4.9
Praised by couples for:
Amenities
Quality catering
Guests comfort
Iconic Gardens. Unforgettable Weddings.
Recently updated
This vendor updated their storefront within the last 15 days.
Holds ceremonies and receptions
We’re so happy that we chose to have our wedding at the Stone Mill. The outdoor terrace was a perfect backdrop to our wedding in September, and it was a perfect venue that made us and our guests feel as if we were outside of NYC. Candice, Chantal, Sasha, and the Constellation team were lovely to work with! Since we booked our wedding over 2 years ahead, we had 4 different contacts along the way but our day-of point of contact Candice was warm, responsive, and helpful— we loved working with her! Candice generously answered every question we had over email, video consultations, and during our final walkthrough, and she made us feel at ease throughout the wedding planning process.
On the wedding day, Candice, Sasha, and the team made us feel taken care of, from driving us around the gardens for photos to making sure we had something to eat in the bridal suite. Many of our guests also raved about the food and said that it’s the best food they’ve had at a wedding.
There was one small communication issue with NYBG security at the gate about allowing guests to drive through the gardens to be dropped off at the Stone Mill, but we didn’t even notice it the day of. Even with that little bump, everything went smoothly. We’re so grateful we got to work with Candice and the Constellation team, and we recommend getting married at the Stone Mill!
Lala K.
5.0
My husband and I got married at the Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Gardens on 9/14/24 and I am in constant awe of the memories of how perfect our day was. We initially toured the venue with Chantal and immediately felt like her and her team were people we would like to work with. She’s warm, kind, and you can tell she’s very on top of things. The Stone Mill itself is such a unique and perfect venue - it’s like a warm, romantic, cozy stone cottage structure in a secluded forest on the river while still being in the city! Throughout the wedding planning process, we worked with both Chantal and Brittany and they were both wonderful to work with! They were prompt with responses and were so helpful in working out any issue or decision that we needed assistance with. Sometimes we felt like we were bombarding with too many emails but they were always super kind and helpful! There was a large group tasting in July for all the upcoming weddings and it was so fun to attend - they set it up like your attending a wedding itself and trying food in both a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner portion. The wedding itself was nothing short of an absolute DREAM! We had about 100 guests which felt like the perfect size for this space. We also got ready in the morning in Manhattan and it was easy to transfer up to the venue! We knew the space itself would be stunning (and it was!), but we were also blown away by the NYBG team. On the day of, we saw some of both Brittany and Chantal and had a bridal attendant taking care of us. They made us both feel like the most special people in the world and like they were there to make sure our day was absolutely perfect - and it was! We arrived to Champagne and snacks for the wedding party before photos. There is a small bridal suite with a private bathroom to get dressed in. My husband and I were driven around in a golf cart for photos and they know exactly where to bring you to get stunning pictures! The wedding itself went seamlessly - there isn’t a person who worked with us that isn’t both extremely kind and so professional. Guests are greeted upon arrival with a glass of champagne and a valet who parks their car. The venue itself feels so private and it was so lovely to hear the peaceful river during the ceremony. After the ceremony, my husband and I were escorted to the bridal suite where the staff had stocked it with all the food from cocktail hour and drinks to make sure we didn’t miss anything! The food was amazing!! We had so many guests commenting on this being the best wedding food they’ve ever had, how kind everyone who worked the wedding was, and what a stunning venue it was! There was a small issue with the cake that wasn’t even a big deal and they handled it perfectly but as an apology for there being a small inconvenience, my husband and I were welcomed home from our honeymoon with a cake from the bakery who made our wedding cake as a gift from the venue staff! I truly truly can’t recommend enough getting married at the Stone Mill. We felt so taken care of and celebrated at all times, it’s such a unique and beautiful venue, and they have the absolute best team. When I think of our wedding, I think of the word magical and that’s largely in part to what an amazing venue we chose. It’s also so cool to be able to go back to the gardens now after the wedding and relive the memories of the day. We highly recommend and couldn’t be more grateful to the team for helping to make our day as special as it was!
Piper H.
5.0
Rebeca Spensieri
DIRECTOR OF CATERING SALES
AWARD WINNER (6X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Surrounded by 250 acres of breathtaking gardens, historic architecture, and ever-changing seasonal landscapes, The New York Botanical Garden offers one of New York City's most extraordinary wedding destinations. Couples can choose from two distinctive venues, each offering its own unique charm and unforgettable setting.
The Stone Mill is a beautifully restored historic venue nestled among lush gardens and tranquil waterways, just steps from the iconic Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden. Perfect for intimate celebrations of up to 100 guests, it combines rustic elegance, natural beauty, and timeless romance.
The Garden Terrace Room offers a sophisticated ballroom experience with sparkling chandeliers, expansive windows, and a stunning garden tent for cocktails. Surrounded by the Garden's extraordinary landscapes and seasonal blooms, it accommodates celebrations of up to 275 guests.
As the Garden's exclusive catering and events partner, CxRA brings each celebration to life through exceptional cuisine, personalized service, thoughtful event design, and seamless execution. Inspired by the world of acclaimed restaurants and backed by the renowned Restaurant Associates family, we create unforgettable wedding experiences where every detail is carefully curated and every moment is effortlessly memorable.
For couples seeking a wedding immersed in natural beauty, whether an intimate gathering at the historic Stone Mill or a grand celebration in the elegant Garden Terrace Room, The New York Botanical Garden offers a setting unlike anywhere else in New York City.
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Estate
Garden
Historic Venue
Museum
Park
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Cakes & Desserts
Cupcakes
Other Desserts
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
6-Time 'Best of Weddings'
2022.2021.2020.+3 more.
Best of Weddings
The Knot independently assesses vendors for this award—it’s never self-reported. We base it on firsthand experiences from real couples and guests, and they must have a 4.5-star average across 7+ reviews in the qualifying year.
Hall of Fame
Earned by winning 'Best of Weddings' four or more times.
Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding
Meet the team
Rebeca Spensieri
Director of Catering Sales
With over 20 years of hospitality and wedding industry experience, Rebeca Spensieri is dedicated to creating seamless, personalized celebrations at The New York Botanical Garden. As Director of Catering Sales, she helps couples transform their vision into an unforgettable wedding experience, combining exceptional service, thoughtful planning, and the natural beauty of one of New York City's most iconic venues.
Reviews
4.9
out of 5.099 reviews
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Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
The Stone Mill at NYBG is praised as a magical, unique, and picturesque venue with beautiful gardens and a cozy, romantic atmosphere. Reviewers applauded the attentive, professional team who made planning and the wedding day run smoothly. Guests raved about the food and said small issues were handled promptly.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Piper H
Highlighted review.
5.0
My husband and I got married at the Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Gardens on 9/14/24 and I am in constant awe of the memories of how perfect our day was. We initially toured...
the venue with Chantal and immediately felt like her and her team were people we would like to work with. She’s warm, kind, and you can tell she’s very on top of things. The Stone Mill itself is such a unique and perfect venue - it’s like a warm, romantic, cozy stone cottage structure in a secluded forest on the river while still being in the city! Throughout the wedding planning process, we worked with both Chantal and Brittany and they were both wonderful to work with! They were prompt with responses and were so helpful in working out any issue or decision that we needed assistance with. Sometimes we felt like we were bombarding with too many emails but they were always super kind and helpful! There was a large group tasting in July for all the upcoming weddings and it was so fun to attend - they set it up like your attending a wedding itself and trying food in both a cocktail hour and sit-down dinner portion. The wedding itself was nothing short of an absolute DREAM! We had about 100 guests which felt like the perfect size for this space. We also got ready in the morning in Manhattan and it was easy to transfer up to the venue! We knew the space itself would be stunning (and it was!), but we were also blown away by the NYBG team. On the day of, we saw some of both Brittany and Chantal and had a bridal attendant taking care of us. They made us both feel like the most special people in the world and like they were there to make sure our day was absolutely perfect - and it was! We arrived to Champagne and snacks for the wedding party before photos. There is a small bridal suite with a private bathroom to get dressed in. My husband and I were driven around in a golf cart for photos and they know exactly where to bring you to get stunning pictures! The wedding itself went seamlessly - there isn’t a person who worked with us that isn’t both extremely kind and so professional. Guests are greeted upon arrival with a glass of champagne and a valet who parks their car. The venue itself feels so private and it was so lovely to hear the peaceful river during the ceremony. After the ceremony, my husband and I were escorted to the bridal suite where the staff had stocked it with all the food from cocktail hour and drinks to make sure we didn’t miss anything! The food was amazing!! We had so many guests commenting on this being the best wedding food they’ve ever had, how kind everyone who worked the wedding was, and what a stunning venue it was! There was a small issue with the cake that wasn’t even a big deal and they handled it perfectly but as an apology for there being a small inconvenience, my husband and I were welcomed home from our honeymoon with a cake from the bakery who made our wedding cake as a gift from the venue staff! I truly truly can’t recommend enough getting married at the Stone Mill. We felt so taken care of and celebrated at all times, it’s such a unique and beautiful venue, and they have the absolute best team. When I think of our wedding, I think of the word magical and that’s largely in part to what an amazing venue we chose. It’s also so cool to be able to go back to the gardens now after the wedding and relive the memories of the day. We highly recommend and couldn’t be more grateful to the team for helping to make our day as special as it was!
Lala K
5.0
We’re so happy that we chose to have our wedding at the Stone Mill. The outdoor terrace was a perfect backdrop to our wedding in September, and it was a perfect venue that made us ...
and our guests feel as if we were outside of NYC. Candice, Chantal, Sasha, and the Constellation team were lovely to work with! Since we booked our wedding over 2 years ahead, we had 4 different contacts along the way but our day-of point of contact Candice was warm, responsive, and helpful— we loved working with her! Candice generously answered every question we had over email, video consultations, and during our final walkthrough, and she made us feel at ease throughout the wedding planning process.
On the wedding day, Candice, Sasha, and the team made us feel taken care of, from driving us around the gardens for photos to making sure we had something to eat in the bridal suite. Many of our guests also raved about the food and said that it’s the best food they’ve had at a wedding.
There was one small communication issue with NYBG security at the gate about allowing guests to drive through the gardens to be dropped off at the Stone Mill, but we didn’t even notice it the day of. Even with that little bump, everything went smoothly. We’re so grateful we got to work with Candice and the Constellation team, and we recommend getting married at the Stone Mill!
Any questions?
Kathryn I
3.0
My husband and I got married at NYBG - The Stone Mill in October 2024. It was a wonderful wedding. If we could, we would get married there again.
PROS:
1. Location is beautiful b...
oth inside and outside! Includes a golf cart to take pictures around the garden.
2. The food is delicious. Our guests raved about the food.
3. The staff work really, really hard to bring your vision alive. We are so appreciative of all their efforts leading up to and on the day of our wedding. They like to joke "We'll never say no" and it definitely felt true!
4. The Stone Mill is literally the only venue we toured that was 100% accessible for our loved ones in wheelchairs or walkers.
CONS:
1. We had some beverage issues including upgrading beers which took a long time to figure out. This is not the fault of the people we worked with at the garden but Constellation Culinary as a whole entity should be more organized with this. They also missed wine service at my family table which is a bit of faux pas.
2. Our wedding started before the garden closed and required us to book the mandatory NYBG Operated Garden Trams from the entrance to The Stone Mill. The shuttles were a 1/2 hour late, leaving our guests stranded in the parking lot with no seating. This was disappointing but we were extremely upset that they wouldn't let our guests make room for 4 more people to get on the shuttle, including elderly and non-able-bodied folks. They had to wait an additional 20 minutes for the next shuttle. Although we were not there, we've been told that our guests and the staff exchanged unhappy words over this. Despite this issue, I would like to share that Constellation Culinary handled this extremely professionally. In email follow-ups after our wedding, they immediately apologized and offered us a refund (which we didn't ask for). Not all wedding vendors are this professional so it really shows how much they value giving their couples the very best day.
A K
5.0
We had a dream perfect wedding at NYBG! Everything was incredible and guests are still raving about how beautiful of a wedding it was. The grounds were gorgeous to take our pre-cer...
emony photos with our bridal party and family. The food looked and tasted delicious. Marcus was our event manager and he is SO kind, professional, and a great communicator. We feel so lucky to have worked with him. Also shoutout to Sasha our wonderful bridal attendant who kept us hydrated, fed, and stress-free all day. Similarly to another reviewer here, we wanted to get married at a historic institution we could visit and take our future children to instead of a venue solely built to churn out weddings. I look forward to visiting NYBG in the future with find memories of our perfect wedding day. Thank you to everyone at NYBG for making our day so special.
Efy l
5.0
Took a year to piat this review but that is no reflection on the amazing job by the staff of the Stone Mill at NYBG. Our wedding plans were complicated by our COVID engagement, whi...
ch resulted in some turnover at this venue. Nevertheless, Nina Dolin, the director assigned to our event, and her staff were unfailingly professional and responsive, delivering beyond our expectations. All our guests commented on the attentiveness of the staff, and quality and taste of the food and beverages, not to mention the beauty of the venue. They also provided some expert tips for decorations and setups. You will be pleased and this little gem, set in a wooded garden with a river running through it,is uniquely gorgeous. It was truly a magical setting and evening. Thank you Nina and the Stone Mill!
O M
5.0
We really wanted to choose a wedding venue that would be around forever and that wasn't just a venue that churned out weddings - we wanted it to be a place that was meaningful to u...
s so that we could take our future children there one day and visit on our anniversary. From the moment we saw the Stone Mill at NYBG, we knew that we would get married there. It was just magical. This impression only became stronger after meeting Chantal, who is truly professional. We immediately understood that she truly cared about us instead of trying to push a sale. She knows everything there is to know about her business. She was so patient and generous with her time in answering our many questions, and she was so respectful of everyone involved. With her intuition and attention to good fit, she also paired us with incredible staff - bridal attendant Sasha and service captain Zachary - who took impeccable care of us and our guests. Sasha had a keen eye and helped me immensely as a bride to look and feel at my best and most comfortable. Throughout the process, Chantal was there with her attention to detail and made us feel like we were the only wedding in the universe. She was available on our wedding day to supervise and problem-solve immediately, and we could tell that she is so loved and respected by her staff for a reason. We were so fortunate to work with her and her team and would not hesitate to do so again.
Carolee R
5.0
I had my wedding at the StoneMill this past weekend and it was perfect ! The food, the drinks, the decor , every aspect of it . I worked with Nina Dolin and she was absolutely amaz...
ing ! She truly has a talent for what she does . If you can request her .. do it! Every questions I had answered , every request I had she found out if it was doable .. and it always was! She was also super sweet and easy to work with. I don’t think I could have asked for a better wedding or would change one thing. If you are thinking about getting married here … do it!
Caroline A
5.0
My husband and I were so incredibly lucky to be put in the hands of Chantal Hoggs. From our initial interactions and conversations via email, we instantly clicked and a massive sen...
se of relief was put over us both knowing that we were in good hands. To say that Chantal went above and beyond was an understatement. She made sure to tend to every single detail, concern, question, hope and fear without any hesitation. She truly was our rock throughout the entire process and there is no way our incredible day would have been possible without her. Chantal and her team made sure every single moment went smoothly during our day and she brought every vision and every dream for my wedding day to life. She was always there making sure my husband and I had a drink in our hands and a smile on our faces. She even made sure to remind us to savor every moment big and small. Every memory I have of that day is a beautiful one and it was only possible because of Chantal. I am genuinely sad my wedding day is over for a number of reasons, but a big one being that I don’t get to have as many interactions with Chantal! Thank you so much to EVERYONE at the NYBG. To this day we have not stopped receiving compliments. They helped us out together a spectacular and truly magical wedding day and we will forever be grateful!
Shindy S
5.0
Book them today!!! I am a wedding planner who just worked my first wedding at the Stone Mill building in the NYBG. This venue offers the best of the best. The team will move mount...
ains for their couples. Nina, the director of catering at the Garden is absolute top tier. Both empathetic and extremely professional. Victoria, the maitre d was the absolute best. Medardo the couple's attendant was the sweetest most attentive person you've ever met. Only great things to say about this team.
Allison J
5.0
Working with Katie Parker and the entire Constellation team at the NYBG was a complete dream come true for our wedding! First, the location. You cannot get a more beautiful locati...
on in the NYC area than the NYBG and for us, the Stone Mill. The moment we visited we knew this was the place for us to have our special day. It is beautiful in every season and we lucked out with a gorgeous end of summer evening that allowed for the most stunning ceremony overlooking the Bronx river. Second, the staff. Everyone we worked with was incredible, and especially Katie Parker who oversaw our day. Her attention to detail and attentiveness helped to make our day magical. She went above and beyond in helping to ensure that what we envisioned became a reality (including hand delivering wedding cake to our apartment after our tasting to ensure that we could taste it fresh). Third, the food and what’s included. We knew the food would be amazing after eating at the NYBG restaurant multiple times and we were blown away by the food for the wedding, as were our guests who can’t stop talking about the food and drinks. Choosing the NYBG meant we didn’t have to think about bringing in service staff and linens and other details and it felt as close to a one-stop-(top of the line)-shop for our wedding. Truly, the best decision we made was the StoneMill/NYBG for our wedding!
Anne Marie D
5.0
We were married in the Garden Terrace Room on June 3 and everything about the day exceeded our expectations. Katie Parker and her team perfectly orchestrated a beautiful event. E...
verything involved leading up the day was impeccably organized. Katie coordinated numerous calls and a site visit - she was accommodating to every single request. The day of was incredibly smooth and flawless. Our bridal suite was overflowing with drinks and snacks (so appreciated) and all of our guests raved about the food AND the service. The feedback from everyone was: “The best wedding ever” and the backdrop of the gardens is simply unmatched. The team at NYBG is exceptional at what they do ... would recommend 12/10 and only wish we could do it over again!
Ruchi J
5.0
Our May 21 wedding at the Stone Mill was everything we imagined it to be and more! Constellation Culinary at NYBG were more than accommodating to all of our needs for a multicultur...
al ceremony and reception. Katie Parker was highly responsive and very professional and helped bring our vision to life!
Jessica F
4.0
We got married at the NYBG in the Garden Terrace Room last September. It was an amazing and perfect day and the team does an amazing job. The only downside about the NYBG is that t...
hey are pros and your wedding is not a big deal to them as they do it all the time, so they are not the most responsive. Even my planners had a hard time trying to get them to answer the phones to coordinate the timeline.
Tatyana F
5.0
We got married at the NYBG in the Stone Mill on December 10th. The venue is beautiful, even in the winter. We worked with Monica Chimes for floral decor and they did an incredible ...
job. Chantal, who was our main contact for the event, and she was always prompt in responding and answering our questions. The tasting is so fun - I recommend not driving yourself because they are very gratuitous in their alcohol tasting - especially as you craft your own signature drink! The food is SO GOOD. Incredible. We had a chicken dish and beef dish and a goat cheese radish salad appetizer, and the beef dish we didn’t like the pasta it originally came with at the tasting and changed it to a mashed potato and again, they are so flexible in making this event special to you. We had 70 people at our wedding and it was very comfortable both at the downstairs room for cocktail hour and we did round tables (9 tables with a mix of 9 and 8 or 10 seats) and there was elbow room and plenty of dancing space, even with a 7 piece band. We had a jazz brass trio during cocktail hour. The service at our wedding was fantastic. We got married at another location so this was our reception venue only and we had the space from 6-12. Remember that the garden closes before 6 but they won’t let people drive up to the stone mill until then so folks will be lined up before hand. I think that was the only thing to navigate - it’s also a long drive (and in December in the dark!) from the mosholu gate to the stone mill and the golf cart meant to escort the line of cars died on the drive so our parents had to lead the procession themselves lol and got a bit lost but hey - that’s part of the experience of the garden! Maybe having more signage for future weddings making their way there. I would recommend this as a wedding venue to anyone who is looking for a romantic, rustic, intimate theme to their day. Even in December we had the florist put bistro lights on the patio outside and many people went outside to get some fresh air even though it was very cold the day of our wedding!
Lauren S
5.0
I knew I wanted to get married at NYBG's Stone Mill before I was engaged and choosing the venue was an easy choice after visiting it. It has a simple and rustic elegance and is re...
ally in a world of its own for being in NYC nestled in the forest on the engage of the Bronx River. Our planned May 2020 wedding was postponed a record three times until we were finally able to move forward in May 2022. Each time, the venue was incredibly accommodating, letting us push the date due to the pandemic. Over the three years since I booked the venue and when my wedding actually took place, the onsite event vendor/caterer Constellation went through 4 different directors of events/persons of contact and there were definitely some ups and downs. Chantal Hogg was our last person of contact who finally brought us to the finish line and she was absolutely great! She knows what she is talking about, gets things done and aims to please her couples. The day of the wedding I was so impressed about how beautiful the space looked and our guests raved about the location and the food. The day of staff executed their jobs flawlessly even given some timing changes due to rain and traffic delays. Plus there are so many beautiful spots to take couples portraits around the garden! My husband and I are very happy with our choice to get married at NYBG's Stone Mill!
Elise G
5.0
Wow, wow, wow, and more wow. We booked the Stone Mill for a spring wedding. It is a gorgeous venue, with your ceremony being able to be outdoors along the Bronx river, cocktail bei...
ng half in and out, and the mill itself is just a work of art for your reception.
Unfortunately, we got rained out for our ceremony. We had envisioned this gorgeous outdoor garden wedding, but it had to be moved inside. All I can say is we have no idea what we were missing. They handled it seamlessly, amazingly, and made sure we were comfortable and happy the entire time. It was STUNNING even when moved indoors. Not to mention the service, the food, the everything was top notch. Better than we could have ever hoped for.
All I can say, is if an outdoor based venue and group can make your indoor rainy wedding this magical, do not think twice and book this venue for your wedding. Amazing amazing amazing experience.
Julie J
2.0
Unfortunately, we will not be getting married at the NYBG! We did a tour with the director of catering and emailed back and forth afterwards but we simply stopped receiving replies...
. I was left stunned! My last email stated we were ready to send our deposit but had a list of questions (both new ones and confirming information from previous emails). I said we were ready to send a deposit once our minds were at ease a bit as we were booking from out of state and had sent a relative to tour on our behalf. After 2 weeks, I reached out to a second contact with constellation catering but also never received a reply from her. It’s been over a month and we’ve booked another venue. Congrats to any brides that manage to book here! I wish you a beautiful wedding and a much better experience.
Nicolette G
5.0
I am BLESSED to have been given Chantal Hogg as my person of contact at NYBG. She is incredible!! Chantal is so easy to work with, professional but also so invested in her couples....
She is so accommodating and will do anything to make you happy. NYBG is so lucky to have found her. The venue speaks for itself in regards to beauty but its the staff that makes the difference. My wedding is in September 2023 but the process thus far has been easy and enjoyable working with this vendor.
Lauren C
5.0
Estee and the NYBG team put together a beautiful and seamless day for our wedding. Estee did an incredible job coordinating in advance and day of, and the whole team made sure ever...
ything went smoothly, from collecting vaccination cards to having drinks ready for the toasts and more! We know it was not easy with frequent date changes and a pandemic, and they were so flexible and patient with us as we worked through it. We initially wanted to get married in the Stone Mill but because we had a larger group, we eventually chose the Garden Terrace and loved the location. The murals in the room are beautiful and the space worked great for getting ready, taking pictures with the conservatory in the background, and having a separate space for the cocktail hour. Everyone had such lovely things to say about NYBG and even though it was the location's beauty and gardens that attracted us, the team really made the different with their top-notch coordination and focus on the details. Would highly recommend!
Julia R
5.0
We were disappointed our wedding did not turn out the way we planned due to COVID. But want to give 5 stars to NYBG and Constellation for their support and understanding in respons...
e to COVID and the ensuing mess it created. They were extremely flexible and willing to problem solve and it is clear they operate with integrity, which I know was most often not the case with many vendors industry-wide. If you are looking to book with Constellation/NYBG, know that you will be in attentive and caring hands!
Jillian T
5.0
I have no words to accurately describe how amazing and perfect everything was for our wedding at the NYBG. The entire team put so much focus and thought into every detail of our we...
dding. The entire night ran so smoothly - it’s hard to believe there was not even one issue. I can’t get over how perfect everything was. Honestly I am a perfectionist and you can tell that the team at NYBG is as well. The food, the team, the service, the space- all perfect. I am so grateful that we got married there.
Rachel J
5.0
Ok so COVID was hard. Obviously there was a lot of administrative issues that were not the venue’s fault and they did the best they could to help me plan, answer my questions, and ...
be flexible. The end result was gorgeous, delicious, and easy. My wedding was as close to perfect as possible due in no small part to their staff. Especially my bridal attendant Sasha! I think the only downside to this place as a venue is the bridal suite is small.
Samantha W
5.0
We had our wedding in the Garden Terrace room after two COVID postponements. Laura is the absolute best--she was so flexible and supporting through our postponements, took the tim...
e to answer all of our questions, and even worked with us to create a smaller wedding than planned because of COVID. Constellation was also incredible. Everyone raved about the food and service. It's the most beautiful location with the most amazing staff.
Monica J
5.0
We (finally) had our wedding at the Stone Mill at New York Botanical Garden in May 2021, after postponing from April 2020 to Sept 2020 to finally May 2021 due to covid. Through it ...
all, the Constellation team, and specifically Laura Bass, were incredibly accommodating and flexible.
Beyond the support planning and replanning our event (through all sorts of changing covid guidelines) -- the venue itself is incredible. We were looking for a smaller, intimate venue that also was near enough to the heart of NYC that allowed our out of state guests lots of flexibility and convenient airports and lodging. Stone Mill was perfect. We hosted our ceremony outside behind the building, then dinner upstairs in the dining room, then back outside for dancing under the stars.
The staff during the event was incredible. I had multiple people tell me how impressed they were with the service. Our bridal attendant was there exactly when we needed a refresh of drink, offered to get us custom plates of food from cocktail hour and ensured we had everything we could possibly need in the bridal suite.
If you're looking to book a picture-perfect venue with a partner team that will make the planning process easy and stress free, book at NYBG. I wish I could do it all over just to be able to enjoy our wedding day again <3
Christine Y
5.0
We had our wedding in August 2019 at the Garden Terrace Room at NYBG. Laura Bass and the whole team at Constellation were the BEST to work with Laura is a true professional and wa...
s so helpful throughout the entire planning process; it was a breath of fresh air to plan and coordinate our big day with her. We have the utmost respect for her and her team. Constellation delivers excellent customer service, and we could not have asked for a more perfect wedding day. We had an absolutely dream wedding ceremony and reception on a beautiful day, and the venue was perfect! Our guests raved about ALL of the delicious food and the gardens. The staff were super nice and attentive on the wedding night, and we were even given a celebratory champagne bottle to go and the top of our wedding cake wrapped neatly in a box. We got to take wedding portraits with our photographer and videographer before and after the ceremony on the grounds, and we're so grateful to have captured those moments. We explored NYBG as a wedding venue because of its amazing reviews, and we were definitely not disappointed!
Kara H
5.0
I'm not sure where to even begin, and I'm not sure that I could accurately describe how perfect the Stonemill is. From the food, to the staff, to how breathtakingly gorgeous it is,...
everything was stunning. We're still having guests who attended text/call us three months later to rave about how perfect everything was.
As two brides, we were a bit apprehensive when looking for venues/vendors, but it was a complete non-issue for NYBG/Constellation. We never felt anything other than welcomed/celebrated by everyone on the team. Please go look at this venue; I'd be surprised if it doesn't fly to the top of your list.
Jewel J
5.0
The Stone Mill at NYBG is truly magical. No where else this close to the city can you find such tranquil and lush nature to have a wedding. The indoor and outdoor space are both be...
autiful and intimate, and the food is amazing. Besides the venue itself and the catering, our contact Laura Bass is a dream to work with. She was very responsive during the wedding planning phase and coordinated with all our vendors seamlessly before and during the wedding - we did not have to do anything more than giving our vendor Laura's contacts. The day of she was very calm and helpful even when the bride was freaking out about the chance of rain, we felt lucky to have her helping us organize our big day. Highly recommend everything about this venue!
Erika B
5.0
In searching for a wedding venue, we wanted something unique and intimate. When we saw the Stone Mill online, we knew it had great potential. When we visited the stone mill and met...
Lauren, we instantly knew it was the spot for us. From the day we met Lauren, she was helpful and understanding, she made the entire process so easy for us. No wedding planner needed, the Stone Mill had everything we could of asked for. What made it so great was that everything was included (food, bar, linens, tables, etc). . I highly recommend C&C lighting for the space which gave us beautiful bistro lighting outdoors and romantic lighting inside.
The day of the wedding the staff couldn't of been more wonderful. Lauren's calm demeanor was exactly what we needed after running late in the Bronx traffic! Lauren set us up with Yonis, who took care of the entire wedding party like he had been part of our crew for years. He was so attentive and wonderful to all of us. He took us around the garden for pictures and was there for us for the duration of the evening. My family and friends could not say enough about how wonderful the food was at the Stone Mill (total bride regret of not having time to eat!). Overall such a wonderful team, we can't wait to get our pictures back. Such a beautiful place staffed by wonderful photos back and relive every moment. Thank you to the team at the stone mill, especially Lauren and Yonis for a day we will never forget!
Scott L
5.0
Folks always talk about their wedding and how it was the best day of their lives, and having now experienced it at the Bronx Botanical Gardens I can say the same. The venue, we wen...
t with the Stone Mill, was exactly what we wanted. The outdoor setting with the Bronx River rushing in the background was serene. The staff was so attentive and accommodating, we'd do it all over in a heartbeat. As an example, I had forgotten to bring N/A beer the week/day leading up to the wedding, as we had a few guests who don't drink. I went to the staff during the cocktail hour, and within 15 minutes someone had went to the store and purchased it for us. That is service!
Kenny H
5.0
My wife and I just had our wedding at the New York Botanical Gardens in the Bronx three weeks ago. The wedding was gorgeous (we got compliments on everything from ceremony through ...
last song), and we are still coming down from the excitement!
*Pros*
The NYBG itself is a magical place. The grounds are stunning in every season, the plants are immaculately maintained, and the architecture is beautiful yet unpretentious, so that it enhances your event rather than distracting from it. Along with the Garden comes Constellation Culinary Group, who provided top-notch food that left our guests completely stuffed and yet still wanting another round of everything. Honestly, picking our menu from among Constellation's options was one of the hardest things we had to do. Everything from the more basic sliders, fries and mac-n-cheese to the more unusual pastrami-roasted carrot salad, smoked salmon rillette, and horchata shooters was outstanding (we even got compliments from some of our picky eaters!). The day-of staff were on point, taking care of things like fetching an extra dress-steamer, setting up the decorations we brought, directing wandering relatives, even holding aside a plate of cocktail hour food for my wife and me, since we had to miss it to take photos (thanks, Sasha!).
*Cons*
There were a few fairly major construction projects at the Garden that started some time after we had put down our deposit, and continued through our wedding date: the main dome of the Haupt Conservatory was being renovated, the Great Lawn was fenced off as exhibits were being changed, and the pergola in the ceremony space simply got removed due to its getting old. We had expected some seasonality when choosing a botanical garden, but these changes were fairly dramatic, and while they didn't directly impact the ceremony or reception spaces, the various construction tarps and fences were a bit of an eyesore in our photos. To their credit, Constellation was pretty flexible (offering us alternative photo locations, extra setup time, etc.), but we would have appreciated more of a heads up that these changes were coming in the first place, since some of them (like the pergola removal and an extra layer of construction tarp on the conservatory dome) we didn't learn about until we went to the garden for our second to last or last walk-throughs.
Carli T
5.0
We had our wedding at the ceremony space in the garden followed by a reception at the Garden Terrace Room! What a magical day! Laura Bass was my contact through the entire planning...
process and she was so professional, organized, and helpful! Sasha was my bridal attendant and she took care of my new husband and myself the day of the wedding... she made sure we were well hydrated, fed and she gave us a private golf cart tour of the garden with our photographers, she was fantastic!! The staff was truly amazing, they were very attentive to their tables and made sure everyone was well taken care of! I could not have chosen a better venue... the food was delicious, the cake was delicious, the whole experience was priceless.... it was the best night of our lives!
Cristina M
5.0
Our wedding at The Stone Mill was amazing! The food, the staff, and the service was all incredible and our guests enjoyed everything. Our sales rep, Kristal, was always quick to ...
answer any questions, and our wedding attendant, Olivia, was fantastic and super helpful. Everything was fabulous.
Holly L
5.0
Our wedding reception was at NYBG's Garden Terrace Room; we couldn't have asked for a better day! Kristal was our contact and from day one we found her to be professional, responsi...
ve and helpful throughout the planning process. We must have asked her at least a thousand questions via email and appreciated all of the revisions and updates she made for us to our contract, guest count and table layout before our wedding. She even arrange to have a cupcake delivered with our wedding cake for a special birthday that we were also celebrating.
Our guests raved about the professional service of the staff as well as about the food. Our bridal attendant Ken also deserves a special shoutout as he made sure we were well taken care of during the evening!
2 points of feedback for NYBG - 1) Constellation Culinary Group should include a menu tasting for all brides + grooms. We're lucky we decided to schedule one at an additional cost. It was a memorable afternoon that we spent together with our parents. We were able to to sample all of the food (and some of the cocktails!) that our wedding guests would enjoy.
2) NYBG should offer some sort of outdoor option (besides an outdoor cocktail hour). At such a beautiful venue it seemed like a shame that our guests couldn't fully enjoy all NYBG had to offer.
Amy B
5.0
It's hard to put into words just how incredible our wedding day was, and that is in large part because of the venue we chose. The Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Garden was th...
e perfect blend of being an intimate, sophisticated, beautiful, and outdoorsy space. If you are looking for a place to get married that is in between a farm and a grand ballroom -- the Stone Mill could definitely be the right fit! The Constellation catering team was a dream to work with -- they were so quick to respond and were just as detail-oriented as I, the bride, wanted to be. We were able to visit the venue several times, which proved helpful to visualize everything and get all of our questions around. The team on-the-day was so professional and lovely to be around. Everything was just really top-notch! If we would do it all over again, we would always pick the Stone Mill at the New York Botanical Garden. Thank you to the team for everything!
Chris M
5.0
We couldn’t have found a better place to celebrate our wedding! The venue, service, food, staff were outstanding. Our guests kept complimenting the wedding days after and we can’t ...
recommend the Stone Mills at NYBG enough. Dream place for a dream wedding!
Alexis L
5.0
My husband and I were blown away by the staff at the NYBG! Not only is the setting of the Stone Mill gorgeous, but Lauren O'Kelly was so warm and welcoming. She answered our many q...
uestions with clarity and kindness, and was such a great support. And on the actual day, the staff was incredible! Everything went smoothly, they had snacks for us before and after the ceremony, they took excellent care of us by getting water etc, and all of our guests were raving about the food and the venue. You can't go wrong here!
Sarah S
5.0
The New York Botanical Garden is iconic and was a gorgeous wedding venue. So many of our guests were excited to attend our wedding here. Lauren O'Kelly was exceptional and a pleasu...
re to work with. I would say between my groom and me that we are fairly detail oriented and were incessantly emailing Lauren with one-off questions, and she was very responsive and helpful! The food from Constellation Culinary group was phenomenal as well. Thank you to the NYBG and team for helping us bring our wedding vision to life! Forever grateful.
Emily Z
5.0
We had the most amazing wedding in the NYBG Stone Mill. If we were to start again, we would have chosen Lauren and her team again without the blink of an eye.
Planning: It was ex...
tremely easy to plan the wedding with Lauren and her team. We decided the venue approximately one year prior to the wedding for its perfect location (we had friends traveling across the country), reasonable pricing and its full privacy, not to mention that we would have full access to the rose garden for the most romantic wedding pictures and the Bronx river as the back drop of our ceremony, which fits perfectly with our harp. There are a list of recommended vendors who we ended up working with for various services, including planner, lighting, officiant, music, and rental, who are absolutely amazing. This saved us so much time! During the one year's planning, we had millions of questions and Laruen's timely responses made our life much easier and helped us tremendously to make the most efficient decisions. We had some unfortunate hiccups one week prior to the wedding and Lauren was so accommodating and ensured that we are stress relieved.
Food: We cannot speak more highly of the food. My friends cannot stop complimenting the food and service. Some of the friends even thought the cocktail hour is the main reception because the food tastes soooooo amazing. We had almost all of them in our bridal suite and we absolutely loved them. If we had a wish, it would be that our friends could get married in Stone Mill and we could enjoy more of the food.
Experience: Everything runs smoothly during the wedding day. We had early access to the bridal suite on the wedding day so that we could have our makeup and hair done on time. The assistant was amazing and provided plenty of food for breakfast and lunch as well as coffee and drinks. We had our cocktail hour food ready in the bridal suite right after the ceremony. The reception main dishes, wedding cake and desserts (with different flavors) were also ready for us on the table when we were partying with friends and relatives.
Everything was amazing and we could not thank NYBG more for the breathtaking experience. Truly the best day of our lives!
Kayla W
5.0
You and your guests will absolutely LOVE having your wedding at the NYBG. We had our wedding reception at the Stone Mill and had the absolute dreamiest time. The planning process w...
as extremely streamlined due to the incredible team at Constellation, the exclusive caterer at the NYBG. They provided top notch food, drinks, rentals, and more and Lauren O'Kelly helped make the process fun and easy. From the first moment we visited the Stone Mill we knew it was a perfect fit. It's rustic, classic, and beautiful charm were unmatched. We are still hearing from guests about how great the service was, how beautiful the setting, and how FAB the food! Everything was absolutely perfect.
S N
1.0
We had the most unfortunate experience with the New York Botanical Gardens as a potential wedding venue. We very much liked the venue and were basically ready to sign with them. Th...
e reasons we ultimately decided not to were 1) our contact there, Kristal, was unresponsive and unaccommodating. We expected, at a minimum, to get prompt responses to emails (e.g., not wait 5 days between responses) and for her to make herself available for calls at times when a couple with full time jobs might be available (like after 4PM or on a weekend); 2) worse, Kristal insisted we pay a non-refundable deposit before even seeing what the contract would look like. That is not standard and we felt it was scammy and manipulative. Overall, we felt like Kristal was trying to dissuade us from getting married at the NYBG, and she succeeded.
Response from The New York Botanical Garden
Dear S N, thank you for sharing your feedback. We apologize that your experience at our ve...
nue didn’t match your expectations. We’d like to learn more about your specific situation. If you wouldn’t mind giving our Director of Catering a call at 646-741-1400 at your earliest convenience, it would be greatly appreciated. Again, we set a high standard for ourselves, and we’re so sorry to hear this was not met in your interactions with our business. We look forward to speaking to you.
Lauren H
5.0
We are five days removed from our wedding at The New York Botanical Gardens and the compliments from family and friends continue to roll in by the hour! Lauren O’Kelly and her team...
were such a pleasure to work with from start to finish. They were responsive and flexible during the planning process, and treated us with such attention and care at every turn on our wedding day. Its easy to predict how the building and grounds make for a beautiful venue, but it was the food, attention to detail, and - most importantly - service that really made our day a memory that we will cherish for a lifetime. We highly recommend the New York Botanical Garden for your wedding and can’t wait to come back to revisit the memories of the best night of our life!
Sara W
5.0
I recently got married at the Stone Mill at the NYBG and it was the most magical and special venue. Our main contact was Lauren and she was super helpful, very sweet, and on top of...
everything! We really didn't have to worry at all throughout planning and on the day of our wedding - we were well taken care of. On our wedding, we were driven around in a golf cart to get all the photo shots we needed, and Sasha was so sweet and helpful, cleaning off my dress before the ceremony and taking us to hidden, beautiful spots. It was fun and very stress free!
One thing we loved about the garden (outside of how beautiful and unique the grounds are) is how Constellation is really a one stop shop that makes planning a breeze. The catering, drinks, rentals, venue, linens and more are all done through Constellation which made things quite streamlined.
If you're worried about not having more than one catering option, don't be! Our guests were raving about how delicious the food was (and how much food there was!), and my husband and I actually ate a decent amount and it was all amazing - from passed bites to dinner entrees to desserts and late night pizza! Our guests could not stop talking about the cake!
Our wedding was a dream - we had the perfect backdrop and the best team supporting us!
Yana T
5.0
Our wedding was a dream come true at Stone Mill at NYBG. We knew even before we got engaged that stone mill had to be our venue. Kristal did a great job in helping us coordinate ou...
r special day and everything went super smoothly. The venue itself is unbelievably gorgeous. Our guests are still raving at how amazing everything was including the delicious food and great staff. We will never forget this magical day!
Caitlin A
5.0
Wonderful place
Lea V
5.0
I cannot recommend NYBG and ByConstellation (formerly Starr Catering) enough for your wedding! First of all - the venue speaks for itself. It is a historic and iconic space with a ...
gorgeous ballroom, beautiful outdoor ceremony space, and really nice cocktail hour tent. It's a venue with a total "wow" factor.
Laura Bass and her team are top notch professionals who go above and beyond to execute a great day. Planning at the NYBG was also very easy - they had a lot of things I know stress a lot of couples out included in the package (pretty chivari hairs, a wide variety of linen colors, temperature control, power sources, etc.) so there was very little worry. They were super flexible and responsive. There were tons of bartenders, ample space to walk around, a large dance floor. It was logistically very easy to plan.
The food was superb and plentiful - my friends and family have not stopped complimenting us. And the best part - we were able to extend the party an extra 3 hours with late night snacks and drinks until 2am for a super reasonable rate. Keeping the party going was a huge priority for us!
In terms of pricing, the NYBG and Constellation were not "cheap", but they had great value. The food and beverage package and venue fee were in line with similarly sized high quality venues we looked at throughout Manhattan and the boroughs, but they included so much more (more apps, better alcohol, a wedding cake, variety of desserts, valet, table service, coat check etc.) where other venues seemed to nickle and dime for upgrades.
NYBG was worth every penny and I would recommend without hesitation, particularly for a larger wedding.
Uruj K
5.0
My husband Ali and I had the valima, the third event, for our Pakistani wedding at the NYBG Stone Terrace room and LOVED this venue. It is one of the most classic and elegant venue...
s in New York City and you cannot go wrong choosing them! I had a really cute dressing room which I got ready in with friends and family and they also let us bring our own Indian/Pakistani caterer which was important to us and which we really appreciated. Thank you NYBG for such a beautiful event!
Keri D
5.0
I have frequented the NYBG for years. It’s one of my absolute favorite places to visit. Getting married there had only existed in my dreams and I still cannot believe that it becam...
e a reality. It turned out to be both...a waking dream! One of the biggest things that drew us to the venue was the size of the dance floor! It was bigger than other venues we had seen. And while I was having way too much fun to sit and eat, many of our guests have raved about both the food and the service, some even found themselves tipping the wait staff because they were so attentive. There was never a line for food or drinks. Things moved smoothly and everything felt spacious. Since it was a winter wedding, I loved the feel of being outside when we were in the tent for cocktail hour. My bridal attendant, Janis, was superb. He was so reliable, thoughtful and available throughout the day and night. We mostly worked with Kristal Waters, who was not only kind and very much on top of everything, but she gracefully managed, tolerated and negotiated family dynamics throughout the process! We are still flying high from the wedding and look forward to visiting the NYBG in the years to come, on our own, and one day with children.
Dana A
5.0
My husband and I got married at the Stone Mill on 9/29/18, and the venue absolutely exceeded our expectations! We had perfect weather for our outdoor ceremony, and were also able t...
o have dessert and dancing outside at night. The staff were wonderful and accommodating, especially Lauren, Yonas and Max. They all checked in on us throughout the night, ensuring that no detail was missed. Although the entire night was incredible from start to finish, one of the highlights was when Yonas escorted us directly from our ceremony into the bridal suite, where there were two of every hors d'ouevres as well as our signature cocktails and water. Since we were so busy the entire night, it was amazing to have a few moments to ourselves to taste everything we had spent so much time picking out! Our guests were blown away by how beautiful everything was, and are still talking about the amazing food and service. This venue is truly one of a kind and we feel so lucky to have had such a beautiful night.
David F
5.0
NYBG is the perfect wedding venue. Lauren O'Kelly, Laura Bass, John Garone, and the entire day-of staff were amazing, so helpful through out. They were able to quickly adapt to the...
weather and put together an amazing ceremony indoors. The location is head and shoulders above all others in NYC!
brigid m
2.0
Very beautiful venue and over all very friendly caterers at the NYBG Stone Mill this Summer. The food was good, too. There was a cranky bar tender which even myself, the bride, exp...
erienced and I heard a few complaints about after. The major issue was some pretty poor communication between Starr Events and the Garden. Our guests were not allowed to be picked up by taxi cabs inside the venue and were trapped for a considerable amount of time after the reception ended. It was quite chaotic and my husband and I ended up leaving our wedding on a very low note. We did not expect this after how the rest of the day went. Furthermore, we never received an apology from management. We were told by the event coordinator that we would receive some refund due to the inconvenience and we never got it. I sent a follow up email about it to several people and they never replied. It has been really disappointing. Our perception of the NYBG has really changed. I wish it was somewhere we would have had a nice memory about but the end of the night really tainted it for us. Luckily, the guests had fun and it was a nice day just not a great ending.
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The New York Botanical Garden
Rebeca Spensieri
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Director of Catering Sales
Wedding vendors in Bronx
The New York Botanical Garden
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