Shadowbrook

Kudos, compliments and accolades!! We could not have been more pleased with our decision to have our wedding at Shadowbrook. This is class act from the time we met with an associate to the end of our wonderful evening, you never felt like you were just another wedding. Shadowbrook went out of their way to make sure we were happy. Our joy became their joy in seeing us have the most memorable occasion. They returned calls promptly, and all the associates knew who we were. They made the entire process easy and fun. Our guests told us what a wonderful, fun wedding we had. From cocktail hour, ceremony and reception, everything was perfect! Thank you Shadowbrook.

What can you say? My wedding was perfect. And it was all because of Shadowbrook. I knew from the moment I stepped inside their venue that I HAD to have this place as my reception. The service was incredible, the food was phenomenal, and the place was breathtaking! I quickly signed up and for the next year, I enjoyed their wonderful service. I must have sat with them for 30 hours over the course of the year, and during that time, I felt like I could just step back and relax and allow them to do their work!

During my wedding reception, I just felt so comfortable!! Freddie took care of everything!!! And the STAFF!!! Everyone is still raving about the service that they received! I'm so so happy about it!

One of my bridesmaids only drinks a certain wine, and when I asked if they had it a month or so ago, they said that they would put it down as a request for my wedding. Well, during the wedding, my bridesmaid asked if she could have that wine and they said that they didn't have it. But when they looked and saw that I had requested it, someone actually went out, bought the wine, and brought it back!! You can't get that from anywhere!!

I am so extremely thankful that I found this venue!! PLEASE check it out!

From beginning to end, Shadowbrook took care of our every want and need. They were so attentive and answered all of the questions that we had (shout out to Amy!). The location itself is a gorgeous estate, and on our winter wedding day, it sparkled on the inside and out with their winter decor. Mother nature helped out a bit too with some snow that day as well, which made the whole night magical. I couldn't imagine getting married anywhere else!! Love Love Love Shadowbrook!

Shadowbrook was everything I dreamed of for my wedding day!! My whole day was perfect everything from the service to the food was spectacular!! Not to mention the venue is absolutely stunning!!!!

Our daughter, Callan was married in the Oak Room on 11-11-11. From the moment we stepped through the doors last December, and spoke to the staff, we were sure we had made the right decision.Throughout the year planning, every interaction we had both by phone and in person only reinforced our decision. Linda, Fredy, Susan and Leona--the entire staff was a pleasure to deal with, and made sure our every request was honored. They do not 'nickel and dime' you for every little thing--as other venues do, and you get what you pay for---on the day of our daughter's wedding we were catered to, the staff made sure everything ran smoothly and we were able to enjoy every minute of our daughter's wedding--Although there was another wedding at the same time, the staff did an excellent job---we never knew they were there until the evening was over. Since then, we have received an unprecedented number of calls, emails and notes complimenting on her wedding. The food was outstanding, there was never a line at the bar, and the service was impeccable. The helped us realize my daughter's vision of a lush, 'old world' elegant fall wedding. I highly recommend them to everyone planning a wedding.

My fiance Brandon and I got married at shadowbrook on July 23, 2011 and I had the best experience ever. The staff there was so friendly and willing to do anything to make you happy.The food was amazing and the garden was beautiful. I couldn't of wished for a better place.

The Shadowbrook was such an amazing place to have our Civil Union. The grounds & manor are georgous and the staff was amazing. They went out of their way to make sure everything was perfect. The food was out of this world. I highly recommend them for everyone.

Where do I begin?? Ah yes..the engagement period. My husband and I are both very Italian with very big Italian families. We have lots of cousins that got married last year and have gotten married this year and are yet to get married this year. Yes, every wedding venue is beautiful and yes the food is wonderful, but we were looking for something a little different...say without marble columns and floors..So we were on the hunt for a timeless look and boy did we look. We traveled to Long Island, Upstate, North Jersey, and finally South Jersey to Shadowbrook. The first thing we loved was the tree lined drive..I being the Bride, got butterflies in my tummy because I knew this was perfect for my horse and carriage...second we noticed were the gorgeous grounds which is a beautiful site for coctkail hour..third, the mansion and all it had to offer. My theme was Cinderella meets Scarlet O'Hara where I wear the gorgeous ball gown and have the sexy seductive look and my husband and his groomsmen wore tails. It was perfect. The Oak Room really sealed the deal, it was absolutely stunning and was far from the norm of an Italian reception with marble floors (no offense, marble is beautiful but not our style). And finally, what really sold us on the Shadowbrook was the staff, especially Robert. Robert the owner sat down to talk to us about our options. He was the first person to talk to both my hubsand and myself and not just me. He didn't brag about his venue or talk so fast that our heads were spinning. The price was perfect for the food..best deal we got!! He was very respectful, answered OUR questions, and addressed us a couple which was nice. In all other venues that we visited, all the consultants spoke to me and wanted me to make decisions as if my husband was not even there! When we called Robert to let him know we made a decision we scheduled a tasting which was devine!! The food was excellent and I am glad I had a chance to eat it during tasting because I didn't really on my wedding day!!Our whole engagement process with the Shadowbrook was pleasant and a dream. They let me bring in anything I wanted. I literally moved in two days before the wedding!!


The wedding day was a dream. Guests raved that the food was amazing and the grounds were more gorgeous then when I visited the first time. The staff was amazing as well as they catered to all our needs.. My photographer had a field day at the Shadowbrook for the grounds and the mansion were so beautiful that we tried to take as many shots to capture the beauty it offered, but unfortunately there just is not enough time in a wedding to do that! All I have to say is that it was a dream come true. My guests had a great time, and so did we. If we could do it all over again, I would have my reception at the Shadowbrook. Please be sure to check out some pictures at Patrick Sweeney Photography. com or visit his facebook page under Marino wedding. Thank you so much Shadowbrook!!

Yours truly,

Mr. and Mrs. Benny and Paola Marino
7/10/11

I got married at the Shadowbrook in June of 2011. They are an institution in our area, because when I was younger, it's where everyone had bat mitzvahs and sweet sixteens. Originally I wasn't interested in considering it for the wedding b/c I was worried it would be too old-fashioned--but I absolutely loved my wedding there and could not have asked for a better venue or staff.

Robert, the owner, is very involved in the process and seems to know everything that is going on. To me, this is very professional and shows that he really knows how to run a business. His staff is wonderful--they are all so kind and helpful. The food is fantastic as well, and the grounds are incredibly beautiful. It is really a unique and gorgeous venue, and it is far more charming and interesting than a hotel ballroom.

I honestly cannot say enough good things about the Shadowbrook. I would get married there again in a heartbeat.

We had an amazing experience with the staff at Shadowbrook! I was initially reluctant to visit and consider this venue but am so grateful I did! We worked with Linda who is truly a kind and loving person. She was so attentive to us and suggested options that we didn't know or think about. Our only concern was that we did have some grandparents who had a difficulty time navigating the facility and I'm not exactly sure if they were assisted. However, ths was something we neglected yp discuss and plan with them prior to the ceremony/reception.

We WERE able to personalize our wedding with the full cooperation and assistance of the staff. We have nothing but glowing things to say about Shadowbrook and would fully recommend this venue to all.

I had gotten married at shadowbrook on 10-02-2010. Shadowbrook is gorgeous and i am so very happy that i had gotten married here. The weather was beautiful and we had our ceremony in the main garden as well as our cocktail hour. The reception was held in the Regency room. Linda was so helpful and so very easy to work with and very accomodating. The food was excellent and my guests are still raving about it! I highly recommend getting married here....besides the place being so beautiful the staff is so helpful and extremely nice.

The ladies at The Shadowbrook were very accomodating and a pleasure to do business with, they made what is a very nerve racking time, very calm for me. They understood my needs and accomodated me. Freddy the Maitre'D was a sweetheart and very helpful and cooperative and attentive. I highly recommend having a wedding here. The food was superb.

We are currently planning our third wedding at the Shadowbrook. I am the mother-of-the-bride this time and previously have been both the bride and the mother-of-the-groom. In each case, my husband and I have been the ones to contract the wedding with Mr. Zweben and his staff.

When I first went to the Shadowbrook looking for a reception venue, I drove down a beautiful long road that gave the senses time to leave the busy towns immediately around it and the mind time to reset itself into a mode of anticipation, only to be blown away by the first impression when the building came into view. It was like a step back in time. Everything, from the meticulously maintained and expansive gardens to the impressive exterior of the elegant mansion to the unending delight in the impeccable details inside that kept the vintage feel, was vibrant and alive as if I had just gone through a time warp and walked into the very best of the turn of the last century. The totality of the ambience set the stage very dramatically for a romantic fantasy.

The staff came next and I was greeted and led through every phase of their offering. The creativity and exquisite taste level left no detail unexplored. After traipsing through many other venues and realizing how much needs to be done for a memorable wedding, I felt the stress melt away because someone had already done the work and had thought of all the countless minutiae on my list as well as much more I hadn’t come up with yet.

The day came and went off without a hitch. Of course something always goes wrong, but it was of my own doing. The floral centerpieces for the table came in the one color I had not wanted. I should have checked… Oh well, no one remembers that now except me, and the Shadowbrook now handles the centerpieces too. All anyone remembers is the excellent and abundant food and the dream-come-true quality of the entire day. It was the perfect wedding until…

Next generation: my son wanted a beautiful wedding for the love of his life, so I suggested the Shadowbrook. “No Ma, not your wedding again, mine…” was the response. We looked all over, again, and finally came back to the Shadowbrook where his fiancée had the same reaction as I had had years before. Though constantly new and fresh, it was still a return to another more gracious, elegant era, an experience to be relished.

This time the wedding was at Christmas, not in the spring as mine had been. The gardens seemed to come inside with splendid poinsettias everywhere. The bride brought in a special wedding arbor she and her family had made and, uh oh, it was too tall for the room where the ceremony was to be held. No problem, we’ll find a way was the response and the room for the ceremony was switched to accommodate the arbor. Special favors were laid out just as requested at the tables (a little tricky since they were different for different people) and again guests were WOWed by the entire affair. The flexibility and responsiveness of the staff were phenomenal. The food was a culinary delight and the setting was gorgeous. Maybe I’d even have to say it was more perfect than mine. Any regrets or disappointments…yes…there wasn't enough time or room in my stomach to try every mouthwatering dish. I guess we’d better go for “take 3”.

My daughter was engaged, where do we go? “No, I don’t want my wedding to be my brother’s all over again only a year and a half later.” So we went all over and compared the memory of her brother’s wedding to what she saw. Reluctantly she finally dragged herself into the Shadowbrook where her maid of honor had the same reaction of awe that her now sister-in-law and I had had in the past. Mr. Zweben and his staff assured her that her wedding could be unique as well. First it will be in early summer so the gardens are available, next, a different location for the cocktail hour in case of rain, special little touches with the table linens and chair covers (which are classy and elegant as befits the locale), and a menu and presentation for the entire party that will be customized for her. Well, what did she decide? Sold…We’re looking forward to our third perfect wedding.

I had my wedding at the Shadowbrook May 24, 2009 it was a wonderful experience! I went to a bridal show at the Shadowbrook and fell in love with the classic elegance of it. My husband and I both wanted a venue that was more than just a place to have our reception we wanted a place that had history and told a story and the Shadowbrook did just that! I was in awe when I found out that one of the banisters was from the Old Paramount Hotel in NYC.

My Experiences:
My first time at the Shadowbrook was at a bridal show. This was the first time that I met Mr. & Mrs. Zweben. They were both wonderful they showed me around the property and explained all the options that were available for my wedding. They made everything feel very personal, even though there was a bridal show going on they gave me the personal attention that I needed. After touring the property it was time to taste the food. I loved everything so far, so the food tasting was going to be the deciding factor of if this was going to be the place for my wedding..... and it was!!!! The food was great! (When I went into the area where the buffet was set up I kept saying to myself secretly I really want my wedding here. I really hope the food is good!) I was so excited after tasting the food it was like a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders....I had finally found the perfect place for my special day!

Now it’s time to get planning!
Planning my wedding could not have been easier. Robert (Mr.Zweben) was so easy to work with; he was accommodating and met ALL of my needs and requests. There was nothing that I wanted that was rejected or disregarded. I was even allowed to bring my dogs! I decided against it because I thought that it may be traumatic for them, but really how many places will let you bring your dog! (I'm not sure what happen to Martha or Jennifer below on their wedding day. Maybe they did not communicate their needs well. Nothing that happen to them happen to me!)

Time to party!
May 24th 2009 wedding day! I had a cocktail reception with 100 people in the Victorian Suite (it’s the first room on the left when you come in the front door). At first I was a little apprehensive about the Victorian Suite b/c the rooms are kind of separated but to tell you the truth that's what I liked best about it. Well that and the fact that we had a secluded area of the garden to use the entire time of my wedding. The separation of the rooms was great it went perfect with the cocktail reception! My reason for having the cocktail reception was b/c I hate being on a schedule. I wanted everyone to have fun and eat when they wanted to not when I said so.

When the food came out it was in a room off to the side which was great it was out of the way of everything. Some people ate in the dining room, some outside and some at one of the tables by the dance floor and dance in-between bites of food! Everyone loved the food I received several complements on how great it was. They really had something for everyone to eat!

Then came dessert.
To my surprise Robert arranged for me to have all kinds of extra desserts. It was unexpected but I loved every second of it! The whipped cream with fresh strawberries was my favorite, I made everyone try it!

The maitre’d was wonderful I believe his name was Bob. (I feel bad that I don’t remember his name) He made sure that we had everything that I wanted or needed he took great care of our party! I didn't ever have to ask for anything he was always two steps ahead of me. Robert was also there to ensure that everything went smoothly, although he didn’t have to be Bob had it under control! I mean it was nice to see that he was there and cared about the details.

I cannot thank that Shadowbrook enough for making out day perfect in every way!

P.S. I am still hearing from family and friends about how wonderful my wedding was! I thought that we felt like this because it was our wedding, but hearing from everyone else that they had as good of time as us, is confirmation that the Shadowbrook it truly the perfect wedding venue!

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING!!! The food, the atmospher and the people. I fell in-love with this venue as sson as I walked in!!! My grnadmother nad I even asked if any of the furniture was for sale. Our Matre 'D was there when we needed him, got us anything we wanted when we wanted. They accomodated us to the fullest. They went above and beyond our expectations!!! It was our perfect dream wedding! We could not have asked for anything better!

I am a New York City girl, born and raised, however when my fiance and I got engaged, he expressed a strong desire to get married where he grew up in New Jersey. He had told me about Shadowbrook, and how his cousin had her wedding there and he hadn't forgotten how great the wedding was. I had always envisioned getting married in the city, and was pretty upset that he had his heart set on getting married in New Jersey - I wanted The Pierre and Central Park, the quintessential New York Wedding, not some catering place in the burbs. But, being the good (new) fiance that I was, I took the ride down to Shadowbrook, mostly to humor him.
Well, the joke was on me. I was complaining the entire way to Shadowbrook, and when had said we were close, I was freaking out because we were driving down a highway lined with strip malls. Then, we turned onto this long, beautiful driveway, and drove up to a place I didn't even know could exist in New Jersey - an elegant mansion, with manicured grounds. Now I was intrigued... We walked in and were greeted by a friendly hostess, and although we didn't have an appointment, she told us that the owner would be happy to speak with us. I was amazed that we even had access to speak with the owner, nevertheless on our first visit there. I'm not sure what the reviewer below meant about him being rude and unprofessional, and that is what compelled me to write this review to begin with - I was speechless at how eloquent he was, and after chatting about New York City and establishing common ground, he proceeded to tell us all the unique ways we could personalize our wedding and make it truly the perfect event for me and my fiance. Don't get me wrong, I STILL wasn't sold on having my wedding in New Jersey.
Since we sat to meet with him before we looked around, he offered to give us a tour of the venue. Being an interior designer, I was in awe of the traditional beauty of Shadowbrook. I could not believe some of the antiques they had there, and what impeccable shape the place was in - Also, I am a little OCD and always check nooks and crannies for dust/dirt, and everything was spotless. The Oak Room, in all its grandeur, is a beautiful backdrop for any wedding. It also overlooks the gardens, and once I caught a glimpse of them, I was sold. The rose bushes must have just bloomed, and walking through them made me feel like a princess at a castle I never got to experience growing up in NYC.
Now that my mind was made up (I'm stubborn, I still didn't tell my fiance), we went back into the office and got to business. I'm not the easiest person to deal with, and friends and family expected me to be a nightmare planning my wedding, but for some reason, the owner Robert made me feel at ease and had a constructive answer for each of my crazy questions. He recommended some wonderful vendors, most of which I used except for the florist - I had to use my family's florist from Manhattan, however the candelabras at Shadowbrook were so beautiful it isn't even necessary to bring in flowers if you don't have the budget to.
I cannot say enough nice things about Robert and his staff - they made the planning process so easy, even for someone as controlling as myself, that I proved everyone wrong and was far from being a "bridezilla." I see that some people complain about not being able to taste the cake, but that really didn't bother me at all - no one actually eats the cake, do they? I have had chocolate cake before, it is pretty simple not to mess it up. For me, the cake just had to look pretty, and when I brought in a picture from a cake designer I knew from Manhattan (featured on Martha Stewart), Shadowbrook put me in touch with Piece of Cake and despite all my doubts, they reproduced it flawlessly.
Fast forward to the wedding date - We chose a date in October, I always wanted an early fall wedding, too many spring/summers in the city have scarred me. The sky was blue and cloudless, the hair had no humidity, and the breeze was just perfect. We had a picturesque setup for the ceremony outside in the main gardens, cocktail hour in the gardens adjacent to that, and the reception in the Oak Room overlooking the garden we just said our vows in. The food was amazing - we went all out on this, being a family of foodies, and nothing disappointed. I only wish that I was able to eat more, however the staff brought me everything and more that I requested - naturally, I didn't want to risk getting anything on my dress :)
I cannot even describe how perfect the service and the setting was for my wedding - not to mention the staff and Robert, who was there for both my ceremony and my reception making sure that everything ran smoothly. I felt very special having the owner there, and after finding out that Shadowbrook is a family run business through generations, I was impressed that he took the time to be at my wedding. Professional for start to finish!
Nothing can compare to how amazing my wedding was, and believe me, I did not want to have the wedding in New Jersey, but now I couldn't picture myself getting married anywhere else. All of my Manhattan friends were raving about Shadowbrook, and couldn't believe that this special venue exists only an hour away from Manhattan. My friend was going to have her wedding at the Botanical Gardens, however after my party, she switched and got married there 3 weeks ago! How lovely it was to be back there, and honestly, you must be insane to choose anywhere else.

Shadowbrook was amazing! We orginally had booked another venue but realized that they didnt add their taxes into the price they gave us and we went to look at shadowbrook just to see if we could afford it. and we could! every little detail was excellent. its a beautiful property and the staff is so nice!

Everyone at the Shadowbrook was great!! I would absolutely recommend anyone have an event at this location! You can't put a price on this atmosphere and level of service.

The wedding planners were helpful through the easy process of choosing the menu, linens and wedding cake. Although there was no tasting for the cake (disappointed :( ) the cake was so beautiful and tasty the day of the wedding that I had nothing to worry about all along. Joe the maitre'd for our wedding was outstanding! We couldn't have wanted for anything all night long (except for the evening to keep going). He brought us drinks, made sure we ate the delicious dinner, and helped my mom follow my long list of items to be packed up after the reception was over. The wait staff was great and attentive. I don't think I could have wished for more.

While I thought the cost was out of our price range in the beginning, I came to realize that everything was included. There were no hidden costs to pop up the week or day of the wedding, and my guests felt pampered all night long. Definitely go to one of the monthly bridal shows to check out the cocktail hour food! And if you are considering a winter wedding, the decorations here are absolutley amazing! It would cost a fortune to even try to decorate any other location like this.

The service and grounds were absolutely amazing! The staff was wonderful and really make everything we wanted so nice. For an outside wedding or cocktail party, this is the perfect place! Th flowers are so beautiful and everything is kept so nice.

Our son's wedding at Shadowbrook was incredible. They were wonderful to deal with. Our affair looked like it cost so much more than it actually did. I would highly recommend them for your wedding.

The Shadowbrook came to the rescue on providing a beautiful wedding on short notice. They arranged the flowers and made sure everything ran smoothly. The staff was pleasant and accomodating. The setting was very elegant and i loved the main staircase!

As a professional event planner, I was obviously looking for only the best when it was time for my own wedding. Growing up in New Jersey, I had always dreamed of a wedding at Shadowbrook, and the experience was nothing short of flawless. Aesthetically, the place is breathtaking, with gardens that are truly one of a kind. The banquet planners and even the owner himself were extremely accommodating, going out of their way to make sure that all of my requests were met, even though I can be pretty demanding. It was hard for me to relax, but they kept reminding me that it is supposed to be fun, and I was confident in their skills. I was extremely impressed by the attentiveness of the owner, who was actually there the day of my wedding, so gracious and charming that he practically fit in with my guests! My guests to this day still speak about my beautiful cocktail hour in the gardens, and the food was plentiful, varied and of the highest quality throughout the entire evening. I was able to make substitutions to suit my needs, so everything was truly the way I always imagined it. I would recommend this venue to anyone, and believe me, I have been!

This place was beautiful. The staff were so nice and helpful. Food was wonderful!! the price was great for a winter wedding. IT was perfect.

The employees at the Shadowbrook were extremely attentive and accomodating the day of the wedding. They were very helpful to create stress free planning, and took care of every little detail that was asked of them.

The Shadowbrook provided excellent service and was very professional. They are there to meet your every need. Everyone loved the cocktail hour and the prenium liquors

Most beautiful venue around, great cocktail hour and desserts, they even do shots! All the staff was so kind and helpful. Our wedding there was amazing and everyone raved about the gardens and food. My only complaint is the owner is so mean and rude! He made me cry the week of my wedding. Lucky him he has a great staff to pick up his slack!

The Shadowbrook is a beautiful mansion that has made classy weddings it specialty. The wedding coordinator and maitre d' seemed to a little snobby and rude, and do need to work on their "people skills". The food was great and the scenery is gorgeous however, and that made it all worth while. **I would recommend getting a cake from outside however, as mine came from the shadowbrook and had a large crack in it, so all of my pics of it are yucky.

The event department staff at Shadowbrook is fantastic. They took all the time I needed to visit and talk through the day. There was never a time that I couldn't get in touch with someone and everyone I spoke to was familiar with what I was looking for so I didn't have to wait to talk to one representative. The decor is outdated and the food is not that fantastic but I went with the location based on their level of service and for meeting my needs. I was very disappointed with our maitre'd. I did not find out who it would be until I arrived but I met with him and provided a list of 5 things I wanted to ensure were done during the day. He assured me they would be but didn't do most of them. I asked for hors d'ouevors to be brought out to me specifically during pictures since I would be tied up the whole time - but they were brought out for my guests who ate them and then left after their 10 minutes of pictures. I also asked for the coloring books and crayons I bought for the kids to be left at the table and they weren't - after repeatedly asking he finally brought them. I also had to ask multiple times for the chicken fingers and fries to be brought to the kids - they waited until everyone else was done with the buffet to do so but by then the parents had gotten food from the buffet because they didn't know specific food would be brought for the kids. We had also called before the wedding the find out how our elderly guests could get around and were assured they could get to the bottom through an elevator. The day of the wedding we were told there wasn't an elevator they could use and someone directed my guests around the side. Our best man intercepted the owner who was on his way to reprimand us about our guests doing this. He was informed about the situation and said he didn't care that we couldn't use an elevator and there wasn't one or that we had been told it was ok to walk around the side; he didn't want them to walk around the side. He offered no other options and stormed away saying he didn't want to see it again. I had our best man hand out the tips and gave the "recommended" tip for the maitre'd. He then told my best man he was disappointed and asked for more money. The best man gave him another $75. Then he went up to my husband and asked for more. Our best man told my husband what happened at which time we left - very unprofessional. Up until the day itself I was very pleased but the things that happened the day of my wedding would caution me from recommending this location.

I have to agree with Jennifer's review. My feeling is that the Shadowbrook is mediocre and extremely difficult to work with for a personalized wedding affair. Overall, our guests were happy, especially because of the extra hard work put in by my mom, myself, and that of other vendors to help make up for what the Shadowbrook lacks. If I could go back, I would have had the wedding somewhere else. Our vision could have been better translated by another venue, and it would have been so much less stressful and less expensive. We chose the Shadowbrook for two reasons: 1) The location is near our home and many family/friends, 2) we were told that they could and would do anything we want to create our wedding day vision.

The Shadowbrook offers a "cookie-cutter" approach to weddings. They have been catering to weddings for many years and offer a strict approach and routine. If you like their traditional approach, then they are the venue for you. For personalization, the Shadowbrook is nearly impossible to work with. The modern trend is to personalize weddings. You will find yourself faced with many limitations and extra expenses that you wouldn't pay with another venue. The planning staff is very personable, but the owner is both rude and inflexible. The owner has a strict idea of how he feels things should be done. He was rude, unprofessional, and inflexible whenever my mom or I spoke with him during the planning process. He took absolutely no accountability for originally promising that the Shadowbrook would ensure we have "everything we want" at the time of our contract signing, but then downright refusing certain options and details during the planning process. Again, please refer to Jennifer's review. It looks like her wedding was just two weeks before mine, and she experienced similar issues.

Here are some of the issues I faced:
1) Bathrooms are outdated: The overall decor of the entire venue is outdated. Also, there is no elevator access for elderly for the main bathrooms. There is a handicap bathroom on the entrance level, but our guests were not well informed about it, which I didn't learn until after the event.
2) Crowded cocktail hour: Our cocktail hour was supposed to be outside, but it was rainy so we had a backup plan of the Palm Terrace room. I was told at the time of signing the contract that the cocktail hour would be in the Palm Terrace room, which would have been fine. Unfortunately, the cocktail hour was set up in a smaller side room of the oak room, which was way too small for our 175 guest wedding. I'm not sure why they didn't utilize the space better and stick to the original plan of putting the food in the Palm Terrace.
3) Outdated decor: The venue is outdated and offers a very basic white linen table coverings and ballroom chairs. The carpet is extremely worn. If you want to make updates, such as covering the chairs with matching covers, the Shadowbrook charges extra and it is still old-fashioned looking. I wanted to spend the extra money by bringing in chiavari chairs and satin linens to match my chocolate themed wedding. I had to pay $500 extra dollars for special delivery, in addition to the regular costs and delivery charges. This extra fee was only because the Shadowbrook insisted on delivery on the Saturday afternoon of my wedding day, as well as removal immediately following the reception at midnight. When I booked the Shadowbrook, they told me that these kind of upgrades were NO PROBLEM, and failed to mention the delivery restrictions. All event rental services drop off the equipment on Friday afternoons and pickup on Mondays. The Shadowbrook has a responsibility to inform customers of their limitations upfront, which they failed to do with us. During the planning process when I was working the arrangement details, I was told to wait so that the planners could double-check with the owner. The owner then provided feedback that he would allow the rentals to be brought in, but would not store the items overnight. Again it is my opinion that this should have been communicated at the time of signing the contract! I was promised that this would not be a problem, and feel that I was misinformed to gain my business. If you want a more modern looking venue, know that it is difficult to accomplish at the Shadowbrook. Another example of inflexibility is that the owner refused to allow us to use his table number frames unless we used a basic table numbering system. I named my tables according to my wedding them and needed to replace the numbers with the names. This would have been a simple insert of card stock into a basic picture frame. The owner refused because he didn't want to risk additional wear on the picture frames. He said our choices were to use the numbers as is, or purchase our own. He spoke with us rudely and abruptly. In the end, I paid another expense by purchasing my own frames. He offered no discount to me for bringing in my own linens, centerpieces, and table frames, even though we did ask.
4) Horrible cake service: I ended up purchasing a cake from an outside vendor even though the cake is included in the Shadowbrook package. Again, the Shadowbrook has a cookie cutter approach, offering just three flavors of cake and three tier designs. With the Shadowbrook offering, the customer is required to purchase flowers to decorate the cake. I wanted to spend the extra money on edible sugar-flower decorations instead, but this wasn't an available option. The Shadowbrook also doesn't offer any cake tastings! After some tough communications with the staff and owner, the Shadowbrook finally allowed me to try working directly with their cake vendor, Piece-of-Cake, for an additional charge. I called four times. The first time, I spoke with a phone rep, who requested for me to get permission from the Shadowbrook despite that I already had it. Not sure why she just didn't check with the Shadowbrook herself. I confirmed the permission on the second call and was told the Piece-Of-Cake owner, Jolie, would call me back to make an appointment. She never called. I left two more voice messages for her, and she still didn't call back! The Shadowbrook had no concern. So, I utilized another vendor that was wonderful. However, I don't feel that I was well compensated by the Shadowbrook for having to pay an additional cost and for the trouble I went through to get the cake I wanted.
5) The maitre'd services were good for the most part. They had wonderful personalities and paid attention to ensuring that my husband and I had food and drinks during our reception. However, I think that the planners may have not been clear about many of the details I requested. The band was to be fed first, so that they could eat and then continue to play without interrupting the momentum of the party with another break. If they ate first, they could play background music while everyone was being served after them. Then, they could play music for dancing uninterrupted. this didn't happen and I had to insist upon it being taken care of as soon as I discovered it, but there was a bit of a time lapse already. Also, the place settings weren't arranged as requested. My mother noticed and asked for them to fix it during the cocktail hour. She had to push them to do it, but they did it and made improvements, but still didn't get it completely right. I was also told during the contract signing that the fireplace would be available for our use, but it was never lit. I can only imagine that these issues are all a result of the owner. The planners will tell you that anything is easily possible when you are signing the contract, but the reality during the planning process is that the owner is unnecessarily inflexible. Any constraints should be identified at the time of the contract signing, not after when you are already financially committed and cannot choose another place without a minimum of $5000.00 withdrawal penalty!
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Additional comments after Shadowbrook response:
The Shadowbrook response provided outrageously false statements in response, which I feel people should be aware of. For anyone interested in fully researching these claims, I can be reached at MarLiposky@aim.com.
Regarding the false statements:
1) Bathroom: View the bathrooms yourself. The first thing you'll notice is the stalls. Several of my guests provided feedback that the hostess directed everyone upstairs and guests were not aware of the handicap accessible bathroom; even more elderly guests and guests with knee problems who struggle with stairs.

2) Cocktail Hour: I haven't heard one comment from my guests to suggest that the cocktail area was spacious. The guests are providing this feedback (about 50 of them). My husband and I weren't in the cocktail hour room, so we didn't see the setup ourselves. Go to see the Oak Room yourself. Picture 175 guests in the small rooms next to the bar. You'll understand my disappointment. One guest at the wedding was previously considering the Shadowbrook for her wedding and changed her mind at my wedding. She enjoyed the food at the cocktail hour, but couldn't enjoy it for long because she felt overwhelmed by the crowded feel.

3) Décor Rentals: I was not made aware upfront that equipment had to be moved out immediately after the wedding. I didn't learn this until I was scheduling vendors, several months after I placed a deposit to reserve the Shadowbrook for our event. One of my vendors informed me of a previous experience with the Shadowbrook. She asked if she could pick up her items the next morning before any events started, instead of after midnight. The Shadowbrook said that she could do this, but she will find the items outside thrown over the fence. She picked up the items after midnight.

4) Decor: I agree that decor is a matter of choice. I feel the Shadowbrook should be clear about the unwillingness to personalize decor before the contract signing. It is a false statement that no one else has rented chairs for use at the Shadowbrook. In fact, the Shadowbrook staff even directed me to a wedding planner who had previously brought in chairs for weddings and bat mitzvahs! Mr. Zweben, the owner, should check with his event planning staff before posting false statements, as his staff confirmed that chair rentals were done previously.

5) Table Frames: The Shadowbrook did NOT offer to purchase table number frames for us. In fact, the owner was rude when Mother and I inquired about using the frames. I was given two choices: Use the frames as they are or purchase your own. I purchased my own, at my own expense with no offer of assistance from the Shadowbrook. I would have welcomed an offer to help with the expense, whether it was an offer to purchase or a credit.

6) Cake: It is outrageous to claim that I didn't show up to meet with the baker, Jolie. I telephoned Jolie four times, and never received an appointment or a return phone call. Jolie never even spoke with me directly. On two of my phone calls, her assistant answered. Jolie relayed questions through her assistant. On the first occasion, Jolie demanded that I AGAIN contact the Shadowbrook to confirm approval to work directly with her. I was informed by the Shdowbrook event planners that the Shadowbrook and Piece O Cake do not like for the bride to work directly with the Jolie. On the second phone call, Jolie again relayed her communication through an assistant. I could hear Jolie in the background, but she refused to speak with me directly even upon my request. On this second call, I was told that Jolie would call me back to schedule an appointment. Jolie did not call back. It turned out that my mother-in-law is friends with Jolie’s parents. Several weeks later, Jolie's stepfather called my mother-in-law to obtain my phone number, claiming that Jolie lost my contact information. I don't understand why Jolie didn't contact the Shadowbrook to obtain my information. I called Jolie on two other occasions after the contact between our parents, and left my phone number in voice messages both times. Jolie still didn't bother to return my phone calls. This was now four phone calls and a nearly two month time frame. I want a vendor I can depend on; not someone who doesn’t even speak to me after contacting her four times. It was clear that I needed to find another vendor to make our wedding cake. The Shadowbrook was made aware of this situation and offered us a discount of $1.50 per person as reimbursement of the wedding cake from our package. If you have researched the cost of cakes, you realize that this did not cover even half of my expense. I find it unprofessional for Mr. Zweben to give a false account. It is also ridiculous to suggest that the Shadowbrook is "willing to do anything within reason with no additional cost". When I asked the event coordinator for a cake with edible decor instead of using fresh flower decorations, I received a sarcastic response of "Well, that is like a Martha Stewart's Cake! We don't offer that in our package." At that discussion and while attempting to work with Jolie, I even offered to pay extra for the cake to have edible flower details. I have pictures of my cake. I didn't ask for anything overwhelmingly complicated. The Shadowbrook and Piece O Cake were simply unwilling to accommodate a request outside of their package. Their customer service skills were extremely unprofessional and left me feeling extremely nervous about the details of my wedding.

7) Fireplace: If it is true that the ceremony musicians wanted the fireplace shut off, there were several solutions. 1) After the ceremony musicians left, turn on the fireplace for the cocktail hour and reception. 2) Let the bride, groom, or parents know about the situation to ensure they are in agreement with this decision. Who is paying for the wedding, the musicians or the couple/parents? 3) Move the musicians to another location during the ceremony so that the fireplace wasn't overbearing to them. I'm not sure that the musicians even requested for the fireplace to be shut off. With all the activities going on, I didn't realize it was off until the end of the event. I later noticed in videos that it was off the entire time. The Shadowbrook didn't bother to inform any of us and/or come up with a resolution. Why do I, the bride, have to request to turn on the fireplace? I already indicated that I wanted it on during the planning process. Is the Shadowbrook insinuating that the bride needs to maintain awareness of the details in case the Shadowbrook doesn’t honor her requests? I thought that part of the package I paid for were inclusive of services, so that I didn’t have to worry about these details.

8) Our review: The owner, Mr. Zweben, was only present for a portion of the cocktail hour. We were not aware of several issues until later in the wedding and after the event. Mr. Zweben was made aware of the issues we experienced prior to the wedding and should not be shocked by our disappointment. He was unwilling to accommodate a multitude of things. In order to get the event closer to my vision, I also incurred high additional costs because of Mr. Zweben's inflexibility. We were polite to Mr. Zweben when we saw him at the cocktail hour, and of course, maintained positive spirits as it was our wedding day. Honestly, we were concerned to discuss any further issues with him, especially on the wedding day. We felt that the friction during the planning process needed to stop to ensure our affair wasn't completely ruined. We did not trust Mr. Zweben, as he demonstrated a rude and unprofessional mannerism with us on several occasions. I would expect Mr. Zweben to be equally rude if we expressed dissatisfaction during the cocktail hour. He was rude to us at a Shadowbrook bridal show in front of other guests, with no attempt to make the discussion private or kind.

9) Contract: Mr. Zweben states that the contract outlined all of his limitations and policies. Brides, you need to be aware of the Shadowbrook process. When you reserve the Shadowbrook for your affair, you will sign a credit card authorization form, which indicates the deposit is non-refundable. The minimum deposit is five-thousand dollars. AFTER you leave a non-refundable deposit, the next step is to provide the second payment. In my case, the second payment was over twelve-thousand dollars. The "contract" is mailed to you AFTER you have made two payments. I refuted the contract three times, but then had to sign it as I was only one month from my wedding, could not get my money back, and could not find another location in time. The time line is outlined below:
February 2008: Initial deposit is made, with no contract of any limitations.
May 1, 2008: Payment request for $12,100.00.
June 2, 2008: I receive a "Prospectus", which includes a contract on the back. I am required to sign both. The prospectus did not accurately outline my package choices and the contract contains language that conflicts with what I was promised verbally when I gave a deposit.
August 27, 2008: The prospectus was updated to reflect my package choices. The contract was not negotiated. My wedding was in exactly one month. I endured immense stress from the Shadowbrook and moved forward as I had no other choice except to lose the $17,000.
September 27, 2008: Our wedding
* As you can see from this timeline, I was not informed of limitations in decor or equipment, or anything else until after I provided $17,000 in payments; over three months after the time of my deposit. I believe this is bad business practice on the part of the Shadowbrook.

If I could go back, I would have chosen a different venue. Again, I agree that some brides would be pleased with the Shadowbrook provided they want a traditional affair without personalization. I am certain there are many brides who don't want to fuss over details and would welcome the Shadowbrook packages already being laid out for them. However, the Shadowbrook attempts to market itself for both modern and traditional weddings, yet is unwilling to accommodate a modern approach with personalization and attention to detail.

I photographed a wedding at the Shadowbrook in June and could not believe how beautiful their property was. A lovely outside patio and garden. :)

Storybook elegance in a contemporary setting! Stunningly beautiful venue which boasts exquisite service. One of my favorite venues in New Jersey.

If you want your wedding dreams come true, celebrate the most important day of your life at the Shadowbrook. A long tree line drive, splashing fountains in the gardens of the truly elegant Georgian mansion, the atmosphere of gracious hospitality and their chef's culinary excellence is just a beginning of an endless list that makes the Shadowbrook a hidden gem of the NJ Shore - a fairly-tale location that takes you to the world of magic. Through the past 11 years, Flowerful Events has decorated over 900 events at the Shadowbrook and can truly say that the dedication of the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Zweben, and their staff to provide the brides with superb service is one of a kind.

The Shadowbrook is a wonderful place to have an affair. The rooms are beautiful and have a romantic feel to them. The gardens are exquisite. The gardens are perfect for outdoor ceremonies. The food and service are excellent. They make everyone feel very special. We have performed at the Shadowbrook for many years and they truly know how to run a great affair.

Very nice and courteous staff.

If you are looking for a outstanding venue with old world charm, fantastic grounds, an excellent menu, and staff that is accomodating, friendly and a pleasure to work with, then you must check out the Shadowbrook. As entertainment professionals who are in different venues frequently, we look forward to our events at the Shadowbrook. From the well manicured grounds that are available to host an outdoor ceremony, to the charm and elegance of the Oak Room, to the wonderful staff, the Shadowbrook is just AWESOME! The Sound Connection Entertainment team is honored to be associated with such a great venue, and we encourage any couple in search of outstanding quality to visit the Shadowbrook when selecting a location for wedding celebration. - Jason Jani, Sound Connection Entertainment.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your network. We look forward to building a beautiful relationship with you in the near future! JB Yong Photographer - www.SweetDreamsStudio.com