Castleton, Windham NH Food Tasting! Have you gotten married there?

DanielleH818

Hi,

I'm suppose to get married in the Fall of 2012 at Castleton in Windham NH.  I got in touch with them to set up my food tasting (they recommend we do it in advance) and they told me how they do food tastings.  You can't try all the food, you have to let them know what you'd like to try...and you can only go on a Friday, Sat, or Sun night when they have a wedding- and the wedding is having the type of food you want.  Does this seem bizarre to anyone?  Has anyone gotten married at Castleton, or has done a food tasting like this?

Spree0629

I am also getting married there, April 2012.  I was all fired up when i found this out!!!  We did two food tastings, and they gave me a bit of a hard time about it.  I origonally wanted to try 6 of the dishes, but they said if i wanted to do this i needed to pay for anything over 3 dishes, since they do full dishes not sample size.  I tried to ask if we could just get small sample plates, but they said this was not something they could do.  I flipped out at first and was not a happy camper!  Eventually they agreed to let me try 4 of them.  We did our first one a few weeks ago and did other second this past saturday.  The first one we had to be there at 9:45 and this one 8:45.  VERY weird to me.  All in all we chose the first two dishes we tried.  We also can't try any of the apps, which wasn't as big of a deal.  

On the plus side, I have heard only good things about their food from people who have been to weddings there.  Both quantity and quality.  My only gripe when i went was that the potatoes were a little dry and there wasn't any au jus on my prime rib.  This could have been just because we were getting tasting plates, but i plan to talk to them about it when we eventually give them our selections.

I hope this book of a response helps

AdamsGirl2012

I am getting married at the Castleton on November 18, 2011! My FI and I chose not to do food tasting because we had already been to a wedding there and the food was great! :-)

chelley599

We got married in October '10 and we did not do the testing.  We picked out our choices and it was phenominal.  Everyone was raving about how incredible the food was for a wedding.  We did the cranberry apple chicken and the roast prime rib.  My dad said it was the best prime rib that he had in a long time.  No worries...it is fantastic

KimberlyDon

i got married there in may of 2005.  (i know so long ago!)   but we never had a tasting.
let me just say this.  you will not be disappointed!  their food is AMAZING!!!! 

we did family style and my guests raved about the food.

for apps we did the chicken pesto cups which were my favorite. i would cut off my right arm to be able to eat those again!  the spanikopita and the hibachi beef skewers.  all so so good.
then for dinner we had family style turkey and beef.  mashed potatoes, and all the fixings....  it was awesome! au joux, gravy, veggies, cranberry sauce stuffing... everything 

then for dessert we did the chocolate mousse cups which were amazing.  then the cake was cut and put out with fruit and crackers and cheese and coffee. 

they are absolutely awesome there. everything about the place is great!!  and the food is amazing!!

Spree0629

I forgot to say before.  We are going with the prime rib and the apple cranberry chicken.  The apple cranberry chicken was delicious!!! 

chelley599

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-hampshire_castleton-windham-nh-food-tasting-gotten-married-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:101Discussion:97ea0d73-2000-48d2-9fd3-079dbbfc0812Post:169b873d-1d59-4904-ad49-e5dc2c244e33">Re: Castleton, Windham NH Food Tasting! Have you gotten married there?</a>:
[QUOTE]I forgot to say before.  We are going with the prime rib and the apple cranberry chicken.  The apple cranberry chicken was delicious!!! 
Posted by Spree0629[/QUOTE]

<div>We did the same choices and both were incredible!</div>

DanielleH818

OMG  Thank you ladies! You made me feel sooo much better about this!!  I appreciate all your comments and specific food suggestions.  I feel a lot better. Thanks again!! 

MrsR0511

I got married there in May 2011  and I thought the way they did food tasting was weird and it was late at night but we ended up doing two tastings. We went with the Crab Crusted Haddock and the Lemon Caper Chicken. I didn't actually get to eat at my wedding but everyone told me the food was great and the food at the tasting was delicious. I've never heard a complaint about the food at Castleton.

darlingc

Two questions about the venue for those who are or have gotten married there:
1. Do they have set times for morning and evening receptions (aka hold more than one wedding a day?)
2. Average cost per person?

Thanks!

DirtyWater

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-hampshire_castleton-windham-nh-food-tasting-gotten-married-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:101Discussion:97ea0d73-2000-48d2-9fd3-079dbbfc0812Post:ed642581-cc79-4e90-8ee0-4262a4b4775e">Re: Castleton, Windham NH Food Tasting! Have you gotten married there?</a>:
[QUOTE]Two questions about the venue for those who are or have gotten married there: 1. Do they have set times for morning and evening receptions (aka hold more than one wedding a day?) 2. Average cost per person? Thanks!
Posted by darlingc[/QUOTE]

It depends on the day you choose.  

2 good things with them:
1) Minimums include: all food, house toast, tax & gratuity.  *when you work your numbers and you fall short of the minimum don't worry because the tax  & gratuity count towards the minimum*

2) there are no rental fees, no cake cutting fees, no house linen fees, no split meal fee, no uplighting charges, no bartender fees and you don't have to meet a bar limit.

Fri:  with ceremony on site flexible 6 hours 
w/o flexible 6 hours

Sat am:  w/ceremony on site 10-4
w/o 11-4

Sun: 1pm or earlier or 3pm or later flexible 6 hours.

If you want to be the only wedding you can rent out the 3/4 hall. Holds 29 tables of 10 or less guests per table and a head table.   
The minimums might have changed but this is on my old sheet
Fri: $14,000
Sat AM: $9,700
Sun any time: $13,000

As for meals depending on the option you go for:
Buffet is around $34.95 pp with lots of options
Family Style: ranges from $31.95-$40
Plated:  Ranges from $29.95-$47.95

and of course displays, hors d'oeurves and bar will up the charge.

Spree0629

Those are the prices for the 3/4 hall.

1/2 hall or one of the rooms:

22 tables of 10 and head table 14-16

Friday: 6,800

Saturday AM: 5,800

Saturday PM: 9,500

Sunday: 7,500

These are the current prices.  I am getting married there next year.  They do either buffet, family style, or split menu.  It depends on what look you are going for.  If you want more of those prices, I have it all in my handy dandy folder, so just let me know.  I am looking around 140-165 for my guest list and I should be slightly above the food minimum.  

There is a $600 fee to have the wedding on site.  It is definitely nice that there aren't other fees and the tax and gratuity is included.  There are a ton of places that don't include tax and gratuity in their minimums, so be careful of that one!

I am not positive, but from the breakdown on the sheet, it seems like during saturday day they only have one wedding, but I could be wrong.  At night they have two.  One is at 5 the other is at 7.

DirtyWater

Thanks, Spree, I ran out of time yesterday to finish giving prices.

daisy667

I am getting married there in March '12, and I'm glad to hear so many good responses about the food! When I was looking into the venue, I didn' t hear any bad reviews about it. I am technically having a winter wedding, and my food minimum is only $4500.

c26courtney

Im a fall 2012 bride and I just talked to them and they are working on setting up a large tasting in May for upcoming brides, i believe it 15 a person and they will have all the dinner choices available. you might want to email or call them.  

ALLUSION583

They are having a food tasting May 6th 2012. They only do it once a year. Since I'm getting married June of 2013. They highly suggested that we taste now where May of next year would be cutting it very close. If anyone is getting married at Castleton anytime after May.. call for details!!

ALLUSION583

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_new-hampshire_castleton-windham-nh-food-tasting-gotten-married-there?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:101Discussion:97ea0d73-2000-48d2-9fd3-079dbbfc0812Post:ed642581-cc79-4e90-8ee0-4262a4b4775e">Re: Castleton, Windham NH Food Tasting! Have you gotten married there?</a>:
[QUOTE]Two questions about the venue for those who are or have gotten married there: 1. Do they have set times for morning and evening receptions (aka hold more than one wedding a day?) 2. Average cost per person? Thanks!
Posted by darlingc[/QUOTE]

They have a Friday night, Sat AM and 2 PM slots, and Sun PM. I think Sat AM was the cheapest. The food ranges from 35-50 dollars.There IS a food minimum! If you email the facility they can send you more info.