Esther & Kenichi | Birchwood Manor | Whippany, NJ

"Luxurious, Grand, Perfect"

Esther and I met through a mutual friend. For our first date, we had dinner at a restaurant I was working at part time, after which we went for a walk on the walkway along the Hudson River. When I proposed, we went to the same spot. 

Birchwood Manor was perfect for us. The luxurious interior, greeting us with a grand staircase and rich wood-paneled walls in the lobby, was comforting for my history-loving wife and the expansive gardens were perfect for me as a horticulturist. We appreciated the attention to detail paid to the space both inside and out. 

The banquet manager, Farrell Holleran, was wonderful working with us. She made sure our wedding was everything we wanted while working within our budget and was always incredibly accommodating. She went out of her way for us throughout the process, such as ordering a gorgeous, decorative cherry blossom branch for our cake, which was important to us. 

We were able to relax and take in every moment of our day. We enjoyed our ceremony immensely, and found it an incredibly special moment that unified our guests in their love and support for us. Our best man and maid of honor speeches were very touching, briefly taking us back in time to remind us how far we’ve come and what brought us to this day. 

Cocktail hour was a blast. We greeted everyone and spoke to friends and family we haven’t seen in a long while. It was so exciting to reconnect with people and we felt so much joy in seeing people from all parts of our lives together in one space. Of course, the food was excellent. We had various hors d’oeuvres that ensured there was something for every taste; beef teriyaki brochettes, bacon-wrapped sweet chili chicken, Cantonese egg rolls, and so much more. Aside from our hors d’oeuvres, we had what seemed like an endless amount of chafing dishes and food displays. Some highlights were the sesame chicken and broccoli in a sweet brown sauce, smoked salmon spirals, and a beautiful fresh fruit display. 

Leading up to our wedding, we took dance lessons for months. I was so nervous approaching our first dance, but everything went incredibly smoothly and in the moment I wanted nothing other than to enjoy our special dance together. Birchwood Manor’s ballroom is gorgeous, and seeing our planning come to life in this classic space was surreal. The setting was perfect, with the outdoor gardens visible from the dance floor. My beautiful wife and I danced all night, knowing nothing else mattered but to have fun. It was the best night of our lives!

Dinner kicked off with a champagne toast and started with a fresh salad. Before the entrées were presented, everyone enjoyed a raspberry sorbet for intermezzo. Our guests were able to choose their entrées; prime rib of beef, stuffed chicken breast, and grilled salmon, all table-side, as if they were in a restaurant. We had the salmon entrée and loved it! There was plenty of dessert afterward, with cookies, ice cream, chocolate-covered strawberries, and our show-stopping wedding cake custom-made by Birchwood Manor’s bakery. The cake, with its cherry blossom theme, was massive, beautiful, and elegant.

We cannot thank everyone involved in our wedding more! We thank all our vendors, who made our wedding entertaining and excitingand the staff at Birchwood Manor, without whom our magical day couldn’t have happened. Thank you to our friends and family for supporting us. To all those who came, to all those who helped in planning and executing the day, it was our favorite day in 25 years of life!

Birchwood Manor, Whippany, NJ
973.887.1414, www.birchwoodmanor.com