Anker (formerly Kingston House) — Hotel in Kingston

Kingston House was an absolute dream. We got engaged in late December and knew we wanted to get married that summer, so we didn’t have a lot of time to find a venue. After searching and searching I literally was about to give up and just elope, but then I came across Kingston House. We managed to snag the last summer weekend that would work for our schedules and I am so, so happy it worked out.

As a wedding venue: The venue was everything I’d hoped for. The property is enormous, lush, and well cared for. There are so many beautiful little areas that each have their own feel. From fields, to a huge pond, to forest, to gardens, you name it. I loved how people could explore and enjoy the day without feeling squeezed into a small space or told they can’t roam. It was really important to us that our guests would feel comfortable, and they did! We had a beautiful early summer day so we could go with our Plan A option of having our ceremony in front of the pond and the reception up above. But Matt has some great alternatives that would work if the weather is bad. This was a big anxiety reliever for me because of course the weather here is unpredictable. I knew that even if it rained, we’d have a beautiful spot for both the ceremony and reception.

The location: Kingston was a perfect spot for us. We had a lot of people coming from Seattle and Bellingham, and a good group flying in, as well. Kingston is the perfect distance to feel sort of like a destination without actually requiring a huge trip for people. Our guests could drive home if they wanted, or rent a property nearby (there are LOTS of options). And of course, adding a ferry ride is fun! As long as you and your guests know how to plan for it, that is. I was relieved that none of our guests misjudged the timing and everyone made it there when they should. The driving directions were also super easy to follow, so no one got lost. And Matt’s team was there to help guide our guests into the property and find the best place to park.

The house: I mean, the HOUSE! We stayed Thursday night just the two of us (highly recommend) and then both of our immediate families stayed with us Friday and Saturday nights. There was plenty of room for everyone. But honestly this house was freaking magical. Every square inch was beautiful, styled to perfection, comfortable, and full of history and character. Matt has an excellent eye and has filled the home with interesting and super aesthetic furniture, art, and knick knacks. And then of course it’s perfectly stocked and comfortable, and had everything we needed and more. It’s such a gift that we can also go back to Kingston House someday since he rents it on Airbnb. We’re planning to come back for sure, and hopefully make it a family tradition.

Matt: Matt was so great to work with. Responsive and communicative, helpful, and so committed to making your day/weekend perfect. He really knows how to host a wedding and has clearly done this many times. He brought a wonderful level of calm to the weekend and has incredible attention to detail. He puts so much thought and care into the home and property, you can tell he takes pride in it. And he should! We loved working with Matt and look forward to seeing him again someday when we come back. Also he has a very cute dog,...

This is a hard review to write because the venue is picturesque and lovely in so many ways, but the owner Matt Kelly was miserable to work with, to such an extent it is hard to recommend this venue or this particular person. We booked this venue in 2020 for a 2021 wedding and while the pandemic was still raging and we had no idea where we would be at our wedding date, Matt assured us he would be flexible and work with us if we needed to move dates. He wasn’t being honest. In January of 2021, the pandemic looked like the state was not going to be in a good place by that summer and we had to make a decision if we were going to get married that summer or not so guests could make their travel arrangements. We decided to push to 2022 and EVERY SINGLE VENDOR, except Matt and Kingston House was understanding and willing to move with us to 2022. The problem we had was that Matt had our full venue rental fee of $5,000 and he was unwilling to refund us. The whole mess wound up in court and while Matt acknowledged our event would have exceeded the current Covid protocols in the county at the time (which was a specific exception in the cancellation clause of our contract) he argued that it wasn’t incumbent upon him to enforce those protocols and unless the county completely shut down his venue then the specific exception in the cancellation clause couldn’t be invoked. Basically, he wanted us to cut our guest list to fit current Covid protocols, to exclude high risk family and friends (think parents and grandparents), to only seat people by family groups and allow only one table to dance at a time. Regardless of the legality of it all, Matt refused to be flexible and understanding like almost every other business during the pandemic. In the interest of transparency Matt did offer us a couple dates in 2022, but not a single one of them were a Friday (the day of the week we originally booked our wedding) and instead tried to argue giving us a Tuesday or Wednesday was generous of him. So, what are the chances of you scheduling your event in the middle of another global pandemic? Probably pretty small, but a man who values keeping money he isn’t entitled to, telling you that essentially, it’s your choice whether to hold an event that may turn into a super spreader event that may kill two generations of your family, or you can hold an event without some of your most important family members or you can move your event, but you lose your money is not a person or business I want...

My husband and I had our wedding here on July 3rd, and it was perfect. We stayed two nights with the whole wedding party, which gave us time to set up and tear down, hang out, and even have rehearsal dinner the night before. The house itself is just amazing, with plenty of space for our party of 14. The kitchen is gorgeous and well-stocked, and there are barbecues for guests to use. The living room is spacious and comfortable, with a beautiful fireplace, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the grounds and the pond. There is even a baby grand piano in the house, and a hot tub off of the main suite.

The grounds are incredible, with a fantastic gazebo that's perfect for ceremonies, and a new trellis at the pond that would be wonderful as well. The Kingston crew did an impeccable job preparing the grounds, which were just stunning. There is a beautiful and peaceful path around the pond, and the lavender farm is the perfect spot for photos. There is also a gorgeous koi pond/ garden/ waterfall patio in the back that was my favorite spot of all, and was great for photos with family.

There is a newly built dining hall that fit our 100 guests no problem, complete with a catering kitchen and two lovely guest bathrooms (accessible!). The dining hall itself has high vaulted ceilings, and glass garage-style doors that open onto the patio, which gave dinner a nice open feel. It's the perfect venue for the Seattle area, because all the places guests will be are rain-friendly, while still giving you an outdoor experience.

Working with Matt and Kinam was a pleasure from start to finish. Matt was always courteous and informative, and responded to questions quickly. He was also on-site for the entire wedding, and the staff on site were all very helpful and courteous, and even helped put up some of our decorations. He and Kinam and the whole Kingston staff are gems, and we were so lucky to have them. They really made the day run smoothly, and helped us enjoy every moment.

I cannot recommend this venue enough. This place is a true treasure, as are Matt and Kinam, and...