The Essex Resort & Spa

Updated January 26, 2024

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The Essex Resort & Spa Photos

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About This Vendor

Love. Pure Vermont.

A superb Vermont wedding is yours to have at The Essex. Our beautiful, 18-acre resort serves as the perfect backdrop for your most important day, with world-class chefs, deluxe accommodations, bountiful activities, and a new state-of-the-art spa. Wedding packages also available.

Amenities & Details

Dressing Room, Handicap Accessible, Indoor Event Space, On-Site Accommodations, Reception Area, Wireless Internet

Guest Capacity

Up to 250

Ceremony Types

Civil Union, Commitment Ceremony, Elopement, Interfaith Ceremony, Non-Religious Ceremony, Religious Ceremony, Second Wedding, Vow Renewal Ceremony

Venue Service Offerings

Bar & Drinks, Cakes & Desserts, Destination Weddings, Destination Wedding Packages, Destination Wedding Planning, Food & Catering, Planning, Service Staff, Transportation

Settings

Backyard, Ballroom, Garden, Hotel, Restaurant

Business Attributes

Pricing for The Essex Resort & Spa

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

The Essex Resort & Spa Reviews

Sara Conlon (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

Working with the Essex was wonderful start to finish. Rebekah made the process so easy and kept us on track. all of our guests kept telling us how nice the staff was, and how beautiful the resort is. Book your wedding here if you want a stress free event!
Reviewed on 15-12-2023

Kristen Pounds (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had the pleasure of hosting our wedding at The Essex and had a great weekend! The grounds are very well kept and perfect for a Vermont Wedding. Bekah was great to work with, always available to answer questions and concerns. The day of coordination, food, and cake were all on point. It’s a one stop shop for a wonderful day. We would highly recommend The Essex for your wedding.
Reviewed on 23-09-2023

Bari Tippett (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

I don't know how to summarize my amazing wedding experience with The Essex. Everything was perfect. They were communicative, they were organized, they didn't miss a beat. When I was feeling stressed or overwhelmed, Colleen was there to help me every step. I would have my wedding there a million times again. My friends and family also had an amazing time at the venue and in the hotel. 10/10 amazing experience.
Reviewed on 30-08-2023

Drew Hersom (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

My wife and I got married at the Essex Resort & Spa on August 5, 2023, and the team there ensured that it went perfectly. They provided a beautiful venue, they were great at coordinating our vendors, their food was amazing (and all our guests told us so), and the team was very professional and supportive. Would highly recommend to anybody.
Reviewed on 24-08-2023

Aleta Juozelskis (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

The Essex Resort and Spa was a dream location for our wedding. They were easy to work with; very thoughtful and responsive. We chose this location due to its amenities and location; we loved that we could have all of our events on-site, and our guests could spend the night too! They followed our vision perfectly. Our venue coordinator, Bekah, ensured our day went seamlessly (a true bonus to working with the Essex!)
Reviewed on 22-08-2023

Sage Berger (other) 4 out of 5 Rating

We had our wedding at The Essex in May 2023 and it was everything we dreamt it would be! We worked with Colleen who was phenomenal, very attentive to all of our needs. She even printed signs to match our other signage to direct people where to go. Everyone raved about the space, the food, and the service, and loved the touch of receiving a voucher for a drink at check-in. Our only complaint was the cost, such as being charged $15 for renting the extension cord for the DJ. We spent a lot of money with them; it would have been nice to have small items like that included.
Reviewed on 19-06-2023

Jake Dubie (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

The Essex was great throughout the whole process. We worked with Colleen as our coordinator, literally she is a champ. She crushed everything and made it all so incredibly easy for us. Starting with the Grand Tasting thru the ceremony, nothing could have been smoother. The food was great, venue, bar, dance floor, etc. Would definitely recommend to anyone, especially if you get Colleen your wedding will go off perfect. I’m sure all the other coordinators are great too!
Reviewed on 04-06-2023

Emma Bentil (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had our wedding at the Essex May 6th 2023 and it was the most perfect day!!! Our coordinator was Monique - who was fabulous! She stayed in constant communication with us leading up to the event, and during the weekend of. She promptly answered any questions or concerns we had. The day of went off without a hitch and we owe a lot of that to Monique's coordination!We did our rehearsal dinner and wedding at the Essex and the food at both was fantastic! For the rehearsal dinner we enjoyed the backyard BBQ menu and on our wedding day the lamb was everyone's favorite! Our wedding cake was also made by the Essex - it was gorgeous (exactly like the pictures I had shown for inspiration) and tasted amazing. We ended the night with some late night snacks which was a huge hit - the chicken sliders were bomb! On top of the food being delicious the service was also excellent.We had our ceremony outside on the green and the reception in the atrium. Both were lovely. The atrium is so beautiful that it hardly needs much for extra decor. Our rehearsal dinner was held in the ballroom (a last minute decision because the weather was slightly cold) but they still set up the lawn games and a bon-fire with smores materials for our guests. We are so happy we chose the Essex! It was the perfect place to host our wedding weekend!
Reviewed on 15-05-2023

Erin Schneider (other) 5 out of 5 Rating

We had our reception at The Ponds on Nov 19 2022. It was, hands down, the best night of our lives.We hosted our Welcome Drinks party at The Essex on Friday as well as an \"after party\" in their tavern on Saturday, and a breakfast on Sunday. The highlight of our Essex experience was Bekah. She was our venue coordinator and is a true rockstar. We cannot sing her praises enough! The Essex team is truly lucky to have her onboard. The food was AMAZING!!! Better than we could have expected!! Order the beef en croute (mini beef wellingtons) for passed apps - we have guests who still talk about them! Most of our guests stayed onsite at The Essex and it was overall extremely positive. There were a few comments made to us about the front desk staff not being up to the \"luxury\" advertised calibre, and we experienced this ourselves with some confusion over our welcome gift bags. We also experienced a theft from The Ponds venue. My sister's wallet as well as all the remaining favors + a few other items were stolen from the table we were told was safe to leave items for a pickup on Sunday morning. We were highly disappointed in The Essex's response and conflict resolution to this, but as we were their last wedding at The Ponds, we imagine it won't be an issue for future couples so we are not letting it impact the total star review. Overall, we would choose The Essex again.
Reviewed on 12-05-2023

Samantha Moffat (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-11-2022
We worked with Colleen who helped make our wedding day more than amazing! Everything went as we expected and they were very helpful considering we were coming from out of state. The food (which is the secondary reason why we booked the essex) was INSANE. Everyone has told us how amazing their meals were and how it was the best food they'd ever had at a wedding. We still talk about how our only fault was eating too much on our wedding day. The accommodations were perfect as well as the amenities! We will continue to visit the essex and enjoy ourselves just as we did on our wedding weekend.
Reviewed on 21-11-2022

Jimmy Connolly (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-10-2022
We had our wedding at The Essex this past October, and could not have asked for a better day or venue to celebrate at! Colleen and her team were prompt, professional, and took care of every last detail. We'd highly recommend The Essex to anyone looking to get married in the VT area!
Reviewed on 28-10-2022

Sarah S (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-10-2022
We had our wedding at their offsite venue, The Ponds at Bolton Valley, and our room block was at The Essex. Bekah was extremely helpful throughout the entire process. She was wonderful, accommodating, and organized. We couldn't have asked for a better venue and event manager. We highly recommend this venue to any couple considering The Essex. Our guests loved the venue and hotel as well!
Reviewed on 23-10-2022

Caitlyn Hathaway (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-09-2022
My husband and I got married at the Essex this September. The wedding itself was a fairytale! Everything was beautiful and exactly how I pictured it. Our wedding coordinator Monique was fantastic to work with and made everything easy and stress free. Monique, Emily, and all the Essex staff were so friendly and accommodating. Our wedding guests had so many great things to stay about the hotel and the food! It ended up raining the day of our wedding so we had to move the ceremony inside, but it still ended up so beautiful and there was no stress about turning it quickly into a reception space. I loved my wedding here and would recommend the Essex to anyone looking to get married in the area!
Reviewed on 19-10-2022

Maddie Severance (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-08-2022
The Essex was a wonderful place to get married. We hosted two events on the resort property, a welcome dinner in the backyard of the hotel and a brunch in the garden terrace. Both were great venues. The staff was very accommodating, and when there was rain on Friday causing the welcome dinner to be inside, they were quick to come up with alternatives, and went the extra mile by having some staff set-up a space outside for once the rain had cleared. We had our reception off site at the Ponds location, and it is an absolutely gorgeous late summer venue. The space is some distance from the hotel and you need to arrange your own transportation, but it is well worth it for the spectacular views and scenery. Our wedding coordinator, Bekah, deserves a special shout out. Prior to the weekend she was willing to meet with us whenever we needed clarification on questions, both in person and remotely. During the weekend, she stayed in constant communication and coordinated both with our vendors and us to make sure everything was perfect and running smoothly. She was essential in making it feel like our special weekend. Overall we were very happy with our experience getting married at the Essex, and we would definitely recommend.
Reviewed on 30-09-2022

Benjamin Newton (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-09-2022
The Essex is a beautiful venue, and the team there was incredibly responsive and helpful every step of the way. One huge perk is the day of team that helps everything run smoothly. Would highly recommend The Essex to anyone!
Reviewed on 13-09-2022

Leslie Severance (other) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-08-2022
We hosted a wedding weekend at The Essex. Friday night Welcome BBQ ending with s’mores, Saturday wedding reception at the Ponds and Garden Terrace Sunday brunch with bloody Mary’s and mimosas, it was all perfectly executed with the help of Bekah, our Essex event planner. The food was delicious and the various settings were beautiful! We were thrilled and can’t wait to get our professional photos back to relive every magical moment!
Reviewed on 31-08-2022

Josette Luarte (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-08-2022
I just got married at The Essex Inn and Spa on 8/6. It was an AMAZING wedding. I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome. I stayed in constant communication throughout the process with their event manager Emily. As I got closer to the wedding, I started working with the day of coordinator (Monique) who guided me every step of the way. She made sure that no detail was overlooked and made me feel confident going into my wedding day. On Friday 8/5 we had our rehearsal and Monique did amazing dealing with our rowdy bridal party. Monique was patient and gave us enough practice rounds to make sure everyone knew what they should be doing. Monique didn’t miss any detail from how the bridal party was positioned, down to making sure all the guys had their hands the same way. After rehearsal we had our rehearsal dinner in their backyard area. Out of all their options for rehearsal dinner packages, this turned out the best in my opinion. We had a buffet style dinner outside. They set up a bar outside just for our party. We opted to purchase drink tickets for our guests and then cash bar afterwards. The entire dinner was very relaxed and enjoyable. After dinner we could enjoy the backyard games, fire pit and goats. On the actual wedding day.. minutes before the ceremony started, Monique came to me and let me know that rain was expected. I made the decision to move the ceremony inside. I’m glad we did, because it started down pouring minutes later. The staff at The Essex were SO quick in making the transition from outside to inside. My guests were amazed at how quick they were able to pull it off (like 5 minutes). As the bride, it was a little disappointing to not have the ceremony outside, but Monique and her staff made it a seamless transition that I didn’t feel one ounce of stress. The ceremony took place in the Atrium (where my reception was) and it was just as beautiful. They even brought in the arbor! After the ceremony, The Essex staff had my entire reception area back to the way it was in another 5 minutes. By time I got back from family photos (which were quick btw), all of my guests were sitting and enjoying the cocktail hour. The reception itself was flawlessly executed. I luckily picked vendors that have worked with The Essex and so the communication between everyone was on point. I also felt supported and never felt the need to watch the clock to make sure everything was happening when it should (I’m a project manager with a type A personality.. so that’s saying a lot). For the food - we picked steak, salmon and a mushroom ravioli. We were able to taste all of the food during a private tasting months before our wedding. The chef brought in each entry separately followed by different cake options that we were able to mix and match. It was such a fun experience that my spouse and I were able to enjoy with our moms. We left the food tasting very full and excited to serve our guest the food on our wedding day. Overall it was an amazing weekend! About 80% of our guests were from out of state, so it was nice that everyone could stay at the venue with us.Photo/Video: Todd Stoilov - Still In Motion DJ/Photobooth Top Hat Entertainment (DJ Darren)Flowers: Flowers by Nicole (Nicole Nappi)My Hair/Makeup: I worked through Amanda Hopcroft. The artist who did my hair/makeup was Sarah Crowley from Finishing Touch VT.bridal party hair/makeup - Jodi Anthes and Rheanna Gaudette Table cloths - The Linen Company
Reviewed on 08-08-2022

Olivia DeRienzo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-05-2022
I cannot say enough positive things about The Essex. The venue, hotel, and grounds are so incredibly beautiful. The staff was helpful and proactive starting from the day we put our deposit down. Bekah, our day-of coordinator was literally unbelievable, and we would not have had as great of a day without her expertise. The food was so good, and we were so happy that we chose this venue.
Reviewed on 24-05-2022

Maureen Besade (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-04-2022
The food was amazing and our guests really enjoyed staying at The Essex! The location was beautiful, and the staff on the day of the wedding were great. Bekah, our contact person the day of the wedding, was very helpful and attentive to all the details of the day. About 80% of our guests were from out of town, and they all stayed at The Essex. We had a bonfire with s'mores the night before the wedding behind The Tavern which our guests loved (also, we talked to ~70% of our guests during the bonfire, so there was less pressure to see everyone during the actual reception!), and a welcome brunch the morning of the wedding that was delicious and so fun. The only issue we had was the communication leading up to the wedding. We booked The Essex about a year before our wedding date, and during that time we had a series of four \"main contact\" people that seemed to change without reason. The constant changes meant having to re-explain and express our plans over and over, which was frustrating and time consuming. Overall, it was a great venue and our guests enjoyed it!
Reviewed on 10-05-2022

Lauren Szablak (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-09-2021
Since we first saw the Ponds in 2019, we knew that it was the place for us. With the phenomenal dock for first-look pictures to the off-site benefits (no noise ordinance, for example!), we could not wait to celebrate with family and friends at this beautiful location. We worked with the Essex Resort for our small COVID wedding last year, so already knew how BEAUTIFUL the resort is and how accommodating all of the staff are. Michele (our wedding coordinator) was a ray of light over the last two years, helping us coordinate everything and execute our two weddings over the last two years with multiple food allergies and special requests. The food is phenomenal (and could accommodate all allergies expertly), the bar staff and servers are friendly (shout out to Dan the bartender, who was with us for rehearsal dinner and bonfire as well!), and everyone at the Essex is a pleasure to work with (including Alan in reservations who helped with a million room block questions, and all of the front desk staff who welcomed our guests all weekend!) Our Ponds wedding had 128 guests but could have easily fit 175 or more (which was our original guest count). The backdrop was a guest favorite, from the deck view to the ceremony arch.One of our favorite parts was being able to include our 5-year-old black lab (Gary) in all of the celebrations; he walked down the aisle and was able to stay through cocktail hour. Gary is a BIG FAN of the Ponds. We are so grateful for all of the amazing memories we have because of the Ponds, the Essex, and the entire wedding team at the venue.
Reviewed on 06-10-2021

Mary McDonald (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-07-2020
I cannot say enough good things about The Essex! Our wedding in July went from 100 down to 23 people (due to the pandemic) and the staff did an incredible job accommodating the change and making the whole weekend perfect. Our coordinator Julia is an actual angel, and worked with the staff to make sure us and our guests had a great time, while remaining safe and adhering to guidelines. Every event, from the Rehearsal Dinner on Saturday, to the Wedding on Sunday, and the Farewell Brunch on Monday, was meticulously planned and went by without a hitch, thanks to the team there.Us and our guests stayed at The Essex for the whole weekend, and the staff made sure we were taken care of the entire time. Julia and Amanda were at each event making sure things ran smoothly. Chef Dante led a super fun private cooking class for our wedding party. We rented out Junction and Chef Nicole made a world class dinner our guests are still talking about months later. And Aleksa, the hardest working waitress I’ve ever met, helped make sure our needs were always met, including helping the bridesmaids plan room service for a surprise bachelorette brunch.If I wrote about every single incredible thing the team at The Essex did, this review would be pages long. They took away all the stress of planning a wedding during a pandemic, and I cannot thank them enough for that. Needless to say, I wholeheartedly recommend having your wedding there.
Reviewed on 02-12-2020

Ilia Gilligan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-10-2020
The Essex did everything within their power to make our wedding a fairytale and they absolutely nailed it! It was everything we wanted and more and couldn't be happier with our dream wedding!
Reviewed on 13-10-2020

Caitlin Villa (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-08-2020
We booked our venue at The Ponds (off-site venue to The Essex) over two years ago when we got engaged. Throughout the entire time, everyone at The Essex was an absolute pleasure to work with. Any time we asked for advice or had a question, we had a response in less than 2 days. They made wedding planning 100% stress free and fun! When the final months before our wedding finally rolled around, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Even with all of the uncertainty & changes we had to roll with, the staff (shoutout to Julia!) was extremely understanding & honest and made the time leading up to our wedding a breeze. Our day was a dream come true. The venue is an absolutely stunning indoor/outdoor cabin with tons of scenery and privacy. We had no surprises - the food was phenomenal and they worked hard to make sure we were well taken care of. We didn't want to leave. All we want to do is go back to our wedding day and relive it over and over again! We cannot recommend The Ponds enough! Thank you to everyone who had a hand in our special day! Love, Cait & Chris
Reviewed on 11-09-2020

Rachel Sommers (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-08-2020
Our wedding was scheduled for May of 2020 and due to the pandemic, we postponed until August. Julia, our planner was a joy to work with and incredibly flexible. Our wedding day was a dream and everything was perfect and beautiful. The entire staff at The Essex made sure our day went smoothly and they all provided such warm, genuine service.
Reviewed on 26-08-2020

Casey Winterson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-02-2020
For anyone who is on the fence about The Essex, you should totally do it! Every little detail was amazing. Our coordinator Julia was the best. She was always responsive, professional and really easy to work with. The Venue: Atrium- so pretty, had more than enough space and looks amazing in photos. The Resort- Great service, great amenities and wonderful people. So many of our guest were so appreciative of everything from check in to check out.
Reviewed on 03-03-2020

Taylor Briseno (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-09-2019
We initially chose to have our wedding at the Ponds at Bolton Valley in early fall because of the stunning views and optimal leaf peeping on the mountain. We booked the venue two years in advance to ensure all of our guests had plenty of notice since everyone would be traveling from out of town, with many flying into Burlington's airport. We initially worked with one coordinator who gave us the on-site tour and was one of the main reasons we chose the Ponds. Unfortunately, about a year before our wedding we found out she had moved on. I realize it happens. We were assigned to another coordinator who was on time with her communication and kept things moving. However, 4 days before our wedding, we got a call from the Essex that said coordinator was no longer working with the Essex. I was distraught, worried that details would get lost in the last minute change but Emily and Julia who were assigned to our wedding went above and beyond to make sure our wedding was everything we envisioned! Everyone said it was the best wedding they had been to and the food was superb! Thank you Essex for making sure our special day went smoothly!
Reviewed on 02-02-2020

Katie K (bride) 2 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-10-2019
My husband and I planned a Vermont destination wedding and we chose the Essex because it checked off so many of our boxes. We booked it without even seeing it in advance. We were excited that all of our guests could stay in one place and make a whole weekend experience and it is conveniently located just outside of Burlington given that the majority of our guests were flying in. People could easily explore all that Vermont has to offer in the peak Fall season. Given that it was a destination wedding, we relied heavily on communication with the day of coordinator that we were assigned as part of our package. We were able to do an in person walk through at a visit prior to the wedding and the coordinator appeared organized and eager to meet our needs. However, email communication leading up to our wedding day was poor. We would have large lapses in communication, details were missed, and multiple times our banquet bill had errors. Had we not been reviewing it thoroughly, we would have been overpaid. Despite their ongoing errors regarding financials, we found that the Essex seemed to nickel and dime us for just about everything. For example, if you need something hung that would require a ladder, they would require an Essex staff member to be involved and would charge $150/hour. The pricing reflected on the Knot is inaccurate and I would highly recommend reviewing a contract thoroughly.Our coordinator stopped communicating altogether and a week prior to our wedding we learned from management that there was a new coordinator that would be with us the day of our wedding. This didn’t exactly put us at ease since there were was poor communication with our second coordinator and further mistakes being made. We choose to host a welcome bonfire the day before our wedding and it was a wonderful way to greet people as they arrived and this was very unique to our guests coming from big cities. Our guests were able to enjoy the grounds of the Essex which are for the most part beautifully maintained. The bonfire area, however, is quite dark and was not really suitable for our elderly guests. Blankets are an extra charge and no one maintained the fire for the $250 fee.Overall, the serving staff was wonderful and the Atrium did look beautiful. We did get compliments on the food and our guests enjoyed themselves. We were disappointed that one of our vendors did not receive the meal that we paid for. Given the hotel rates during peak season, we would have hoped for more upscale finishes throughout the hotel and more welcoming, friendly, and professional staff. Given the investment to host a wedding, we did not feel that our guests or we received extraordinary service.
Reviewed on 18-12-2019

Diana Stewart (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-09-2019
Such an amazing venue! Not only was it gorgeous, well manicured, and well organized, but the wedding coordinators made everything so stress-free. They went above and beyond at no extra cost on countless details throughout the planning process as well as the wedding weekend itself! It feels like your wedding is most important event of the year and all our guests had an amazing time!
Reviewed on 25-10-2019

Jeff and Blake Lewis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2019
We got married at The Ponds at Bolton Valley almost 2 weeks ago (September 1, 2019). When we got engaged and were looking for venues, we chose to check out this one and some others, but the thing that stuck out to us with the Ponds was that everything was included there, from a wedding coordinator and team, to the food prepared on site, etc. It seemed more stress free and that is what we needed. I knew as soon as we pulled into the driveway that this would be the place I fell in love with. Our wedding coordinator, Arienne, was lovely. Emily, the other manager, was also great too, and both answered countless questions (the same ones over and over at times! ) and always got back to us in a timely manner. We had several meetings with them and I felt confident to be in such good hands. We had a menu tasting before the wedding and the chefs were open to a couple of our suggestions and listened to our requests perfectly. Everyone repeatedly told us how beautiful everything was and how awesome the food was, which we agree with 100%! When we asked to have a brownie sundae bar instead of a cake for everyone, they worked with us to provide the brownies and nice cream if we provided the toppings, so this was very accommodating and worked for everyone. They ended up throwing in a cutting cake for us, free of charge and that was gorgeous as well. The day of the wedding I could just relax in the bridal suite and get ready, while also being on site to see my vision come to life, which was awesome. Arienne served us mimosas and truly made my wedding vision come to life before my very eyes and it was exactly as I had imagined it and wished for it. It was an amazing day, and everything went so smoothly with Arienne there to run everything and guide us throughout the day and night. She was calm and collected and so positive, which helped my stress and nerves as well. If you're looking for a rustic but elegant venue, The Ponds at Bolton Valley is the perfect spot. You won't regret it! Words can't express how happy we were with our special day!
Reviewed on 14-09-2019

Rebecca Goldberg (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-08-2019
We used the Essex for so many components of our wedding weekend and had an amazing experience.Our wedding was held at The Ponds, an offsite venue located by a pond in the mountains. The venue was beautiful and perfect for what we wanted: a picturesque, outdoor ceremony/cocktail hour and a large indoor reception space with plenty of natural light. The Ponds is a good combination of a Vermonty, rustic feel and a formal space fit for a wedding celebration. Our coordinator was responsive and so helpful throughout the planning process and everything went seamlessly on the day of. We used The Essex for a welcome party on Friday, which they set up outside by the firepit. We also used their spa services for hair which we loved and moved seamlessly on the day of. I chose not to do my makeup there due to their selection of brands, however they have revamped their selection since my wedding. Lastly, we wanted to provide a casual breakfast for wedding guests the day after the wedding. The Essex set us up with vouchers to the Tavern which created a fun, informal way to say goodbye to guests. Overall, our guests loved the hotel and it felt like a \"treat\" to stay there.
Reviewed on 01-09-2019

Stephanie W (bride) 3 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2019
The venue itself is beautiful! We were married in the Atrium and it was amazing! The day went smoothly thanks to our coordinator. We would get married here again, but would make alternate plans of where we stay and get ready. The Resort and staff did not meet our expectations. Outside of the Atrium for the reception itself I was not treated like a bride. I did not feel special. My bridal suite that had been booked 8 months in advance for my bridesmaids and I the night prior to the wedding was given away and we were stuck in an outdated suite with terrible lighting. We had to take photographs in another guest’s room because the lighting was so bad! Have every detail in writing because management was not helpful to us because some of the agreements and decisions made were verbal.
Reviewed on 14-08-2019

Mirabelle Sajisevi (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-07-2019
The Essex was the perfect venue for us and I am so grateful to our wedding coordinator Arienne and the entire staff for making our day amazing! With The Essex providing the catering, wedding coordinator, equipment (i.e. tables, chairs, linens), much of the usual stress of planning a wedding was alleviated and everything ran so smoothly. In terms of the venue, the lawn and atrium are gorgeous spaces for the ceremony and reception, respectively. Our guests were largely from out of town and it was so convenient for all of them to be able to stay at the resort (which also provides courtesy transportation from the Burlington airport). Our wedding coordinator, Arienne, was incredibly responsive and helpful with inquiries and was organized, calm and flexible throughout the entire planning process and on the wedding day. The food and cake were so delicious and we had many guests with dietary restrictions for whom the chefs made several special plates. All of our guests were very complimentary of venue, food, and services provided. I cannot say enough positive things about the Essex and highly recommend for a wonderful wedding experience.
Reviewed on 24-07-2019

Pamela Simays (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-06-2019
Words cannot express how grateful we are to Arienne and the staff at the Essex for our wonderful wedding. From day one they were welcoming and accommodating, always answering emails promptly and with great care, oftentimes answering the same questions multiple times. On the day of, Arienne made something that could have been quite stressful quite easy and could not have been more helpful. Every piece of our event turned out exactly as I had imagined it. The food was phenomenal, the cake beautiful and delicious, the staff superb. When we entered the Atrium on the way to the east lawn to begin the ceremony I was blown away by what it had been transformed into. It was simply gorgeous. Thank you to everyone at The Essex for helping us to make lasting memories in a beautiful setting.
Reviewed on 29-06-2019

Sarah Wilson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-06-2018
My husband and I planned our Vermont wedding from Chicago, so we knew we would need a responsive venue in order to pull everything together since we had limited time in Vermont beforehand. When I met Emily at the Essex and she brought me to the Ponds I knew we had found our venue. Emily is incredibly professional, responsive, and willing to offer suggestions. I really appreciated her input throughout our wedding planning process, she was not pushy but did let me know if she did not think something would work. She also had suggestions for vendors, all of our vendors were from her suggestions list and they exceeded our expectations. The wedding day went perfect, Emily was there every step of the way, but again not overbearing. The venue was put together beautifully, Emily put out a lot of the decorations we brought and made the space look great. The food at our wedding was so delicious too. We did have feed back for the chefs during our menu tasting, they clearly listened because the food was beyond delicious. The Essex has made the Ponds into a stunning venue space, prepares incredible food, and Emily was a great wedding coordinator to work with. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for their wedding venue!
Reviewed on 13-11-2018

Marissa Wells (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-09-2018
I cannot say enough positive things about the Ponds at Bolton Valley and The Essex Resort. From the moment we booked the venue through our Wedding day on Sept 2 2018, we were treated with exceptional service and care. Emily, our Wedding Coordinator at The Essex was there for us every step of the way and was always quick to answer my (many) questions! My parents also thoroughly enjoyed working with her. The staff during the wedding were amazing and incredibly professional. The food was amazing and many told me it was the best food they have had at a wedding, ever! The Ponds is one of the most beautiful venues in Vermont with outstanding views. Emily truly made this the best day of our lives at our dream venue!!
Reviewed on 07-09-2018

Alexa Orourke (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-07-2018
My husband and I had our wedding weekend at The Essex and our ceremony at The Ponds at Bolton Valley. I can say it all was a dream- come true!! The staff, the grounds, the wedding- everything was absolutely amazing. The Ponds is the most stunning wedding venue in the state of VT :) .. the staff from The Essex is amazing, kind, courteous. We highly recommend getting married here. It was truly a weekend we will never forget and our friends and family said the same. The Essex truly showed folks who have never been to VT an amazing, weekend away. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Amazing- <3 Alexa & Pete
Reviewed on 16-08-2018

Alaina Peck (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-06-2018
We got married at the Ponds and the space was absolutely beautiful! Working with Shana was wonderful, especially on the day of. Shana was so attentive to every detail and went above and beyond from the set-up and decor, driving our older guests to the front door from the parking lot, fixing my broken bustle, and helping with so many other details during our before, during, and after our reception. I don't know what we would have done without her! She is truly a problem solver and helps you feel so confident that everything will work out perfectly!The entire staff was very friendly and attentive - they made us feel so taken care of. It was really hot the day we were married and the staff made sure they brought us aplenty of water during our photos when we were out by the pond.The food was the best! Almost every single guest commented on how delicious the food was (especially the mushroom ravioli) and people are still talking it over a month later!Thank you for everything!!
Reviewed on 09-08-2018

Susannah Gruner (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-07-2018
We had our daughter's wedding reception at The Ponds in July and it honestly could not have gone any more smoothly. The food was fantastic, the price point reasonable and exactly what was predicted. Our planner Shana was so organized, calm and accommodating throughout the whole process and an absolute pleasure to work with. You will not find a more beautiful setting for a wedding nor more pleasant people to plan with.
Reviewed on 31-07-2018

Kailie Ho (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-06-2018
Definitely recommend this venue to anyone looking to having all of their festivities on-site. I could not have picked a more perfect venue (East Lawn/Atrium) for our wedding that fit our styles, and the woodsy but modern feel we were going for. The resort itself is super family friendly as well with goats, bonfires, and pools! I cannot speak higher of the service we got from the salon, to the kitchen, to my personal highlight, Emily! Emily was there every step of the way and was always on top of everything.
Reviewed on 16-07-2018

Katie Ryan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-05-2018
We used the Essex for our wedding reception and we were SO HAPPY WE DID! The absolute best part of our whole experience was our wedding coordinator, Emily! From day one, Emily was the nicest and most helpful person throughout the wedding experience! Planning through the Essex made everything so easy because they do everything for you! We originally picked The Essex because we wanted a place where all of our guests could stay for the whole weekend and make it more of a weekend event, rather than just the wedding day! We planned to have a bonfire Friday night but unfortunately it got rained out but instead we just hung with our guests in the tavern and had cookies and it was great! The week leading up to the wedding I was dropping stuff off at Emily's office almost every day and she set everything up SO PERFECTLY for the reception! And I had made it clear I had wanted to leave a lot of time for dancing and Emily made sure to gently remind me of timing throughout the day so that everything went absolutely perfect and smoothly! And lastly, THE FOOD. oh my god. The butternut swuash ravioli are out of this world. All the food was PHENOMENAL. And the cake too!! SO DELICIOUS! and beautiful! I gave a picture from Pinterest and they perfectly replicated it!Choose The Essex for your reception, you won't regret it! And ask for Emily, because she is the best!
Reviewed on 06-07-2018

Kara Herlihy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 16-06-2018
The Essex is a gorgeous venue with a friendly, capable staff and delightful sales manager, Shana. We were married in June, 2018; the gardens were perfectly in bloom, the atrium was bright and cheery, the waitstaff was attentive and organized. Shana guided us through the entire process like the true professional she is; on the day of, everything went off without a hitch. It was a beautiful day will zero panic thanks to Shana and her team. The food was delicious, the rooms are recently renovated and the grounds offer everything you need for a weekend with your closest friends and family.
Reviewed on 25-06-2018

Susi Ramazani (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-06-2018
My husband and I were married at The Ponds at Bolton, VT and we are SO HAPPY with our experience!!! We HIGHLY recommend this venue to all future couples!!! The food was excellent and so many guests commented that this was one of the most beautiful weddings they had ever attended. The scenery of VT is amazing in itself, with The Pond and Camel's Hump in the background, but a lot of credit for our perfect day goes to SHANA, our amazing wedding coordinator!!Not only did we sign with The Ponds as our venue site because of our experiences with Shana, but she was also my wedding coordinator, planner, vendor-guide, wedding advice-giver, and friend in so many ways. She went out of her way for us countless times and exceeded all of our expectations.Shana was always responsive to every single one of my (countless) emails, met with me/my family several times, provided advice and guidance, set-up our venue to make it look beautiful and helped with take-down. She would email me back within a day, even while on her vacation! The little details made a huge difference for us as well - one of the waitstaff came to us on the dock after the ceremony while we were taking pictures to offer appetizers and hand us a drink - this was so nice! The food was delicious, the venue site was beautiful, and our day could not have been more amazing. Thank you to The Essex and to Shana for the wonderful memories that will last a lifetime! We are so grateful - Susi and Paul
Reviewed on 20-06-2018

Samantha Lane (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-04-2018
It was absolutely gorgeous venue and Shana made it easy to communicate with no flaws on the day! The food was spot on and seriously could not stop eating the cake!! It was elegant and timeless and I couldn’t have asked for more on our wedding day!
Reviewed on 24-04-2018

Kimberly M (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-07-2017
When my fiancé and I saw The Ponds for the first time, we just knew it was the venue for us! We married at The Ponds in July of 2017, and although we were planning long-distance from CT, the distance was never a problem. Our wedding coordinator, Shana, was helpful, professional and always there when I had a question or concern. She worked with me on our budget and our vision for the day. I was able to coordinate times to do additional visits and a tasting, and Shana was always very accommodating. She went above and beyond to help calm my nerves the week before the wedding and even assisted with signage and set up. The venue was just beautiful and the day was everything we dreamed of. The staff was professional and courteous, and our guests could not stop raving about the gorgeous view, the beautiful venue and the delicious food. They kept asking how we ever found such a perfect spot! In addition, we had a day after brunch at The Essex. This was a nice laid back way to enjoy some additional time with our guests before the weekend ended, and again Shana and her staff were very accommodating in meeting the needs of our budget and our guests. I would highly recommend The Ponds and the staff of The Essex for your special day.
Reviewed on 29-12-2017

Ali Mehan (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-08-2017
This review is long overdue and exceedingly well-deserved! Our wedding day was perfect at the Ponds! Nestled in the scenic mountainside of Bolton Valley, the Ponds provides the most secluded, intimate, special place for a wedding. Shana is incredible! She is responsive and works hard to meet every single want and need for the couple, and for us that was two brides and two bride moms! The food was delicious! The flexibility offered through the talented skillset of the chefs at the culinary resort, allow you to fully design your own menu, which is extremely unique and supportive of all budgets! The staff on the day are attentive and ensure that you have everything you need through the whirlwind! A very important piece of advice that made our weekend even more special and personal, was doing our room block at the Bolton Valley Ski Resort, just a mile up the mountain. With the size of our wedding, we fully booked out the resort, making the mountain completely ours for the weekend! They provided shuttles to and from the venue and gave us the space to host a welcoming party, an after party and offer a plethora of fun and games for our guests including disc golf, volleyball, basketball, hiking, corn hole and much much more!THANK YOU SHANA FOR MAKING OUR DAY PERFECT!
Reviewed on 27-09-2017

Amy Bratt (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 27-08-2017
Our recent wedding at the Essex was amazing! The atrium room is beautiful and the views outside were spectacular. Our wedding coordinator Shana was amazing! From start to finish she was on top of everything! The wedding beyond exceeded our expectations! The food was delicious! Everyone was raving about the food! Best wedding ever!!!!
Reviewed on 13-09-2017

Emily Miller (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-07-2017
We cannot say enough good things about The Ponds at Bolton Valley and Emily Ellis the wedding coordinator! My husband and I visited the venue on a whim, having a completely different venue in mind at the time, but we immediately fell in love with it and couldn't stop thinking about it. The coordinator, Emily, met with us several times to review all the specifics that came with the venue, including but not limited to; catering, bar services, tables/chairs/linens/etc., set-up and take-down services, various decorations included if wanted, option for ceremony on-site, recommendations for local vendors with positive reviews, and so much more. The pricing was reasonable and payments were requested in small portions throughout the planning process. Furthermore, there were different levels of pricing depending on guest count and food/alcohol preferences which makes this venue perfect for all budgets. Post wedding thoughts - the food was delicious and all our guests enjoyed the variety of options. The cake and cupcakes (also catered via the venue) were THE BEST I have ever tasted. The staff was on time, worked efficiently during set-up and take-down, professionally dressed, etc. The venue was air-conditioned which was very much appreciated. The size of the room was perfect for varying numbers of guests and was beautifully decorated (beautiful without decorations as well). The view from the venue is to die for; the pond itself and then the mountains in the background! And so much more! Emily was always just a call or email away and answered every question that came up throughout the planning process. Every idea I dreamt up, Emily went out of her way to make it happen. She was our liaison between various vendors as needed which saved me time and stress. She was the kindest, calmest, most accommodating wedding coordinator I could have imagined and I genuinely miss the contact with her now that our wedding is over! Needless to say, we are beyond happy with our experience from beginning to end with every aspect of the process and we HIGHLY recommend this venue and this coordinator for all brides and grooms!
Reviewed on 06-09-2017

Michele Phillips (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 29-07-2017
I cannot say enough good things about the essex resort, their entire staff, and specifically their off-site location the ponds, where we had our actual wedding celebration! The venue is absolutely breathtaking (we just got our pictures and they are unreal!) and it doesn't break the bank compared to what's out there! They provide pretty much everything you need, with the option to make it all your own with flowers and details, which was a huge relief to me, someone planning it from afar! With so many \"barn\" options in the area, I found the mountain elegance of the ponds so refreshing and a bit of a lighter/happier feeling option which I think really showed in not only the pictures, but the overall amazing time all of our guests had. I'm still hearing from them how beautiful the venue was! The location really speaks for itself as it doesn't get much better in my mind! That all being said, more than anything, it was Emily and her team, making the entire weekend seamless and worry free, that truly made the weekend perfect for us. We had welcome drinks for our guests on Friday night at the Essex Resort, and our ceremony and reception at the ponds on Saturday night, and Emily helped coordinate every detail prior to make sure nothing was missed! She was also there the day of, making sure everything was going according to plan, and helping with those few last minute issues (that always happen!) which was amazingly reassuring to have on the big day! Overall, again, I could not give the venue, and staff, a higher review - they helped make our day truly magical!
Reviewed on 23-08-2017

Elizabeth Lumsden (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 06-08-2017
We got married at The Essex this past Sunday, August 6, 2017, and we couldn't have asked for better staff or a better place to celebrate our big day! Both Shana and Emily were MORE than helpful and on top of every little detail throughout the entire wedding planning process that made everything come together so smoothly and stress-free for us. We would highly recommend this gorgeous Vermont venue to any couple who is looking to have the most memorable day of their life! Elizabeth & Rich
Reviewed on 13-08-2017

Lindsay Barber (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-05-2017
We just had a wedding at the resort and it was wonderful and reasonably priced. We were long distance planning and Shana was super accommodating and helpful. The staff from start to finish were great and always courteous. The only down side was the rain which meant we got married inside and the carpet was not a great pattern. But we made it work. Also, there is a sound system in most spaces so you can coordinate music without bringing speakers. Vermont is a great place to get married.
Reviewed on 17-05-2017

Megan Lebanowski (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-01-2017
I can't tell you how many people came up to me during our wedding to tell us how great The Essex was as a venue. We had our reception in the Atrium which provided a lovely view for our guests during cocktail hour and the reception. On the day of the wedding, we did not have to worry about a thing. The Essex team did an amazing job with everything and made it a seamless day! The food was delicious and it was nice that our guests could also stay on site. The planning process was so easy with Shana. She was knowledgeable, responsive, and helped us along the way. I would highly recommend this place to anyone!
Reviewed on 18-01-2017

Alex Clavelle (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 08-07-2017
Great experience so far
Reviewed on 10-01-2017

Whitney Dubie (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 17-12-2016
The Essex was an incredible spot to hold both our ceremony and our reception. For our December wedding, the grounds were decorated and beautiful. Shana, the wedding coordinator, made everything seamless and flawless from the beginning. The catering was unbelievable and reasonably priced. Guests were commenting on how perfect everything was. Shana ensured that everyone was taken care of and made the day enjoyable, relaxing, and fun! We truly had a great experience and look forward to returning for our anniversary and other events!
Reviewed on 22-12-2016

Michelle Spier (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 31-12-2016
Sales and coordinating managers are wonderful. Planning has been stress free thanks to their prompt correspondence with great attention to detail. Not 5 stars because I am disappointed by the overall cleanliness and condition of the facilities.
Reviewed on 28-11-2016

Nicole Meyers (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 02-10-2016
Definitely a great place to get married. You'll get an almost all inclusive package. Most photographers and DJs in the area have already worked there in the past and are familiar with the place and the staff. Emily was our wedding coordinator and she was fantastic. Professional. Flexible. Friendly. Now obviously if you are looking a this place it means you already know it's gorgeous, spacious, quiet and romantic and the location is a big plus. We picked this place in a blink of an eye being stroke by the level of professionalism of Shana and Emily and we weren't disappointed. Sure Emily wasn't always responding within the same day we wrote to her but considering how many weddings they handle over a single week, that's understandable. They were fantastic at setting up the decor following our instructions too. I think the only thing we were disappointed at (you know, the day after, when you reenact everything to see what could have been done differently) was the bridal suit that's kinda old and nasty looking. Do NOT use the hair/make-up salon, the poor girl has no clue what she's doing and you'll look either like a prostitute or a 15 yo who stole her mom makeup bag.
Reviewed on 07-11-2016

Stephanie Langley (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 05-08-2016
We had the wedding of our dreams at the Essex Resort on August 5, 2016. The grounds are beautiful and are the perfect backdrop for wedding photos. Shana coordinated our reception in the Atrium. In the months leading up to the wedding she was always available to answer our questions and help with anything we needed. We are so grateful for her flexibility working within our budget and accommodating our needs. She is incredibly creative and went above and beyond to help us bring our ideas to life. She set up the room beautifully and we didn’t have to worry about anything on our wedding day. We had a few minor hiccups and even though they weren’t related to the Essex Resort and she stepped in to remedy them for us without hesitation. We truly felt that she had all the details under control and we could relax and enjoy our special day in the company of our guests. We were also pleased at how well she worked with our other vendors. It was clear to us that she has an outstanding rapport with the other vendors. And, of course, the food was exceptional at the Essex Resort. They were also very accommodating to our guests with food allergies. We are truly grateful to Shana and the Essex Resort and we highly recommend the Essex Resort and Spa.-Stephanie & Patrick
Reviewed on 06-11-2016

Gina Kulas (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-10-2016
I would absolutely recommend this venue. Emily at the Essex was amazing to work with. The food was fantastic. The venue is charming, rustic, and classy... it was absolutely the perfect venue for us! Our guests absolutely loved it! We had an unforgettable day!
Reviewed on 31-10-2016

Amy Lefebvre (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 04-09-2016
Thanks to the extraordinary service provided by the team at The Essex combined with the picturesque setting and ambiance we had the wedding of our dreams! We would not have changed a single thing and our wedding guests have done nothing but rave about the event. We would absolutely recommend The Essex as a wedding venue. Thanks so much to Emily, Shana and the entire team at The Essex for coordinating our perfect wedding day dream!
Reviewed on 07-09-2016

Jenifer Oakes (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 23-07-2016
Our wedding was this past July at the Essex and it was an amazing time. We had a whole wedding weekend with a welcome party, reception (at The Ponds at Bolton Valley), after party in the Tavern and breakfast brunch the day after. Our coordinator was Shana and she helped us plan the whole weekend. We don't live in Vermont so it was so special to have events for our guests over the full weekend. Shana was very laid back and was easy to work with always helping us decide what would be best with every event making it special. Being a culinary resort, the food was amazing and the staff was so friendly and helpful. The Ponds for a wedding reception is so picturesque and a great Vermont venue. We can't wait to go back to The Essex for future anniversaries!
Reviewed on 05-09-2016

Sarah Shephard-Lupo (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 07-08-2016
The Essex Resort & Spa exceeded our hopes and dreams for the wedding. The food was delicious and the staff was very responsive. They really paid attention to the little details, and made the day exactly what we wanted. The atrium was beautiful. It was amazing!
Reviewed on 29-08-2016

Jennifer Schwarz (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-07-2016
Having our wedding at the Essex was a dream come true. Shana, our wedding planner, was with us every step of the way and did a fabulous job. We had our ceremony at a church in Essex Junction, and the reception at the Ponds. If you know about the Essex but aren't aware of the Ponds, look it up. It's the perfect Vermont setting, overlooking a pond (note the name), with white twinkle lights on the porch, tons of flowers, a big rustic interior and gorgeous fireplace. It's everything I wanted in our Vermont wedding. The food was fantastic, and the venue itself is so picturesque you don't need huge decorations to make it look nice. It has so much charm that you and your guests will be blown away. We had our guests stay at the Essex and they thoroughly enjoyed themselves. We were even able to stay within our budget by booking our wedding on a Sunday, rather than a Saturday. There's lots of options they offer so you can stay within your price range and still have the wedding of your dreams. Trust me, we did! :)
Reviewed on 18-08-2016

Allysa Houle (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-05-2016
My husband and I had always wanted to have our wedding at The Ponds, but were unsure if we would ever be able to afford the venue. After looking into some other venues, we still could not stop thinking about The Ponds and decided to go ahead and inquire. We immediately heard back from Shana Farer-Feld who informed us that they were more than willing to work with our budget so that we could have the wedding of our dreams, at the venue we felt was the perfect fit. Shana was with us every step of the way. She was very attentive to our needs and responded in a timely manner whenever we contacted her. Living out of state while planning a Vermont wedding had its challenges, but Shana made the process so smooth and I always felt that we were in good hands. Even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, I felt at ease knowing Shana and her team were there to support us. Overall, this venue is breathtaking with an amazing view of the Vermont Mountains. We had our ceremony outside next to the pond and the scenery was so beautiful. The space inside for the reception was perfect for an intimate wedding and its beauty is truly unmatched. I cannot praise Shana and The Essex staff enough. The food and beverage service was superb and all our guests commented on how wonderful the staff made them feel. Special shout out to Deb who is an absolute gem; she took care of us the whole night and was truly one of the nicest people we have ever met. The food was delicious and our cake was exactly what we had wanted. Shana and The Essex helped us to create the most perfect wedding day. We could not have asked for anything better. We highly recommend The Essex and their services, as well as The Ponds as a venue.
Reviewed on 17-05-2016

Avery Ducharme (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-08-2015
Dream Come True! We had our eye on the Essex and The Ponds long before we even got engaged. We were unsure if it was something we could afford , we decided to splurg on it and we were NOT disappointed at all!! Our vision for what we wanted our wedding to be really came to life and we had the PERFECT WEDDING DAY! The Essex and their team really get an A+ in so many different categories! We decided to have our wedding at THe Ponds and have our guests stay at the Essex Resort and EVERYONE absolutely loved it!! The resort is pet friendly so we were so happy that our dog could stay with us and be part of our big day! All of our guest loved the hotel and all the amenities , from the pools, spa, golf, cooking classes and of course the hotels 2 restaurants ! The food is of course amazing, and they did not disappoint at the wedding either. Most people commented that it was one of the best if not the best meals they have ever had at a wedding. Our cupcakes were also delicious and a huge highlight of the day for everyone! Our wedding day was everything that we have ever dreamed of and it was all due to the hard work of the Essex staff and especially the wedding coordinator Shana! She was a joy to work with and stopped at absolutely nothing to make sure that everything is exactly how you want it to be! We honestly can not recommend this Resort enough to newly engaged couples! They made our wedding dreams come try and they will with out doubt do the same for you!
Reviewed on 04-04-2016

Anonymous (groom) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-02-2017
This is a great place to have a wedding reception. They catered to our every need, including ice sculptures and an intimate family style seating arrangement. It was also great to have a wedding coordinator to think of everything we forgot and ensure the day of goes smoothly. Overall, the entire staff, venue, and flexibility are unmatched. It also helps that they have an amazing culinary team that put together a meal that will impress anyone!
Reviewed on 29-12-2015

Anonymous (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 25-12-2016
My daughter and her fiance had their wedding at the Inn last week. Shana was wonderful, professional, and very helpful. The staff provided excellent service. The food was excellent. Very pleased, a wonderful weekend!
Reviewed on 25-10-2015

Averi Leahy (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-10-2015
We had the Essex cater our wedding at an offsite venue (the Barn at Boyden Farm). They provided cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, and our bar service. They exceeded all of our expectations. The food was phenomenal and the service was impeccable. They worked with us to create the exact menu we wanted (including some unique items such as cider doughnuts for our guests pre-ceremony) and everything was executed perfectly. They were also able to include two signature drinks for us that had several hard-to-find ingredients. \r\rWe were very happy that they were able to provide so many services for us. It was much easier than having to work with several different vendors. They were very responsive and accommodating. We really can't say enough good things about the Essex. They were wonderful to work with and really went above and beyond!
Reviewed on 12-10-2015

Cassy8115 (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-08-2015
We just got married here 3 weeks ago. The reason we chose this place was because of the excellent customer service. Shana and Emily were awesome! Everyone is so nice and we will be returning often.
Reviewed on 20-08-2015

Anonymous (wedding party) 5 out of 5 Rating

My daughter just had her wedding at this beautiful venue. Even though she used one of the smaller rooms(40 people), her wedding was handled with the utmost care and professionalism. Every detail was taken care of and nothing was overlooked by their amazing and dedicated staff. \r\rThe grounds of the Essex Resort and Spa are just gorgeous and there is plenty to do as well as plenty of relaxing. We also used their catering which was second to none. The food and hors d'oeuvre were just delicious and plentiful. \r\rI would recommend this venue to anyone planning a very special day/weekend.
Reviewed on 18-08-2015

Anonymous (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating

We just had my daughter's wedding at the Ponds and it was fabulous! Shana was extremely helpful and professional. If you hear stories that it is expensive to have a wedding there, don't listen! Meet with Shana yourself. We are so glad we did because she worked with us to get the price to a level that we were comfortable with and had many suggestions to help us out. We did have a surprise two days before the wedding (some workmen dug up the lawn where the ceremony would be, unknown to the Essex) but we called Shana and, even on her day off, she took care of the problem and it was fixed for the ceremony. We had a fantastic experience there!
Reviewed on 03-08-2015

Tanya Mills (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 24-05-2015
My fiance and I could not have chosen a better location for our wedding and reception. We chose the The Essex for several reasons: The food is fantastic - incredibly delicious! Friends and family came up to us at our reception to tell us - we didn't have to ask. Everything was taken care of by The Essex. There was no renting of tables, chairs, utensils, napkins, tables cloths and no hiring of a caterer or vendor to host the bar - The Essex can do all of it. It made wedding planning hassle free when compared to other venues. Also, when you plan a wedding at the Essex they provide you with a wedding coordinator to help answer your questions, organize your event and to keep the day on schedule (it is nice to have someone else think about and make sure the wedding is on schedule, when your first dance will be, when you need to toss your bouquet...etc. - you just get to enjoy your day). Our coordinator was Shana - she was extremely nice, knowledgeable, flexible and very responsive when it came to communication. Shana and the other staff from The Essex are very friendly and helped make our wedding day so incredibly special. \rSome details worth noting:\rWhile we were getting our photos taken during the cocktail hour our own personal server brought us hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and water so that we didn't miss out. Our wedding cake looked gorgeous! It was picture perfect. It came out just like the photos we gave them and it tasted great too! The venue is beautiful. Well held our wedding outdoors and the grounds are lush and well maintained. We held our reception in the Atrium and it look fantastic. The ceiling is vaulted/cathedral, three of the four walls are all windows and the ceiling beams are covered in small white lights, which adds a nice ambiance to the room. \rYou cannot go wrong if you choose the Essex for your wedding and/or reception.
Reviewed on 29-05-2015

Jaclyn Crosby (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-10-2014
The Essex Resort & Spa staff were amazing to work with! From the moment we booked our venue until even after our wedding day, Shana and her team were top notch! The consistent flow of communication kept everyone in the loop and the attention to detail in everything they did was phenomenal. My husband and I would highly recommend this venue to fellow couples.
Reviewed on 06-11-2014

ALI NEUMAN (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 11-10-2014
We got married on 10/11/14 in the atrium and we had a great time! Our guests really enjoyed themselves not only at the wedding, but for the weekend as well. 75% of my guests were out of town so we had a bunch of guests staying at the Essex. Everyone raved about the rooms, the food and the service! The spa was where we did hair and makeup, and we had a blast! Our wedding cake was from The Essex as well and it was beautiful and delicious! I wish I could post a picture here of it! Thanks again Shana and Karen!
Reviewed on 29-10-2014

Emily LaPointe (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-09-2014
The bakery at the Inn at Essex made my wedding cake. It looked exactly like the photos I provided, and tasted amazing. The cake tasting was easy and helpful for getting exactly what we wanted. They made my cake topper as well (scrabble tile banner) and it looked just like the photos I had sent, they even made us a batman and grappling hook scaling the back of the cake :)
Reviewed on 27-10-2014

jrmack2001 (parent) 5 out of 5 Rating

Our daughter was married at The Ponds at Bolton Valley in June, 2014. Everyone at the Essex was so attentive to our needs. When we were concerned about a change in our wedding coordinator, Naz, the Resort Director, arranged for us to meet with the whole team on a Sunday afternoon! The staff is clearly dedicated and talented. They carefully considered our requests and found the best ways to make them work. We were pleasantly surprised on the day of the wedding when we saw that Shawn, the chef, personally attended to the seafood bar. The Ponds was the perfect venue for the wedding my daughter visualized. It is elegant, but natural. Set in a wooded area with a beautiful pond and the mountains in the background, you couldn't help but feel relaxed. The ceremony site accommodated our 120 guests nicely. We had quite a few children attend the wedding, and the surroundings were perfect for that. There was a grassy area all around the pond, an outdoor porch across the back of the venue, and plenty of open space inside the building. We even set up a corn hole game outside. One of the reasons we chose this venue was that it was associated with the Essex. We knew of their reputation and the quality of the food was very important to us. The food was outstanding! Every detail was carefully attended to. One of our guests said that the wedding was a \"culinary event.\" Everyone told us that, as parents of the bride, we would be too busy and preoccupied to enjoy the food. Not true! Our meal was so good, we sat and enjoyed every bite of it. If you are looking for a wedding venue in Vermont, you will be very pleased if you go with The Essex and The Ponds at Bolton Valley.
Reviewed on 23-07-2014

Shannon Zachary (bride) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 12-10-2013
I had an appointment for 2 days before my wedding for their Bridal Bouquet package and I had an absolutely awful experience. DO NOT DO THEIR PACKAGE DEALS! They charge you an automatic gratuity even if they cause you pain and discomfort. They said they would normally have given me a discount for the botched wax I got, but because I got the package they couldn't do anything for me. So, I left feeling pretty awful and charged a lot of money to feel like that. They also didn't let my toes dry before they escorted me back to the locker room so the pedicure was also ruined. All around a horrible experience. Would not recommend them to anyone. The technicians were nice enough, but I will never be returning.
Reviewed on 12-11-2013

Alison Smith (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 14-09-2013
Beautiful venue, wonderful staff! Our wedding weekend was absolutely fantastic, the wedding coordinator at The Essex took care of everything the day of the wedding so I didn't have to worry about a thing. The food was delicious and we danced the night away!
Reviewed on 11-10-2013

Nicole DeMuro (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2013
nice place to relax the day of the wedding.\rmake up is all natural
Reviewed on 29-09-2013

Meghann Durbrow (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 10-08-2013
i had my hair and makeup and a manicure done at the Inn. all of the gals were wonderful and sweet :) my maid of honor also got her hair and makeup done, and we were treated like queens. coffee and mimosa's were ordered in. a great experience all around.
Reviewed on 19-09-2013

Alex Crowson (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-06-2013
I skipped a trial for my hair and make-up because it was so expensive, so I was curious how things would turn out. I went with the Essex originally because it was the only place I could find that was open on Sunday, which is when my wedding was.\rHair was first, I sent in two pictures ahead of time and they had printed them out. I told her exactly what I liked from each picture and she made it happen. My hair is not easy to work with, but the staff was so knowledgable that they made it work. I loved the end result, a curly up-do with my tiara locked firmly in place. It stayed all night.\rMake-up was a bit more trial and error, mainly because she had to try different types of make-up to see which fit my skin type best. I requested a small adjustment to the eye-shadow color and she changed it immediately. They really care about making you happy there, it's not about their vision, it's about yours. Flawless results, very proffesional and friendly staff, an A+ for wedding hair and make-up!
Reviewed on 05-07-2013

Jessica Bennett (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-06-2013
My husband and I had our wedding at the Essex on June 15th. We were engaged for 2 years and spent that entire time working with the staff at the Essex to make sure we had the perfect day. Our wedding coordinator, Tiffany, was always available by phone or email. She spent many hours going through details with me and making sure that everything was exactly the way we wanted it. The day of the wedding, Tiffany was there to take all the center pieces, table numbers, place cards, etc. and ensured me that everything was all set. Everything was perfect, it could not have been better!
Reviewed on 02-07-2013

Jacqueline Chozick (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-05-2013
Tiffany helped sort out all the details of my wedding. She was wonderful and the food was good!
Reviewed on 06-06-2013

Chris Flynn (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-10-2012
My husband and I LOVED our wedding at the Ponds at Bolton Valley! The venue is absolutely beautiful, and the staff and food were incredible. We received many compliments on the venue and the food provided here (and we also loved it ourselves)! Everything was delicious and taken care of for us -- we had few responsibilities for setting up and arranging - which was much appreciated! We requested Stacey to handle our wedding, because we had heard she was wonderful. We are pleased to say that she is! She was on top of EVERYTHING we needed her to be! She was very flexible, and made countless adjustments for us (even when we had annoying last minute requests). She responded to emails and phone calls and text messages rapidly, so we always had a good handle on what was going on, as well as quick answers to our many questions. When it came to the rehearsal and the big day, she was beyond crucial to its success - she made sure that everything ran smoothly. I don't think we could have done it without her! Most of the staff at the Essex, (the hotel where we stayed that owns the Ponds) were so extremely kind and went out of their way to make sure we were comfortable and had what we needed. We cannot imagine our wedding being any more perfect - and that is highly dependent on how wonderful the venue and its staff were with us! There were certain aspects that were a big pricier than we had hoped for (which is the only tiny ding in our review) - but we also recognize that wedding prices are a bit on the nuts side! The Ponds was at least far from the most expensive, which is surprising based on the quality of service we obtained. All in all, it was a magnificent place to get married!
Reviewed on 28-10-2012

Melissa Martin (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 01-09-2012
We loved The Ponds for our ceremony and reception! It was a perfect day and our guests loved the venue. It is a beautiful setting! Con: our coordinator for The Essex/The Ponds switched several times which was concerning and stressful. We ended up with Kara for the last two weeks. She was great the day of the wedding!
Reviewed on 23-09-2012

Kate Dupuis (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 28-07-2012
We had both our wedding ceremony and reception at The Essex, and could not have been more pleased with the level of professionalism and congeniality that all staff exhibited. The grounds are lovely- our guests were super impressed, and the food was spectacular. Definitely worth the price! Additionally, the best part about having your wedding at The Essex is that you get a wedding planner included- she was GREAT and definitely thought of all of the little things that I would have overlooked.
Reviewed on 14-08-2012

Jenny Grimes (groom) 1 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 22-07-2012
Worst experience ever with a company! They are trying to make us pay more than our contract was even with proof of what we paid. They threw our wedding cake away so made us a new one. Not the same first of all and it looked TERRIBLE.
Reviewed on 11-08-2012

karri cathrall (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 30-06-2012
i cant stop talking about how wonderful i looked for my wedding. they made me look like me, but beautiful!
Reviewed on 04-08-2012

Candace Truso (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 26-05-2012
I recently had my wedding reception at the Essex and it was wonderful! All of our guests raved about the food and told us the wedding cake was the best they ever had. The staff was friendly and professional. It was so great to have everything run smoothly, especially since everything was on site. They have a salon as well and the hair and make up teams were just wonderful. Our out of town guest had a great time and enjoyed all the resort had to offer. I couldn't have wished for a better time!
Reviewed on 06-06-2012

Beth Leduc (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 03-12-2011
The Essex exceeding my expectations. They were wonderful to work with and eager to answer any and all questions that we had. I highly recommend them for any wedding or special occasion. My guests are STILL talking about the food!
Reviewed on 04-01-2012

Kathleen Davies (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 09-09-2011
The day of the wedding was amazing. The Essex did all the decorating, food, set up, take down, etc. We literally handed over our decor and it was done. There were several bumps in the planning before hand which made it really difficult. The food was amazing.
Reviewed on 13-09-2011

Ashley Langmead (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 15-07-2011
All of the food was fantastic. I really liked that the cake was included in our meal plan. My favorite thing about the Essex was the service. We did not have to do any of the decorating. We gave decorations, table numbers etc. to Stacey and she took care of the rest. It was great to not have to worry about those little things. The Essex truly prides itself on customer service. Our family and friends loved it there.
Reviewed on 03-08-2011

Heidi Conger (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 13-11-2010
The staff at the Inn was wonderful and took care of everything for me even down to the little details. I really felt strees free and knew they had everything under control. The night was perfect and the staff was wonderful. I am still hearing about how amazing the food was which is a wonderful thing to hear.
Reviewed on 07-12-2010

Nicole Mitchell (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 18-09-2010
The day went smoothly becuase they were organized and professional. I did not have to worry about anything. The food was amazing.
Reviewed on 14-10-2010

Suzzanna McVey (bride) 5 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 20-08-2010
The Essex was the best place we could have chosen for our wedding. The staff was excellent, place was beautiful and event went perfect! Guest still keep talking about how amazing the place is.
Reviewed on 24-09-2010

Sarah Polyblank (bride) 4 out of 5 Rating
Wedding Date 21-08-2010
They are great people. Very good prices adn great service. Beautiful setting. You should go.
Reviewed on 14-09-2010

94 Reviews, with a Rating of 4.73 out of 5.0

Contact Info for The Essex Resort & Spa

Contact	Value
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/pages/the-essex-vermonts-culinary-resort-and-spa/19791924970
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Website	www.essexresort.com
Phone	(800) 727-4295
Address	70 Essex Way, Essex, VT, 05452
Email	eellis@essexresort.com

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