She was on top of it all so that we could enjoy our big day! As soon as my husband and I stepped foot on property we knew this was going to be where we got married. All I can say is that anyone who gets the opportunity to work with Chris is in the best of hands. They truly cared about US, which meant so much to me. Our ceremony, cocktail hour, and the reception/dinner had to be outside, and the team at the Starting Gate came up with a wonderful plan and layout to make that possible. I loved the flexibility of the venue, knowing and trusting that no matter what happen they would put on a beautiful wedding and they delivered! The Starting Gate at GreatHorse is a wedding venue located in Hampden, MA. Starting Gate at GreatHorse Wedding Taylor and Joe knew that their wedding day had to personal, they had to share a special connection to the place where they would share their vows. Kellie & Christophe. We still to this day continue to receive many compliments about the dinner and appetizers. I wouldn't have my wedding anywhere else. uren and Chris helped plan the wedding to be less stressful despite through the pandemic. Email or phone: . Cocktails can be enjoyed on the Sunset Deck, a relaxed place that possesses 3,000 square feet of space. As well as your ceremony and reception, the venue can also provide the backdrop for your rehearsal dinner, bridal shower, and post-wedding brunch. I also want to touch on the food because it is unbelievable, every one of our guests couldn't get over how delicious it was & also the VIEWS - absolutely stunning. They were extremely detailed, organized, and attentive throughout the process. Hands down the best night of our lives and the picture perfect start to our life together! If you are in between places or trying to decide if this is the venue for you, trust me, IT IS! With a wedding package that includes everything from a private ceremony area to butlered food service, this wedding venue has it all. Secondly, the food is to die for! The beautiful Wedding Garden is an ideal spot for saying I do outdoors. The food and service all around was outstanding. F or the first time in almost 30 years, a future King of Jordan's Royal Hashemite Court will marry in a lavish wedding ceremony on June 1. Chris and her team were incredible to work with. Not only did she serve as our event manager, coordinator, and liaison, but she was also there to act as our mentor, mother, and occasional therapist - no need to hire an outside event planner! Our night went without a hitch because all the hard work going on behind the scenes. Kat helped take care of us- she served us our light breakfast spread, cleared our messes, made sure lunch was served and always knew when to bring more champagne. You can tell this venue strives to provide the utmost quality in everything they do. To the entire Starting Gate Team, we cannot begin to express our gratitude for hosting the most perfect day for us. Lauren helped ease the stress of our wedding day- and we had little to nothing to worry about when it came to pulling everything together for our big day. GreatHorse was truly a dream wedding. As our wedding day got closer, we found out that Lauren was pregnant and was due the day after our wedding. Despite having to make many last minute adjustments due to COVID, Chris and the entire team at The Starting Gate seamlessly created our wedding to be everything we could have dreamed of and more! s we navigated planning a wedding during Covid -19, ensuring that we followed safety guidelines and protocols. Drive through the gated entryway to our mountainside stone and cedar venue with its four season magnificent views of the Connecticut River Valley. They made great drinks and every time I looked they always had smiles. There are two Reception Rooms that can be combined for large-scale gatherings. She made sure my fianc didnt see me before I walked down the aisle and that guests werent in the reception area went I went down for first look with my dad. They engaged in conversation with my guests and it looked like they were having fun too. Chef, Chris Cotes culinary expertise and special touches did not go unnoticed. The Best. They were friendly, efficient and organized. Breath taking venue, amazing food, top notch wedding planners. This breathtaking panorama is reflected in our luxe design and uncompromised service. Weddings Social Events Meetings and Receptions Explore Our Spaces The Starting Gate at GreatHorse offers an event space that is perfect for hosting everything from galas and grand receptions to intimate gatherings and corporate meetingswith a view! The starting gate from the moment we walked through their doors on our venue tour exceeded our expectations thoroughly. Our wedding planner Lauren Pastoreck created an accurate expectation for us from our first conversation and visit to the property, then over delivered at every turn from there. Chris had wonderful suggestions, including passed ice cream cones that were a huge hit with our guests! My husband and I were able to enjoy our entire day and not have to think twice about anything, she and the incredible staff clearly had it all under control. I trusted her whole-heartedly to handle anything that came her way. Their ballroom is also stunning, but we didn't end up needing it because of our modified 2020 wedding :) Cannot recommend the Starting Gate enough! We had the nightmare of planning during the Covid-19 pandemic and being screwed over by our original venue. could trust them with making sure y day felt special and beautiful. As a extremely type A bride, Chris kept my stress to a minimum, answered all of my constant questions, ensured every tiny detail was perfect, without us having to life a finger. Our pictures are more than I could have ever asked for, largely in part due to the setting. The service was top notch. We can't thank the team enough for our flawless day!! The Ambiance. From the grounds, to the food, to the service, this venue is top notch and five star in every respect. Note: the food for the bridal suite is worth every penny for the day of getting ready. Featuring an elegant gazebo, immaculate garden, and waterfall, this open-air setting is sure to impress your nearest and dearest. It beats any venue I had seen in CT. Lauren assured us, though, that we were in great hands with Chris, the other coordinator, and boy, was she right!! It is a hidden gem, tucked discretely away atop a hill overlooking a beautiful countryside, with even a glimpse of the Springfield city My husband and I had our wedding reception at GreatHorse in October. There is not another venue in the Western Mass area that can compare to GreatHorse. ssionalism and attention to detail. It's truly an amazing place to have your wedding at. Lauren was so helpful and understanding when we had to postpone our wedding due to COVID and she worked with us to find a new date that would be perfect for us. If you are unsure in any way JUST BOOK IT you wont regret your decision. When the pandemic started to get serious in early Spring, we had no idea what was in store for us. I truly can not say enough good things. Both the appetizers and entrees were creative and delicious. She learned my personality throughout my planning process and suggested things she knew I would love (we had a wine wall at cocktail hour!!!!). The Food You wont be eating mediocre catering food here! The inside of the venue is classy and elegant, while still allowing your personal style to shine with the florals and decor that you choose. Great scenery - five stars. Finally, I cant forget to mention the food! Its not everyday that you find someone so passionate about their job, but Chris truly hit the ball out of the park with the execution of our event. Our guests love Wow. The venue and the coordinator go out of their way to make your wedding special!! st arrive, you drive through iron gates onto the perfectly manicured grounds that overlook the most amazing view you will ever see. Sullivans level of attention to detail. . A huge benefit of booking with The Starting Gate at Greathorse is the versatility. Thank you GreatHorse for making our wedding the best day of our lives! The Starting Gate and their staff were nothing short of incredible. We are forever grateful to have found such an amazing place that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. 1. We love Starting Gate! Thank you to Chris and the SG team! You get what you pay for! 128 Wilbraham Road. A wide range of useful event items will be provided, such as chairs, tables, an altar, and a dance floor. We were then greeted by Chris for our tour, and it felt as if she was welcoming us as family into her home. When we opened the door, a server was waiting for us with our signature drinks in hand! MEET Rachel Share: The Starting Gate at GreatHorse Wedding Uncategorized Salt Water Farm Vineyard Stonington Connecticut Wedding The Starting Gate - Spring Wedding The Mountain Top Inn Winter Wedding Providence Rhode Island Engagement Session NYE | Lord Thompson Manor Wedding You May Also Enjoy: Read the Post . An amazing place. With the backdrop of the mountains, you'll be able to set the mood for romance and a memorable celebration. From the amazing floral gardens, to the fabulous ballroom, to a wedding garden and deck that look like they fell out of a magazine, you will be floating from the second you tour the event spaces. We are still getting feedback from various guests expressing how beautiful the location was, how amazing every aspect of the wedding was, along with how friendly and awesome the staff and bartenders were! Plan your wedding wherever and whenever you want on the WeddingWire App. I would go with this venue over any other venue not only for the beautiful atmosphere but also the quality of the service provided. The Starting Gate also offers additional services such as event set-up, bartending, and a dance floor. We all know how difficult it was to plan a wedding during covid. The little touches of decorations, from the signature drink signs, some extra florals, and the food stations, all helped make the day as magical as we wanted. They will answer all your questions. She was there every step of the way during the months leading up to the wedding. To the views, the staff, the food and everything in between its amazing. We also had our rehearsal dinner at the venue on the deck and it had the same quality and level of service as the day of the wedding. The views from the deck and the wedding garden are breathtaking. If you want to be able to actually fully enjoy your wedding day, call Chris now!!! We carefully listen and ensure that your every wish is reected in each detail you request. Going into wedding planning, I really didn't want to do a Friday wedding but for a quick turnaround that was really our only option if we wanted to get married while the weather was warm enough to do the ceremony outside. The Starting Gate is a unique venue for your mountain-side wedding. The Starting Gate is a beautiful place with spectacular views, but what separates this venue from most is the staff and people you get to work with while planning your big day as well as the staff that are working on your big day. Both were by our side throughout our wedding day making sure we were taken care of, and that every detail within our wedding was in the perfect spot. We worked with Lauren Pastoreck the wedding coordinator and from the second we met her she blew us away with how kind, helpful and attentive and just overall a BOSS at making your day absolutely stress free and seamless. The entire evening, our guests were complimenting us on the service of the serving staff and we can't thank Chris, Meghan, and Lauren enough for how smoothly everything went. The detail in the high copper ceilings, the gorgeous chandeliers, the beautiful stone fireplace, the spacious wrap around deck overlooking the views and the sides that can go up an down to accommodate the weather without taking away from the view (even the rest rooms are stunning)! The Starting Gate truly exudes luxury and makes any event feel very exclusive. In addition, a complimentary tasting for four is available ahead of the festivities. She was there every step of the way, e-mail, phone calls, touching base, and making sure we were always on the same page. She made it so easy (or as easy as planning a wedding during a pandemic can be ;)) and helped keep everything so organized. She made recommendations without overstepping- she knows her stuff!! The food is AMAZING and the options are endless. Home; The Starting Gate at GreatHorse made our dream wedding a reality! Our guests have repeatedly told us it is the best wedding they have ever been to and that the food was the best they have ever had. Haley & Ankur. Lots of couples decided to postpone a full year, but we were set on getting married sooner rather than later. She is organized and responsive and so sweet! Read more newlyweds who appreciate picturesque scenery and tranquility. They made sure that our vision was heard and followed in a way that I didn't know was even possible! Our guests enjoyed the views from cocktail hour until the end of the night. We were treated to a fun breakfast spread and mimosas as soon as we arrived. ried anywhere else-- we were in the BEST of hands. We became vegetarian halfway through and we were able to do another tasting to try vegetarian options for our wedding. Our guests are still talking about how it was the best wedding that they've ever been to! 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