An Intimate Buffalo Wedding: A Review of the Old Orchard Inn

If a smaller, more intimate wedding is what you're looking for, and you live in the Buffalo, N.Y. area, you may want to consider taking a look at the Old Orchard Inn located at 2095 Blakeley Corners Road in East Aurora. Originally a farmhouse that was built in 1880, converted to a hunting lodge in the early 1900's and then a tea room in 1931, the Old Orchard Inn takes up 25 acres of beautiful East Aurora land. There is a pond located directly next to the patio, and there are many stone paths, benches, and torches lining the property. There is even a gift shop located in a barn adjacent to the parking lot.

The Old Orchard Inn is equipped with a few different rooms that can accommodate any type of intimate event. There is the elegant main restaurant portion of the building which houses numerous fireplaces, and many windows that look out onto the property. This area can be booked for an event, however seating is limited. There is also an upstairs room that is perfect for small brunches or showers. There are separate restrooms in the upstairs area which is convenient for guests, and there is quite a unique décor and feel to the rooms. You get the feeling you are in someone's home, and it is very warm and inviting. The very top upstairs area has a living room décor, with couches, a table and chairs, and large bathroom. This area can be used as a lounge for the bride and her bridesmaids, and a neat factor you may miss is the windows that slightly overlook the patio area, so the bride is able to catch a few glimpses of what's going on downstairs as she hides before her big entrance.

The portion of the Old Orchard Inn that I think is the most beautiful is the outdoor L-shaped patio, which can be booked in it's entirety, or partially. The entire patio can comfortably seat a little over 100 people and is set on a stone floor, with a shallow stone wall surrounding the area. Atop the stone walls are plants and flowers. The patio can be left open on weather appropriate days, while the option of folding down tent walls from the roof covering is an option for bad weather days. While the patio is not equipped with air conditioning, there are several fans, however the area stays rather cool as the whole Inn is surrounded by trees, and remains quite shady. During chillier weather there are heaters available that can make the area very toasty for your guests so the patio is still an option during the winter months. The setup of the patio can vary according to the number of guests you have, the entertainment you have chosen, size of the tables you've chosen, etc. The furthest portion of the patio is the perfect space for the bar area and the dance floor where the staff lays down a very large oriental-style rug for guests to easily dance and congregate on. It's a large enough space for a DJ to set up his equipment, and even enough space for musicians to play in. Tables can also line the area comfortably along with everything else. However, the setup of the patio area is completely up to you, and the staff at the Old Orchard Inn will assist you with figuring out what might work best for what you've chosen for your wedding.

  Set outside right near the covered patio is a gazebo, as well as a trellace area. Wedding ceremonies can take place right in either of those areas if desired. Also, if weather does not permit, or if you choose to do so, a ceremony can be arranged right inside the patio area, in the restaurant, or pretty much anywhere else you can think of. The staff will really bend over backwards to cater to what your wishes are.

The cuisine on the Old Orchard Inn's standard dinner menu is amazing, with appetizers such as Tempura Shrimp Nori Rolls, Chicken Flautas (grilled chicken with carmalized onions, roasted red peppers, and pepperjack cheese), and Ahi Tuna Au Poivre (served with purple asian slaw, wasabi, pickled ginger, and soy). Entrees include their famous Chicken Pot Pie, Manicotti, Macadamia encrusted Sea Bass (served with a warm berry drizzle), and choices of cuts of steak (Filet Mignon, N.Y. Strip) among many, many others.

  The special events menu is huge, and leaves a bride and groom with many directions they can go in as far as their food choices go. It has a minimum of 20 guests, and a maximum choice of two items. It includes magnificent entrees such as Chicken Asiago (stuffed also with roasted red peppers), Zesty Artichoke Chicken (in a lemon and wine sauce), Stuffed Pork Loin (With an apple walnut stuffing topped with a demi glaze), and Tournedos (filet medallions with a rich pepper demi-glaze) to name a few. Each special menu item is served with a choice of bread, choice of salad (garden salad or Caesar), choice of potato and vegetable, and coffee or tea. Every dinner is served promptly, perfectly cooked, and very hot. Additional items are also available to serve your guests during dinner, beforehand, or afterwards such as Hors d'oeuvre's, a pasta table, a carving table, fresh fruit and crudite table, and a coffee table which includes flavored creamers, and flavored coffee. If the sit down dinner is not the style you are looking for, a dining table setup (similar to a buffet style) is available, as well as family style. There is also a special events lunch menu and beverage / bar options.

The staff at the Old Orchard Inn is superb, from the woman in charge who will assist in organizing your event, to the waiters and waitresses, the bartenders and the kitchen staff. Everyone is very pleasant, and extremely helpful. They are experts in helping you in the months prior to your event, and they are sure to do everything they can to make your big day one to remember. Everything will go off without a hitch and you will be left with lasting memories you won't soon forget. I highly recommend the Old Orchard Inn for your wedding, or any other special event you are planning. Guests will leave your event raving about how wonderful it was, and how different it was from your average wedding. The beauty and functionality of the Old Orchard Inn makes it the most perfect place in the Western N.Y. area for an intimate wedding. More information can be found on the Old Orchard Inn's website (www.oldorchardny.com) or by calling 716-652-4664. You can also send an e-mail to: host@oldorchardny.com.