I came here with a family member to attend a Christmas Party for a group of doctors. We were in the lower level . Everything was white with colored lights all around. The main entrance had small decorated trees trimmed with gold ornaments and garland. This Christmas Party had a really fun DJ who had the entire room and staff dancing. He kept everyone happy and upbeat. Who knew a bunch of doctors, staff and friends could let loose on the dance floor. In the far corner was a photo booth and props for any of the guests to partake in. All the food was buffet style. In the center of the room were platters of Roasted Vegetables,Tossed Salad, Antipasto too. The dinner was set up Buffet Style. They served Penne al la Pink Vodka, Fresh Steamed Veggies, Chicken Franchise in a White Wine Sauce, Seafood Paella, Beef Burgundy with Mushrooms, and Roasted Potatoes. The food was all very good, I was quite surprised because banquet food is usually just ok. The WESTWOOD did a wonderful job. The beef was super tender. The Seafood Paella was loaded with Shrimps, Scallops, Mussels, Clams, and Crab on top Yellow Rice. The Chicken franchise was pounded thin the way it's supposed to be and had a delicious lemon butter sauce.The Penne al la Pink Vodka had a great creamy sauce served over al dente penne pasta. The WESTWOOD has many different size banquet rooms. It's not just for weddings. The staff was very friendly and polite. On the main level is a coat check room. The waiters did a really good job removing plates , cleaning up and replenishing water pitchers etc. For dessert they served warm individual ramekins of baked apple cobbler and a server then topped it with a scoop of French Vanilla Ice Cream. Wow! Was this ever good. The other dessert served was a Brownie with a baked looking Pavlova drizzled with chocolate sauce and topped with fresh strawberries.It looked really good but I was full. In a room directly off our banquet room was where the bar was located. For the party it was open bar with premium alcohol. Needless to say everyone was very happy and this Christmas Party was definitely a success. I would recommend this place to anyone who wants to have a party. read more

The Westwood - Christmas Party - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

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My fiancé, now hubby, and I selected the Westwood as our wedding venue. It satisfied our major criteria - it fit over 250 people, it blended with the style of our wedding, it was right by a bus line and train station, had ample parking, it wasn't outdated or in terrible taste, the banquet manager was friendly, and I had heard good things about the food. Most importantly, my fiance and I could afford our wedding here (which seems to be a point lost on the guests here who have left negative reviews). We liked our initial tour of the facility and meeting with Cathy. She was warm, responsive, and the facilty was pretty. There were a few details that were outdated - the paint job in the first floor cocktail room, the tulle and faux ivy on the stair banister, and the bathrooms - but overall the Westwood is a very clean, open, airy facility that worked well and could host a large event. They had enough rooms to maintain easy traffic flow and plenty of bar nooks. We then tried to get in touch about tastings, but questions about timing and logistics sent via email sometimes went unanswered. Its best if you call and get an answer right away. The food tasting itself was mediocre. The Westwood hosts a large food tasting a few times a year, where they invite all the guests having events to come in on a Thursday night. The tasting is set up buffet-style and you try the most popular items on their menu. However, my wedding was not the average - we have a large number of guests who don't really appreciate American food and I wanted to select a menu that would cater to my guests palates. In addition, our package covers more dishes than were served at the tasting. I had to choose a good amount of my wedding menu blind, without sampling it. The food was okay to good at the tasting - there was only one dish I hated but there were no dishes I loved. The tasting evening also had a DJ, photobooth, and table set ups so you could pick up additional vendors. We selected a summer menu with a cocktail hour, sit down plated dinner, and open bar. I stuck with an America-Italian menu, as that is what the Westwood excels at and I was terrified to select anything Asian since I hadn't tried it. Meeting with Cathy to go over the menu and cake was efficient and she gave me a great check list of to dos that came in very handy. The chef was also able to accommodate my wish to have a strawberry shortcake rather than the standard custard based cakes they usually serve. Cathy was also great about letting us drop off inventory several days in advance. She accommodated our needs for extra table and chair set up for our Chinese tea ceremony with grace. On the day of the wedding, Joe was our Maître' D and he was charming in an old fashioned Jersey Italian way. The Westwood's family business stripes showed clearly on our wedding day - everyone was accommodating, friendly, and willing to help. We hung out in the bridal suite, where they served us our own buffet of cocktail hour items. The staff were phenomenal and everything moved on schedule. I didn't eat much on my wedding day but of what I did eat, the cocktail hour food was okay, but my entrée was phenomenally tasty. I was pleasantly surprised. I also got feedback from my guests that ranged from "better than average" to "amazingly delicious" and everyone left full. Guests also commented that the bartenders were generous. Note that wine is not at the table, you do need to go to the bar. Cleanup was also simple and fast, and the staff works pretty fast. I'm really happy and satisfied with my wedding day at the Westwood, and I think it fit the family centric style of our wedding really well without killing our budget. I do wish the tasting was a bit more personal, but if that's what it takes to keep the cost down, I'm not going to complain. Thank you guys! read more

My company had the department "holiday" lunch here. Got toasted here. If you rent this place for your reception then your a cheap ass bum. Food is horrible and the staff are sloppy. read more

My wedding was November 9th my maitre'd was Joe and I worked with Stephanie and Cathy. It was amazing. when hurricane sandy hit it left my mothers house without power( where I would've gotten ready) and also my aunts house( where my groom would've gotten ready). they opened two hours earlier so I would be able to get ready and my girls as well, they supplied us with tea mimosas and anything else we needed at no extra cost. I was also going to set up my own centerpieces because we were already over budget to pay them to set it up and when I started to set up, Sue Ellen told me not to worry about it and that the staff would set them up at no charge. It was a blessing since we were already running behind. Then we went back to the hall early and everything was already in place, beautiful as always. my guests overly enjoyed every part of the evening. The cocktail hour was superb; everyone was raving about the variety, and when dinner came around it didn't disappoint. And then the Viennese hour was over the top so much darn desert I wish I could have taken it all home with me, it would have taken me And my entire family probably a few weeks to down it all. Umm can I just say the cake was the best wedding cake I have ever tasted, granted I picked what I wanted in it but I've had similar cake that was just standard usually overly sweetened and fake tasting but No it was probably my favorite part lol. All in all it was my dream wedding, these people are not just business owners they actually love what they do and that is what makes writing this review so enjoyable, I can always rely on the Westwood to provide my family and me with the most wonderful experience . I could keep on writing but ill finish off with a thank you to the whole staff A very happy bride and groom read more

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Had my party here and it was a blast. The dance floor was a bit tiny but good enough for us. The servers were courteous and helpful. The front desk was nice as well. The tables were clean and floors as well. There's a photo opportunity outdoors at the gazebo which is nice during the day. There's plenty of parking as well. Overall, I'd come back for another party. read more

You get what you pay for here. They offer packages as low as $50/person here. That's scary to me. The venue is clean but the rooms are very outdated. There were two rooms where they had windows framing a wall painting. It cannot get any more tacky than that. My fiancee and I had made an appointment that their event coordinator did not show up for. For me, that is strike one, two, and three. If you can't get your dates organized just for a showing, then I'm not confident everything will go according to plan for the actual event. The coordinator did call an hour later saying that she had wrote down the wrong appointment time. That's cool. We drove 40 minutes to get here and waited another 20 minutes before we decided leave. Complete waste of time... read more

This place was a good venue for weddings. Service was not bad, space was nice, appetizers were good, but dinner was ok....could have been tastier. Either way, didn't mind going here! read more

Attended a first baby birthday party here on the second floor. The venue is really nice however they don't have wifi in this building so just beware if you wanna check your phone or post pictures. read more

The Westwood - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

Beautiful place. Servers were very nice and polite. Thank you for making it so much special read more

The Westwood - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

My wedding was canceled due to Covid 19 in July. The Westwood has not returned my money even after lying and saying it was mailed twice. I will never do business or recommend anyone to them. Anyone looking at this venue be aware. read more

Came here for a wedding Saturday night. This place is nothing special. The most upsetting part was the cheap wine they served. I only had 2 glasses of wine over a 4 hour period and woke up with a MASSIVE hang over. DO NOT DRINK THE ALCOHOL- not worth the pain the next day. The venue seemed crammed while hosting 2 weddings- I walked in and saw 2 wedding parties in the lobby.. Kinda awkward. The food was a solid 3 stars. I enjoyed the salad- beets with goat cheese. The main coarse I got the salmon- nothing special. Dessert was okay.. I expected better for a wedding. The service was not good. Our table was last to be served for every course. The worst part was they were short on the food they made. 2 people at my table had to wait a half hour after everyone ate to get there food (bc they didn't make enough for every one) I had a fun time bc of the company I was with and I love to dance. But don't come here for good good or good service. read more

Spent an evening here for a Wedding Party. We arrived early and there really wasnt any place to wait... there were a few tables by the bathroom (why would you have guests wait by the bathroom is beyond me) and a fake fireplace outside and small garden (but alas no place to sit?). Liquor-wise.... very very bad. Just Bud and Coors are your beer options and Red and White are your wine options. This is 2011 and this is a wedding - where are the microbrews?!? At least have Sam Adams or Yeungling available. Food-wise.... the appetizers were the best and they should have just had those all night. Really liked the beef tips, carved turkey, and various salsas accompanying the pita chips. Bar service was top notch with the bartenders remembering what you were drinking. read more

I attended a wedding reception here. The venue was lovely, bathrooms well designed and clean, and the lighting in the room was perfect. The space was just right for the amount of people in attendance. The food was more like 3 stars. The taste and presentation of the food was mediocre. It was open bar. That's always a nice touch to any wedding. Overall, I thought the venue was a nice pick. read more

The Westwood - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

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After visiting countless venues, we had finally came across The Westwood. We fell in love with the venue. It is a family owned business and that becomes obvious as soon as you meet with the staff. They are so kind and friendly. During the planning process, Cindy and Cathy guided us each step of the way to customize our day exactly how we imagined. Some things we didn't know what to choose and they kindly provided advice and direction. Joe was our Maitre D. We met him two days before our wedding for rehearsal. During rehearsal, we were like two deer in headlights. We realized we had not planned those tiny details in the ceremony. He noticed our slight panic and reassured us that everything was going to be perfect. On the day of the wedding, he nailed it! He was juggling every aspect of the ceremony, reception, and everything in between like a true professional. We think back to the day and are still shocked how perfectly he made everything flow. We owe this to the Westwood for providing excellent service. The prices are unheard of and the food is AMAZING! Guests still to this day talk about how great the food was at our wedding. Our wedding day was more than we could ever imagine and we are so thankful the Westwood made this happen. With lots of love- thank you Cindy, Cathy, Joe, and all of the staff behind the scenes for making our day so special. We HIGHLY recommend The Westwood to everyone and anyone. read more

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I wouldn't say this was the most impressive venue in the world, visually. But from the guest point of view, the hall has a very attentive and respectful staff. I'd rather pay for that then some spot where it seems like a privilege to pay someone else your money. Just saying. I constantly saw the staff earning their silver. And we had a blast that night. If they carried more than Budweiser beers, this would have been higher. read more

The Westwood - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

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this review is only for the (mis)treatment, not the venue or food or service. back in 2017 I made a $1K deposit for a banquet room for a wedding for my daughter. a 2nd deposit of $5K was due by end of Nov 2017 but being someone who prefers to make payments early rather than just on time(when finances allow) I gave them the $5K 8 months ahead in February. Unfortunately, my daughter had a falling out with the groom so she cancelled the wedding in June still 5 months before the 2nd deposit was due. When I advise them of this I told them I'd understand not getting the initial $1K deposit back because it was held for a few months but since the 2nd payment I made was not yet due for another 5 months I requested that to be returned. I was told they cannot do that regardless....really??? Had I waited until it was due to cancel it would have amounted to the same thing except that in this case they had an additional FIVE months to re-reserve the room!! I then learned that the day I reserved was REFILLED . So after several calls with brushoff answers "boss is on vacation" so by the time he came back what do you think their answer was when I once again asked for the deposit back? "Sorry, we cannot give any money back but as a courtesy we will give you a $2,500 credit towards a future rental" WTF??? This is an absolute DISGRACE!!! I wonder why they couldn't? Let me guess my money paid for his vacation. I know several engaged & seriously involved couple so I will steer them away & advise them to tell anyone else they know to do the same. This may not hurt their business but it certainly won't help. I'd advise if you are going to still use this thief wait until the VERY LAST DAY to make any payments due because you know what will happen otherwise....... read more

I'm actually really disappointed with how things turned out. I'm planning my wedding and I wanted to look into this venue. I actually really like the rooms, prices, and it's only 20 mins from the church. There's multiple issues I have. First was I kept calling to try to schedule a tour and we only had one specific day that week that me and my fiancé were free. So I actually called a few times and then I left a voicemail and no one got back to me on whether we could do a tour or not. So I went in without an appointment to try to see if I can see the place on the day that we were both free. We were able to see the tour but the woman was probably irritated. She tried to make a point that she had my name written down And was gonna call me back but if she listen to the voicemail, she would've known that, that day was the only day we could go. We did end up liking the place a lot so we were going to try to schedule a food tasting. Event Coordinator then told us that they don't do food tastings because of Covid which I was very surprised because we've seen six other venues and they all offer food tastings. So I told him unfortunately that's a dealbreaker and then he told me that he would give us one whether they brought it back or not. He would just have to talk to the chef and call me back in 3 weeks to tell me when they could do the food tasting. I thought that was long but I told him ok. It has now been more than 2 months and haven't heard anything for them. I'm very disappointed because I would've signed and out a deposit down the day we saw the place. The communication just isn't there and super disappointing. read more

Been there many times, the food is passable. Nothing special however better than other places in the area. Appears clean and organized.

The food is so/so at best and the service is slow. It's really not somewhere I would recommend for an event. I was only a guest so I don't know if it was cheap but I certainly hope it wasn't expensive. read more

I've been holding real estate networking events there for 17 months now. Their prices per person are reasonable and the venue is beautiful. We have over 100 people at every event and we've always got great feedback about the food. Great place. Ask for Cindy or Kathy, they're the nicest to work with. read more

From the flat soda to dessert, I was not pleased. The bread basket was most bizarre assortment I have ever had- there was a mix of baguette slices, mini muffins and crackers. Weird but I ate it since I was still hungry from dinner portions. We had chicken and broccoli w rice. The best thing about it was the rice. Overall I'm still hungry- and planning to go to the nearest diner. The coffee they served was terrible. The decaf looked like black tea- and when you added milk to it it looked as if it was iced coffee that had melted. So then I tried the regular and it was Burnt. read more

The Westwood is a special place for me and my family. My Dad & his coworkers would have their annual Christmas party there and my parents celebrated their Silver Anniversary as well. We had a lot of history with them so it was a no brainer to pick them for our wedding. I dealt with Cathy when planning my parents' party a decade ago & I was ecstatic when I saw that she still worked there. She made me tear up when she showed me the Thank You card I sent 10 years ago that she saved! I knew we'd be stress-free picking them due to the past experiences we've had. Cathy answered all of my questions patiently & was amazing throughout the process. Joe was our maître d' - he was attentive to us & I was thankful he even offered to go to the car to try to find my missing bouquet! He also had the bridal party pumped before walking in the reception room. The guests raved about how amazing the food was & some even want to go back for more braised short ribs! lol. Also I found out the day after our wedding that there was a blackout in town since one of the buildings collapsed; The Westwood had to rent a big generator to get our party started - we couldn't even tell so we thank them sooo much for saving the day! We love you guys! read more

One of the few good things about this hotel is that if you have to go, it's only 2 blocks from the train station/bus stop into NYC so that you don't have to look much for it beyond stepping off your transit option. even then you might miss it since the side exterior appears as a warehouse. inside, it's my big fat greek wedding, dowdy decorations in poor taste, the stuff of 80s bar mitzvahs and cheap sweet 16's. i came for one such event and the lady of the hour was a lovely 13 year old who deserved something more classy. food, though ample, was just not good - i had about 2 bites each of a cranberry walnut salad and a ricotta crepe. my steak, requested medium rare, was well done, and then mashed potatoes super salty. at least there was an open bar but the bartender became dour after the first half hour. sad mostly i missed a beautiful spring day inside this dark banquet hall. read more

So this is a chartering hall... Iv never heard of this place untile New Year's Eve...came here to attend the masquerade nye party to celebrate the up coming New Years...I found out this was the first time ever they did such a party this particular day... So I was pretty surprise due to the fact everything was amazing and I had a lot of fun...came here around nine...the part starts at eight thirty... There was a lot of people there...food was set out around ten pm but there was appetizers being handed out in each table...the food was buffet style..One thing I don't like about buffets is the long line for foods and getting up each time you want something...there was a open bar which was awesome... But omg to the freaken lines!!! I waited for about almost an hour for water and a drink...geez... There was two open bars and one person working at each bar which I don't understand why... The food was ok... The bar was ok...the music was great...everything they were playing was good...there was not one bad song being played that day... The dj and the photograph did a fantastic job that night making people smile and capturing it...the decor and the venue is perfect... It felt like such an upscale place with all the table lighting and chandelier...amazingggg...Everyone looked at the ball drop on the tv screen and count to ten to welcome the new year of 2014! Then after that boogie woogie times! It was a pretty amazing New Years...I had a lot of fun around two pm they served dessert!! Which was awesome! Chocolate founder and all these other random treats! Everybody had an amazing night and so did I... That night was the beginning of a new story for me!!! I won't forget it!!! Too bad the party ended at three pm ... Still so glad to to spend my New Years at this amazing place! Let see what next year brings !!! read more

The Westwood - Two am desserts and drinks for me ;) - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

Everyone at The Westwood was very easy to work with, very understanding and very helpful during the process and day of our January 2015 wedding. Cathy did a great job with everything leading up to our wedding day. All of our guests are still bragging about the great time they had, how tasteful the food was, and how friendly the staff was to them. Our Maître 'D, Joe, was absolutely amazing! Our table always had our drinks and food waiting and he even went over and beyond on making us another cocktail since I did not get to eat during the cocktail hour. Our parents were very well taken care of, as well. Joe was extremely nice and caring; the night went so smoothly thanks to him, and of course the rest of the staff. I could not have asked for a better staff, a better venue, or a better wedding. I would definitely consider The Westwood again for other future events. Thank you!! read more

My husband and I had our wedding at the Westwood on June 25, 2016. Let me start by saying Kathy and Anna were so helpful and accommodating with helping to plan the wedding with the vision I had in mind. Michelle who is in charge of the flowers did an amazing job with the flower arrangements. The bouquets were beautiful. On the day of the wedding Betty our maître d' went above and beyond to make sure Our day was very special. Our guest raved about how good the food was, and our wedding cake was Beautiful and delicious!! Thank you Westwood for making my wedding a memorable and enjoyable day!! Darlene Hinkson read more

We recently had a wedding at The Westwood and the guests cannot stop raving! I really loved the prime rib, it was so tender and cooked to perfection. I must say, The Westwood was accommodating to dietary needs. We had many people who were vegetarian and gluten free. All guests were happy with the choices and (those who needed) the accommodations. The choices for the hors d'oeuvres and chaffing dishes were awesome! I loved the spanakopita, meatballs, pulled pork sliders, seafood risotto, beef bourguignon (tender), and potato bar (build your own). What my guests loved about the cocktail hour was that they were able to sit and enjoy their food at a table. My only disappointment was that some people came downstairs while my husband and I were eating at the cocktail hour with our wedding party. As a result, my husband and I were not able to enjoy the cocktail hour. Cathy was fantastic, she guided my mom and I through the whole experience. Everything was easy and stress fee. The Westwood included the cake, bows on the chairs, the open bar, and the cocktail hour. Cathy and the staff were attentive and helpful. All of our requests were followed through. What mattered most to me was that my guests were happy, and they turned out to be ecstatic with the food, service, ambiance, and cocktail hour. I hope my sister has her wedding here, I would love to try out the potato bar in person at the cocktail hour. Heck, I would love to host another family event here, it was so stress free and fantastic! read more

My husband and I were married at the Westwood on Nov 2 2018 and we cannot day enough great things about this venue and everyone that works there! From the beginning of the wedding process I was a very picky bride- visiting or contacting over 30 venues in the state of NJ. When I walked into the Westwood and sat down with ERIN WILLIAMS I knew I had found the place. I wanted a romantic warm late autumn vibe with an "affordable" price tag (does affordable really exist in NJ?) and The Westwood was it! We were married in the Lena Ballroom which is the upstairs of the Westwood. It features a beautiful piano and wood accents. It has multiple fireplaces and warm lighting. The walls are beige and mauve with many mirrors and wall sconces. I added to it by bringing in my own centerpieces which lit up and many many flickering candles. It was so romantic. Erin Williams at the Westwood was a dream coordinator. From the beginning he was so willing to make my dream a reality from the decor to the food to the cocktail hour add-ons , liquor package, ceremony arch, and every little detail. The his and her drinks he gave us were such a nice touch! He himself was married a month earlier than mine (in the same ballroom!) and wanted to make sure my day was as special as his! I brought in over 10 boxes of decor and favors on the day and he made sure everything was set up perfectly. He even appointed our maitre d JOE and he was outstanding!! JOE made sure the ceremony ran smoothly ; making sure we ate (even sending us home with so much delicious food bc he knew we didn't eat!) . He put together a great rehearsal right before and directed us in every way we needed. He was literally the best maitre d someone could ask for. Oh and the food at the Westwood; can I tell you how many compliments I got afterward!? Everyone raved about the food. The stuffed chicken is delicious! The short ribs melt in your mouth. The cocktail hour had an amazing assortment of food including a carving station - yum!! I could go on for days about how PERFECT the day was. I owe so much of that to the Westwood. ERIN WILLIAMS, Joe, and everyone at the Westwood; Thank you for making our wedding day such a dream. read more

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Attended a birthday party on the 2nd floor. Nice venue but I don't think they offer valet parking.

I was there for a retirement party. The room was nice. The food went from edible to disgusting. How any banquet manager can actually look at what they were serving and put it out as acceptable is beyond me. The penne with vodka sauce was a mound of mush. Our waiter would not bring s pitcher of soda to our table. My table never received coffee. The place is inexpensive. You absolutely get what you pay for. read more

This venue was a nice place for our recent party. Service was good, food could have been better, and the DJ provided some good music. Clean, well kept and our experience was great. The only downside was the open bar provided some pretty low shelf alcohol. I expected higher shelf alcohol, especially when being in a nice place such as the Westwood. Oh well, party was good and we all had a good time which was the most important thing. read more

Hosted my daughter's Sweet 16 here. Cathy was very helpful with the planning, prep of the room and menu for the party. Elizabeth, our Maitre D was superb. The food and service was very good. During the party, the air conditioning ceased working for a short time. The owner came out and was able to get it working again. We enjoyed this venue very much. The staff was terrific. Our guests had a great time. read more

Last Saturday, my fiance' and I got married at The Westwood in Garwood, NJ. From the time we booked with Cathy our experience had been great. Cathy and her staff walked us through the entire process. As I told her our vision of having an Old Hollywood Christmas Wedding, she said to me "this is going to be beautiful" and that she hoped we got snow flurries for our day. Before we knew it, 13 months had past and our wedding day had arrived. As I entered my ceremony room (the huge ball room on the first floor) I was amazed at the way they took my vision to another level, the room had the look and feel of a winter wonderland, and as we said our vows the snow just swirled behind us. Once our ceremony was over our guest were ushered into the cocktail room (across the hall from the ceremony room) where they enjoyed lots of food. Each guest complemented the food choices and stated that the food was "amazing". After the cocktail hour guest went upstairs to enjoy our reception in the "Lena" Ballroom but not before passing a piano in foyer playing Jazz and Christmas Classics. The room was very spacious for our 178 (+) guest and highlighted a fireplace at the top of the dance floor. The salad was amazing and our guest raved about the portions of the entrées, the Prime Rib was superb. Since the cocktail hour was filled with so much food, the waiters automatically asked our guest if they wanted take home boxes for their food. The wedding cake was delicious and the Zeppoli Station was a great added touch. Our Maitr' D, Sam, was great and made the night go very smoothly. Our guest were excited and amazed with the venue, the food, and the décor. Although, we brought in much of our own decorations, the way the Staff set the rooms up were beyond my expectations. We are so grateful to The Westwood and their Staff for pulling off our Wedding in such a fabulous way. read more

The Westwood - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Garwood, New Jersey

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