazing.
Reviewed on 21-11-2013
Jessica Brown (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2013
Having my reception at John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant was a choice I would make over and over again. The Inn and grounds are really gorgeous and well kept. John was out mowing all the lawns in the pouring rain the day before our reception when we arrived to make sure the grass would look just right the next night, and the rest of the weekend continued in that fashion. John, Elizabeth, and their staff went above and beyond what myself or any of my family could have anticipated. We were surprised first by adorable lambs and a beautifully in bloom sunflower field we didn’t expect, then breakfast baskets for all the girls getting ready delivered to each room, then nicely displayed and creatively infused liquors that were a huge hit with guests at the open bar! John was also able to execute my “pinterest heavy” ideas exactly as I had imagined without me worrying about anything except getting my dress on. He also did so much behind the scene to help move the night in the direction we wanted. During the planning process, be sure to be open with him about your ideas, and he will be able to tell you what will work and what won’t. And trust him, he really knows what he’s doing. Over a week has passed since the wedding, and I am still getting daily emails and messages from guests saying it was the classiest, best, most beautiful, awesome and fun, wedding and I received non-stop praise for the food too. Our cupcakes with a small cutting cake and late night taco bar… beautiful and delicious…OH MY GOSH! I really can’t say enough. If you want to get married in Ithaca, I would truly say to look no further than John Joseph Inn. Our wedding day here was a complete dream come true. As my seven year old cousin standing in the apple orchard said “we all went inside the biggest fairytale there is”. Thank you so much John and Elizabeth. –Jessica and Steve~ Aug 10, 2013 wedding
Reviewed on 19-08-2013
Wedding Date 10-08-2013
Having my reception at John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant was a choice I would make over and over again. The Inn and grounds are really gorgeous and well kept. John was out mowing all the lawns in the pouring rain the day before our reception when we arrived to make sure the grass would look just right the next night, and the rest of the weekend continued in that fashion. John, Elizabeth, and their staff went above and beyond what myself or any of my family could have anticipated. We were surprised first by adorable lambs and a beautifully in bloom sunflower field we didn’t expect, then breakfast baskets for all the girls getting ready delivered to each room, then nicely displayed and creatively infused liquors that were a huge hit with guests at the open bar! John was also able to execute my “pinterest heavy” ideas exactly as I had imagined without me worrying about anything except getting my dress on. He also did so much behind the scene to help move the night in the direction we wanted. During the planning process, be sure to be open with him about your ideas, and he will be able to tell you what will work and what won’t. And trust him, he really knows what he’s doing. Over a week has passed since the wedding, and I am still getting daily emails and messages from guests saying it was the classiest, best, most beautiful, awesome and fun, wedding and I received non-stop praise for the food too. Our cupcakes with a small cutting cake and late night taco bar… beautiful and delicious…OH MY GOSH! I really can’t say enough. If you want to get married in Ithaca, I would truly say to look no further than John Joseph Inn. Our wedding day here was a complete dream come true. As my seven year old cousin standing in the apple orchard said “we all went inside the biggest fairytale there is”. Thank you so much John and Elizabeth. –Jessica and Steve~ Aug 10, 2013 wedding
Reviewed on 19-08-2013
Katie Rademacher (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-07-2013
John, Elizabeth and their staff take care of almost everything for the wedding, from coordinating, ceremony, reception, food, booze, cake. One of the best parts is all those things are taken care of in one place, giving you fewer people to deal with and fewer moving parts in the planning and execution. The real best part is it is a gorgeous place, perfect ambiance, great food, and great bar. Wouldn't change a single thing about any of that! During planning, the one frustration is John can be tough to catch with questions, even when it's close to the date, but even so you can trust that everything is totally taken care of and done well. For the area, this place is on the higher price end, but for what you get from it, it's totally reasonable. The place is unbelievable, the food definitely lives up to it's expectation, and the bar is high end. The staff is also very helpful, accommodating, and attentive (and fun).
Reviewed on 26-07-2013
Wedding Date 06-07-2013
John, Elizabeth and their staff take care of almost everything for the wedding, from coordinating, ceremony, reception, food, booze, cake. One of the best parts is all those things are taken care of in one place, giving you fewer people to deal with and fewer moving parts in the planning and execution. The real best part is it is a gorgeous place, perfect ambiance, great food, and great bar. Wouldn't change a single thing about any of that! During planning, the one frustration is John can be tough to catch with questions, even when it's close to the date, but even so you can trust that everything is totally taken care of and done well. For the area, this place is on the higher price end, but for what you get from it, it's totally reasonable. The place is unbelievable, the food definitely lives up to it's expectation, and the bar is high end. The staff is also very helpful, accommodating, and attentive (and fun).
Reviewed on 26-07-2013
Jennelle Menendez (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-06-2013
If I could give this venue and its owner, John Hamilton, higher than five stars on everything, I would! From beginning to end, John made our wedding the most special weekend of our lives. Rather than just rave, I will break it down:\r\rPlanning: John made the planning easy and seamless. He provided a vendor list that I found extremely helpful when it came to booking all the extras, like florist, DJ, etc. He always answered all of my (many) questions, either by email or phone, within a few days of sending them to him. We had a planning session via Skype since we were planning from New York City. John spent almost two hours with us, chatting and getting a feel for the wedding we wanted.\r\rProperty: The Inn itself could not be more idyllic--it's a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding. The gardens were amazing and beautifully kept, plus there were lambs (!) roaming in the back. The rooms themselves are amazing--each one has its own character, with flat screens and jacuzzi tubs. John brought breakfast baskets each morning that had the BEST muffins in the world in them--most mornings the muffins were still warm when we got them.\r\rDay of: We had a short rehearsal the night before, and everything went off without a hitch. John's staff was warm and welcoming as well, and did a beautiful job setting up for the reception. Also, it was amazing that my bridesmaids and I got to relax up in the bridal suite until it was time to go down, and then John came to collect us.\r\rFood: THE FOOD! It was crazy good--not your normal wedding fare. We did three appetizers during cocktail hour and then the plated dinner, and everyone raved about the food (particularly the steak)! The cake was also amazing with buttercream and fresh strawberries.\r\rService: The service at the reception was remarkable. The bartenders were personable and attentive, and there was never a long wait at the bar. The specialty drink was a perfect touch too.\r\rThis place does not disappoint!!!
Reviewed on 08-07-2013
Wedding Date 22-06-2013
If I could give this venue and its owner, John Hamilton, higher than five stars on everything, I would! From beginning to end, John made our wedding the most special weekend of our lives. Rather than just rave, I will break it down:\r\rPlanning: John made the planning easy and seamless. He provided a vendor list that I found extremely helpful when it came to booking all the extras, like florist, DJ, etc. He always answered all of my (many) questions, either by email or phone, within a few days of sending them to him. We had a planning session via Skype since we were planning from New York City. John spent almost two hours with us, chatting and getting a feel for the wedding we wanted.\r\rProperty: The Inn itself could not be more idyllic--it's a breathtaking backdrop for a wedding. The gardens were amazing and beautifully kept, plus there were lambs (!) roaming in the back. The rooms themselves are amazing--each one has its own character, with flat screens and jacuzzi tubs. John brought breakfast baskets each morning that had the BEST muffins in the world in them--most mornings the muffins were still warm when we got them.\r\rDay of: We had a short rehearsal the night before, and everything went off without a hitch. John's staff was warm and welcoming as well, and did a beautiful job setting up for the reception. Also, it was amazing that my bridesmaids and I got to relax up in the bridal suite until it was time to go down, and then John came to collect us.\r\rFood: THE FOOD! It was crazy good--not your normal wedding fare. We did three appetizers during cocktail hour and then the plated dinner, and everyone raved about the food (particularly the steak)! The cake was also amazing with buttercream and fresh strawberries.\r\rService: The service at the reception was remarkable. The bartenders were personable and attentive, and there was never a long wait at the bar. The specialty drink was a perfect touch too.\r\rThis place does not disappoint!!!
Reviewed on 08-07-2013
David Patel (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-06-2008
John, Elizabeth, and the rest of the staff at JJ&E did a fantastic job hosting our 100 person wedding in June 2008. We had several special requests, and John did everything and more that we asked. We found them to be friendly and flexible. Our wedding was outdoors, and the venue is lush and green: hedged garden, trees, apple orchard, and swings. John took care of details, both small and large. For example, we rented and erected an Indian wedding mandap (like a canopy with pillars), and John noticed and made sure that the ceremony tent was raised an extra few feet so that it and the platform would fit underneath. \r\rThe best part was the food, which was absolutely delicious and unforgettable. Four years later, friends and family still mention our wedding buffet. John and Elizabeth are graduates of the Culinary Institute of America and, in our opinion, run the best kitchen in the Ithaca area. Many of our guests were from India, and half were vegetarians. John therefore developed a highly-customized menu for us and magnificently blended Indian flavors with his specialties. Here are a few items from our menu: \r- Mustard spiced seared pork tenderloin\r- Paneer and couscous cakes with cilantro jalapeno oil\r- Spiced eggplant sous vide with toasted cumin seeds\r- Cumin and chili crusted seared salmon with mango curry cream sauce\r- Spice rubbed lamb shoulder grilled and roasted, served with a curried ginger blueberry puree\r- Amazing seared tofu \r\rElizabeth is the pastry chef and created an incredible tiered spiced carrot cake with cream cheese frosting crusted with candied walnuts. We tried to save the top layer of the cake for freezing, but it was too good: we ate it the next day. \r\rJJ&E is a small, family-run business. All contact will be with John, who is the chef and manager. Although he is relaxed and does not always return phone calls, John is a professional and excellent at what he does. He gave us a clear timeline of when things would happen, and he took care of things according to that timeline. Nothing fell through the cracks. The pdf package they provide on the website is clear, with tons of information and pricing details. There were no hidden charges, and we felt like we could trust John. We visited a dozen wedding sites in the Ithaca area, and JJ&E was the perfect one for us.\r
Reviewed on 03-09-2012
Wedding Date 21-06-2008
John, Elizabeth, and the rest of the staff at JJ&E did a fantastic job hosting our 100 person wedding in June 2008. We had several special requests, and John did everything and more that we asked. We found them to be friendly and flexible. Our wedding was outdoors, and the venue is lush and green: hedged garden, trees, apple orchard, and swings. John took care of details, both small and large. For example, we rented and erected an Indian wedding mandap (like a canopy with pillars), and John noticed and made sure that the ceremony tent was raised an extra few feet so that it and the platform would fit underneath. \r\rThe best part was the food, which was absolutely delicious and unforgettable. Four years later, friends and family still mention our wedding buffet. John and Elizabeth are graduates of the Culinary Institute of America and, in our opinion, run the best kitchen in the Ithaca area. Many of our guests were from India, and half were vegetarians. John therefore developed a highly-customized menu for us and magnificently blended Indian flavors with his specialties. Here are a few items from our menu: \r- Mustard spiced seared pork tenderloin\r- Paneer and couscous cakes with cilantro jalapeno oil\r- Spiced eggplant sous vide with toasted cumin seeds\r- Cumin and chili crusted seared salmon with mango curry cream sauce\r- Spice rubbed lamb shoulder grilled and roasted, served with a curried ginger blueberry puree\r- Amazing seared tofu \r\rElizabeth is the pastry chef and created an incredible tiered spiced carrot cake with cream cheese frosting crusted with candied walnuts. We tried to save the top layer of the cake for freezing, but it was too good: we ate it the next day. \r\rJJ&E is a small, family-run business. All contact will be with John, who is the chef and manager. Although he is relaxed and does not always return phone calls, John is a professional and excellent at what he does. He gave us a clear timeline of when things would happen, and he took care of things according to that timeline. Nothing fell through the cracks. The pdf package they provide on the website is clear, with tons of information and pricing details. There were no hidden charges, and we felt like we could trust John. We visited a dozen wedding sites in the Ithaca area, and JJ&E was the perfect one for us.\r
Reviewed on 03-09-2012
Georgiana Avramidis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-07-2011
The John Joseph Inn gets high ratings from our experience for a couple of reasons.\r\rAs the innkeeper, chef, and all-around go-to guy, John worked hard to give us the wedding of our dreams and succeeded with his attention to detail and high energy. John was a great partner with a lot of experience and a good vision of how the weekend should be structured, and he incorporated the special touches that were important to us. It was great to be able to relax knowing that we were in his capable hands, especially the day of the wedding. John was everywhere - managing his amazing staff in and outside of the kitchen, serving as wedding coordinator and MC, even holding the train of my dress!\r\rThe grounds are beautiful, very well maintained, and have an elegant yet comfortable feel. The inn itself is quaint, classic, updated and exquisitely decorated. The beautiful tent is also worth mentioning - perfect size so all your guests feel close by, with chandeliers and a stone floor. John and his wife are chefs who planned an amazing local and seasonal meal (for the whole weekend) and everything was fantastic - especially the cake!\r\rAll in all, John's enthusiasm for ensuring that each wedding is unique and runs smoothly, coupled with his expertise in managing the details, made for an amazing wedding weekend for us and our guests. The only drawback I would mention is that the hotels in Ithaca are a little distant from the Inn - so make sure that you can offer a shuttle for your guests.
Reviewed on 04-08-2012
Wedding Date 09-07-2011
The John Joseph Inn gets high ratings from our experience for a couple of reasons.\r\rAs the innkeeper, chef, and all-around go-to guy, John worked hard to give us the wedding of our dreams and succeeded with his attention to detail and high energy. John was a great partner with a lot of experience and a good vision of how the weekend should be structured, and he incorporated the special touches that were important to us. It was great to be able to relax knowing that we were in his capable hands, especially the day of the wedding. John was everywhere - managing his amazing staff in and outside of the kitchen, serving as wedding coordinator and MC, even holding the train of my dress!\r\rThe grounds are beautiful, very well maintained, and have an elegant yet comfortable feel. The inn itself is quaint, classic, updated and exquisitely decorated. The beautiful tent is also worth mentioning - perfect size so all your guests feel close by, with chandeliers and a stone floor. John and his wife are chefs who planned an amazing local and seasonal meal (for the whole weekend) and everything was fantastic - especially the cake!\r\rAll in all, John's enthusiasm for ensuring that each wedding is unique and runs smoothly, coupled with his expertise in managing the details, made for an amazing wedding weekend for us and our guests. The only drawback I would mention is that the hotels in Ithaca are a little distant from the Inn - so make sure that you can offer a shuttle for your guests.
Reviewed on 04-08-2012
Margaret Whitehouse (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-10-2010
Our daughter's wedding was held here and it was a dream come true day! From our first planning appointment until the last champagne glass was empty, every detail was perfect. The site is gorgeous, the inn is luxurious, the food was incredible and the service was impeccable! John and Elizabeth were attentive throughout the entire planning stage and their menu was creative and innovative. Our guests were treated like royalty and most importantly, our daughter's dream day was everything we could have possibly hoped for!
Reviewed on 02-08-2012
Wedding Date 02-10-2010
Our daughter's wedding was held here and it was a dream come true day! From our first planning appointment until the last champagne glass was empty, every detail was perfect. The site is gorgeous, the inn is luxurious, the food was incredible and the service was impeccable! John and Elizabeth were attentive throughout the entire planning stage and their menu was creative and innovative. Our guests were treated like royalty and most importantly, our daughter's dream day was everything we could have possibly hoped for!
Reviewed on 02-08-2012
Nicole Manning (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-07-2011
I loved the John Joseph Inn on first sight (which happened to be during a tornado). It really was the perfect place to get married, and I don't anything like it in Ithaca or the surrounding areas (or at least nothing that we found, and we did a lot of research). The day itself was perfect - John and his wife Elizabeth, the owners of the Inn, really do such a nice job on the day of the wedding, and we received SO many compliments on the food, the staff, the atmosphere (and this was during the weekend where it was over 100 degrees in Ithaca, so our wedding was WARM to put it mildly) and I can't envision us having our reception in any other place. \r\rThat said, dealing with John in advance of the wedding (we didn't meet Elizabeth until the wedding weekend) was often a frustrating process. John is a \"personality\" - he's funny, and warm when you meet him in person, and you think things are going great when you're together, but if you're planning your wedding from afar (like we were), when you're not in John's immediate presence, you can feel like some things slip through the cracks: we frequently didn't receive responses to our pre-wedding inquiries, which didn't do much to make us feel comfortable in the lead up to the wedding, and when he did respond, he forgot many of our conversations (e.g. that we had even booked our wedding date with him)! So I want to make our rating clear - the JJE is a 5 star establishment on the day of the wedding, but planning the wedding, in our experience, unfortunately wasn't. \r\rNotwithstanding the foregoing, John and Elizabeth really go out of their way to make your wedding day extraordinary on the day of. A year later, if I could do it all over again with them, I would.
Reviewed on 27-07-2012
Wedding Date 23-07-2011
I loved the John Joseph Inn on first sight (which happened to be during a tornado). It really was the perfect place to get married, and I don't anything like it in Ithaca or the surrounding areas (or at least nothing that we found, and we did a lot of research). The day itself was perfect - John and his wife Elizabeth, the owners of the Inn, really do such a nice job on the day of the wedding, and we received SO many compliments on the food, the staff, the atmosphere (and this was during the weekend where it was over 100 degrees in Ithaca, so our wedding was WARM to put it mildly) and I can't envision us having our reception in any other place. \r\rThat said, dealing with John in advance of the wedding (we didn't meet Elizabeth until the wedding weekend) was often a frustrating process. John is a \"personality\" - he's funny, and warm when you meet him in person, and you think things are going great when you're together, but if you're planning your wedding from afar (like we were), when you're not in John's immediate presence, you can feel like some things slip through the cracks: we frequently didn't receive responses to our pre-wedding inquiries, which didn't do much to make us feel comfortable in the lead up to the wedding, and when he did respond, he forgot many of our conversations (e.g. that we had even booked our wedding date with him)! So I want to make our rating clear - the JJE is a 5 star establishment on the day of the wedding, but planning the wedding, in our experience, unfortunately wasn't. \r\rNotwithstanding the foregoing, John and Elizabeth really go out of their way to make your wedding day extraordinary on the day of. A year later, if I could do it all over again with them, I would.
Reviewed on 27-07-2012
Alison Cobb (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-06-2012
When choosing our venue, it did not take long for my then fiance and I to agree that the beautiful landscaping, gardens, and relaxed feel of the outdoor ceremony and reception area was exactly what we wanted. John is very professional and he is very good at what he does. If you just put your trust in him, he will out perform your highest expectations! My husband and I are still floored at the thought of how amazing the day went because of John and Elizabeth and the staff. The service was fantastic, not only on the day of the wedding, but the cleaning staff, and the delicious breakfast that was delivered to our rooms every morning. The grounds were gorgeous, manicured perfectly. The rooms in the Inn are unbelievably beautiful and charming. Since John and Elizabeth are both graduates from CIA, the food was no exception to our wonderful experience with the Hamiltons. The cake and cupcakes were delicious, and beautifully displayed. I can not say enough good things about our experience working with the Hamiltons. My parents and my husbands parents are amazed and so increadibly pleased with how well taken care of we all were for our entire stay. I don't think any of us could have dreamed of a better wedding. Thank you John, Elizabeth, and all of the staff at The John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant, you all did a fabulous job, and we will be raving about you for years to come! We will be back to visit for sure!
Reviewed on 09-07-2012
Wedding Date 30-06-2012
When choosing our venue, it did not take long for my then fiance and I to agree that the beautiful landscaping, gardens, and relaxed feel of the outdoor ceremony and reception area was exactly what we wanted. John is very professional and he is very good at what he does. If you just put your trust in him, he will out perform your highest expectations! My husband and I are still floored at the thought of how amazing the day went because of John and Elizabeth and the staff. The service was fantastic, not only on the day of the wedding, but the cleaning staff, and the delicious breakfast that was delivered to our rooms every morning. The grounds were gorgeous, manicured perfectly. The rooms in the Inn are unbelievably beautiful and charming. Since John and Elizabeth are both graduates from CIA, the food was no exception to our wonderful experience with the Hamiltons. The cake and cupcakes were delicious, and beautifully displayed. I can not say enough good things about our experience working with the Hamiltons. My parents and my husbands parents are amazed and so increadibly pleased with how well taken care of we all were for our entire stay. I don't think any of us could have dreamed of a better wedding. Thank you John, Elizabeth, and all of the staff at The John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant, you all did a fabulous job, and we will be raving about you for years to come! We will be back to visit for sure!
Reviewed on 09-07-2012
Mayra Villalobos (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-06-2012
The grounds at the John Joseph Inn are spectacular and make the perfect backdrop for wedding pictures. The food is amazing!!! We had a few guests with dietary restrictions and John was able to accommodate all their needs. It has been one month since the wedding, and we are still hearing great reviews from our friends and family on the food. John, his wife, Elizabeth, and their staff provide such great service that I would recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking to get married in the Finger Lakes area!
Reviewed on 02-07-2012
Wedding Date 02-06-2012
The grounds at the John Joseph Inn are spectacular and make the perfect backdrop for wedding pictures. The food is amazing!!! We had a few guests with dietary restrictions and John was able to accommodate all their needs. It has been one month since the wedding, and we are still hearing great reviews from our friends and family on the food. John, his wife, Elizabeth, and their staff provide such great service that I would recommend the John Joseph Inn to anyone looking to get married in the Finger Lakes area!
Reviewed on 02-07-2012
Michelle Boyd (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-09-2012
My fiancee and I visited the John Joseph Inn during August 2011 and booked our wedding for 13 months later with the requested deposit. We then proceeded to put all the other event pieces in place, including Church, photographer, flowers, music, makeup, hotels, transportation. With 90% of the planning done we were extremely surprised to receive a call in January 2012 from John Hamilton saying that he had gone through computer updates just before our first meeting last August and had us down for two dates in the computer. After verifying the date we had requested, John informed us that another couple had put their deposit down before us for that weekend. He had double booked and took FIVE months to figure it out and let us know. \r\tOn the day we found out, John stated multiple times that this had never happened before, that he would do anything to make it right, that it made him sick to his stomach and that he would refund us our initial deposit and any other vendor deposits lost due to change of date or venue. I asked him if he could recommend another suitable venue in the area since I had a 200 person wedding planned. His response to me was \"no I really can't\" and pompously implied that no other venue matched the class of the John Joseph Inn. \r\tWith the venue booked for our date and John's attitude less than helpful we asked for our deposit back and provided a list of other vendors whose deposits would be affected. This is when John began to backpedal contacted our vendors without letting us know what he was doing. After attempting to \"make a deal\" with each of our vendors, John presented us with a new wedding date that was agreeable to him, the florist, makeup artist and a completely DIFFERENT church. Our vendors were upset, we were upset, and we were appalled that he would even do something like that. With all the balls in motion, we could not change our date and told him that we wanted our money back. Ten days later we received simply a check for solely the John Joseph Inn deposit. John Hamilton did not have the professionalism to provide a note, to follow up, or to carry through on his initial offer to cover our losses with other vendors. \r\tWe ended up having to go back to step one to find a venue and resulted in moving our wedding 150 miles away in order to meet our needs because there was not another location to accommodate our reception size on that date. Fortunately most of our other vendors were understanding and helped out. We did though lose plenty of our own time and money and are extremely disappointed in John's handling of the situation before, during and after. I would not recommend this as a wedding venue to anyone that wasn't willing to deal with a pompous, unprofessional service.
Reviewed on 09-02-2012
Wedding Date 22-09-2012
My fiancee and I visited the John Joseph Inn during August 2011 and booked our wedding for 13 months later with the requested deposit. We then proceeded to put all the other event pieces in place, including Church, photographer, flowers, music, makeup, hotels, transportation. With 90% of the planning done we were extremely surprised to receive a call in January 2012 from John Hamilton saying that he had gone through computer updates just before our first meeting last August and had us down for two dates in the computer. After verifying the date we had requested, John informed us that another couple had put their deposit down before us for that weekend. He had double booked and took FIVE months to figure it out and let us know. \r\tOn the day we found out, John stated multiple times that this had never happened before, that he would do anything to make it right, that it made him sick to his stomach and that he would refund us our initial deposit and any other vendor deposits lost due to change of date or venue. I asked him if he could recommend another suitable venue in the area since I had a 200 person wedding planned. His response to me was \"no I really can't\" and pompously implied that no other venue matched the class of the John Joseph Inn. \r\tWith the venue booked for our date and John's attitude less than helpful we asked for our deposit back and provided a list of other vendors whose deposits would be affected. This is when John began to backpedal contacted our vendors without letting us know what he was doing. After attempting to \"make a deal\" with each of our vendors, John presented us with a new wedding date that was agreeable to him, the florist, makeup artist and a completely DIFFERENT church. Our vendors were upset, we were upset, and we were appalled that he would even do something like that. With all the balls in motion, we could not change our date and told him that we wanted our money back. Ten days later we received simply a check for solely the John Joseph Inn deposit. John Hamilton did not have the professionalism to provide a note, to follow up, or to carry through on his initial offer to cover our losses with other vendors. \r\tWe ended up having to go back to step one to find a venue and resulted in moving our wedding 150 miles away in order to meet our needs because there was not another location to accommodate our reception size on that date. Fortunately most of our other vendors were understanding and helped out. We did though lose plenty of our own time and money and are extremely disappointed in John's handling of the situation before, during and after. I would not recommend this as a wedding venue to anyone that wasn't willing to deal with a pompous, unprofessional service.
Reviewed on 09-02-2012
Rose Carvelli (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-10-2011
John performed excellently for our wedding. The ceremony site was well manicured and perfect for our wedding. The cocktail hour area was beautiful and provided a superb setting for the guests to enjoy the Signature Cocktails (spiked cider was amazing). The outdoor tent was simple but elegant. The interior was adorned with a linen ceiling and linen around all of the columns. It provided a great setting for a romantic wedding. The staff was extremely friendly and courteous.\rThe food was absolutely delicious. Cocktail hour provided three treats - beef tenderlion, crabcakes and caprese salad. All were hits! Dinner was ribeye, scallops and chicken - all also delightful. \rEvery guest had nothing but compliments. \rThe inn provided a comfortable setting for the evening and he had the most delicious pancakes the next day for our brunch.\rJohn made the experience unforgettable. Photos are fantastic as his place provides an excellent backdrop.
Reviewed on 23-10-2011
Wedding Date 09-10-2011
John performed excellently for our wedding. The ceremony site was well manicured and perfect for our wedding. The cocktail hour area was beautiful and provided a superb setting for the guests to enjoy the Signature Cocktails (spiked cider was amazing). The outdoor tent was simple but elegant. The interior was adorned with a linen ceiling and linen around all of the columns. It provided a great setting for a romantic wedding. The staff was extremely friendly and courteous.\rThe food was absolutely delicious. Cocktail hour provided three treats - beef tenderlion, crabcakes and caprese salad. All were hits! Dinner was ribeye, scallops and chicken - all also delightful. \rEvery guest had nothing but compliments. \rThe inn provided a comfortable setting for the evening and he had the most delicious pancakes the next day for our brunch.\rJohn made the experience unforgettable. Photos are fantastic as his place provides an excellent backdrop.
Reviewed on 23-10-2011
Pippy Duncan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-05-2011
My wedding here was absolutely amazing! Everything from the rehearsal dinner to brunch was executed perfectly. My husband and I received so many compliments from our guests on everything from the beauty of the venue to the food to attention they received from the staff. The landscape is truly stunning and makes you feel like you are living a fairy tale. John and Elizabeth know what they are doing; it may seem like a small operation, and it is, but this place proves that OUTSTANDING things come in small packages; the staff was fantastic; accommodating, sweet and great sports with all of our guests. The food was to die for-I don't even know how to explain what an amazing talent Elizabeth is. You will not be disappointed with any course!\rThe entire weekend feels like a blur, but it was the happiest blur of my life and a large part of that is thanks to everyone at the John Joseph Inn. I could not have been happier with my wedding and would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a dream wedding. \r
Reviewed on 05-10-2011
Wedding Date 13-05-2011
My wedding here was absolutely amazing! Everything from the rehearsal dinner to brunch was executed perfectly. My husband and I received so many compliments from our guests on everything from the beauty of the venue to the food to attention they received from the staff. The landscape is truly stunning and makes you feel like you are living a fairy tale. John and Elizabeth know what they are doing; it may seem like a small operation, and it is, but this place proves that OUTSTANDING things come in small packages; the staff was fantastic; accommodating, sweet and great sports with all of our guests. The food was to die for-I don't even know how to explain what an amazing talent Elizabeth is. You will not be disappointed with any course!\rThe entire weekend feels like a blur, but it was the happiest blur of my life and a large part of that is thanks to everyone at the John Joseph Inn. I could not have been happier with my wedding and would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking for a dream wedding. \r
Reviewed on 05-10-2011
Emi Knafo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-08-2011
John and Elizabeth Hamilton run a beautiful inn and restaurant with gorgeous grounds including an orchard and gardens. As a wedding venue it cannot be beat and the level of professionalism and service provided was exceptional. My husband and I were excited about planning our wedding there from the beginning, and John made the entire process easy and stress free. He and Elizabeth have clearly mastered the art of pulling of a fabulous party. There were many aspects of planning that I wanted to ensure happened a certain way, but John made it clear that he understood our vision, and to trust him. For your average bride that can be scary but seriously, John knows what works and when he tells you to trust him, you should. In the end, we were able to let John and Elizabeth take care of so many of the details that we were able to truly enjoy the planning and ultimately our party without worry. The wedding food, including the beautiful cake created by Elizabeth, also exceeded expectations and most of our guests mentioned how much they adored the food and dessert. Besides providing full service, stress free planning along the way, an experienced opinion, attention to detail, amazing food, and a beautiful inn and grounds, John and Elizabeth clearly hand select their servers and bar tenders. Everyone we interacted with was professional, polite, and warm. The John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant is a breathtakingly beautiful yet unpretentious wedding venue with service and professionalism to back it all up. My husband and I were just thrilled with our experience and highly recommend John and Elizabeth! Go visit the restaurant for dinner in the off season and you wont be disappointed.
Reviewed on 02-10-2011
Wedding Date 06-08-2011
John and Elizabeth Hamilton run a beautiful inn and restaurant with gorgeous grounds including an orchard and gardens. As a wedding venue it cannot be beat and the level of professionalism and service provided was exceptional. My husband and I were excited about planning our wedding there from the beginning, and John made the entire process easy and stress free. He and Elizabeth have clearly mastered the art of pulling of a fabulous party. There were many aspects of planning that I wanted to ensure happened a certain way, but John made it clear that he understood our vision, and to trust him. For your average bride that can be scary but seriously, John knows what works and when he tells you to trust him, you should. In the end, we were able to let John and Elizabeth take care of so many of the details that we were able to truly enjoy the planning and ultimately our party without worry. The wedding food, including the beautiful cake created by Elizabeth, also exceeded expectations and most of our guests mentioned how much they adored the food and dessert. Besides providing full service, stress free planning along the way, an experienced opinion, attention to detail, amazing food, and a beautiful inn and grounds, John and Elizabeth clearly hand select their servers and bar tenders. Everyone we interacted with was professional, polite, and warm. The John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant is a breathtakingly beautiful yet unpretentious wedding venue with service and professionalism to back it all up. My husband and I were just thrilled with our experience and highly recommend John and Elizabeth! Go visit the restaurant for dinner in the off season and you wont be disappointed.
Reviewed on 02-10-2011
Lauren Lamonoff (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-09-2011
John Joseph Inn is the best place in the capital district to have a wedding. I was thrilled with everything, especially the food. My guests all told me that this was the \"best wedding ever,\" and I would not change a thing about it. The inn is absolutely gorgeous, the setting is wonderful, and am I so glad that I chose to have my wedding here.
Reviewed on 27-09-2011
Wedding Date 10-09-2011
John Joseph Inn is the best place in the capital district to have a wedding. I was thrilled with everything, especially the food. My guests all told me that this was the \"best wedding ever,\" and I would not change a thing about it. The inn is absolutely gorgeous, the setting is wonderful, and am I so glad that I chose to have my wedding here.
Reviewed on 27-09-2011
Cara Hanig (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-07-2011
I cannot say enough about the stunningly beautiful John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth restaurant in Groton, NY. \rMy fiance and I went to check it out and knew the minute we stepped out of the car that this would be the place. John and Elizabteh have poured their heart and souls into this place, and it shows. The Inn has rustic charm but is beautifully updated inside, the gardens were unbelievable, and the backdrop of the rolling hills and apple orchard just set the tone for the whole place. After walking around the property, we sat down to have dinner, and had literally the best meal we have ever consumed. My (now) husband doesn't even like asparagus, but he couldn't stop eating the asparagus risotto! We wrote the check that night and never looked back. \rI will say that John can be hard to get hold of during the off months, and for someone as detail oriented and type A as I am, that was frustrating for me. I was assured, however, by another bride that although she had the same experience, he came through on every last detail. I had the exact same experience, and our day could not have been more perfect. I can't tell you how many friends told us that ours was the best wedding, hands down, that they have ever been to.\rThe food was UNREAL, John was on top of every last detail, the cake (made by Elizabeth) was sinfully delicious, and I haven't even touched on the service! You may not think about this ahead of time, but the staff of whatever venue you choose can have a big impact on your wedding. Their staff was warm, friendly, accomodating, tolerant of some less than sober guests, and all around on top of their game. Amanda, who worked the bar all night, won rave reviews from my friends who talked about how funny and engaged she was with the crowd. \rIt would not have been the same without John and Elizabeth behind us, and we will always have a place in our hearts for this special, amazing place.
Reviewed on 03-08-2011
Wedding Date 17-07-2011
I cannot say enough about the stunningly beautiful John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth restaurant in Groton, NY. \rMy fiance and I went to check it out and knew the minute we stepped out of the car that this would be the place. John and Elizabteh have poured their heart and souls into this place, and it shows. The Inn has rustic charm but is beautifully updated inside, the gardens were unbelievable, and the backdrop of the rolling hills and apple orchard just set the tone for the whole place. After walking around the property, we sat down to have dinner, and had literally the best meal we have ever consumed. My (now) husband doesn't even like asparagus, but he couldn't stop eating the asparagus risotto! We wrote the check that night and never looked back. \rI will say that John can be hard to get hold of during the off months, and for someone as detail oriented and type A as I am, that was frustrating for me. I was assured, however, by another bride that although she had the same experience, he came through on every last detail. I had the exact same experience, and our day could not have been more perfect. I can't tell you how many friends told us that ours was the best wedding, hands down, that they have ever been to.\rThe food was UNREAL, John was on top of every last detail, the cake (made by Elizabeth) was sinfully delicious, and I haven't even touched on the service! You may not think about this ahead of time, but the staff of whatever venue you choose can have a big impact on your wedding. Their staff was warm, friendly, accomodating, tolerant of some less than sober guests, and all around on top of their game. Amanda, who worked the bar all night, won rave reviews from my friends who talked about how funny and engaged she was with the crowd. \rIt would not have been the same without John and Elizabeth behind us, and we will always have a place in our hearts for this special, amazing place.
Reviewed on 03-08-2011
Shannon Eggleston (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-04-2011
We didn't do the reception and ceremony, just the ceremony. The grounds are beautiful as well as the Inn (where our ceremony took place). My only issues were that the communication was not consistant. The rehearsal was planned but the owner was surprised to see us the day of the rehearsal. The other thing I was disappointed with is that as family and friends were arriving, the chairs were still being set up....very last minute.
Reviewed on 12-05-2011
Wedding Date 16-04-2011
We didn't do the reception and ceremony, just the ceremony. The grounds are beautiful as well as the Inn (where our ceremony took place). My only issues were that the communication was not consistant. The rehearsal was planned but the owner was surprised to see us the day of the rehearsal. The other thing I was disappointed with is that as family and friends were arriving, the chairs were still being set up....very last minute.
Reviewed on 12-05-2011
a member (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
The venue and location was beautiful, but planning was a hassle. John is a nice guy, but almost impossible to get in contact with. He's also very forgetful, so make sure you get everything in writing... and even then you never know. The place is up and coming, but I think their in over their heads. We selected the place for their reputation for great food, and I was not really impressed with what was served on the day of the wedding. End on a positive note... the inn is very nice to have at the end of the night. The gardens are beautiful and guests were blown away by the setting.
Reviewed on 09-08-2010
48 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.46 out of 5.0The venue and location was beautiful, but planning was a hassle. John is a nice guy, but almost impossible to get in contact with. He's also very forgetful, so make sure you get everything in writing... and even then you never know. The place is up and coming, but I think their in over their heads. We selected the place for their reputation for great food, and I was not really impressed with what was served on the day of the wedding. End on a positive note... the inn is very nice to have at the end of the night. The gardens are beautiful and guests were blown away by the setting.
Reviewed on 09-08-2010
Contact Info for John Joseph Inn
| Contact | Value |
|---|---|
| https://www.facebook.com/john-joseph-inn-158250895200/ | |
| X (Twitter) | johnjosephinn |
| johnjosephinn | |
| johnjosephinn | |
| Website | www.johnjosephinn.com |
| Phone | (607) 379-1301 |
| Address | 813 Auburn Rd, Groton, NY, 13073 |
| info@johnjosephinn.com |
John Joseph Inn on the map
Meet the John Joseph Inn Team
John Hamilton (Owner) As the Chef and Owner I am focused on memorable culinary experiences. I approach weddings from a different angle to ensure that all of your guests walk away saying \"that was the best wedding I've ever been to\". A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America with years of experience traveling the country opening restaurants from Napa Valley, DC, Philly, Coastal Maine and the Hudson Valley I bring modern trends and techniques based on sustainable farm to table operations. I am also a farmer and raise chickens, sheep and grow produce on the estate. This is my passion, not just a business!
©2024 Wedding Service Guide