Onteora Mountain House

I can't recommend Josh, Dylan, and the team at Onteora Mountain House enough! Our early October wedding was impossibly beautiful and easily one of (if not, the) best day of our lives, in no small part because of them. The photos of the venue say enough about how stunning the property is, especially in the fall. But what's truly exceptional at Onteora is the level of service. In all the insanity that is the modern day wedding industry, the folks here commit themselves to true, felt hospitality. We felt so cared for and accommodated every step of the way—they were the only venue that sat us down and provided tea and coffee to relax and go over any questions during our initial visit. On the day of, a traffic accident blocked off one of the main roads to the venue about an hour before our ceremony was due to start. Josh and Dylan were able to pivot our program, staying calm and professional. Even with that giant curveball, they worked with us to fit in a jam-packed program, with a Korean ceremony (more on this in a bit), 12+ cousin choreographed dance, dogs, outside catering, multiple live performances, a comically large wedding cake, and the spontaneous appearance of a life sized plastic horse onto the dance floor. The venue itself is truly unique and full of history—the photos speak for themselves. It was the perfect balance between grand and intimate for our 200-person wedding, able to house all 14 of our immediate family members through the weekend. If you're Korean, this place has some very surprising touches—a previous owner of the property was Korean and added some traditional furniture. This includes a painting of a mudang (shaman) who you can get your blessings from! Anyway, I could go on and on about how special this place and team is.

There truly aren't enough words to express how incredible our experience was at Onteora Mountain House. From the moment we first toured the venue to the very last moments of our wedding on August 8th, the entire team went above and beyond to make it the best day of our lives. Of course, the venue itself is breathtaking, but what truly makes Onteora special is the people behind it. Despite rain, last-minute ceremony changes, unpredictable family members, and all the chaos that comes with a wedding, the team handled absolutely everything with grace, kindness, and genuine care. Not once did we feel like just another wedding on their calendar. Josh was incredible from the very beginning. During our first tour, we immediately knew this was where we wanted to get married. He was genuine, honest, realistic, and accommodating throughout the entire process. Unlike other venues, where we sometimes felt like just another customer, Josh treated us like people. That personal connection made all the difference. Dylan deserves an award for everything we put him through! No matter what challenge came his way, he handled it with a smile and somehow always found a solution. Our families are still talking about his incredible hospitality! Mercy was truly the calm in the middle of our storm. Her reassurance, kindness, and unwavering support meant more than she probably realizes. During moments when wedding-day stress and family dynamics became overwhelming, she was always there to make everything feel manageable. She has this incredible ability to bring peace to even the most chaotic situations, and we are so grateful for her. The food was absolutely phenomenal! Zach and his team created what was easily the best food we've ever had at a wedding, and our guests haven't stopped telling us the same! Everything was delicious, from the unbelievably juicy chicken to the garlic knots that were an absolute crowd favorite. The care and quality that went into every dish were evident. The wedding cake, beautifully made by Mrs. Slovensky, was everything we dreamed of and more. Not only was it delicious, but it was also a work of art! We also cannot say enough about the bartenders, catering staff, and groundskeeper. Every single person contributed to making the day extraordinary. From the immaculate grounds to the thoughtful attention given to our guests, including helping our grandmothers get to their rooms, the level of hospitality was unlike anything we've experienced. What makes Onteora Mountain House so extraordinary isn't simply the stunning mountain views, beautiful property, or incredible food. It's that the people who work there genuinely care. They put their hearts into what they do, and you feel that in every interaction. Our wedding day wasn't without its unexpected challenges, but looking back, we wouldn't change a thing. The Onteora team took what could have been stressful moments and turned them into memories we'll cherish forever. We went into this experience hoping for a beautiful wedding venue and left feeling like we had met some truly wonderful people. If you're considering Onteora Mountain House for your wedding, we cannot recommend it highly enough. The scenery will take your breath away, but the people are what you'll remember long after the wedding is over. To Josh, Dylan, Mercy, Zach, Mrs. Slovensky, and the entire Onteora team: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You made August 8th the best day of our lives, and we will never forget the kindness, love, and care you showed us. We would choose Onteora a thousand times over. ❤️

From the moment we first stepped foot on the grounds of Onteora Mountain House, we fell completely in love. Having toured numerous traditional venues across Long Island, nothing came close to the beauty, character, and atmosphere of Onteora. It strikes a rare, perfect balance: unmistakably high-end and elegant, yet effortlessly cozy, welcoming, and deeply personal. It feels like an incredible estate built with love, where every detail has been thoughtfully curated. "Breathtaking” doesn't even do the landscape justice. The property is designed entirely around its surroundings from the floor-to-ceiling windows in the main house where we held our rehearsal dinner, to the open, pavilion-style reception space. Getting married outdoors in front of the mountains, surrounded by wild flowers and lush landscaping, was a complete dream. Our wedding was in late June, giving us an extended sunset over the mountains that left our guests gushing over the views. Months later, people are still raving about how gorgeous and unique the space was. Having accommodations on site for our entire bridal party made the weekend an absolute blast. The versatility of the property allowed us to host a full three-day celebration without ever needing to leave: a delicious, elevated barbecue buffet for our rehearsal dinner that flowed into welcome drinks on Friday, our wedding reception on Saturday, and a farewell brunch on Sunday. The catering was truly 10/10. From the rehearsal dinner setup to the Saturday main courses (chicken, beef, fish, and vegetarian options), the quality was phenomenal. Numerous guests declared it hands-down the best wedding food they had ever eaten. I’d also like to give a special shoutout to their cake chef who made us the most gorgeous, cannoli flavored cake off of an inspiration picture we found on Pinterest. What truly elevates Onteora is the team. Leading up to the wedding, communication was seamless, proactive, and completely stress-free. They gave us space to make decisions without pressure while making us feel supported in every single request. On the wedding weekend itself, Josh, Dylan, and Mercy were absolute superheroes. They executed our aesthetic vision perfectly, took initiative with decor setups, and paid attention to every micro-detail. They kept drinks in our hands, made sure we had a chance to eat, and managed the entire event flow with effortless grace. When we ran into a major external transportation hiccup on the ceremony day, Josh stepped in immediately, coordinated with the driver, and ensured every single guest arrived on time. All of the other staff, including our bartender, Jackson, were equally as amazing. They worked meticulously behind the scenes and on the floor to ensure everything was perfect and provided attentive, high-end service throughout the entire event. Beyond their top-tier professionalism, Josh, Dylan, and Mercy are genuinely kind, warm people who felt like a natural extension of our celebration. To top it all off, their invitation to let us come back and stay in the future to relive our memories shows just how deeply they care about their couples. Onteora Mountain House was worth every single penny and every single mile of the drive. It was unique, beautiful beyond my wildest dreams, and provided us with the most memorable weekend of our lives. We cannot recommend them highly enough!

The Onteora Mountain House is a beautiful place for any couple looking for the ultimate Upstate, NY experience. Nestled in the heart of the Catskill Mountains, this venue has stunning views and is the perfect place to celebrate your wedding day! I had the pleasure of photographing a wedding there this past August. The staff was pleasant, the food was delicious, and the couple even hired Alpaca to surprise their guests for cocktail hour. I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for a wonderful wedding experience in the Catskill Mountains!

Vendor perspective: I had a great time photographing a wedding there this past fall. Multiple options for getting ready locations. I love how everyone can stay on property. The ceremony view was beautiful! And staff were great to work with.