Located in West Hartford, CT, Pond House Cafe is a restaurant wedding venue. The main event area, the Garden Room, can meet couples' dream-come-true expectations. Featuring high ceilings, adorned with twinkle lights, and floor-to-ceiling cathedral windows, this space is flooded with light. There is also a fieldstone gas fireplace and a beautiful park setting, which acts as a scenic wedding backdrop.
Pond House Cafe's Garden Room is a beautiful year-round destination. Decorated with a meticulous sense of style and adorned with seasonal flowers and plants, attention was given to every detail. An attached terrace overlooks the pond and the park, drawing the outdoors in. A beautiful space for a cocktail hour, ceremony, or pictures, this location can help a wedding vision come to life.
Pond House Cafe is home to a culinary team that offers unique food options, made from fresh, local ingredients. Delectable by design, the presentation of their dishes is outstanding. From tasty hors d’oeuvre trays to ornate buffet tables and spectacular plated meals, the cuisine here is sure to impress. Supplied with an in-house wedding coordinator, couples hosting at Pond House Cafe will have the guidance they need from day one. Every detail, from arranging the place cards to placing favors will be taken care of at this premier wedding venue. Couples can have a look at pictures and services on the venue's website, or they can reach out to the friendly Pond House Cafe for information. Dedicated and passionate, this venue's crew is ready to help couples have a wedding to remember.
Amenities & Details
Ceremony Area, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, Reception Area
Guest Capacity
Up to 150
Ceremony TypesVenue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Food & Catering, Service Staff
Settings
Ballroom, Garden, Park, Restaurant
Business Attributes
LGBTQ+-owned Business, Woman-owned Business
Pricing for Pond House Cafe
Option
Value
Starting Cost
Affordable
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
Pond House Cafe Reviews
Aimee DePalma(other)5 out of 5 Rating
The first time I visited the Pond House I absolutely fell in love with it. It was decorated for the holidays and it felt so magical. We knew right away that this was where we wanted to get married. Two years later we got married here on 1/5/2024 and I just can’t stop thinking about how amazing it was! My guests all night kept saying how it was one of the prettiest venues and funnest weddings they’ve ever been to. How it was stunning and felt so magical. I have an old school Italian family and was so worried about the food because they can be such critics but omg. People RAVED about it. I had my rehearsal dinner here as well. Each food item better than the next. They have so many different options to choose from to satisfy and also accommodate dietary needs. The servers and bartenders were professional, hard working, personable, and so kind. My wedding coordinator was attentive, always replied quickly, never made me feel like a bother, and her professional opinion was always appreciated. I wish I could relive that night over and over. I can’t recommend this venue enough. 🖤 Reviewed on 09-01-2024
We LOVED the Pond House because of the phenomenal food, beautiful decor, the guidance we got from our planner Leslie, and the overall value! It was important for us to have delicious food and the variety of cuisines was a huge plus. Since my family is Chinese, we were able to pick out some Asian themed food. For decor, the only thing we brought were flowers for centerpieces and ceremony pieces; the Pond house had everything else to make the setting gorgeous! Leslie was instrumental in helping us stay on track for planning, and on the day of! Reviewed on 07-11-2023
Michelle Morgan(other)5 out of 5 Rating
My husband and I were impressed with Pond House Cafe from day 1. Their customer service and hospitality are unmatched. From initial meetings, food tastings and rehearsal, we felt very confident in our decision to choose Pond House Cafe for our wedding ceremony and reception. The banquet room itself is beautiful and requires very little extra decorations. The food is incredible and they offer so many different varieties of food. A special thank you to Leslie, our wedding coordinator, for ensuring everything went perfectly. Reviewed on 05-11-2023
Lisa Rizzo(other)5 out of 5 Rating
The Pond House was the perfect location for our September wedding! We picked the venue for its visual appeal and food and both exceeded our expectations. We knew the Pond House provided seasonal decor but it was absolutely breathtaking! It would have cost thousands extra to provide our own twinkle lights, flowers, and decor. The food was outstanding and the incredible staff made sure we had plenty of it. Our coordinator Leslie met us right after the ceremony with our drinks (she even asked what we wanted at the rehearsal!) and the servers brought hors d'oeuvres right to us while we were taking photos. Our guests are still talking about the food! Leslie and the entire Pond House team really went out of their way to not only give us everything we asked for but also provide us with advice when we asked and needed it. We could not recommend The Pond House more! Reviewed on 10-10-2023
Grace Gerhardt(other)5 out of 5 Rating
The entire Pond House staff was experienced and professional. Although they have weddings every weekend, they truly made us feel special. As an LGBT couple, the Pond House made every conscious effort to make us feel comfortable, welcomed, and valued. If there were any hiccups the day of the event, we didn’t hear about them! Thank you again for making our dreams come true! Reviewed on 05-10-2023
Madison Newton(other)5 out of 5 Rating
There aren’t enough words to describe just how incredible the Pond House Cafe was for our wedding.The venue itself was absolutely stunning. We got married in June and between the flowers, lights, and decor, it was beautiful. It was also peak rose season so the rose garden in Elizabeth Park was breathtaking. We are so lucky to have had our photos here. The staff at the Pond House went above and beyond for us. Leslie was our coordinator and she was truly amazing. She answered every single question we had, met with us often to go over everything, provided detailed checklists for everything we needed, and so much more. On the day of, Leslie and Diana made sure everything ran smoothly. They made sure the processional was all ready to go and indicated when it was time for each person to go. Leslie also helped with smoothing out my dress and veil before walking down. Even though it rained a little during the ceremony, we wouldn’t change a thing.Next, the food! We had read the reviews about how delicious the food was, but didn’t know just how delicious it was until the day of. The hors d’oeuvres were so unique and tasty, it may have been our favorite part of the meal. For entrees, we had the pork osso buco, the salmon, the chicken, and the vegetarian lasagna. Our guests raved about the food for so long after and we still hear how great their meals were. Our salad was a hit as well - we had the poached pear and I still dream about it. I have worked in catering and been to many weddings, but no wedding food has ever held a flame to what the Pond House provided. We had a wedding of 155 with at least 145 people on the dance floor all night. It was a special and perfect place for our wedding and we couldn’t be more thankful. The Pond House is truly a hidden gem - don’t sleep on it. Reviewed on 14-09-2023
Shannon Perrin(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We had such a great time at our wedding at the Pond House. We had Leslie as our coordinator and she was fantastic! The food, drinks, and all the staff there that night were absolutely amazing and made our night. Reviewed on 22-08-2023
Laura Cone(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Pond House is such a beautiful venue, located in the stunning Elizabeth Park. Our coordinator, Leslie, was responsive and helpful throughout the planning process, and so organized and efficient on our wedding day. Everything we could think of was taken care of, and everyone on the Pond House staff were so accommodating and friendly. And the food is delicious! Thanks again to everyone at Pond House! Reviewed on 14-08-2023
Ben Wagner(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We are so glad that we chose Pond House for our wedding venue. We appreciated Diana’s straightforward and no-nonsense attitude. Our coordinator, Leslie, was easy to work with and very accommodating. Their communication leading up to the wedding was terrific. The venue itself was stunning, especially as the evening went on and the twinkling lights became reflected in the windows. The food was all exceptional—our guests kept telling us how delicious everything was. Diana, Leslie, and the rest of the staff were very attentive of us, ensuring we ate and drank. There were a few minor issues—they served champagne to some of our guests who we had specified don’t drink and there were some issues with getting the food out on time (we had asked to have the salads out when guests arrived, but they ended up being served after the speeches which delayed our program). That said, we truly loved Pond House and plan to come back for our anniversary! Reviewed on 20-06-2023
Catherine Lagosz(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Our wedding venue was amazing. The Pond House and all people involved were so kind and attentive. Leslie, our coordinator was great about answering all my questions and bringing things to my attention I would have never thought of. The entire days timeline moved along swiftly and everything was very clean. The food was delicious and the dessert was to die for! Highly recommend the Pond House as a venue! Reviewed on 20-06-2023
Chelsea Palmer(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-05-2023 Our wedding was perfect! Leslie was our coordinator and she nailed every detail. The wait staff were phenomenal, the food was fantastic, and everything looked so beautiful! This venue was a very special place for us, Elizabeth Park was where my grandparents fell in love and where my husbands grandmother spent a lot of time. I’m so glad that we could share our special day there as well. Reviewed on 28-05-2023
Michelle Sigiel(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Our wedding went perfectly on May 11th. The staff was quick to respond and very accommodating to various allergies amongst our friends and families. The venue is absolutely gorgeous both inside and outside. A big thanks to our wedding coordinator, Leslie for all of the hard work she did for ours as well as the staff and chefs. Reviewed on 14-05-2023
Sara Mejia(other)5 out of 5 Rating
We are so happy we chose Pond House Cafe for our wedding venue! Everything from the very beginning was very easy, clear and the staff are super helpful and organized. Leslie was our coordinator and she is simply the BEST! She is super sweet, gives great advise, is open to suggestions and is always on top of everything. We LOVED working with her.The wedding package they offer is very complete, you can have on-site ceremony, choose buffet or plated food , open bar!!! and many other things. All of our guests loved the food, the space and decoration! A huge plus is the location, it is in Elizabeth Park which is great for pictures, regardless of the season. They have an online portal in which you communicate with the wedding coordinator and it is very helpful, you can upload pictures, ask questions and be very specific in how you want your wedding to look like.We are so happy and recommend you to celebrate your wedding here too. Reviewed on 30-04-2023
Marisa Fazzino(other)5 out of 5 Rating
Perfect location for a wedding. We chose to have a day wedding and the venue was able to accommodate easily whether it rained or was sunny! Leslie was our coordinator and we couldn’t have asked for a better person to support us for our day. She made the entire process seamless and stress free. The food was spectacular and all of our guests gave fabulous reviews on the food and the decorations within the venue. Highly recommend this venue for you wedding reception! Reviewed on 30-04-2023
Andrea Juliano(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-04-2023 Our Pond House wedding was perfect! From decor to good to service, we were impressed. And we had so many positive comments from guests. Highly recommend for a wedding in any season. Reviewed on 06-04-2023
Heather Daniels(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-03-2023 Everyone at the Pond House was incredible! So many guests commented on how great the food was and how beautiful the space is. We are so happy we chose the Pond House! Reviewed on 23-03-2023
Leah DeTolla(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-03-2023 We were impressed from start to finish with our experience at the Pond house for our wedding. Leslie was a fabulous coordinator, and everything turned out perfectly. The food was fantastic and the venue is already stunning inside so we did not have to add much for decorations. Being able to coordinate food, cake, drinks, and on site ceremony through the venue was so easy, and it took a huge amount of weight off of our shoulders! Reviewed on 20-03-2023
mariah mackin(guest)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-02-2023 hi Reviewed on 11-02-2023
Matt Morrison(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-01-2023 We got married here 1-28-23. We loved working with Diana, Leslie, Eric and all the staff. They’re extremely knowledgeable, professional, dedicated and you can tell they want your wedding to go as smoothly as you do. They bent over backwards to help us and work with us and I can say with confidence I would not recommend any other vendor to handle a friend or family member’s reception. Reviewed on 03-02-2023
Adam Haig(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-01-2023 Leslie and Diana worked so hard to make our day perfect! From the very first inquiry they were super friendly and helpful, sharing their experience and expertise every step of the way. The Pond House is such a beautiful venue- and while many enjoy it with the gardens in the spring and summer it is something truly special in the winter. Guests told us they felt like they were in a Harry Potter movie (best compliment ever..) it was so beautiful and magical. The night was so smooth, we were checked in with and taken care of non stop, and the food is DELICIOUS. We couldn't recommend the Pond House more, any time of year. Reviewed on 24-01-2023
Jordan Popiolek(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-10-2022 We booked Pond House for our October wedding. Diana gave menu recommendations based on allergies and dietary restrictions, helping us provide guests with a well-rounded selection. The environment is romantic and cozy, and staff do a beautiful job keeping the hall decorated seasonally. Leslie and Diana didn't stop moving the entire evening, ensuring all of our needs and guest needs were met. The food and drinks were incredible. Highly recommend looking at this venue. Our guests could not stop talking about how beautiful it was. Reviewed on 25-10-2022
Grace Strong(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-09-2022 We had an amazing fall wedding at the Pond House for 100 guests. We weren’t from the area and found the Pond House on Google Maps, came and visited and were delighted throughout the planning process and in the event execution!The venue is lovely, and leadership has done a great job to make planning relatively stress free. They provide an excellent menu selection, and handle most of the details like linens and dinnerware, and coordinating a cake vendor. Many other vendors know the Pond House well, so coordination among all our vendors was easy.While our coordinator changed abruptly about a month prior to the wedding, Nicole was amazing in the final plans and prep and in leading execution. The food was excellent - we chose the buffet and were really happy with that decision. Our guests raved about basically everything: the food, the staff, and the beauty of the venue. It was truly perfect. Taking pictures out in Elizabeth Park was also wonderful, and we were able to slip out a few times throughout the evening for lovely night time pictures around the Pond House and park.The service was great, the venue was beautiful, and everything was reasonably priced for a wedding. We’ve recommended the Pond House to our friends and are glad to recommend it publicly. Reviewed on 10-10-2022
Kaitlin Lessard(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-07-2022 There were a few bumps in the road for our wedding needing to be rebooked due to COVID and some staff that left during planning but when we were able to work with Stephanie a few months before the wedding, she was able to jump in where we were left and make sure that all the loose ends were tied. She reassured us with all of our questions and concerns and was so personable. The day ended up being absolutely perfect Reviewed on 06-09-2022
Vivian Smith(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 17-07-2022 We had a great experience with the Pond House for our summer wedding. Stephanie and Diana were super helpful, the food was amazing, and the garden decorations were on point. The terrace was a beautiful setting for our ceremony. We got the intimate package for 50 guests. Reviewed on 04-08-2022
Meaghan Ford(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-06-2022 We had our wedding here with about 130 guests on a Saturday evening. It was WONDERFUL, everything with off without a hitch, we had such a great time. The staff took care of everything and we were really able to just enough and celebrate with our guests. Would REALLY recommend. We specifically loved the speciality cocktails, people LOVED the basil strawberry vodka lemonades we had at Happy Hour Reviewed on 22-07-2022
Sarah Young(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-07-2022 I cannot say enough about how perfect our July 2022 wedding was at the Pond House. The room is absolutely beautiful and well decorated. The food was outstanding (our guests are still raving!). The day ran so smoothly, and our coordinator Stephanie was so helpful and thoughtful, and ensured that everything went as planned. We had the best time, and our guests are still reaching out to us to say that they did too! Reviewed on 21-07-2022
Claire Gaudette(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-07-2022 We had out Wedding at the Pond House last week. It was a beautiful day and the entire staff was lovely! Our first wedding planner left the company a few months before the wedding, and we missed out on about a month of communication while we were waiting to be assigned our new wedding planner. Once we were assigned Nicole, everything continued very smoothly. She was very knowledgable and answered all of my questions and concerns very promptly! The food was delicious and the venue-appointed cake vendor was lovely and the cake was perfect! It was surprisingly affordable and we were thrilled with the '\"flow\" of the entire day. If anything, it went by too quickly! Reviewed on 17-07-2022
Leah Igdalsky(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-07-2022 We got married at the Pond House on July 1st and had an extremely positive experience. The factor that really made our wedding planning smooth and painless was our coordinator, Nicole. If you have the chance to work with her, go for it! She is organized and professional, but also warm. She made us feel special and helped to make the day really feel like us.Beyond that, the food and decor was lovely and exceeded our expectations. And word to the wise, there is a wide range of budget options for the Pond House. If, like us, you're trying to have a small, budget-friendly wedding, consider lunchtime and weekdays. We thought the Pond House was way out of our budget, but found that a Friday afternoon lunch buffet was a great value and worked for us. Overall, very pleased with our experience and would recommend! And ask for Nicole- she's absolutely great! Reviewed on 06-07-2022
Molly Atwood(other)1 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 15-05-2022 Venue fired first wedding planner only to replace her with another coordinator that did not care about the wedding at all, had no details and the wedding party had to plan/arrange everything the weekend of. They rushed to kick us out before our end of reception time, staff ignored guests half the time, probably broke contract regarding clean up (not the bride so not clear) and generally made us feel unwelcome and undeserving of their space. Reviewed on 20-05-2022
H H(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-03-2022 Unfortunately, our plans have changed and the wedding planned for SATURDAY JULY 30TH 2022 has been cancelled. We are working with the venue to help them rebook the date (they have been amazing, the food is so delicious, summer blooms in the park!).If you are interested at all, this venue/date would be an absolute steal. Reviewed on 26-03-2022
Meredith Liberto(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-07-2021 We had the most beautiful wedding at the Pond House Cafe! My husband and I searched high and low for the perfect venue and after arriving to Elizabeth Park, we knew we found the place. We originally began wedding planning pre-pandemic, so we greatly appreciated the opportunity to have a tour and consultation with Kim and Diana. Upon our first visit, we had the opportunity to not only see the grounds and garden room, but also to sample food and drink. We were blown away by the floor to ceiling windows, high ceiling, and magical decor. After booking with the Pond House, we had the opportunity to attend the in person Open House, which was AMAZING for sampling appetizers, drinks, and cake vendors. I highly recommend attending this event. We also had the opportunity to attend the sit-down tasting---another highly recommended event. When the pandemic hit, we made the unfortunate decision to postpone our wedding from September 2020 to July 2021. The Pond House was incredible in helping us coordinate a new date with no penalties except food cost. On the day of our wedding, which was a morning wedding, all of our guests complimented us on how amazing the food was and how incredible the grounds were. The staff was also amazing in accommodating our guests with food allergies and dietary restrictions. A few minor oversights on the day were: 1. Appetizers were not set aside for the bridal party even though it was requested 2. Food platings and some menu items were changed without notification when compared to the initial tasting presentation 3. While the team utilized a shared coordinator model, it was a bit frustrating to have 3 or more different contacts during the planning process (Diana, Erin, Stephanie, Brittany).Also, I highly recommend getting a photography permit for Elizabeth Park, especially during high season. Our photographer was able to have bridal parties and people \"practicing\" in the park by announcing our permit time and inquiring to see theirs.Overall, our wedding day was everything we envisioned and more thanks to Brittany, Diana, Stephanie, and Kim. Reviewed on 13-02-2022
Sandra Vermeulen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-01-2022 What can I say? I am still in awe from our wedding. We had the most beautiful wedding at the Pond House. My only complaint is that it is over! The Pond House was phenomenal to work with and the space is absolutely breathtaking during the winter months. Our guests are still talking about how amazing everything was - from the decor to the food to the mac and cheese bar. It was everything we wished for and more. If you want a winter wonderland wedding then the Pond House should be top on your list! Reviewed on 26-01-2022
Katherine Breen(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-01-2022 The Pond House Cafe blew my husband and I away. We just had our wedding in Jan 2022 in the hight of the omicron wave of COVID. As my husband and I were panicking they kept us calm by keeping everything very organized for us and let us make last minute changes to our seating chart as more and more guests cancelled due to the pandemic. We had booked the venue about a year and a half prior to the wedding and everyone answered all of our questions and helped us plan every step of the way. Not to mention the breathtaking Christmas decor around the room. Multiple guests told the groom and I that this was one of the best if not the best wedding they had ever been to. The decor was beautiful, the food was phenomenal and not your typical wedding food. They even let us take some of our buffet home. The cake was included and delicious. The staff was over the moon helpful. Our coordinator Beth was also amazing and kept the flow of the wedding organic but also asked the groom and I for our input throughout the night. I mean what else would you want from a venue?! We 100% recommend the pond house for any of your events!! Reviewed on 14-01-2022
Kimberly Hughes(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-10-2021 The Pond House is a beautiful venue and we would definitely recommend! Elizabeth Park is a perfect setting for photos before/after/during your event and the terrace outside the reception hall was gorgeous for the ceremony. The venue is already so beautiful so you don't need a lot of decorations, and it really stands out against the typical hotel ballroom aesthetic that is so common. This venue is also great because a lot is included with the catering and bar included in the packages. Would recommend for weddings/ parties of 150 or less, otherwise it might be a little tight. Reviewed on 15-10-2021
Samantha Agostino(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-06-2021 My husband and I can not say enough wonderful things about the Pond House! We booked our wedding back in fall of 2019, so we were wedding planning through the whole COVID rollercoaster, and I am not sure that we could have kept our sanity intact without the Pond House on our team. They were incredibly agile and adaptive, more than generous when working with us around the updated regulations, and responsive to our many, many questions. They also valued keeping our guests and their employees safe, which was important to us. Our wedding day itself was absolutely magical! The room and the gardens were gorgeous – it felt like a dream. The food was delicious (all of our guests were raving), and the team made sure that, even as the bride and groom, we never went hungry. Stephanie is amazing and she was there to help us in every way, even helping me to figure out a difficult bustle! Thanks to the Pond House, the whole night ran seamlessly - we can’t imagine a more wonderful wedding day. Reviewed on 26-08-2021
Jacquie Hamel(other)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-07-2021 Wow! It was purely magical!! From start to finish was all she had dreamed and hoped for! It exceeded all of our expectations. The venue, the FOOD, the staff, everyone and everything was perfection! It’s been a week since the wedding and I’m still getting texts and messages from friends and family who are still raving! Most frequent comment, “Best wedding I’ve ever been to!” Thank you Stephanie, Diana, and the entire staff at the Pond House for making my daughter and her new husband’s dreams come true!!! ❤️ Reviewed on 26-07-2021
Seirra Fowler(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-06-2021 COVID bride here. Venue was very flexible with all the changes to dates for the wedding. They assign you a coordinator 6 months before wedding date which is really helpful in making sure you don't forget or overlook things. Venue itself is beautiful so you really don't need much in terms of decor. All our guests raved about never having better food at any wedding before. Everything was top notch! Reviewed on 08-07-2021
Natalia Pena(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-06-2021 Getting married at The Pond House was a romantic dream. The environment alone speaks for itself. Incredible venue. However, what stood out for me and my husband was the quality of food and support. The food (and yes, I am biased) better than any other wedding I have attended in my 34 years. My guests shared that they felt the same way, longing for leftovers and future visits to Pond House to foray further into the cuisine, so I can’t be far off. They also used the words, magical, beautiful, and exquisite detail when reminiscing on their experience overall. The staff was calm, kind, and accommodating. Our guests were comfortable and had every need met. We will never forget our night there or the support of Stephanie, our wedding planner from Pond House. Her communication was seamless from beginning to end. She was stalwart and perfectly relaxed throughout the entire planning process which we greatly appreciated. Take your friends to Pond House for lunch, take your mother for brunch, or meet up with family for a special evening dinner. This is whimsy establishment is a great place to eat and enjoy yourself among loved ones in addition to a great venue for weddings and special events. Reviewed on 27-06-2021
Isabel Valentin(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 23-01-2021 Pond house cafe is an absolutely stunning venue with incredible food and VERY AFFORDABLE. All I would recommend is to make sure if you’re unhappy with your coordinator just request a different one. They try to match you but, sometimes that falls through. Otherwise, we couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful spot. Winter wedding wonderland. Reviewed on 28-01-2021
Deana Leach(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 17-10-2020 I can't thank Diana & The Pond House Cafe staff enough. They made a very stressful time pleasant & easy for my now husband & I. When our original venue canceled; the Pond House Cafe accommodated us with ease. Our wedding date October 17th was available & we booked ASAP! The entire process was smooth. Diana assisted with the perfect menu selections for our special occasion and ensured all would be taken care of to our expectations!!! The banquet hall was decorated perfectly (even with social distancing standards). The staff was perfect with making sure all our guests needs was attended too. I would definitely recommend the Pond House Cafe!!!!! If I could give ten stars I would. They made our special day #itsLowetime perfectđź’– Keith & Deana Lowe Reviewed on 31-10-2020
Ashley Russell(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-10-2020 How do I give ten stars? The Pond House hosted both our ceremony and reception, and it was the most wonderful experience. The pictures of this venue speaks for itself -absolutely stunning. The food from the venue was also incredible, we received so many compliments from our guests about their meals.The entire day was well organized and absolutely beautiful, but one of the best things about The Pond House was how great they were during the planning process. Planning a wedding during COVID was so challenging, and Stephanie helped us through every single step. We had to significantly change the size of our invite list, and at one point had planned to move everything onto the patio due to COVID restrictions. Stephanie was a calming presence, and was always very accommodating and flexible. Thankfully the big day ended up being everything we had envisioned and more. Reviewed on 28-10-2020
Aleksandra Domin(bride)1 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-08-2020 This review took me a while to post because I had to process my thoughts and grief that I felt about the way my fiance and I were treated. Our wedding was supposed to take place in August at Pond House. My fiance and I had a thorough conversation with Pond House concerning the issues and fear COVID-19 was causing our family. We expressed our concerns and explained that 90% of our family needs to travel in and being that a lot of our relatives were considered high risk, traveling for our wedding was just not a possibility. We asked them for a refund of our $4000 deposit and let them know that we plan to come back once this ever-evolving pandemic is at its end. Nope. Pond House insisted that we reschedule for next year with \"up to\" a 5% price increase or that we use the $4000 deposit for a catered event instead. This didn't make sense for our family and made my fiance and I believe that we weren't being heard. How could we take advantage of a catered event when our family is out of state AND how can we possibly reschedule for next year when coronavirus is an ONGOING and EVER-EVOLVING PANDEMIC? Pond House finally agreed to refund some of our deposit but decided to keep $1000 of it even though they rendered absolutely NO SERVICES. They said we can have it back if we spend a minimum of $6000 with them in the next 12 months which is absolutely ludicrous. We will not put our family at risk. However, at this point... my fiance and I had already given up and just agreed to those terms. We didn't have the energy to continue fighting. We were already losing the wedding we've been looking forward to for months and our venue was pouring salt into the wound. Do yourself a favor and get a venue that actually cared about their customers during this pandemic. Reviewed on 30-06-2020
Janice LaPenna(guest)1 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-10-2019 I was a wedding guest at the Pond House. Everything was going fine till the bartender refused to serve my 30 year old daughter a wine because she did not have an ID (she didn't bring it because she had been there for 3 other weddings and a Mother's Day brunch and had never been carded and wasn't driving). Denise, a manager, was unsympathetic and didn't't care that I,her 68year old mother confirmed her age. She also told me if she saw ME give her a drink she would confiscate it. I saw under age guests that never went to the bar drinking. My daughter and her husband left to go get her ID (a 25minute drive). After my daughter returned this woman couldn't stop offering her wine. The damage was done. If this was not my niece's wedding I would have left. Even though guests said the food was good( I lost my appetite after my encounter with this manager)and the venue attractive, I will never hold a function here because of the inflexibility of this one employee. I understand liquor laws and liquor licensing but this manager didn't care about me, my daughter, and other family members who tried to reason with her. I also heard a guest was yelled at for using the wrong door to enter the building and the bride was made to cry by an employee before the wedding. Reviewed on 21-10-2019
Rachel Traub(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-09-2019 The Pond House was the PERFECT venue. We held our ceremony on the terrace outside with a beautiful view of the pond and park, the food was to die for, and the venue and surrounding area made for endless photo ops. Our coordinator, Brittany, held my hand every step of the way and kept me calm and level-headed day of! Nothing got past her. Plus, the daytime wedding package was such an incredible value- I can’t recommend it enough! Reviewed on 16-10-2019
Ashlee Racow(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-09-2019 We are thrilled with our wedding at Pond House! I actually found them on Wedding Wire searching around. We initially wanted the rustic barn style wedding, but after researching more, I realized we needed something a bit more hands off. I loved the look of Pond House. It is so romantic, and the main room is so stunning when you walk in. (I'm a sucker for high ceilings.)We set our first appointment for the walkthrough with Diana. We then sat down next door for lunch, and tired a few different items to get an idea of the food. Although we had another meeting at another venue booked later that week, I cancelled it, and we booked with PH about 1 1/2 years before the wedding day. I encourage you to go to any open houses or tastings they hold. We were able to try apps and the cakes at 1 event. (Donna's cakes are to die for!- See that review as well!) We also had a great time at the food tasting. I'm a HUGE foodie, so that is another reason why PH was a great fit. A few of mine and our guests favorites: Apps: Mini Chicken and Waffle. Thai Chicken Skewer. Smoked Salmon on a Potato pancake. The star of dinner with the Moroccan chicken. Everyone was raving! (and that is something we would have never picked unless we went to the tasting!)The night flew by!!! My advice would be to stop and take it all in. We did head inside about a half hour before the ceremony started and was able to see the room set up. It is decorated so beautifully. All we had to bring in was the florals, the favors, and extra things like the seating chart, guest book, and some photos of family members. Throughout the process we worked with Brittany. She was great with keeping us organized, and answering any questions we had! I'm secretly hoping someone I know has a wedding here, so I can also experience it as a guest! Thank you Pond House!! Reviewed on 26-09-2019
Katie Hudnall(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-06-2019 Everything about our experience on our wedding day was amazing thanks to the wonderful staff of the pond house cafe. We will be recommending them to everyone we know! Reviewed on 01-07-2019
Kristy Sampietro(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 03-05-2019 We had our wedding at the Pond House Cafe on Friday, May 3rd and I wish I could relive it every day! From the first day we toured the venue with Diana we knew it was the perfect venue for us. We wanted a unique wedding and Diana, Brittany, the Chef and the entire the staff knocked it out of the park. Everyone was so accommodating even until the moment we exited the building at the end of the night. I can’t thank everyone enough for making our wedding day so special. I would choose this venue 1,000 times over again! Reviewed on 22-05-2019
Brittany Marquis(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 27-04-2019 The perfect wedding day marrying my best friend :) Reviewed on 11-05-2019
Jeannie Jones(parent)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-12-2018 Wow! The Pond House was such an amazing venue for my daughter's Christmas wedding! The food was fabulous, the room was decorated to perfection, and the staff couldn't have done a better job! From start to finish, the staff made it easy and assured that all went smoothly on the big day. Our guest raved about how beautiful everything was and how great the food was! I highly recommend. Reviewed on 12-01-2019
Claire Feldman-Reich(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 28-10-2018 This was the best venue ever. The room was gorgeous and the staff were all so attentive. The food was great and the attendant I worked with had everything so nicely organized. This venue was amazing and made my wedding day feel special. Reviewed on 15-11-2018
Sarah Failla(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 12-10-2018 My husband and I stumbled upon the Pond House during one of their open houses back in March 2015 when we first got engaged. We are so happy we attended the open house because we fell in love with the venue immediately. We booked in 2016 and ended up getting married at the Pond House Cafe this October. We had a long engagement and were eager to have our wedding there. All of the staff at the Pond House were great to work with, from Diana who gave us our first official tour, to Brittany and Cindy who coordinated our wedding day. Diana was even there on our wedding day to ensure things went smoothly as well. Chef Ani was also a pleasure to work with and she created some samples of a signature drink we were thinking of having and let me try it during one of our last meetings before the wedding. She also took the time to sit down and review the menu and to go over any food allergies or diet restrictions any of our guests had and offered alternate solutions for them which was great. She even came out the day of the wedding to make sure I was happy with all of the food. We enjoyed working with the Pond House every step of the way and they truly went above and beyond to ensure our day was everything we wanted. I sent numerous photos of how I wanted things set up to Brittany and she ran with my ideas and made my vision come to life! I was so impressed with how beautiful everything looked the day of and so happy to see all of my hard work come together. It's hard to pass the reigns to someone else when you've been planning for almost three years, but I am so happy to have had the staff at the Pond House there to help my vision come to life. We cannot thank you enough for everything! We wish we could go back and get married again because it goes too quickly! We definitely recommend the Pond House Cafe to anyone who is looking to get married at a beautiful venue for a reasonable price. The food was also amazing and the food tasting was one of our favorite parts of planning. Everything was so delicious it was so hard to choose our menu! If you're thinking about booking the Pond House go to an open house and try some food and meet with other vendors or book a meeting with Diana. You won't be disappointed! Reviewed on 03-11-2018
Kasandra Hilton(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-09-2018 Beyond gorgeous venue. And affordable. Still can’t get over how beautiful everything was. Reviewed on 26-09-2018
Shannon Rosa(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 12-05-2018 My husband and I had the pleasure of getting married at the Pond House in May, and we could not be happier with our choice. The venue was beautiful, the food was delicious, the staff was helpful and kind, and overall we just had the best day ever! We worked with Erin as our wedding coordinator and she was kind, enthusiastic, and helpful. Everything we needed to know was explained carefully and thoughtfully, and our day went off without a hitch. We will forever remember the kindness of the staff, the perfect decor, and the thoughtful details that made our day so special- they even accommodated a last-minute rain storm with a beautiful indoor setup! Reviewed on 13-07-2018
Marissa Gambardella(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-06-2018 I can't say enough about how much I loved the Pond House. It was the only venue my husband and I looked at, because when we walked in, we knew right away it was the one. The room is GORGEOUS, a real show stopper. The room itself has floor to ceiling windows along two walls, and there is so much decor already, that all you really need are centerpieces. From the twinkly lights to the exposed beams, it has the rustic feel we were looking for, without the added expense and stress of a barn or tent wedding! We got so many compliments and questions about how we found such a beautiful venue. The food is amazing, and the portions are awesome. We definitely recommend the braised short rib! Reviewed on 12-07-2018
Kara Hight(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-03-2018 Absolutely loved the pond house! We chose it because it’s such a beautiful face with absolutely amazing food. And when my dad got sick the week before my wedding, they were very helpful and accommodating, completely willing to move the date if needed. Just wonderful people, wonderful staff, and a wonderful place. Reviewed on 13-03-2018
Lauren Arel(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-12-2017 Our wedding at the Pond House was a winter wonderland. The Pond House does an incredible job decorating the entire space in an elegant and beautiful way. If you don't mind having a holiday theme wedding, get married in the winter months! My husband and I only had to provide centerpieces. Andrea was our coordinator: she was flawless. She was so attentive to the needs of not only my husband and me, but also the needs of our parents and my elderly grandparents. She listened with care and answered my hundreds of questions quickly. She was phenomenal in every way. My only complaint is that the sirloin did not live up to the other meals. We also had the chicken coq a vin (wonderful), salmon (amazing) and the vegetarian spinach and ricotta gnocchi (scrumptious). The sirloin just didn't give me the same \"wow\" as the others. But, overall, the hors d'oeurves and all other food provided was excellent! Reviewed on 09-01-2018
Jennifer Nicolelli(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-10-2017 The Pond House was amazing. We are SO glad we found this beautiful venue. We had a small issue with our assigned planner, but after discussing the issue with another staff member we were immediately set-up with someone else who was exceptional. Our guests were very impressed with the beautiful grounds, the room and especially blown away by the delicious food. The staff was attentive and professional. It was perfect from start to finish and we would highly recommend this venue to anyone! Reviewed on 17-11-2017
Susan Riello(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-09-2017 We had our beautiful wedding at the Pond House on September 29, 2017 and it was the most amazing night of our lives. It was absolutely indescribably incredible. From our first visit, we knew the beautiful reception room was just for us. We envisioned a fall theme, and the rustic ceiling with twinkle lights and the gorgeous florals created that feeling effortlessly. Diana from the sales department was amazing and answered all of our questions. A few months before the wedding, we were invited to a plated tasting. When I tell you that this was the most generous event that I've ever attended...I'm telling the truth!! They offered all of the couples huge portions of each appetizer and entree, and allowed us the chance to meet the chefs and ask questions. As our wedding approached, Andrea and I communicated back and forth over email on a weekly (and eventually daily) basis. She was unbelievable - always prompt, kind and even gave me her cell phone number in the last few weeks for any last minute questions. We had our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour on the beautiful patio, which was breathtaking. The reception room is so elegant that I wouldn't have even minded having our ceremony right inside there. We received so many compliments from our guests about the gorgeous rustic interior. Throughout the night, Andrea was there to guide us every step of the way. She coordinated everything from our processional to when we should be cutting the cake. She checked in with us frequently to make sure we were eating as well! The food was delicious - all of our guests complimented us and said that it was the best wedding meal they've ever had. The waiter and waitress staff was so friendly and kind. Kim was wonderful and I loved seeing her enjoying the music as well! Also, the bartender Jen was AWESOME - I found out later that she went next door to grab me Amaretto because I asked for an Amaretto sour! She has the coolest personality! I cannot emphasize how perfect this venue is...from the room itself to the food to Andrea and the rest of the staff...it was purely magic. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone looking for a rustic, intimate experience in the CT area! Reviewed on 11-10-2017
Melissa Pember(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 17-06-2017 Beautifully decorated venue in a beautiful setting. Excellent food, friendly staff (coordinator, bartenders and wait staff). There is limited parking during rose season - we rented buses for the day. Overall, I'd highly recommend. Reviewed on 13-07-2017
Emily Thaller(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 10-06-2017 If someone asked me what I would change about my wedding reception at the Pond House, I would say nothing at all. The entire evening was gorgeous and went off without a single hitch. And I have to say, this venue was the most attractive and most affordable venue we visited. I couldn't believe that a garden location with an outdoor patio and floor to ceiling windows would ever be in our budget but we actually came in under budget for our wedding!And the staff was amazing. Andrea was our coordinator and she could not have made planning our reception any easier. Each question we had was thoroughly answered and she gave us great advice throughout the entire process. I didn't have a single concern about the evening knowing Andrea and her staff were there. She was simply amazing. Thanks, Andrea!AND the food! my goodness was the food amazing. The portions were significant and by far the best wedding food I have ever had. Also probably just hands down the best food I have ever had. My husband and I would like to thank the Pond House Cafe for the best night of our lives. I would recommend this location to anyone and everyone for any occasion they may be having. It was truly perfect. Reviewed on 22-06-2017
Abena Koomson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-06-2017 My husband and I had an amazing experience at the Pond House. From our very first email inquiry and phone conversations, to the precious moments at the reception where our guests joyfully danced & talked & ate & sang, we felt honored and taken care of. We got to celebrate, and we even got to eat! (Thanks, El!!) We couldn't have asked for more thoughtful service, more committed attention, or more easygoing partners on our big day.The venue is simple, beautiful and elegant, and the food was really good. We opted for the brunch wedding which was a perfect compliment to our small ceremony in the Rose Garden in Elizabeth Park.Tremendous thanks to all of the staff at the Pond House! Reviewed on 18-06-2017
Ashlee Provera(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-05-2018 If you want to be treated like absolute royalty and have an amazing event go with the Pond House Cafe! It's a beautiful venue tucked inside gorgeous Elizabeth Park. The staff is wonderful and helpful and I can't say enough about Elena who helped plan our event. She was awesome in taking care of all of our needs before and during our event. She made every guest feel welcomed and comfortable and really eased our nerves as well. The food was also top notch. Days later all of our family and friends still could not stop talking about the friendly staff, breathtaking venue, and amazing food. Reviewed on 21-03-2017
Samantha Burke(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 15-10-2016 I chose the Pond House because when we walked into the banquet area, it looked just like a barn to me. They have Christmas lights wrapped around the beams on the ceiling and I loved the huge fireplace. I really wanted something farmhouse rustic, but actually using a barn would have been in the end too expensive. I also liked that before I booked the venue, I could at least sample the food that came out of the kitchen so I had an idea what we were getting into, because food is so extremely important. Most other venues that JUST do weddings and functions did not allow you to try the food at all until you were booked and had forked over a substantial amount of money, which made me uncomfortable. I also loved the Pond House's proximity to Elizabeth Park for the purposes of group photos, which turned out amazing. EVERYONE at my wedding said that it was the best wedding they'd been to, and I think in addition to my DJ (Aaron Topfer, USE HIM) - this venue was the reason. It was beautiful, reasonably priced, and the food was excellent, one of the best meals I've had in my life. They are also MUCH more accommodating with family that wants to help - my sister-in-law did the flowers, and a friend of the family did the cake - they didn't force either of them to get a rider on their insurance policy or get a license from the state to make the cake. I am so happy that I overruled my now husband and went with this place, and he told me he's happy I did too. If you're looking for a place to impress on a budget (mine was under $17K) this is the place for you. Reviewed on 02-11-2016
Terra Batista(bride)3 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 11-05-2019 Elisabeth Park is a beautiful place to get married and the Pond House has amazing food. Other than that unfortunately theres not much more I can say about this venue in a positive way. The staff was great initially but as we became closer to the wedding (1 month away) everything went downhill. Linens and other details of the wedding that had been decided almost a year out were no longer available and no sense of urgency was made to make changes or alterations. When it came to the actual day, the coordinators were hardly around and my DJ was actually having to plan when do cake, dances ect. Because the details had changed so often due to lack of communication the total bill for the wedding wasn't \"as planned\" so it tuned out that we still owed around $200 the night of our wedding. The staff actually approached my husband during our wedding and asked for the balance. We were appalled as we were approached during the middle of our wedding for a $200 balance. Im not sure what happened from the beginning of the planning process to the end but it seemed to me that they either are very understaffed and don't have enough time to properly coordinate with all of their brides or they are uninterested once a contract is signed. Reviewed on 27-10-2016
Elizabeth Lockery(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 24-09-2016 Susan at the Pond House was amazing. Our reception was beautiful, the food was great and our guests had the time of their lives. I couldn't have asked for a better evening. Reviewed on 19-10-2016
Stephanie Tarasuk(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-07-2016 The Pond House was beautiful for our wedding on 7/8/16. Susan and Diana were great to work with. Susan was there throughout the entire reception to make sure our event was smooth. The food was awesome. Everyone talked about how good the food was, which was really important to my husband and I. The space was perfect for our 100 guests. I think you could fit about 125 guests if you needed to. Elizabeth Park is beautiful, and our wedding photos are priceless! Reviewed on 20-07-2016
Ellen Potapov(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-06-2016 We had the most wonderful wedding at the Pond House Cafe at the end of June. It was truly fantastic. We had Susan as our coordinator and we loved her. She is so knowledgeable and gave us so much valuable advice. The whole night was perfect they executed everything beyond our expectations. Reviewed on 10-07-2016
Monika Adamczyk(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-04-2016 The Pond House is a great option if you are going for a rustic Connecticut feel. It is also really affordable given the prices in the area. We had a reception of just over 100 people there and everyone complimented the venue and service of the Pond House; absolutely beautiful and high attention to detail! I highly recommend the evening option for a wedding! (Suggestion: do the plates dinners!) Reviewed on 16-05-2016
Sabrina DeBacco(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-08-2015 The pond house was the first venue that my husband and I looked at. I knew the minute we walked in that it was \"the one\"! We put a deposit down that day and quickly viewed about 8 other venues in 1 week and none of them compared. We are so happy we went with our gut and chose this amazing venue (if your reading this review you will not be disappointed in them) We got married August 8th, 2015. The venue has a very unique vibe to it which we LOVED. It's very pretty with a modern and eclectic twist which fits and compliments Elizabeth Park. The windows are from floor to ceiling, the exposed beams have small twinkle lights that add a romantic feel and along with window tea lights that are on for the whole reception. They decorate the venue for each season, but you can easily add more to give it a personalized feel. Even if you aren't the decorator or you don't have a wedding planner, the venue still looks stunning with their seasonal decor. The food. It's absolutely amazing. The chef does a fantastic job with unique but very tasty creations. They had a great presentation from apps to dinner. You choose from two bakeries for your cake - we used Cakes by Donna. It was the exact cake that I imagined and it tasted delicious. I added extras to our menu like pasta with vodka sauce and mini cannolis to each table.The staff was great. We worked with Diana for all the booking and deposits and she was awesome. Very organized and easy to work with. We started with Susan for our wedding coordinator but a few months before our wedding Andrea took over. Both Susan and Andrea were fantastic. Andrea is the one who took our vision and made it reality. She was also in charge all my decorations. She wrote down every detail and it came out beautifully (I did all my own wedding planning and brought in about 12 tubs of decorations!) but she displayed everything perfectly. Our total wedding was about 170 people, and while we were close to the max number of guests, we still had a great size dance floor near the DJ. The outdoor patio was amazing and was great extra space for an August night. We had our photo booth outside which was a big hit. We got married in the perennial garden in Elizabeth Park which was a beautiful outdoor setting. The Pond House location made it so convenient for guests to park and walk from our ceremony to our reception. Everyone loved the convenience of our wedding. All in all, the Pond House is a beautiful venue for a modern but not over the top rustic feel. There were a few things I wished were different, such as the bathrooms and the bridal suite. In the grand scheme of things, neither were a big deal. The reception room shares a bathroom with the cafe guests and I really wished there were separate bathrooms for the price. Also, they do not have a bridal suite, which might bother some brides.We were very happy with our decision and would not have changed our day at Elizabeth Park and the Pond House! Reviewed on 01-05-2016
Christine Lawrence(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-06-2015 We had our wedding reception at the Pond House Cafe in West Hartford on June 6, 2015. What an amazing experience! Everyone was raving about the venue and the food the entire night (and one month later too). I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the braised short rib as an entree based on all of the feedback I got from our guests!\r\rLeading up to the wedding, Diana was great to work with and as our wedding got closer, Andrea stepped in as our coordinator and was a pleasure to work with as well. On the day of the wedding, the entire Pond House staff ensured that everything went smoothly and that we had everything that we wanted/needed throughout the night. I was a little bit nervous that they only had an hour and a half to set-up for our wedding, but they got everything done in time for the start of our reception!\r\rI couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue, and the best part is that it was one of the most affordable venues I could find in CT! All of the food was out of this world and the staff was so friendly and helpful. The only thing that I'd suggest is sticking with a guest list no bigger than 130 if you decide on this venue. Any bigger than that and there's not much of a dance floor, which is the reason we kept our wedding to 130 people but it ended up being the perfect size.\r\rHappy planning! Reviewed on 15-07-2015
Hannah Elovich(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-06-2015 The pond house was amazing! The waitstaff and wedding planner, Lexie made everything run smoothly and the food was delicious! Everyone was talking about the appetizers and the meal. Lexie worked with my venders to make the night magical and was even amazing with some of my guests food allergies ! \rThe space is gorgeous and a perfect venue for a wedding!!! Reviewed on 11-07-2015
Stephanie Member(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 13-12-2014 We had our wedding at the Pond House and we couldn't have asked for anything better. Susan, our wedding coordinator, was amazing. She made sure our special day went smoothly. The food was absolutely amazing. I had specially requested a squash risotto and the presentation was breathtaking. My husband had the short rib and he said it was delicious. The food was definitely a big hit. The waitstaff was so helpful and friendly. Since I have Celiac Disease I had to keep asking if things were gluten free, but they came back to me with the answers so quickly. The decor was holiday themed and absolutely beautiful. Overall it was the perfect evening. Reviewed on 15-12-2014
Jenn Merlino(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 06-09-2014 I am a bride who lived out of state and had to select a venue in one weekend of visiting. Doing my reseach beforehand I found The Pond House Cafe and just from the pictures on their website and menu selections I could tell that this was probably the place I wanted to hold my reception. After visiting the gardens surrounding the venue and finding out we could hold the ceremony in the park (done via the City of Hartford) I was sold! The venue itself and the surrounding gardens are so beautiful even when not in bloom!\r\rOn my first visit I met with Diana who showed me around and answered all of my questions. She was very thorough and went through all of my options for the room setup and alternatives if I had to do my ceremony in the venue vs the gardens if there was inclement weather. She was very down to earth and easy to work with even though we hadn't actually booked there yet. She was excited about their venue but wasn't pushy or too \"salesy\" to try to convince me to book there, unlike some other venues I visited. Those who live in CT know how expensive things are there and while our wedding total rounded out close to the national average these days, I found that The Pond House was on the lower to moderate end of the spectrum and what you got for the price was well worth it - open bar with quality brands, more hot appetizers than most other places, cake included and another dessert option. I immediately knew that it was the place for me!\r\rAfter booking I was passed over to the coordinator for my event, Susan. Although Susan was now my main contact, Diana was still always available and willing to help with whatever I needed. She was fabulous! The same goes for Susan! I can't even put into words how much I loved her as out site coordinator! Working with her was so stress-free. By the date of the event I was so comfortable just dropping my stuff off and letting her go at it. I just knew she understood my vision and would make the room beautiful! Susan is so kind and sweet and really went out of her way to make sure our day was perfect! Even when there was a little mix-up with our credit card billing, she took it upon herself to work with our CC companies to resolve the issue so that we could enjoy the night and our honeymoon with no worries. Susan was so accomodating with everything! We opted out of a champagne toast but still made sure that my new husband and I had some to toast with ourselves, she accomodated my grandmother with a special meal due to dietary restrictions, and she let me bring in an additional outside treat for a late night snack - something most other venues don't allow. She was also fabulous at making some last minute adjustments to our meal counts as we had some unexpected changes. \r\rIf I could do it all over again I would most certainly choose The Pond House for my wedding, or any other event for that matter! The service, staff, and location are amazing! I could go on and on and on even more about this venue.....if you're considering looking here you won't be disappointed! Reviewed on 23-09-2014
Susan Frentz(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 09-08-2014 The Pond House was the perfect venue for my wedding... you get the beauty of Elizabeth Park and a unique setting that is not just a hotel ballroom. They even have a new outdoor patio area where we had our cocktail hour that is gorgeous! Beyond the space, my coordinator Susan was amazing. She was so patient as I changed my final count and tweaked food choices what felt like a billion times in the weeks before the wedding. On the day of she helped execute all the details I had worked so hard on flawlessly. Oh and the food was so good... the appetizers were a hit with all the guests (tempura asparagus and potato bar amongst others!) and we loved the buffet. They even provided me my own plate of gnocchi since I don't eat meat. I cannot say enough about everyone at the Pond House, they made our reception great! Reviewed on 28-08-2014
Charity Stout(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-05-2014 We really wanted this venue, so we booked it about a year and a half out. Compared to some of the other venues we looked at, this was fairly affordable. We knew of it from going to the cafe all the time so we knew the food would be good - it was. We got so many compliments on everyone's meals and appetizers! Susan was a delight to work with (although not the fastest by email if that's your preferred method of contact, as is mine). She guided us through the whole reception process - what we should bring, what they would provide, when to have things checked off our list. She worked with the DJ to take care of the whole evening schedule and set up all of our decorations, which turned out just like I wanted. She's personable and easy to work and get along with. The venue itself is GORGEOUS. If you've never been, I recommend you take a peek. Just the right amount of rustic romance while still keeping it classy. We didn't need to decorate the room really because they keep the venue so beautiful with all of their own foliage and flowers and twinkling lights. I'm so happy we had our wedding here, it was exactly what we wanted! Reviewed on 14-06-2014
Sherryl King(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 21-12-2013 My husband and I picked the Pond House Cafe because it was a special date location. Everyone we worked with was warm and accommodating. Our coordinator answered all of our questions and helped us meet any special requests. On the day of the wedding, everything ran smoothly. The wait staff was friendly and even danced with the bridal party while we waiting in the wings to get started. The hall was decorated for Christmas and they really outdid themselves. It was stunningly beautiful and more than we expected. The food was fantastic too! We got tons of compliments from family members and friends about the Pond House and are so happy with our choice! Reviewed on 08-01-2014
Laura Haywood(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 26-10-2013 My husband and I loved this venue from the start. The dramatic floor to ceiling windows, along with twinkling Christmas lights, a fireplace and seasonal decorations were exactly what we were looking for for our theme of \"rustic elegance.\" The food was amazing and unique - presentation to match. The one downfall is that there is no bridal suite for the bridal party to hang out in prior to introduction. Other than that we could not say enough positive things about this venue! Reviewed on 18-11-2013
Allyson Wiese(bride)3 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-08-2013 Although my husband and I were very happy on our wedding day, there are several reasons I was disappointed with The Pond House Cafe. One being that the staff chose to ruin our place cards by marking them with highlighters to indicate meal choices. Now this wouldn't have been a problem, but we paid $0.30/Swarovski crystal (which were different colors) to indicate the meal choices, as well as we gave a list by table number with the meal choices. Another annoyance was how understaffed they are, especially since this venue isn't exactly inexpensive. More than half of my guest did not receive the butlered hors d'oeuvres, including the grandparents of myself and my husband and my father. Literally my mother had to ask the waiters to make rounds, rather than going to the same people. \r\rI do have to admit that the venue is very beautiful, but the staff is lacking. Another big deal was the fact that my florist had to wait over an hour past the time told to be there due to the fact that they did not have the room setup and ready. This also prevented my photographers from getting into the room and taking pictures prior to the guests arrival.\r\rEven though I love eating in the cafe, I wouldn't recommend this venue for a wedding, unless they add more staff. Reviewed on 19-09-2013
PinnyB Bugaeff(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 16-06-2013 Since Ii planned my vow renewal to be held in Elizabeth Park Rose Garden I decided to check out The Pond House Cafe which is located with-in the park And am I glad I did. I worked with their event planner Dianna and thanks to her and her attention to detail ended up with a perfect day and incredible reception. The cafe itself looks quite casual from the outside but the venue room is gorgeous. Twenty foot ceilings and enormous floor to ceiling windows look out over a small lake surrounded by trees. Depending on your event and number of people the cost for the venue includes, venue room , table,and linens. The food was amazing by far the best value and great service. We had their in-house pastry chef make our Lemon, Mascarpone,2 tier vow cake and the guests swooned. Best cake we've ever tasted!\rPerfect! Reviewed on 12-07-2013
Kaleena Cote(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-05-2013 My then-fiance and I had checked out a bunch of places for our wedding venue until we stumbled upon The Pond House in West Hartford, CT, and immediately fell in love. The Pond House is a whimsical-looking building overlooking a little pond in the middle of a stunning park. (We had our ceremony in the Rose Garden Gazebo, which was just a short walk away from The Pond House). The space for the reception was gorgeous, airy, and beautifully decorated even before we brought our wedding decor. Susan, the reception coordinator, sometimes took a while to get back to me, but she was extremely helpful and answered all my questions. I also didn't like the fact that the contract said the menu could change and the prices could go up later. (The menu did change, but we were able to still go with the 2012 menu choices. The bar prices didn't change at all. It was just turned into all five-hour options.) With that said, the food was phenomenal (except they forgot to bring out the mashed potatoes), and I didn't have to worry about a thing on our big day. I can't wait to go back to the restaurant part of The Pond House for our one-year anniversary, and of course, visit the beautiful gardens again! Reviewed on 18-06-2013
Mia Grottola(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 20-02-2011 We almost didn't work with Pond House because of our first encounters with Lisa. Long story short--don't work with her--go straight to Susan and you can't go wrong. Susan convinced us to give them a chance and they were the best possible venue for us. Susan is fantastic, relaxed, highly competent and remained that way until the very last detail was done. We were also extremely impressed with the chef and kitchen. They designed an entire vegetarian (and some vegan plates) buffet from some suggestions we offered about favorite ingredients and dishes we'd had at a vegetarian restaurant. The chef went above and beyond in creating little masterpieces. The food was so good, we still think about it! Even our meat-loving guests were raving about how delicious everything was. The decor was elegant and beautiful; including the hand-built bar. The bartender got rave reviews from our guests too. Everything was perfect; we're glad we gave them a chance. Totally recommend!! Reviewed on 13-11-2012
Janet Frazao(bride)2 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-09-2012 I never bothered to see this venue, but I do hear it's gorgeous. However, the woman I had talked to before deciding if I wanted to pursue them or not was quite rude. She told me that I better book the place before even seeing it or else I'd lose out,and I told her that we'd really have to look at the venue before booking, and she said \" well I can't hold it and we are busy so I guess you will just lose out.\" I just did not like the woman's attitude that I dealt with, so I never bothered to take a look. And my coworker's daughter said that the woman at this venue was rude to her as well. Reviewed on 03-10-2012
Jennifer Pace(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 25-08-2012 We had our wedding at the Pond House in late August. Everything went perfectly. The food was excellent, guests had a great time, and the Garden Room looked beautiful. My guests continue to rave about how pretty the room was. Maxine was a great from the moment we met to the last second of the wedding. She was on top of everything, set up all my decorations,etc perfectly, and made sure I had everything I needed at the reception. We did have another coordinator that was hard to get a hold of and not as easy to work with, but once Maxine stepped in, I was at ease! Reviewed on 22-09-2012
Darcy Robinson(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-08-2012 The Pond House was a perfect venue for our wedding of 95 guests. It felt intimate, but not too small! The staff was accommodating and helpful with everything, from picking the right food to helping with my falling updo by the end of the night. I would highly recommend the Pond House to any bride, it look absolutely stunning with soft lighting during the evening and beautiful foliage inside and out. The food was also delicious! Reviewed on 16-09-2012
Cassie Dauber(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 07-07-2012 Excellent food and service for a bridal shower Reviewed on 29-07-2012
Laura Pizarro(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 19-02-2012 The service was great! the location is beautiful and all our guests said that the food was just amazing!!!The Pond House wedding planner did a great job during the planning phases and the day of the wedding. Reviewed on 23-03-2012
Chloe Manning(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 18-09-2011 I grew up a block away from Elizabeth Park and the pond house, and when my mom suggested having my wedding there, I was pretty much sold! It was the only place we looked at, and we pretty much booked it on the spot. They were very helpful with everything, including the fact that they take care of all the centerpieces and decorations themselves. Most everything at the reception was perfect, the food, the organization, the beautiful decorations (that just so happened to exactly match our color scheme... nice job Pond House!). However, there are a few things that annoyed me a little bit. We decided to do a challah blessing before the meal, and payed a lot of money for a huge challah that was supposed to be cut up and served with the buffet... well they forgot, so most of the challah went to waste. Also, I believe a champagne toast was included in our bar price, and they never did one.... Also, don't be fooled into getting their \"breakfast bread table\" if you have a brunch here, it is very small, and not really worth it. But all in all, the put on a wonderful reception for us, and many of our guests proclaimed it the most beautiful reception they had been to. Reviewed on 18-10-2011
Jamie Roshka(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 30-09-2011 The Pond House Cafe is a gorgeous wedding venue. It is set among Elizabeth Park overlooking a pond. The main room has floor to ceiling windows with tealights and twinkle lights throughout. Its very romantic.\rThe food is delicious and the staff are extremely helpful! Reviewed on 17-10-2011
K Johnson(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 03-09-2011 I would highly recommend the Pond House, as you will not find better food anywhere! There is not a separate bathroom for the Garden room, and your wedding reception guests will have to share a bathroom with the restaurant and park guests, but if that doesn't bother you then you will be in good shape. \rThe room is just beautiful at night (and during the day), and you can do all of your photos in gorgeous Elizabeth Park. You can really tailor your reception to fit your budget, and although this is not a budget reception venue, you don't have to spend $40,000 for a 130 person reception.\rOne point to note- I would not have a sit down reception for more than 130 here. Their info on their website says they can accommodate up to 200, but it would be extremely cramped. \rGreat to work with, we loved having our reception here! Reviewed on 10-10-2011
Tracey Heller(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 02-07-2011 I had a great wedding experience at the pond house. The only reason I didn't give 5 stars was because they wedding planner that organized everything was not always organized and at times hard to get a hold of. Reviewed on 27-07-2011
Teresa Ireland(bride)3 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 08-07-2011 The facility is very nice, and the food is wonderful however the wedding coordinators are very difficult to work with and get a hold of. They never return emails or phone calls. In addition they are not flexible with changing options such as what is in the bar or adding an hour to the reception (which they will not do). The day went well, but it was exhausting dealing with the venue leading up to the wedding. Reviewed on 25-07-2011
Samantha Hayzlett(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 29-05-2011 Amazing! The food was unbelievably good, and they were great to work with. The cake and a wedding day coordinator is included in the food price. Personally, I feel you can really tell a good vendor by how they handle a mistake. We had an issue where our first coordinator didn't show up to an appointment(who no longer works there, the new coordinator is wonderful) and so the cafe gave us dinner on the house. It's a beautiful venue, and we really didn't have to worry about a thing. At the reception we had a personal waiter who tended to us and provided hor'dourves to the bridal party before our entrance. The pond house was a little more pricey than we set out to spend, but the excellent food, the service, beautiful setting, and the peace of mind was worth it. Reviewed on 05-07-2011
Anna G(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-01-2011 The Pond House was beautiful. My wedding coordinator ensured a seamless event and the food was fabulous. Reviewed on 08-02-2011
Deirdre Power(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 31-12-2010 As a former resident of West Hartford, I always think of Elizabeth Park when it comes to wedding. Everyone I know that has been married in the area has taken photos in the beautiful rose garden. However, when you think New Year's Eve in CT, the rose garden isn't really an option. But the Pond House is! It was beautifully decorated for the Christmas season, the fire was blazing in the fire place, the food was SPECTACULAR! Our reception was gorgeous, not only by our standards but also our guests. Anything we asked for was immediately taken care of. The staff was friendly and accommodating. It really was a perfect reception. Reviewed on 17-01-2011
Amy Coates(bride)5 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 01-01-1970 The setting is gorgeous, and the food is outstanding. Reviewed on 05-10-2010
Marisa Martinelli(bride)4 out of 5 Rating Wedding Date 22-08-2010 This was a beautiful venue for my August wedding. THe food and the atmosphere were great. The planner was not as available as I would have liked. Reviewed on 16-09-2010