Congress Hall Weddings

Since I was young I always imagined getting married at Congress Hall, and it certainly did not disappoint. Jenn and Erin worked very hard to make our day perfect, and it really showed. From coordinating with vendors, to accommodating my requests, everything was better than we could have imagined. The food was also awesome and guests commented on how delicious it all was. I wish I could relive it! Thanks again Congress Hall :) -Marissa & Jake

Congress Hall was our dream wedding in Cape May and lends to timeless elegance. When Jenn gave us the tour, we felt butterflies and knew we had found our venue. Erin coordinated multiple vendors and ensured every detail for the big day was flawless. Our guests were impressed with the excellent service and "best wedding food" they've ever had. Our romantic outdoor wedding was perfect with the backdrop of a sunny autumn day followed by a gorgeous Cape May sunset then dancing under the stars with the full Harvest moon. We will come back to Congress Hall for years to come to celebrate our love and to relive the magic of our wedding day.

Dream wedding - check. My husband and I got married at Congress Hall in February 2020 and it was everything we had hoped for and imagined. I'm actually getting emotional writing this - the service, the food, the ballroom, everything was perfect. We wanted a winter wedding outside in February, and that was exactly what we got! We had blankets and hot drinks - even cocktail hour was set up outside in the cold. We had hoped for a few more heat lamps, but some of our guests enjoyed cocktail hour inside the hotel, which was totally fine with us. The service throughout the reception was incredible, and most of all, our guests had FUN! One relative said it was the best wedding he'd been to in his 74 years. Erin was amazing to work with - she was organized, professional, and above all, patient. I am very particular and Erin made sure every last detail was taken care of. She was a Godsend on the day of, too - she made sure everything went smoothly and checked in on me to make sure I was okay, too. Throughout the entire planning process, Erin was open to having everything outside, which was exactly what we wanted. We had a pretty large bridal party (16) and she was able to keep everyone in order. She did a great job of running our rehearsal, too. One suggestion is to make sure everything is in writing, as we did have a couple discrepancies with what was included, but we cannot recommend Congress Hall, Erin, Jenn and their team enough. We had an issue with the status of the ballroom floors, and Erin made sure they were perfect by our wedding. In photos, the floor looks brand new. I could go on and on - Congress Hall remains 5 stars all around and definitely earns 5 stars as a wedding venue.

Congress Hall was my dream wedding destination! The beauty of the building itself, the decor, the history! My expectations were far exceeded! Erin is absolutely amazing to work with! She made our day absolutely perfect! We had our rehearsal dinner, ceremony, reception and morning after breakfast all at Congress Hall. The food was DELICIOUS!!! Our guests are still commenting on how delicious the food was! The service was incredible! We transitioned from the Grand Ballroom to the Harrison Room and back and it went flawlessly. The staff was professional and accommodating. Many of our guests stayed at both Congress Hall and The Star Inn and expressed how wonderful their rooms were. We had a room with an Ocean View that was pure magic! Erin took care of everything! We showed up on Friday for the rehearsal and didn't have to worry about a thing the whole weekend! It was the most perfect weekend!! Thank you to Erin, Jenn, and the Congress Hall staff for making my dream wedding wishes come true!!

3 weeks later and we still cannot get over the amazing experience we had at Congress Hall. A HUGE THANK YOU to Erin and the staff for putting together our dream weekend! Its not easy working with a large bridal party, multiple sets of parents, and the requests of a bride!! Erin remained calm and organized throughout the whole process, we are truly grateful for the experience we had at CH. Our guests are still raving about the food specifically the cocktail hour selection! THANK YOU will never be enough!

Congress Hall is THE place in Cape May to get married! We looked at several venues before finally deciding on Congress Hall, but from the moment we started our tour with Jenn we knew this was the place for us! Jenn, Erin, and the entire Congress Hall team were such a dream to work with! They were extremely responsive and on top of everything. I have Celiac Disease and finding a venue that could accomodate me was a huge priority. Jenn went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. For the tasting she spoke with the chefs in advance to make sure they knew of my allergy and were prepared to accommodate. She also went through the entire menu of options for food we could serve at our wedding and highlighted which foods were gluten free or could be made gluten free. All of the food at our wedding ended up perfectly and NONE of the people there with Celiac ended up sick(there were close to 10 of us)! I can not sing Congress Hall's praises enough! All of our guests loved the venue, food, and event team!

From the day we were engaged, we knew Congress Hall was our wedding venue. Both my husband and I spent our summers vacationing in Cape May with many memories surrounding the seaside resort and now we have one for the books! Our wedding day was everything we dreamed of and more thanks to our wedding coordinator Jeri Anne. She was highly professional, organized and patient... at times, we had some fairly atypical requests that were always accommodated! There were a few hiccups the day of but nothing that hindered our overall experience. We were appreciative of the preferred vendor list that they provided upon booking and ended up using several of the vendors on the list. Our guests were impressed by all that Congress Hall had to offer, especially the food and the gorgeous grounds-- they are still commenting on what a lovely event it was!

My husband and I got married at Congress Hall in October 2017. We've always been in love with Congress Hall and the town of Cape May. Congress Hall was everything we dreamed it would be. Jeri Anne was the most amazing wedding coordinator, she went above and beyond. Jeri Anne was so accommodating and open to every request we made, and it honestly made our day that much more personal and special. It put us at ease knowing she was there for us throughout the entire process. I would highly recommend Congress Hall and their staff. They make sure everything is done up to their standards - they will not disappoint!

There are few places that evoke the magic of Congress Hall. The history, the charm, and overall spirit of the building, the grounds, and that ballroom(!) are incomparable. It's a place that truly draws you in. We got married the day before Easter and it couldn't have been any more perfect. The quality and service were second to none. We continue to hear from our guests telling us what a wonderful time they had, and what their favorite element of the wedding was. With guidance from Jeri Anne, our ever-talented coordinator at Congress Hall, we carefully decided which upgrades were worth the splurge, and didn't regret a single one! Hint: the full raw bar was a real showstopper. There were rave reviews from our guests on everything that they ate! From the lamb lollipops to the braised beef short rib and the mini donuts made in-house by CH's pastry chef, each dish was nothing short of gourmet. We went with many dishes that offered something unexpected, but not so crazy that guests with a less daring palate were put off. In the ballroom, we upgraded to silver/lavender linens, Congress Hall's anniversary china, and our favorite enhancement to the space was the white dance floor. Our ceremony was on the grand lawn, facing the ocean. We had quite a breeze that day, and I was close to losing my veil during our vows. Our signage welcoming guests to the ceremony ended up being a bit of a waste, given the wind. Since the weather was on the chilly side (about 55 degrees), we had pashminas set on a table for the ladies, which people really seemed to appreciate. Our officiant was a close family friend who made the ceremony very personal and it was nothing short of perfect, but we did need some guidance along the way from someone experienced in organizing wedding ceremonies. Enter Jeri Anne! She ran the show during our rehearsal and made sure we were all on the same page. She offered gentle advice along the way to make sure there wasn't anything we were missing. I continue to hear from guests who tell me they've been recommending that their nieces/sisters/daughters/cousins consider Congress Hall for their weddings. I'm dying to be invited to another wedding at CH so I can experience it as a guest! Many thanks to Jeri Anne and the entire team at Congress Hall for making our wedding day the happiest day of our lives!

What an incredible wedding - 5 stars! I've spent every summer in Cape May, my parents now live there, and I met my husband there too, so needless to say it was my dream to get married at the Congress Hall. Our wedding exceeded all expectations. We had a shorter engagement (7 months), and both Jenn O'Neill (sales) Jeri Anne (coordinator) helped make sure everything was booked, planned and perfect - from the food and drink selections, ceremony, cocktail hour and reception, day-of set up, vendor coordination the day-of, etc. It could not have been a more perfect day, down to the beautiful October sky. I HIGHLY recommend this venue based on beauty, history, care, and especially if you are like me and don't want to agonize over every little detail. Best day ever!

I fell in love with Congress Hall when my best friend got married there in 2015, and when I got in engaged two years later, it was my first choice. Congress Hall was everything we expected and more. It is the perfect venue for those looking to get married on the jersey shore. It gives you the destination feel, where you get to enjoy an entire "wedding weekend" at the resort, rather than just a couple of hours at the reception, like most catering halls. From the Welcome Drinks event in the Brown Room Friday night, to the beautiful bridal suite, cocktail hour on the rolling lawn, and the unique and one-of-a-kind checkered floor ballroom, Congress Hall did not disappoint! Jeri Anne was wonderful to work with throughout, and made sure our day felt special from the second we booked the venue. My husband and I really enjoyed all of our trips down to the hotel throughout the year while planning. Our tasting was done privately, since my husband and I travel for work frequently, and was a lovely experience. The food is exceptional. Much better than your average wedding. We served the filet and the crab cakes, both with mash potatoes and asparagus. The cocktail hour passed appetizers and the stations also received high praise from our guests. Jeri Anne was great the day of the wedding. She made sure everything was taken care of throughout the day! There were only two minor things that were a little disappointing, that you might want to think about ahead of time. Our grandmothers were supposed to be put in handicapped rooms near the elevators, and were put in rooms furthest away from the elevators. Also the beds were too high and so one of them could not get in and had to sleep in a cot instead. Maybe a step stool or something for older people would be beneficial for the hotel to have on hand. And lastly, the after party was a major concern of mine throughout the planning process. Unfortunately, Congress Hall does not allow you to rent out the Boiler Room, which is the fun bar venue in the basement of the hotel, which is what we originally wanted to do. They said the only way to ensure your guests get into the Boiler Room and have a place to sit, is if you pre-order pizzas. We went ahead and ordered 15 pizzas which was supposed to secure us several tables. When we got down to the after party the night of the wedding, the tables had not been reserved and the pizzas weren't out there. Jeri Anne felt badly about this, and made sure to get several pizzas out and not charge us for them, but it was an added stress. I really think they should change their policy and allow people who are paying to have their weddings there, to rent out the Boiler Room. If you are looking for an exclusive after party with only your guests, I suggest looking elsewhere. But in saying all of that, the Boiler Room is a really fun time, and if you are trying to keep all the festivities in one location, then I would still suggest it as the after-party location. Just make sure the pizzas are delivered and the tables are reserved! The brunch on Sunday was also exceptional! The room is bright and cheerful and the food was great. Was a wonderful end to a wonderful wedding weekend. We look forward to celebrating our anniversaries down at Congress Hall, which makes you feel like an alumni of the resort after you've gotten married there!

My husband and I got married at Congress Hall and had a June wedding. Every detail of the day from the name cards to the center pieces and the food was absolutely perfect! My wedding day was completely stress-free thanks to the magnificent Congress Hall staff and specifically Kristina Kennedy and my wedding planner Jeri-Anne Gerrace! My guests are still raving about how time-less and classy the venue was and how wonderful the food was! I am beyond happy with my choice to have our wedding at Congress Hall!!!

5 stars all the way around! My husband and I got married in November at Congress Hall, and we could not have asked for a better venue to host our wedding day! From the booking with Krystina, to the planning with Jeri Anne, and then the actual wedding day with the whole CH Team, Congress Hall was absolutely accommodating and just spectacular! Jeri Anne was the absolute best to work with! She made sure everything was perfect. I did not have to worry about a thing; every detail was executed to my expectation. The service was impeccable and flawless! Our guests raved about the venue and are still raving about it today. Congress Hall is a gorgeously, unique venue in a quaint historical town. Thank you so much for a perfect, magical day that we will always remember!

My husband and I got married at Congress hall on sept 21, 2018. Cape May has always been a special place to us and we knew we wanted to get married there. Congress hall was a dream come true, from start to finish they made everything easy and answered all of our questions without hesitation. The customer service was 5 Star, I can’t say enough about our wedding coordinator Jeri Anne! I couldn’t have planned this wedding without her, she was so helpful with all of the details and made the day of stress free. She was knowledgeable, professional and organized. I knew I could trust her with all the details and she made me feel confident for the most important day of our lives . Congress hall is stunning and unique, it’s a place with such energy and a timeless vibe. From the bridal party suite to the after party everything was beautiful, it was so nice to have everything on site. Our wedding was amazing, it was worth the money spent. This is a five star venue with a five star staff. They made everything we wanted happen and again having Jeri Anne as our wedding coordinator made it effortless. I highly recommend this venue, it’s a beautiful town and I am looking forward to revisiting our venue for years to come!

From our very first weekend away together at Congress Hall, I knew that there was nowhere else I wanted to be married. And, it was the greatest decision. I suffered from "Wedding Planning Phobia" - completely terrified of the idea of how to construct the perfect day. And then I met Jeri Anne. I cannot say enough - Jeri Anne made the planning process effortless. From the invitations, to the flowers, to the food tasting, to the band selection, everything fell into place seamlessly. Jeri Anne was available to answer all of my questions and to take care of any worry. To this day, our wedding is referred to as "THE Wedding" amongst our family and friends. The accommodations for out-of-town guests were spectacular. Everyone loved the history and atmosphere of Congress Hall. From the cocktail hour to the after-party in the Boiler Room, it was the greatest celebration. It was the very best day of my life.

After a couple of stays at Congress Hall my husband and I knew this was the perfect place to get married. We wanted to share our favorite spot with our relatives since Congress Hall always provided such a wonderful vacation for us. Jeri Anne was our planner and was great to work with. She was easy going and helpful. She even found a way to blow up a gold balloon decoration for us at the Congress Hall bike shop. That little touch really made some of our wedding photos pop. We had our ceremony on the grass and it was so nice! The reception on the pool deck was perfect! I hope we can do it all over again for a big anniversary some day! Thanks Congress Hall!

We had our wedding reception at Congress Hall in April and it could not have been a better experience. Congress Hall exceeded our expectations and everything was perfect. Our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful the reception was, how delicious the food was, and how wonderful of a time they had at the wedding. Jeri Anne did an amazing job putting everything together and making sure it all ran smoothly. She made the planning process a breeze. All of the staff at Congress Hall were very professional and accommodating throughout the process and on the day of the wedding. If you want an amazing memorable experience on your wedding day, definitely go to Congress Hall!

Congress Hall is hands down, the most perfect wedding venue you can choose. Jeri Anne made our dream day a reality, and you can tell she really cares about your feelings, and what you need to make your day special. The food was amazing, every cocktail was perfect, the staff was top notch, and a favorite item from the list were the homemade Whiskey Maple doughnuts. We both have worked in the restaurant industry for a long time, and it was important to us to not feel like we were in need of anything, or that the guests weren't getting what they needed. Everyone raved over the venue, and had an awesome time. The after party at the Boiler Room, and Brunch the next day at the Blue Pig was icing on the cake. Thank you to Jeri Anne, and all of the staff for making our day fantastic!

The Best Wedding venue is Congress Hall in Cape May without a doubt! Jeri Anne Gerace, The Wedding Planner, is the reason all guests said best wedding they ever attended. Make a Memory and host your wedding at Congress Hall! Thank you, Jeri Anne!

I’ve always dreamed of getting married at Congress Hall, and I’m so lucky I got to make that dream a reality! Jeri Anne, our coordinator, deserves all of the credit for giving us the PERFECT wedding. She was very knowledgeable, extremely professional, and so willing to go above and beyond to make sure all of our special requests were taken care of. Leading up to the wedding, she was always available, and during the big day she ran everything so smoothly, allowing me and the groom to focus only on having fun! Our guests are still raving about the service, the food, the hotel (especially the ballroom), and my personal favorite, the cake!!! Congress Hall is truly a magical place, and if you’re considering it as your wedding venue, do it!! You will have the timeless, elegant, fun, unforgettable wedding of your dreams! Many thanks to all of the staff at Congress Hall for making our day so, so special!

Congress Hall absolutely surpassed all our expectations for our big day! The stately, classic beauty of Congress Hall, and Cape May, was simply perfect. Though it called for horrific downpours on our wedding day (and did pour the night before), we had a beautiful plan to get married rain, or shine, on the veranda which was magnificent. Everyone raved about the venue, and in particular the food- it was stellar. Jenn O'Neill was such a champ and a real professional throughout the whole wedding process. Get married at Congress Hall- its the 2nd best decision you could make (aside from saying YES!)

We had a small wedding on the beach at Jackson Street and a luncheon reception at The Ebbitt Room in the Virginia Hotel. Jeri Anne, our coordinator, was amazing! From our initial meeting on, she was there every step of the way, making sure everything was in place and perfect on our special day. Jeri Anne was in contact with us, even during her busy Christmas season, which was very much appreciated since this was essentially a "destination" wedding. We stayed at the Virginia Hotel and Cottages, and I would definitely recommend that you consider it, as well! Everything is within walking distance, and our guests found it very easy to book their rooms. The luncheon at the Ebbitt Room was perfect! We had their pianist play during the cocktail hour and even played our first dance at the reception. I cannot stress enough how smoothly everything went, thanks to Jeri Anne and her staff!

We loved every second of our wedding at Congress Hall. Jeri Anne was AMAZING, I basically called and said hey I want to have my wedding at CH but don't want to do anything and she made sure I didnt have to do anything and it was the most PERFECT day! If you are looking for a magical wedding CH is the place! The food was fabulous, the grounds are always perfect, and the staff is friendly and on top of everything.

Being together for almost 28 years, my partner and I decided to get married. We immediately knew we wanted to have our ceremony and reception at Congress Hall. Cape May holds many special memories for us and Congress Hall with its history and beauty was a no brainer for us. With only 3 months to plan for the wedding , I was feeling quite anxious but Jeri Anne, our wedding coordinator helped make the planning process much easier and a lot less stressfull.. She responded immediately to all my emails and her calmness helped put me at ease. The big day came in September and I didn't have to worry about anything. Jeri Anne took care of everything. Our guests praised and are still praising the entire evening, from the ceremony on the lawn, to the food, to the professionalism of the vendors and staff. Jeri Anne and the entire staff at Congress Hall made our special day we will never forget.

My husband Matt and I got married in September of 2017. It was magical. The weather was perfect. Our wedding planner Jeri Ann was such a great help. She really went above and beyond assisting us in planning our big day. The venues for our welcome drinks (congress hall pool bar) and reception (the virginia) were everything we had hoped for. If you are looking for a once in a lifetime experience - look no further.

Well worth every penny! They are the best of the best! Jenn was our coordinator and she was so amazing (Give her a raise she had to deal with my crazy family)

Our wedding at Congress Hall was absolutely flawless and I loved every detail. Hands down the best wedding venue in Southern NJ (and beyond in my opinion). The aesthetics paired with history of Congress Hall are wonderful, the food was delicious and our guests raved about how impressed they were with our wedding and how much fun they had. A special thanks to Jeri Anne, our wedding coordinator who is beyond amazing! I loved my correspondence leading up to the wedding with Jeri Anne who was so organized and enthusiastic. She helped to make things so easy and was so accommodating especially as I planned from out of town. On the weekend of the wedding, she impressed us even more with her eye for detail, proactivity and kindness. She truly is a gem who we felt lucky to work with! We can't wait to come back for our anniversary!

I highly recommend finding a venue that can serve as ceremony, reception, after party, and accommodations, and Congress Hall is the perfect venue to make your wedding dreams come true! We fell in love with Cape May, and the moment we saw Congress Hall, we knew that it was the right venue for us. It feels like a romantic and enchanting resort from the moment you walk onto the grounds, and there’s definitely magic in the air. We were instantly drawn to the colors, charm, and character of the 200-year-old hotel, and we especially loved the unexpected details you find throughout the hotel. The beautiful interior design blends Victorian elegance with modern touches like vibrant colors and eclectic patterns. You have to visit to appreciate it, and once you visit, you will fall in love! Aside from the beauty of the hotel, they are *the* most professional and lovely people to work with! Our planner, Jenn, was so helpful and supportive through the whole process, and took care of all the big details so we could focus on the smaller ones. Everything ran so smoothly from day one, and we couldn’t have been more thrilled with our wedding weekend! From the moment we arrived, it felt like they hit auto-pilot and we were able to sit back, relax, and take in as much of the wedding as we could. I really could go on and on, but let it suffice to say that we absolutely loved everything about our wedding at Congress Hall and cannot recommend it enough!

Absolute magic from start to finish! It goes without saying that Congress Hall is a stunning location, but there are one million additional reasons to consider having your big day there. I'm a Congress Hall and Cape Resorts devoted guests of many years, and while I watched weddings take place there ( with complete envy) I wasn't sure what they offered or how I would plan it from CT, almost four hours away. Then I met Krystina Kennedy ( Wedding & Social Sales Mgr) and that changed everything. Krystina was AWESOME! After securing our date, they hosted us and our best friends for a tasting that truly replicated a wedding. It gave us so much insight & help planning our menu, seeing the room come to life and choosing additional vendors. Midway through our planning Jeri Anne ( wedding coordinator) joined us as additional support to our dream wedding team, Jeri Anne was lovely to work with, efficient, quick to reply and did a great job supporting any requests we made. From the moment we arrived for our wedding weekend everything was perfection, we had over 80 guests that were spread between the Cape Resorts properties. Each guest remarked about how well they were treated throughout their stay and the casual, fun, yet luxurious atmosphere they have created. When our wedding day arrived not a beat was missed. I got ready in Founders Hall, one of my personal highlights, we set up lunch for my wedding party and it was displayed beautifully and delicious! We took some photos on property prior to the ceremony ( we did not do a first look) then proceeded to the Great Lawn for our ceremony, which was a dream setting. Our guests raved about the cocktail hour, the food was fabulous and the atmosphere priceless. The baby lamb chops were a hit, along with the tapas display; many made mention of the pasta station, which I was on the fence about, they said it was a TEN ( and I have tough critics)! When we entered the ballroom it was a fairytale come true. We had the most amazing florist, and details from Petal + Paper, and uplighting added to the room, the details of the 200 year old floors and quirky chandeliers make it so special as it all comes together. The meal was better than I could have imagined. We had chosen the beef tenderloin or salmon for our options. Both were cooked perfectly. Our guest are still talking about their meal. There were 11 kids in the room, any and all dietary requests were met and with no challenges for both the adults and kids in the room. Our cake was one layer cannoli and the other coconut mango, THE BEST WEDDING CAKE EVER! All of the desserts were fabulous. I must make special mention to Krystina who also orchestrated many special details throughout our wedding day and weekend. She assisted my husband in decorating our honeymoon suite, which was a dreamy surprise and ending to our most spectacular day. We hosted breakfast the next morning in the CH ballroom. The buffet was right on point, it was so good the guests didn't want to leave. Last but not least, we hosted a farewell dinner at the Rusty Nail. It was off the charts! The food, atmosphere, staff, all above our highest expectations. Our wedding was on a Friday which I was hesitant about, however thanks to Krystina, Jeri Anne and the CH group they helped us create an amazing wedding weekend experience for our guests. The Rusty Nail was the cherry on top!! Thank you to Cape Resorts for being a part of our family and the most important day of our life!

My husband and I had our wedding reception at Congress Hall this past October. From the planning, to the tasting, and of course the actual day, it was all excellent. The event coordinator, Jeri Anne, was responsive and on top of everything the day of the wedding. She worked well with the vendors that day so there was little that we had to worry about the day of the wedding. We feel so lucky that the hotel provides this service as a part of the overall wedding package. The cocktail hour was on the lawn overlooking the water. The reception was in the ballroom. The food and service was excellent. We have received many compliments from guests that it was one of the best weddings that they have attended. The guests seemed to enjoy the overall feel of the hotel, along with the amenities. It was also very convenient to move downstairs for the afterparty in the Boiler Room.

My (now) husband and I got engaged in charming Cape May in the Fall of 2014. Congress Hall, as a stunning Cape May landmark, was where I imagined our dream wedding to take place. We did a walk through with Krystina Kennedy (she is amazing) and quickly fell in love with it's unique ballroom style and gorgeous lawn - what a backdrop for pictures! But, we checked out a few other places anyway, feeling like we 'should'. NOTHING compared to the beauty of Congress Hall - from top to bottom, we felt like it was so different than any other hall we had looked at. Pair that with the symbolic location, we knew it was perfect! And it was. Jennifer O'Neill , our Congress Hall Wedding Coordinator, was readily available to answer any (random) questions I had. She was so sweet, and even willing to be our witness for our marriage certificate when our dad potentially couldn't make the trip! She helped us from start to finish and all of our details played out exactly as planned on our wedding day. What is really great about Congress Hall is...the Bride/Groom, Bridal Party did not have to do any set up or break down...Congress Hall takes care of it all (with our direction of course). We had the threat of rain/tornado even, on our June wedding day, and Jennifer was very honest about the game plan should that happen. We ended up getting lucky and the weather behaved, but I was happy to have her by our side the entire day, updating us along the way. Having our ceremony on the lawn was magical. Because of impending rain, our plan b was to have cocktail hour was on the veranda. Though we missed it (taking photos), our family and friends loved it! They talked about how delicious the food was, and how nice it was to be outside enjoying the scenery. The ballroom where we had our reception IS AMAZING. Black and white checkered floors with Tiffany Blue walls - it's so unique and our pictures turned out so beautiful with that in the background (if the standard brown/gold rug style isn't yours, this is the place for you!). The food was so good (grilled everything - our choice!). The size of the room was perfect (our wedding guests totaled to about 120, including some children). After our reception, party goers (including us) continued the night on in the Boiler Room downstairs, with live music, a bar and PIZZA! Most of our family members and close friends stayed in Congress Hall, or another one of their lovely properties - which made our wedding a mini destination wedding! We can't say enough about how perfect our wedding day was, at Congress Hall. We will cherish these memories forever, and we have Krystina, Jennifer and the whole Congress Hall staff to thank. Our guests were in love with our wedding day - calling in "romantic", "intimate" and "so 'us'" (we'll take that as a compliment!). We want to get married there over and over again! A little PSA - if Congress Hall hosts another Found Market event, you should attend! Being 2.5 hours away from Congress Hall, this was the best way for us to get to know the local vendors by attending a 'mock' wedding (I cried anyhow!). We chose our entertainment, florist and hair and make up crew, after that event! It was so helpful to use vendors who were familiar with each other and Congress Hall's property and run of show. If you can't make that event, no fear, you will not go wrong with using any of Congress Hall's vendor recommendations!

Everything about our wedding at Congress Hall was PERFECT! Jerri Anne and Kryistina are so good at what they do and helped with all the details of our day(which any bride knows is lot !) . The venue is beautiful and the staff are wonderful. They left us with not one bad thing to say! A ll of our guests are still raving about our wedding and we couldn't have pictured it anywhere else. Thanks again!

We had a wonderful experience. Jeri Anne was informative, poised and extremely helpful in guiding us though the planning. Always available. The grounds were set up beautifully for a memorable ceremony and social hour. Oysters and exquisite hors d'oerves, just excellent. First rate cocktails, all out on the lawn. We were blessed with good weather but it was really well done. We moved inside for dinner, the banquet room was clean and well lit. Our flowers looked great, we had a very classy DJ. Our guests had a choice of three entrees, all were excellent. The service was impeccable. Congress Hall clearly exceeded our expectations.

Congress Hall is the gem of the Jersey Shore! If you're looking to give your guests an experience and memorable weekend, this is the place! Unlike many other wedding venues, CH isn't trying to be something it's not. It just is! The venue combines history, charm, seaside elegance, and timeless sophistication. From a wedding standpoint, the coordinators are "yes people." Whatever you want, they do and then some! Also, the food is very delicious ( I didn't eat but that's what I've heard!) From the atmosphere to the food & drinks, to the overall vibe, it was perfect! Somehow CH captures regal without being stuffy! The place has character and somehow you feel at home in America's oldest seaside resort.

Great service from start to finish. Our wedding planner Jenn was great. I never knew she was there except when I was looking for her, and she was right there by my side. She made our day flawless.

Amazing!! The Virginia (Congress Hall's sister property one street over) did a beautiful job coordinating our 50 guest, daytime wedding. Working with their coordinator, Jenn, was a true pleasure. She responded to my every email quickly and thoroughly (and there were a lot). Jenn went above and beyond; from coordinating last minute rehearsal dinner reservations to helping me with gift cards for my bridemaid’s gifts. She even kept the show going when our playlist stopped working the morning of the wedding. Shifting around friends’ phones on the sound system for our first dance and favorite songs. The rest of staff was wonderful as well. Everyone was so kind and the whole day flowed seamlessly. The food was delicious, fresh and beautifully presented. We are still receiving compliments from guests on both the food and service. We would absolutely recommend the Virginia for a smaller, intimate, fun and stress free wedding venue in Cape May!

We always knew we wanted to get married at Congress Hall and it was better than we could have imagined. We did not have good experiences with Krystina but booked because Congress Hall was where we wanted to get married. Once booked we were introduced to our coordinator Jenn O'Neill, who was AMAZING, answered questions promptly, checked on things for us, got a stage for the ceremony, and was great on the day of when we were a little unorganized . My dad, who rarely comments on anything, said during the wedding that she was very good, which was high praise from him. Congress Hall knows how to put together a wedding and everything was executed flawlessly. Our guests loved the food and the property.

My son got married at Congress Hall on 8/28/15. Everything was perfect from beginning to end!! The food was amazing, the hotel and grounds were immaculate and all of the staff went above and beyond to see to our needs and those of our guests during our entire stay. I would highly recommend booking your dream wedding at Congress Hall!

I've been obsessed with Congress Hall for the last 5 years- I'm an events coordinator as well and have high expectations. This was the only venue I looked at when planning our wedding because it truly is one of a kind! Our Decemeber wedding was absolute perfection- not only were we blessed with a 65 degrees, sunny day but the entire day was so magical and festive. Congress Hall is so decked out for Christmas and it really adds excitement to the place. Colleen O'Sullivan was our coordinator and she was so professional, courteous, and answered my millions of questions quickly and efficiently. She even came to the court house to be our witness for our marriage license since we live in Philly and couldn't find someone to drive down during the work week. We held our ceremony in the ballroom and it was intimate and romantic- our DJ Sam (Centerstage Ent) provides beautiful up lighting and the room looked stunning! Guests raved about the food (especially at cocktail hour) and the attentiveness of the staff. Our signature cocktail The Congressional Cosmo was a hit- they definitely don't skimp on the alcohol in the drinks.Servers even poured wine table side which was a nice extra! I've executed countless events and I'm as OCD as they come but on my wedding day I was so relaxed and didn't worry about a single detail. Getting ready in founders hall was a blast and the breakfast they catered was great- they threw in a bottle of champagne which was a nice surprise :) The team worked alongside my vendors and the timeline of the night flowed smoothly. I did all of the decor myself and Colleen and staff set everything up as I wanted and packed it all up at the end of the night- not many venues will do that!! This truly is a one of a kind venue- not your typical boring country club or banquet hall. Every room has character of its own and such a rich history. It was an absolute dream that we will treasure forever!

Ever since I was a little girl I dreamed of getting married at this venue. My husband proposed to me here, we have spent every Christmas here and it was the obvious choice when booking my venue. The process was going great until we met our original wedding coordinator Colleen. Colleen truly made us feel like we were not worth her time, due to the fact we were having an off season wedding with a "smaller" guest list (we had 160 total). We had to beg to set up our tasting and often chase down Colleen to ask when money was due. We were lied to about place cards and a donut bar and other small details that had we not switched coordinators, we would have never known and been scrambling the day of. Jen ended up being our wedding coordinator and really went out of her way to make our big day everything we dreamt it would be. However the service (my guests complained about not being able to reach the front desk in the morning and the beds being uncomfortable) was mediocre- from the bellhops to being ignored from the bartenders at my cocktail hour. Jen truly was our saving grace and went above and beyond to make our day truly great, and in the end the only issue was really the service in the hotel. If you have the money to spend, this is the place to go, but even in the off season this was by far our largest expense. I couldn't ask for a more beautiful backdrop or venue. Also Patrick (Colleen and Jen's boss) went above and beyond to resolve issues when we finally spoke up.

Just perfect! Everything about the process - from initially booking Congress Hall, to planning, to celebrating at the reception - was seamless. Our wedding coordinator, Colleen O'Sullivan, was extremely helpful, kind, and professional. She made sure the day went off without a hitch! The hotel is beautiful, historic and just has a really cool, retro vibe. The food was amazing - and the wedding package is very generous. Tons of food options, open bar, cake included, and more. (Side note: I don't particularly like cake... but this one was delicious!) They were also able to easily accommodate anyone with special diets - vegetarian or gluten-free. Super cool bar in the basement (The Boiler Room) that was fun to hang out at after the wedding was over. Everyone loved the beach-side setting. The cocktail hour was especially picturesque on the CH veranda with the ocean visible in the distance. My wedding was almost a month ago now and everyone is still talking about it! A++

There was never any question that if I was going to get married in Cape May, then I would be getting married at Congress Hall. The staff at CH is amazing, and I can not thank Jenn O'Neil enough for making my wedding day as perfect and as smooth as it possibly could have been. Their base package is amazing and we felt like what we got for our budget was fabulous. We also booked our Rehearsal Dinner and Send-Off Brunch at Congress Hall and they were also flawless. Everyone raved about the food and they loved the vintage elegance of the hotel. If I had to do it all over again, I would book Congress Hall again for sure.

Outstanding. Beautiful and historic venue. The food was terrific and the ceremony was perfect. One of the main reasons we chose Congress Hall is that everything is included: venue, cocktail hour, cake, catering...they even include a wedding coordinator that is a huge help. The wedding could not have been better. A+

Long before my husband and I got engaged, we knew we wanted to get married at Congress Hall. For something that we built up in our minds for so long, the experience did not disappoint. From our first meeting, Congress Hall gave us the special attention we were hoping for on our most special day yet. Our coordinator, Colleen O’Sullivan, couldn’t have been more helpful, responsive, professional, patient and organized. She. Is. Amazing. Compliments are still rolling in about the food (short rib and salmon entrees for the win!), the service and how seamless the event was – Colleen and our DJ (LovesickInc) completely guided the reception timeline. They made sure everything flowed and that we and the guests had the best time possible. My only complaint would be that it couldn’t go on longer :) When we got back to our room that evening there were some wonderful care packages of cake, sliders from our delicious late night slider bar, and a sampling of our wedding flowers. Colleen is a bride whisperer. She has a way of making things that would wake me up at night suddenly seem like no big deal once I brought them to her attention. She seamlessly coordinated with my 10+ vendors. Colleen didn’t flinch when we showed up with a truck full of décor items the day before the wedding – and it was all displayed to PERFECTION. Everything looked like a dream – the Lawn is an idyllic backdrop for a wedding. Founder’s Hall, the veranda and the charmingly beautiful ballroom are all picture perfect. It’s the perfect combination of grandiosity, nature and whimsy – Tiffany blue walls, yellow backdrops, saltwater air and the greenest grass you’ve ever seen! The best part? I never worried about ANY of the details on my wedding day because I knew that Colleen, Krystina and Jen had it all under control. I had the best time getting ready in Founder’s Hall with my bridesmaids and family while they pulled everything together. It truly was a stress-free wedding day and that’s a testament to Colleen and the Congress Hall staff. All in all, it was the best day ever and we are forever grateful to Colleen and the Congress Hall team for making our dream a reality.

Congress Hall was the PERFECT wedding venue for us. My husband and I were looking for something both classic and unique for our big day. In a word, Congress Hall is charming. The hotel was built in the 1800s and you still get that antique-luxe feel, while enjoying the more laid-back coastal feel of a beach hotel. The reception room still has the original black chandeliers and gorgeous black and white hardwood floors. Rather than feeling old, however, pops of color and modern amenities allow the hotel and its event spaces to feel current. The reception room has GORGEOUS Tiffany-blue walls and all of the guest rooms are painted in beach-y blues and greens. You have a few different options for your ceremony and cocktail hour spaces, depending on weather, etc., and very conveniently (particularly considering how quickly the weather can change!), you can decide up to 12 noon the day of your wedding whether to have your ceremony indoors or outdoors. Because we were married on windy day in March, we decided to hold the ceremony in the Grand Ballroom. Our cocktail hour was in the very cool Boiler Room, a bar/club space in the basement of the hotel with a full, beautiful bar, stone walls, wooden beam ceilings and just a really neat vibe. In addition to the uniqueness of the hotel, another notable mention is the friendly and very helpful staff at Congress Hall. We toured and then booked the hotel as our wedding venue with Meredith Borrell, the sales manager. Meredith was so sweet and very efficient when it came to booking not only the venue, but also cottages for our families to stay in over the weekend. Once we were booked we were assigned a wedding coordinator, Colleen O’Sullivan, to assist us with any questions and queries prior to the wedding and to coordinate the wedding day itself. There can never be enough good things said about Colleen. She was absolutely phenomenal. Every e-mail, freak-out, billing issue, request, etc. was taken care of by Colleen. She always answered my emails promptly and, more importantly, approached the whole event with a smile on her face and cheerful demeanor. The day of the wedding she took care of all the set up, coordinated with the photographer and DJ and made sure everything ran smoothly. It was such relief to us knowing that everything was taken care of and we could actually relax and enjoy our wedding! If you’re able to request a wedding coordinator to work with, I highly recommend Colleen! Overall, we couldn’t be happier with our choice to have our wedding at Congress Hall. For those of you with tighter wedding budgets, look into getting married during the “off season”, as the prices are a bit more reasonable and the minimum guest count is much lower. Another plus is it’s also a lot easier to get the vendors you want! Congress Hall is also provides WAY more bang for your buck compared to venues in Northern Jersey. Though the price tag may seem big, there’s SO much more included in your wedding package that it makes it more than worth it!

I cannot say enough about how amazing our wedding was! The staff was amazing and the ballroom was simply stunning. Congress Hall provided us with our dream wedding and a once in a lifetime experience our guests are still raving about!

My husband Greg and I got married in September at Congress Hall. It was absolutely a dream come true, except that the weather didn't cooperate literally just for our outdoor cocktail hour. Thanks weather! We worked with Meredith Borrell & Colleen O'Sullivan who were both so easy and great to work with. They were quick to respond to emails, great when we met in person several times and Colleen was fantastic on the day of the wedding. Our only concern was the number of guests we had - we pushed the room to the max but everyone still had a great time. In the future for an event as large as ours and if it rains, I would suggest giving us more space on the veranda since we couldn't go out on the grass with the rain. Everyone seemed a bit crammed into the "cocktail hour" spacing. One other bummer thing is that that the party has to shut down at 10 pm. We wished we could have danced the night away for another 2 hours! But everyone headed to the brown room or downstairs to the boiler room so it was still fun. Our Congress Hall wedding was a dream come true and we highly recommend the venue and staff!

I cannot say enough about the wonderful experience I had at Congress Hall. Colleen Sullivan our coordinator was amazing. My husband and I can not think of one thing we would have changed. The venue was absolutely beautiful, Our guests raved about the food, the attention to detail and the kind staff. I loved every single moment of my wedding day Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the best day ever!!!

Congress Hall was the PERFECT setting for our wedding. It's unique, retro feel with the tiffany blue walls, black and white checkered floor and black chandeliers was something that we, as well as all of our guests had never experienced before, and we are still being complimented almost a month later! The ballroom holds 225 guests, a band and two bars. We had 215 guests and I was extremely worried about the room being too crowded and guests not being comfortable. The night of our wedding I realized that I shouldn't have worried at all. The room was perfect! The dance floor was filled the entire night and it did not seem over crowded at all!! Cocktail hour was outside and despite the 30 degree weather, the heaters that Congress Hall provided kept everyone warm! It was beautiful, and perfect! Lastly, and most importantly Krystina Kennedy, our wedding coordinator who was provided by the venue, was simply out of this world. I cannot speak highly enough about how easy she made it and how smoothly it ran. However, it was more than that! She truly puts your mind at ease and when I was worried about something, I would call her or email her and she'd respond, "I'll take care of it"... and she would go above and beyond "taking care of it". She was truly a part of my day I will cherish forever, she was THE BEST! I simply cannot imagine planning a wedding without her! SO... FIVE STARS!!

The views at Congress Hall are the perfect backdrop for any couple in love, but what I loved about my Congress Hall wedding was that I had the view AND great customer service. A wedding is not just what you see - it's how you feel, how your guests feel, and how well your venue can problem solve so that your day is full of joy and not unnecessary stress. Congress Hall increased our joy and lowered our stress again and again. My husband and I will return for years to come to celebrate the day we said, "I do!" We love Congress Hall!

We had our wedding at Congress Hall in July and it was perfect! As soon as we saw Congress Hall we knew it was where we wanted to get married and we couldn't be happier with the choice we made. Not only is Congress Hall beautiful, but the people were amazing to work with. Right from the start both Meredith and Krystina helped us make our vision come to life. They were always willing to answer questions and give suggestions and they were both a pleasure to work with leading up to the event. On our wedding day they both helped the day go off without a hitch, even when little things went wrong, they took care of them without me ever knowing. They kept me calm and made sure our day was perfect. I would recommend Congress Hall to everyone and cannot thank them enough for helping to make our wedding day everything we ever dreamed of!

I've been working with Colleen, who is helping me plan my wedding in Cape May. As I currently live in Los Angeles I thought it would be hard for me to plan my wedding but with Colleen's help she is making it a breeze. Both Congress Hall and The Virginia Hotel are run by the same company and though I would have preferred to have my wedding at Congress Hall for brides who are on a bit of a budget I whole heartily suggest The Virginia Hotel. You get the same excellent service, food and comps for a better price. THANK YOU COLLEEN!

Now that the wedding is officially done and the dust has finally settled, I really want to thank Congress Hall for all of their hard work for our big event. More specifically, please allow me to gush about Krystina Kennedy, who worked tirelessly to make sure our wedding would go off without any problems. I'm fairly certain I owe my sanity and first born to her. From the get go, we wanted a place that could hold a ceremony, host a full reception, and house guests. That's not an easy task to accomplish in South Jersey but alas, this was where we had our hearts set on getting married. And so we knew we had to make it happen somehow. The vibe at Congress Hall was very different from any other venue we visited - comfy, trendy, classy, elegant, but somehow relaxing and cool. We put down a deposit and began the adventure that is wedding planning (which is a massive pain in the ass, but that's another story). Krystina kept us organized, answered our 15 kajillion questions, sent back countless emails, hounded the chef over my dietary restrictions, and negotiated pricing with us on a few add-in items. She also scheduled deliveries for us, set up our decor, gave me a checklist, and arranged for a special meal for a family member who had been in the hospital the week of the wedding. She even booked us entertainment in The Boiler Room so our group would have an after party. Our guests ultimately raved about the food, their rooms, the drinks, and the location. We could have never gotten to the end point, though, without our faithful coordinator. Thank you, Krystina, for one of the best damn parties we've ever been to. You are sincerely awesome.

I grew up going to Cape May every summer and watched Congress Hall go from decrepit to absolutely beautiful after the renovation about 10 years ago. Once I started seriously dating my now-husband, I was set on getting married there and booked the venue a few weeks after we got engaged in late 2012. A year and a half later, we had an absolutely amazingly beautiful wedding day -- everything went perfectly, from the rehearsal to the morning-after brunch, and I really couldn't be any happier with my decision or with my coordinator, Colleen. Everyone commented on how beautiful the day was, and we've had many people come forward and say it was the best and/or most beautiful wedding they'd ever been to. The whole thing felt like it was 5 minutes, but it was the best 5 minutes of my life. :) That being said, we did have some issues during the planning process, particularly during the latter stages (hence the lower-star review for service). Some things I cannot stress enough: Read, read and re-read your contract and ask as many questions as possible about every detail of your day as far out as possible. This venue is extremely inflexible about certain things, so be prepared for some frustrating conversations and have all your bases covered. Other than those issues, a dream wedding venue that will give you exactly the wedding day you pictured. I really can't give them any less than 5 stars overall, because that's what really matters in the end.

I grew up near Cape May and had always had Congress Hall in mind for my wedding. I was not at all disappointed. Colleen, our wedding planner, was absolutely wonderful. She fielded our (very) numerous emails and was always super friendly, even when we were negotiating prices or asking her questions about minute (and largely unimportant) details. She was very accommodating and met with us in person several times prior to the big day. Looking back, there wasn't a single thing I would have changed about our wedding. All of our guests could not believe how great the food was - everyone kept telling me "this isn't wedding food!" - the venue was beautiful, and everything ran like clockwork. Congress Hall truly gave me my dream wedding.