Union Station Banquets — Attraction in Northampton

We cannot say enough good things about Neil and the team at Union Station Banquets. The main takeaway is this: Union Station allowed us to have the full vision of our wedding become a reality, and in a financially practical way. From the first meeting, Neil was completely welcoming and unassuming. Any time we met in person, Neil was as excited to plan the details of our wedding as we were. If we emailed, he was always responsive within a day and answered our questions directly.

Compared to other places where that was “an additional offering” or “couldn’t be done in this package,” we never felt like we had to keep our wants close to the vest out of fear that we would get pushed into spending more money. If it was doable at a cost we could afford, it was done, and if it wasn’t, there was no problem moving on without it. Neil truly wanted us to have a wedding that was everything we wanted and nothing we didn’t. He offered his suggestions and ideas, but never put pressure on us to include something and we never felt like we had to “bite the bullet” on any decision. At one point during our tasting, we had asked for a late night snack menu and Neil said “the staff is really excited to work with your menu” and it genuinely felt that they were as much a part of our planning as we were.

The banquet hall itself is a beautiful, cool, early 20th century aesthetic that is attractive on its own, but also presents plenty of opportunities to be personalized. There is an obvious travel aesthetic with the space, but with the open brick and brass bar, the turn-of-the-century advertising around that space, old, recessed ticket windows turned to mirrors, and a huge fireplace, the space welcomes any variety of themes you might have in mind. Even for us, we included elements related to trains and to breweries, and the space allowed for those two ideas to marry together well.

We would be remiss if we didn’t also thank our Lead Bartender, Rob. He was amazing, both attentive and intuitive. We were never going to be the couple who “forgot to eat” at their own wedding, but without ever saying that, Rob was always available to us first with hors d'oeuvres. Three things we loved about Rob -- aside from just what a wonderful and enthusiastic person he seemed to be -- included, when we were first taking photos around the venue, he found us outside before our time together had even started and he brought us water while we were outside on a 98 degree day. Similarly, he was always around us with appetizers and drinks at the ready, but he also never made our guests feel out of place. Of course he brought us appetizers first and looked to us first, but we’ve been at weddings where that tray was withheld from guests because it was “for the bride and groom.” He never shut anyone down if they grabbed for that tray, which is exactly what we would have asked of him. Finally, on the only stressful moment of our day, he recognized that we were maybe feeling overwhelmed by the attention of our guests and, without interrupting, took it upon himself to find us and bring fresh drinks. He was the person we engaged with the most directly, but so many of our guests applauded the service of the staff at the bar and on the floor. They were all amazing

Beyond all of this, planning extra flourishes was so easy, due in part to the proximity of Union Station to other cool spaces in the same building and in downtown Northampton, but also because of the relationships Neil has built with other vendors in the Northampton community. Obviously it took meticulous planning, but by the time we got to Northampton to the time we left, everything we had planned went without issue the entire weekend.

The team at Union Station was completely unexpected. In an overwhelming industry dominated by fixed, generic, overpriced, wedding packages that make you feel hamstrung, Union Station Banquets was everything you wish you could have for your wedding and we can’t thank them enough or recommend them...

Union Station Banquets didn’t just host our wedding, they made it the best day of our lives.

Of all the venues we toured, this was the one that made our groom tear up. We met playing romantic leads in Murder on the Orient Express, so we wanted a space with vintage charm. The Roosevelt Room delivered. Original 1911 architecture, warm oak, soaring ceilings, and period light fixtures made it feel like stepping into a storybook. Elegant, not forced. Grand, not overwhelming.

We chose the Platinum Wedding Package and held everything onsite, from getting ready to the final dance. That kind of flow only happens when people genuinely care, and at Union Station, that care shows in every detail.

Neil Gadbois, our coordinator, was outstanding. Calm, responsive, and thoughtful, he answered every question and embraced every request. He made the process feel effortless and let us stay present and relaxed.

The food tasting alone was a highlight. We brought both sets of parents and were treated to a fully styled preview, complete with a table dressed in our theme colors and a green glass base inspired by our photos. That detail appeared on every table at the wedding, beautiful and included at no extra cost. The food was so good we had trouble narrowing it down. They even let us add vegetarian and allergy-friendly meals beyond the standard choices.

Neil ran our rehearsal with warmth and clarity. That evening we hosted our dinner at Notch8, and the flatiron steaks, shrimp scampi, and smoked cocktails were a hit. Our server Paige even teared up when we shared how we met.

The morning of the wedding, Neil was already there, cheerful and prepared. We added the breakfast spread and are so glad we did. It was delicious, and we are still thinking about the scones. Every moment felt calm and covered.

Andrei, our lead server, was a star. He brought snacks and drinks to the bridal suite and helped lift the bride’s train during portraits so it would not get dirty. We did not ask. He just did it. During cocktail hour, he brought us appetizers and a quiet moment alone. Later, when we were more dehydrated than tipsy, he gently switched us to water. At one point, he danced across the floor with a tray of water to hand the groom a glass during the Time Warp.

The staff flipped the ballroom during portraits so quietly we barely noticed. When we reentered for dinner, the room looked perfect.

And the food? Incredible. Guests are still raving. The peppered beef tenderloin with mushroom demi-glace was the favorite, but the salmon and chicken were excellent too.

Even the bar staff went above and beyond. The bride’s father is a loyal Labatt drinker. Bartender Tina made sure it was stocked just for him. That small gesture meant the world.

We used a rented floral package, and by the end of the night, Neil had it boxed and loaded into the bride’s parents’ car. We never felt rushed or pushed out, just cared for.

Union Station gave us more than a beautiful space. They gave us a day full of joy, meaning, and ease. We can't possibly fit everything we loved into the review character limit, so just know this: If we had to do it again, we would choose...

Exceeded Expectations! When we were looking for wedding venues we wanted something unique that would accommodate all of our loved ones. We didn't have a huge budget but we didn't want to have to sacrifice an amazing experience for our guests. This place fit our budget and certainly was unique. We live in Chicago and wanted to host our wedding in Massachusetts as that is where we both are from. As a UMASS graduate I would frequent both the Tunnel Bar and The Deck and always loved my time there. We could not have been happier with our decision from start to finish. As an out of state bride Neil made me feel so comfortable with how communicative he was. When we visited for our wedding tasting I knew I had made the right decision. Neil made my vision come to life as if he was in my brain! Everything we asked for they said yes to or that they would try and figure it out. My husband and I met at chilis and they made an exception and allowed us to have chilis chips and salsa baskets at the cocktail hour and triple dippers for a late night snack. We hosted our after party above the tunnel bar and they made it a seamless transition. The space allows for lots of space for your guest to explore from the deck, the Roosevelt room, cocktail space and the amazing tunnel bar. Having different rooms was very important to me as I like the versatility. To this day everyone continues to tell us that it was the best wedding they had ever been do. The atmosphere and the service were exceptional. The food was absolutely incredible from sushi, fresh salad, a sorbet course that fulfilled my princess diaries dreams, incredible entree and the the s'more's and cookie bar! The team synchronized their service so all gets were plated at the same time. Neil and his team were incredible. I truly would not have been able to do it without them. They all went above and beyond through every moment from opening the place early for the girls to get ready to Neil even running and picking up our late night snacks when we forgot to designate someone to do so. Book this place if you want a stunning venue that your guests will remember forever and a stress-free day. My only regret is not hosting our rehearsal dinner here even though we had our wedding and breakfast the next day! Thank You Neil and your team for making this day truly the best day...