The Baldpate Inn

We love the Baldpate. We've loved it ever since our first visit back in 2002. The staff bends over backwards to accommodate all of the guests and the rustic, peaceful setting is exactly what we wanted for our wedding weekend. They met all special requests and consistently offered to help out or come up with suggestions to make things easier for us. They gave me a "personal assistant" who helped throughout the weekend, everything from setting up our centerpieces to hanging twinkle lights at night and helping coordinate guest seating and toasts. When it became clear that rain would prevent us from having our ceremony on the outdoor sundeck, the staff scrambled with our guests to relocate the ceremony - including all chairs (which had to be dried with towels) and flower arrangements - to the upper porch (which is covered). Also, the room and food rates were very reasonable and everyone loved the Inn and the breakfasts and dinner.

The only thing that prevents them from earning an A+ rating is one issue that they were not flexible on - public seating in their restaurant on our wedding day until 5pm (because we would not be in the actual dining room until 7:30). The issue this created, however, is that guests who sat down at 5pm did not finish until 6pm, right in the middle of our ceremony taking place on the porch beside the dining area. Restaurant guests were wandering around on the property and through the Inn during our ceremony, staring and getting in the way as we tried to get ready and line up. They also made a lot of noise driving their cars off the gravel driveway right below our ceremony, which I knew would be an issue. Fortunately there were only 2 carloads that I recall and they didn't disrupt the vows. It seems like a minor issue but the Inn is small enough that it was noticeable and it bugged me, especially since we booked the whole inn for 2 nights and were spending a lot of money there. I tried to ask if they could stop at 4pm but they would not.

They did keep a staff person at the bottom of the drive to prevent additional restaurant guests from trying to drive up after the 5pm seating cut off.

All in all, as I mentioned, I love the Baldpate and will continue to go there and recommend the Inn. They really deserved an A+ but for that one pesky issue.