For a Classic Wedding
The Thayer Hotel at West Point,
West Point
(845) 446-4731; thethayerhotel.com
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Photo by Nicole Photography Christine Pallus and Orrin Turner wed on the lawn of The Thayer Hotel last November. - Advertisement -
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Three years after meeting at the Yale School of Management, Cassandra Earley, a healthcare consultant, and Chris Toscano, a private equity consultant, got engaged on a beach in Connecticut. Since they reside in Manhattan, they wanted a wedding venue that was away from the hustle and bustle of the City.
They finally settled on the historic—yet full-service —Thayer Hotel at West Point for their March 2012 nuptials. Now a landmark, the 86-year-old luxury property was established to accommodate US Military Academy personnel and their guests. “We wanted to be able to see the water, and we loved that you could see some cliffs and trees,” says Cassandra. “The hundred guests that attended raved about the architecture of the hotel, as well as the view. From the chandeliers in the ballroom to the scenery, it was very romantic.”
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Photo by Greg Mathieson, MAI Photo The Thayer’s Zulu Time Rooftop Lounge |
The Thayer has many spaces that can be used for weddings, all of them imbued with classic elegance. The main banquet rooms for weddings consist of the 3,922-square-foot President George Washington Ballroom and the 1,550-square-foot General John Pershing Room, which holds up to 220 people and has an outdoor patio. The premier wedding space at the location, the Washington Ballroom, boasts gold chandeliers and gorgeous garden views, and offers guests the ability to walk directly out onto the lawn for a breath of fresh air. Couples can take photographs with the majestic Hudson Highlands in the background. (And no need to worry about rain—one wall comprises floor-to-ceiling windows so you can still enjoy the view even if you have to stay inside.)
The General Ulysses Grant Ballroom—the hotel’s original—is used in conjunction with the General Omar Bradley Room. With hardwood floors, the two spaces capture the essence of the ambience originally created for cadets in 1926. The 2,945-square-foot space has 20-foot ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, lead-paint windows, and gargoyles in the architectural details. While both spaces contain dance floors, the Bradley Room also features spectacular panoramic views of the Hudson.
The Toscanos’ favorite part of their wedding weekend was having everyone together for two days. Room rates at the 151-room hotel start at $309 a night, depending on season. “Our guests loved the hotel rooms and the fact that everything was all in one place,” says Cassandra, who had more than 35 rooms booked for guests to spend the night. On-site ceremonies cost $1,500, and wedding packages range from $110 to $130 per person, with all food and beverages handled by the hotel.
