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Weddings

Graduate Athens Reviews

Graduate Athens View more information

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 rating
51 Reviews
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88% Recommended by couples

Awards

51
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2016 Winner
  • Celia
    Celia C. Sent on 07/11/2022
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    The Perfect Venue

    I could not recommend a better wedding venue! My husband and I had our reception in the ballroom of the Graduate Hotel on July 9th. We loved the convenience of us and our guests being able to stay at the hotel before and after the wedding. Rebecca was very communicative and a pleasure to work with during the planning process! The hotel's catering was excellent. Several people told us it was the best food they had ever had at a wedding. It was truly the best day being able to have our wedding in our former college town and to be able to celebrate with the ones we love in such a fun and unique space.
  • Akua
    Akua N. Sent on 06/11/2022
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    Book this Venue!!!

    The Graduate is the best venue in Athens! Everything you need can be provided by this venue. Macy and Becca were so responsive and accommodating. Our guests still talk about how easy flowing the day. The food was incredible and there was ample space for everyone to dance and mingle!

    You won’t regret booking your wedding here. I wish we could do it all over again!!
  • Keristyn
    Keristyn Sent on 12/03/2019
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    Charming venue

    Beautiful boutique hotel with exposed brick yaddayaddayadda- seriously though, SO CHARMING: I was here for a wedding and it was the perfect venue. ALSO, chef Bethany’s food is to die for! I would absolutely recommend, and I will definitely be back :)
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  • K
    Kelly J. Sent on 12/14/2019
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    Great food

    In town for a wedding. Great food. Macy was helpful & Chef Bethany's food was delicious.
  • Taran
    Taran Sent on 01/09/2019
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    Beautiful & Seamless

    We booked our mid-December wedding a full year out, and initially had some issues with responsiveness from our contact. However, that contact was quickly replaced with Lauren Hargrove, who is absolutely AMAZING! She was responsive, kind, professional, and made every decision feel easy. From the gorgeous rooms, to the amazing food, to the overall attentive and gracious staff - everything was seamless. The in-house chef personally attended our tasting to talk us through each dish, and he was just as kind and professional as Lauren. All of our guests also raved about their experience, which meant a lot to us. Would absolutely recommend for any brides/grooms to be!

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    Thank you so much for the kind words, Taran! Congratulations again, and we hope to have you back to stay with us soon!
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    Laura Sent on 11/19/2015
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    It was so nice to have the ceremony and reception at the same venue, and super easy for the guests who stayed in the beautiful hotel rooms. My (now) husband and I stayed at the Hoyt House in the middle of the venue which acted as the perfect central location for the family and wedding part, but also as a private suite on our wedding night. The service was exceptional! I would highly recommend this location to any bride who wants to be close to downtown but still have enough privacy for a fun event filled weekend wedding!
  • User2329027 Sent on 09/22/2015
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    First of all, this type of venue was very appealing to me since we had many out of town guests and loved the idea of having the reception at the same place as the accommodations while maintaining the Athens charm and downtown location. It truly has it all, a spa, a pool, cafe/coffee shop...there are even vintage video game machines and record players in the King suites! I researched several other venues and compared pricing of bringing in caterers, renting tables, tents, etc. and nothing compared to the overall package deal that you could find here, not to mention losing the headache of dealing with all of those other details.

    Emily and Jessica were dreams to work with and provided exceptional service. The decisions were quick and easy, allowing me to spend my time and energy focusing on the fun stuff. I was worried when I found out that there would be another wedding happening simultaneously at the Foundry while we were next door in the Foundry Ballroom, but nobody even noticed another wedding. They are certainly professionals and have everything down to a science. The food was delicious, the space looked beautiful and everything was perfect.

    All of my out of town guests fell in love with Athens and several people commented that it was the best wedding that they had ever been to. We had so much fun that we kept the party going in the Athena Suite after the reception! I couldn't be happier that I chose Graduate Athens and I think it is by far the best wedding venue in town.
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    Maurice Sent on 07/30/2015
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    The event coordinator, Jessica Blount, was very friendly, patient and very thorough. All of the details were addressed and perfectly executed. The staff at the event performed their duties in the most unobtrusive way. I was thoroughly impressed with the entire operation.
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    Pamela Sent on 07/28/2015
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    We hosted out wedding ceremony at The Graduate in July and it was a fabulous experience! The event coordinator Jessica was always quick to respond to my email and all questions. My fiancé and I got engaged right around the New Years holidays and while many venues were closed, The Graduate was right there to plan with me. They were so flexible even making exceptions to fit my ceremony only needs. The space looked pristine on my event day and all of the staff was friendly! My bridesmaids and I stayed in 2 suites and they were so fun and perfect for our occasion. Even though the hotel was very full with guests for a highschool reunion, the front desk kept them quiet and away from our relaxing stay! I am so glad we used the pavilion for my wedding and would reccomend The Graduate to anyone.
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    Diane Sent on 06/02/2015
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    Was only in town one day to make a selection for a wedding rehearsal dinner for 75 people. I chose The Graduate because there were many options to choose from. The event was held in the Pavillion. It was charming and elegant. Most of my communication before the event was done by phone or email. This could have led to many misunderstandings or miscommunications. None of that happened! I didn't even come by the venue early to double check. The ensue was decorated exactly how I requested. The food was exceptional, and the event staff servers were amazing. It went off completely without a hitch or hiccup. So many people who attended had complimentary things to say. It was my son that was getting married and I wanted everything to be perfect. I was not disappointed in the least! Maybe I just got lucky. But I don't think so. I would recommend The Graduate in Athens to anyone has any type of event. Thanks to the people at The Graduate for helping us plan such a great night!
  • M
    Meredith Sent on 05/08/2015
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    Emily and her staff at Graduate Athens were absolutely AMAZING in helping us plan our big day! They did a fantastic job of coordinating everything, right down to the very smallest of details, and they truly went above and beyond in ensuring that we and our guests were happy and comfortable. We hosted our bridal luncheon and wedding reception here, and everything could not have been more perfect. Everyone at Graduate Athens is so organized and accommodating, which made the entire process very stress-free and enjoyable. All of our guests were raving about The Foundry (f/k/a The Melting Point) and that this was the best wedding they had ever been to, and that is largely in part of all of the incredible efforts by the Graduate Athens team. The food was delicious and the venue could not have looked more beautiful. Additionally, many of our guests also stayed in rooms at the hotel for the weekend and loved their unique vibe. We could not be happier with how everything turned out for our big wedding weekend! Thank you to Emily and the entire Graduate Athens team for making this a weekend to remember!

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    Meredith,
    Thank you so much for providing us such a glowing review! It makes us so happy to know that you were so pleased with the wedding weekend and it was a pleasure to be able to host your guest's accommodations on site. Best wishes for a beautiful marriage!
  • R
    Robert Sent on 05/26/2015
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    So helpful and beautiful facilities! We utilized most of their facilities all weekend and it was a pleasurable experience. Family and friends enjoyed being so close together. The Graduate served as a great "home-base" as our wedding was spread over Athens. I would definitely recommend it for a wedding group.

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    Robert, we are delighted to read this! Congratulations on your marriage, and we wish you both the best. It was wonderful working with you and your parents on your rehearsal dinner and hosting your guest's accommodations. Hope to see you the next time you're in Athens! Cheers!
  • H
    Harper Sent on 04/15/2015
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    We decided on a destination wedding with the intention that our wedding guests would stay at The Graduate. The Graduate's staff was exceptional. Emily Janney helped me plan my wedding reception (which took place in the Foundry Park Ballroom). She was patient, calm, and very organized. This was the PERFECT venue for our wedding reception and wedding weekend. The Graduate shows the true value of southern hospitality at its finest.

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    Thank you so much for the wonderful words, Harper! It was such a pleasure to be part of your big day. We wish you both the best in your married life!
  • User2081547 Sent on 03/30/2015
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    Having one hotel where 90% of my guests stayed was WONDERFUL. Everyone who stayed there was thrilled that they didn't have to travel far for the ceremony and reception. The staff was so patient with the craziness of the wedding, and when we all managed to misplace our room keys after the reception, they were very quick to get us all new ones. They also let us use their shuttle service far more than I anticipated, and for that I am so grateful. The hotel rooms were cool and clean, and everyone loved the eclectic feel. The reception was setup perfectly, the staff seemed to do a great job, and the bartenders were fun and fast. Overall, my entire wedding was everything I wanted an more. I would definitely recommend it.

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    We are so glad that we were able to exceed your expectations! We wish you the best that married life has to offer!
  • User2089666 Sent on 04/07/2015
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    Great venue for my son't rehearsal dinner. Everyone was professional, thoughtful, and flexible with me. It was the most beautiful room with white flowers and soft candle light and the food was absolutely delicious!! Everyone commented on how delicious the food was and what a perfect place it was to hold this important event. It could not have been better. Graduate Athens exceeded my expectations. I will always be grateful to Emily and the the wonderful staff!

    Graduate Athens's reply:

    Thanks so much for your kind words! We greatly enjoyed working with you to make this day special. Best wishes!
  • User1981611 Sent on 12/22/2014
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    Amazing venue, food, and service! We loved having our wedding at Graduate Athens hotel!
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    Kaitlin Sent on 12/21/2014
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    Graduate Athens is an amazing venue. Emily Janney and Candice Treadway made my wedding reception awesome! Thank you so much for working with me.
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    Staci Sent on 12/18/2014
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    Emily was excellent!! Everything we discussed happened exactly as we discussed down the tiniest detail.
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    Tara Sent on 01/27/2015
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    Emily helped my husband and I plan our wedding rehearsal dinner this fall. From start to finish she was responsive, helpful and professional. She worked within in our budget, made great suggestions and helped answer all of my crazy, repetitive, type-A bride questions. She was truly phenomenal and I highly recommend her services as well as The Graduate!

  • User6165965 Sent on 01/03/2014
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    Fantastic service, Professionalism for both ceremony and reception. Food was great and out of town guests loved the accomodations.
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    Callie Sent on 10/10/2013
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    We held our event The NotWedding at The Foundry and The Melting Point and we couldn't have been happier. From the responsive and friendly staff to the gorgeous and unique (and very Athens-y) venues to the delicious catering, we can honestly say that this was one of our best experiences with a venue (and we have worked with many!).
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    Brandi Sent on 09/24/2013
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    This place was my dream wedding. It was beautiful and the staff was very professional
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    Sarah Sent on 09/24/2013
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    It could not have been a more perfect day. They were so accommodating and affordable!
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    Kaysie Sent on 04/05/2012
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    The Foundry Park Inn & Spa was a beautiful place to have our wedding reception! Our guests who needed hotels stayed in the ones on site, and everything was wonderful! I received multiple compliments about the food, hotel rooms, and friendly staff! :)
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    Emily Sent on 10/28/2010
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    We were married at the Foundry Park Inn last Sunday, and we can't say enough good things about the experience. We hosted our ceremony, reception, rehearsal dinner, and most of our out-of-town guests here.

    Having everything in a single location really helped create the intimate feel we wanted and gave our family and friends plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. The basic rooms were attractive and clean, and the beds were very comfortable. Our suite was spectacular -- attractive and spacious. The ceremony/reception and rehearsal dinner venues were beautiful inside and out.

    The food was fabulous. Having breakfast at the Hoyt House every morning was a real treat and enough to get several Yankees hooked on cheese grits. At the rehearsal dinner, the salad was fresh, the pasta bar was hot and tasty (especially the gorgonzola alfredo), and the grilled chicken was juicy and flavorful. The dessert buffet was even better. I highly recommend the Viennese dessert trio with the scrumptious strawberry petit fours. For the wedding, we opted for a heavy hors d'ouevres reception, and again, we got lots of compliments on the food. The petit filet mignonettes and coconut chicken tenders were the overall winners, but personally, I was blown away by the spanikopita, which were hot, crisp, and not at all greasy.

    However, it was the staff that truly made the experience such a pleasurable one. From the front desk to the waiters and waitresses to the cleaning service -- everyone was friendly and helpful and worked hard to make us feel at home. Casey Clark, the wedding sales manager/coordinator is the Foundry's true gem, though. Warm, responsive, and extremely detail-oriented, I truly felt Casey was as invested in my wedding as I was. Not only did she ensure everything was perfect down to the tiniest detail on the Foundry's end, she was full of great advice about other vendors. We wound up using the florist and photographer she recommended, both of whom also greatly exceeded our expectations. Everything (important) was flawless -- due in a large part to Casey's hard work.

    I also need to mention how economical the Foundry Park Inn is. I did a ton of research before we booked them, and I can say with total certainty that there is no better value in northeast Georgia. You don't get what you pay for there -- you get a lot more. And you definitely won't be sorry if you choose to book the Foundry Park Inn for your reception, ceremony, rehearsal, or any other special event.



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