Review is written by Staff @ The Ring and is based on • Interviews with this vendor • Interviews with past brides
Located about thirty minutes outside of Kitchener-Waterloo in the quaint and historic town of Stratford, the Stratford Country Club is a well established favourite for area couples and local destination weddings outside of the city. The Stratford Country Club has a beautiful backdrop for nearly any type or style of wedding. From trendy to traditional, it offers and indoor ceremony and reception space in neutral colour schemes, natural décor of fireplaces and walls of windows overlooking the scenic property. Stratford Country Club also gives you fabulous menu and décor options, two rooms for the price of one, views overlooking the beautiful eighteen hole golf course, and a service team that's trained to go out of their way to make your wedding day memorable.
The team at The Ring sat down with Jessie Whigham, the Banquet Sales & Service Manager at Stratford Country Club, to find more about the club. It was no surprise to us that we loved her (and this amazing space) right away. Let us tell you why...
A century of community involvement...
The Club has been around for close to 100 years, having been established in 1913 and fitting in well with the rest of the historic and culturally vibrant town of Stratford. It has long been a favourite location for weddings and special events for both local and visiting clients. "Continually we strive to improve our facility and take pride in all functions that take place at the Stratford Country Club," Jessie told us.
Among functions that the Club hosts, in addition to weddings, are golf tournaments, charity events, meetings and other special occasions, including a 24 hour squash marathon that raised money for the Stratford General Hospital. "The majority of the golf tournaments that are held here are for charities," says Jessie. "We run and host the tournaments. Charities include the Big Brothers and Sisters, Alzheimer’s Society, Optimist Club and Rotary Club."
In 2008, the Stratford Country Club also won the Commercial Award from the Stratford District Chamber of Commerce.
But (aside from golf), weddings are their specialty and are the major events they host at the Club, including eighteen in 2009 and thirteen booked for 2010 so far.
Wedding receptions on the green
The Stratford Country Club can accommodate many different styles of couples with varying budgets, and tend to see a lot of local couples, as well as couples from out of town planning a home-grown destination wedding in Stratford. "The service style at the Stratford Country Club is casual and flexible," Jessie told us. “Make sure to ask; just because we don’t mention it, doesn’t mean we can’t do it!”
Even the colours of the reception room are neutral and work well with both traditional and bright coloured décor. The Club offers a reception hall and indoor ceremony site, as well as an on-site kitchen with their own culinary team. The room rental rate includes the use of two rooms for the price of one - The Dining Room on the Green and The President Lounge, both of which have fireplaces, adding warmth to the décor.
Scott and Erin Henderson hosted their October 2009 reception at Stratford Country Club and found the room to be very comfortable. "It was a nice size, able to hold all of our guests, but also small enough that we felt very close with everyone." Compared to other venues that Scott and Erin looked at, they felt that Stratford Country Club offered many options to choose from, which allowed them to get exactly what they wanted. They also found the prices to be very reasonable. "We came in under budget and for what we received, it exceeded our expectations."
"The room was very clean and contemporary," Jimmy and Becky Carpenter told us. They also loved that the buffet was located in an adjoining room, which was separate from the main room by a set of double doors. "Very smart set-up." The view from the room and the layout were actually the major reasons behind why they chose Stratford Country Club for their May 2010 wedding reception. "The location was another bonus, with it being so close to the Avon River - somewhere for guests to spend a couple of hours between the ceremony and dinner."
The Dining Room holds up to 175 guests and has a wall of windows and a balcony that overlook the beautiful eighteen hole golf course, giving some natural décor and gorgeous scenery for you and your guests, as well as a nice backdrop for on-site photos. The room rental for a Saturday is $900 and $700 for a Friday or Sunday wedding. Ceremonies can also be hosted on-site in The President Lounge, or you can use this room for the buffet dinner, cocktail hour or as an escape for guests who want a break from music and dancing.
Sarah and David Fillion knew from the start of their engagement that they wanted to be married in Stratford (even though they lived in Waterloo) because of the beautiful parks. "We wanted to hold the wedding reception at a golf course simply for the sheer beauty that golf courses offer and... this is the nicest golf course in Stratford," the couple says. They described the room where they hosted their June 2009 wedding reception in as "simply stunning" and they found it to be very well priced, especially compared to other venues they looked at. "The Stratford Country Club fell right within our budget and value for the price was phenomenal," they say. "We had one of the best wedding meals that either of us has ever tasted. The bar prices were also very fair from what we had seen at other venues."
The Stratford team...
Jessie has worked at the Stratford Country Club for the past three years. She recently took over the Banquet Sales & Service Manager position and makes it her goal to be as helpful as possible to each of the couples that come through the Club's doors. When we met her, it was easy to love her energy and enthusiasm for the art of planning weddings. And it was even easier to envision her using that energy to bring fresh, inspirational ideas to the table as she meets with brides and grooms.
Jessie graduated from the Hospitality and Tourism Management program from Conestoga College and is working on a Post-Graduate Event Management Certificate Program from Conestoga to help make her even better at her job. She is also WPIC (The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada) certified with a strong knowledge of the wedding industry.
"What keeps me passionate about my work is knowing that I can assist couples in finding, planning, and selecting all of the details for their wedding and making their day as truly special as it should be," Jessie told us. "I really feel that the banquet industry is all about making your guests feel welcome, to exceed their expectations and to surprise them," which is just what she sets out to do with each wedding at Stratford Country Club.
Shortly after booking the Stratford Country Club for their wedding reception, Jimmy and Becky moved to B.C.. They didn't return until the week before their wedding, which would have meant that most of their biggest planning details were handled entirely through email correspondence with Stratford Country Club. "There was never a time when we doubted that things would go as we had planned," they told us. "[The Banquet Manager] was very attentive to us and was able to accommodate changes when requested."
Also part of the Club team is Head Chef, Kevin Hallman, who's in his first season at Stratford but comes with fourteen years of experience in food service. Graduating from Niagara Culinary Institute at Niagara College, we were told that Kevin uses innovative cooking styles to create unique menu selections and was even working on a new menu for the Club when we met him.
Dave Lee has been a part of the Stratford team for thirteen years and in 2010 became Director of Operations. He also happens to be one of the Club’s three Canadian PGA professionals.
Sarah and David's favourite memory of their wedding reception at Stratford Country Club was the overall service they received from their first visit to the time they paid their final bill. "We cannot say enough about the wonderful smiles we saw each and every time we visited the hall, how we and our guests were treated during our reception, and just the overall helpfulness that we received from everyone at every step throughout the way."
"I feel that brides choose the Stratford Country Club for their wedding because we are accommodating and will work together to create the wedding of their dreams," says Jessie of the Stratford team. "We offer exquisite menu selection and have service with a smile. Our talented service team is trained to go out of their way to make our couples' wedding days memorable."
Scott and Erin found everyone on staff at the Club to be more than accommodating and helpful. "They were able to answer every and all questions that we had."
Food from the culinary capital
It's no secret that Stratford is full of some of the best culinary treats in Canada, and the Stratford Country Club is no exception. Though Kevin is in the process of changing up the Stratford Country Club menu to better showcase the great food that they can make, their current menu is quite fantastic. In fact, Jessie says that one of the things they're known for in the industry is their unique and exquisite food selection.
"We have heard nothing but great things from our guests in regards to the food," Jimmy and Becky say of their dinner at Stratford Country Club. "It was a very delicious spread of options and we were very pleased with everything. Our punch and late-night snacks were also fabulous."
The menu consists of à la carte choices and a wedding buffet menu that you discuss with Jessie and Kevin to best suit your needs and tastes. "Along with the kitchen staff, on the day of your wedding, Kevin prepares the reception dinner tailored to your desires along with the appetizers and the late night buffet... the sky's the limit."
Stratford Country Club also offers numerous types of bar services available to customize your wedding. The average bride spends about $5000 at Stratford Country Club, dependent on the services selected. The Club also offers discounts on room rentals for Sunday and weekday weddings (not including holidays).
Sarah and David really liked that Stratford Country Club offered ample food selections on their menu, various ways of serving it, and were willing to accommodate various bar services (e.g. host, cash, ticket system, or toonie bar, etc.).
A course for your leisure
Couples who host their weddings at Stratford Country Club also have use of the golf course for both photos and rounds of golf, which is a fun option for the guys the morning of the wedding. Jessie just suggests that if you're heading to the course for photos, be careful. “If you hear fore, duck!”
Walking you through it...
Phone and email are the best ways to get a hold of Stratford Country Club to book a tour of the venue. During the first consultation, Jessie walks you through the Dining Room on the Green and tries to help you picture how the room would be set-up for your wedding, if it isn't at the time of your visit. They also have scrapbooks from several decorators to help you envision it.
Jessie goes over all info with you - like services offered, menu and bar options, recommended vendors, and anything else you may want to know about. As you look through pictures of the decorated hall, Jessie talks to you about “making your day amazing.”
"From the moment we came to tour the venue and speak with someone specifically about having our wedding there, we felt welcomed and free to plan as we wished," Scott and Erin told us.
When you are ready to book, a $500 deposit is required. Then, between booking and the wedding day Jessie assists with all preparations, including choosing the menu, room set-up, wine selections, and any additional elements you desire.
About a month before the wedding, Jessie meets with you to finalize details for the day. "This allows me to know exactly what you want so I don't have to get you involved during the wedding day," she says. "The bride and groom’s wedding day should be as hassle-free as possible and they should be able to party the night away."
On the wedding day, Jessie's goal is to handle any unexpected situations that may occur in a professional and timely manner. “I am there the whole day to help run things smoothly.”
After the wedding, Jessie likes to follow-up with her couples and find out if everything went well and what could use improvement. "We use this information to improve our services and maintain a quality venue for future couples to enjoy."
The feedback we received from Sarah and David was that they would absolutely recommend Stratford Country Club to couple's looking for a venue. "If you want fabulous service and food at a fabulous price, you can’t go wrong with the Stratford Country Club."
Details, details, details
• At Stratford Country Club, you get 2 rooms for the price of 1 to host a ceremony and reception in up to 175 guests.
• A $500 deposit is required to book. A $500 food deposit is required 2 months before, with 75% of the remaining balance due 2 weeks before along with the final guest count; the rest of your bill is due no more than 30 days after the wedding.
• The average bride spends about $5000 at Stratford Country Club on the hall, food and drinks; discounted rental rates are available for Sunday and weekday weddings (except on holidays). The room rental is $900 for a Saturday wedding or, $700 for a Friday or Sunday wedding.
• Tax and gratuities are not included in quoted prices and are extra.
Located about thirty minutes outside of Kitchener-Waterloo in the quaint and historic town of Stratford, the Stratford Country Club is a well established favourite for area couples and local destination weddings outside of the city. The Stratford Country Club has a beautiful backdrop for nearly any type or style of wedding. From trendy to traditional, it offers and indoor ceremony and reception space in neutral colour schemes, natural décor of fireplaces and walls of windows overlooking the scenic property. Stratford Country Club also gives you fabulous menu and décor options, two rooms for the price of one, views overlooking the beautiful eighteen hole golf course, and a service team that's trained to go out of their way to make your wedding day memorable.
The team at The Ring sat down with Jessie Whigham, the Banquet Sales & Service Manager at Stratford Country Club, to find more about the club. It was no surprise to us that we loved her (and this amazing space) right away. Let us tell you why...
A century of community involvement...
The Club has been around for close to 100 years, having been established in 1913 and fitting in well with the rest of the historic and culturally vibrant town of Stratford. It has long been a favourite location for weddings and special events for both local and visiting clients. "Continually we strive to improve our facility and take pride in all functions that take place at the Stratford Country Club," Jessie told us.
Among functions that the Club hosts, in addition to weddings, are golf tournaments, charity events, meetings and other special occasions, including a 24 hour squash marathon that raised money for the Stratford General Hospital. "The majority of the golf tournaments that are held here are for charities," says Jessie. "We run and host the tournaments. Charities include the Big Brothers and Sisters, Alzheimer’s Society, Optimist Club and Rotary Club."
In 2008, the Stratford Country Club also won the Commercial Award from the Stratford District Chamber of Commerce.
But (aside from golf), weddings are their specialty and are the major events they host at the Club, including eighteen in 2009 and thirteen booked for 2010 so far.
Wedding receptions on the green
The Stratford Country Club can accommodate many different styles of couples with varying budgets, and tend to see a lot of local couples, as well as couples from out of town planning a home-grown destination wedding in Stratford. "The service style at the Stratford Country Club is casual and flexible," Jessie told us. “Make sure to ask; just because we don’t mention it, doesn’t mean we can’t do it!”
Even the colours of the reception room are neutral and work well with both traditional and bright coloured décor. The Club offers a reception hall and indoor ceremony site, as well as an on-site kitchen with their own culinary team. The room rental rate includes the use of two rooms for the price of one - The Dining Room on the Green and The President Lounge, both of which have fireplaces, adding warmth to the décor.
Scott and Erin Henderson hosted their October 2009 reception at Stratford Country Club and found the room to be very comfortable. "It was a nice size, able to hold all of our guests, but also small enough that we felt very close with everyone." Compared to other venues that Scott and Erin looked at, they felt that Stratford Country Club offered many options to choose from, which allowed them to get exactly what they wanted. They also found the prices to be very reasonable. "We came in under budget and for what we received, it exceeded our expectations."
"The room was very clean and contemporary," Jimmy and Becky Carpenter told us. They also loved that the buffet was located in an adjoining room, which was separate from the main room by a set of double doors. "Very smart set-up." The view from the room and the layout were actually the major reasons behind why they chose Stratford Country Club for their May 2010 wedding reception. "The location was another bonus, with it being so close to the Avon River - somewhere for guests to spend a couple of hours between the ceremony and dinner."
The Dining Room holds up to 175 guests and has a wall of windows and a balcony that overlook the beautiful eighteen hole golf course, giving some natural décor and gorgeous scenery for you and your guests, as well as a nice backdrop for on-site photos. The room rental for a Saturday is $900 and $700 for a Friday or Sunday wedding. Ceremonies can also be hosted on-site in The President Lounge, or you can use this room for the buffet dinner, cocktail hour or as an escape for guests who want a break from music and dancing.
Sarah and David Fillion knew from the start of their engagement that they wanted to be married in Stratford (even though they lived in Waterloo) because of the beautiful parks. "We wanted to hold the wedding reception at a golf course simply for the sheer beauty that golf courses offer and... this is the nicest golf course in Stratford," the couple says. They described the room where they hosted their June 2009 wedding reception in as "simply stunning" and they found it to be very well priced, especially compared to other venues they looked at. "The Stratford Country Club fell right within our budget and value for the price was phenomenal," they say. "We had one of the best wedding meals that either of us has ever tasted. The bar prices were also very fair from what we had seen at other venues."
The Stratford team...
Jessie has worked at the Stratford Country Club for the past three years. She recently took over the Banquet Sales & Service Manager position and makes it her goal to be as helpful as possible to each of the couples that come through the Club's doors. When we met her, it was easy to love her energy and enthusiasm for the art of planning weddings. And it was even easier to envision her using that energy to bring fresh, inspirational ideas to the table as she meets with brides and grooms.
Jessie graduated from the Hospitality and Tourism Management program from Conestoga College and is working on a Post-Graduate Event Management Certificate Program from Conestoga to help make her even better at her job. She is also WPIC (The Wedding Planners Institute of Canada) certified with a strong knowledge of the wedding industry.
"What keeps me passionate about my work is knowing that I can assist couples in finding, planning, and selecting all of the details for their wedding and making their day as truly special as it should be," Jessie told us. "I really feel that the banquet industry is all about making your guests feel welcome, to exceed their expectations and to surprise them," which is just what she sets out to do with each wedding at Stratford Country Club.
Shortly after booking the Stratford Country Club for their wedding reception, Jimmy and Becky moved to B.C.. They didn't return until the week before their wedding, which would have meant that most of their biggest planning details were handled entirely through email correspondence with Stratford Country Club. "There was never a time when we doubted that things would go as we had planned," they told us. "[The Banquet Manager] was very attentive to us and was able to accommodate changes when requested."
Also part of the Club team is Head Chef, Kevin Hallman, who's in his first season at Stratford but comes with fourteen years of experience in food service. Graduating from Niagara Culinary Institute at Niagara College, we were told that Kevin uses innovative cooking styles to create unique menu selections and was even working on a new menu for the Club when we met him.
Dave Lee has been a part of the Stratford team for thirteen years and in 2010 became Director of Operations. He also happens to be one of the Club’s three Canadian PGA professionals.
Sarah and David's favourite memory of their wedding reception at Stratford Country Club was the overall service they received from their first visit to the time they paid their final bill. "We cannot say enough about the wonderful smiles we saw each and every time we visited the hall, how we and our guests were treated during our reception, and just the overall helpfulness that we received from everyone at every step throughout the way."
"I feel that brides choose the Stratford Country Club for their wedding because we are accommodating and will work together to create the wedding of their dreams," says Jessie of the Stratford team. "We offer exquisite menu selection and have service with a smile. Our talented service team is trained to go out of their way to make our couples' wedding days memorable."
Scott and Erin found everyone on staff at the Club to be more than accommodating and helpful. "They were able to answer every and all questions that we had."
Food from the culinary capital
It's no secret that Stratford is full of some of the best culinary treats in Canada, and the Stratford Country Club is no exception. Though Kevin is in the process of changing up the Stratford Country Club menu to better showcase the great food that they can make, their current menu is quite fantastic. In fact, Jessie says that one of the things they're known for in the industry is their unique and exquisite food selection.
"We have heard nothing but great things from our guests in regards to the food," Jimmy and Becky say of their dinner at Stratford Country Club. "It was a very delicious spread of options and we were very pleased with everything. Our punch and late-night snacks were also fabulous."
The menu consists of à la carte choices and a wedding buffet menu that you discuss with Jessie and Kevin to best suit your needs and tastes. "Along with the kitchen staff, on the day of your wedding, Kevin prepares the reception dinner tailored to your desires along with the appetizers and the late night buffet... the sky's the limit."
Stratford Country Club also offers numerous types of bar services available to customize your wedding. The average bride spends about $5000 at Stratford Country Club, dependent on the services selected. The Club also offers discounts on room rentals for Sunday and weekday weddings (not including holidays).
Sarah and David really liked that Stratford Country Club offered ample food selections on their menu, various ways of serving it, and were willing to accommodate various bar services (e.g. host, cash, ticket system, or toonie bar, etc.).
A course for your leisure
Couples who host their weddings at Stratford Country Club also have use of the golf course for both photos and rounds of golf, which is a fun option for the guys the morning of the wedding. Jessie just suggests that if you're heading to the course for photos, be careful. “If you hear fore, duck!”
Walking you through it...
Phone and email are the best ways to get a hold of Stratford Country Club to book a tour of the venue. During the first consultation, Jessie walks you through the Dining Room on the Green and tries to help you picture how the room would be set-up for your wedding, if it isn't at the time of your visit. They also have scrapbooks from several decorators to help you envision it.
Jessie goes over all info with you - like services offered, menu and bar options, recommended vendors, and anything else you may want to know about. As you look through pictures of the decorated hall, Jessie talks to you about “making your day amazing.”
"From the moment we came to tour the venue and speak with someone specifically about having our wedding there, we felt welcomed and free to plan as we wished," Scott and Erin told us.
When you are ready to book, a $500 deposit is required. Then, between booking and the wedding day Jessie assists with all preparations, including choosing the menu, room set-up, wine selections, and any additional elements you desire.
About a month before the wedding, Jessie meets with you to finalize details for the day. "This allows me to know exactly what you want so I don't have to get you involved during the wedding day," she says. "The bride and groom’s wedding day should be as hassle-free as possible and they should be able to party the night away."
On the wedding day, Jessie's goal is to handle any unexpected situations that may occur in a professional and timely manner. “I am there the whole day to help run things smoothly.”
After the wedding, Jessie likes to follow-up with her couples and find out if everything went well and what could use improvement. "We use this information to improve our services and maintain a quality venue for future couples to enjoy."
The feedback we received from Sarah and David was that they would absolutely recommend Stratford Country Club to couple's looking for a venue. "If you want fabulous service and food at a fabulous price, you can’t go wrong with the Stratford Country Club."
Details, details, details
• At Stratford Country Club, you get 2 rooms for the price of 1 to host a ceremony and reception in up to 175 guests.
• A $500 deposit is required to book. A $500 food deposit is required 2 months before, with 75% of the remaining balance due 2 weeks before along with the final guest count; the rest of your bill is due no more than 30 days after the wedding.
• The average bride spends about $5000 at Stratford Country Club on the hall, food and drinks; discounted rental rates are available for Sunday and weekday weddings (except on holidays). The room rental is $900 for a Saturday wedding or, $700 for a Friday or Sunday wedding.
• Tax and gratuities are not included in quoted prices and are extra.
