Mount Airy Casino Resort offers a picturesque honeymoon and wedding destination to gay, lesbian and allied couples alike.
Gone are the days of heart-shaped beds and champagne glass tubs. The completely rebuilt Mount Airy Casino Resort located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania has replaced its iconic honeymoon suites with artfully decorated and elegant guest rooms, a casino with 2,000 slot machines and more than 70 table games, a full-service spa, high-end dining options, a nightclub that features celebrity entertainers, DJs, and special events, and a golf course inspired by Sports Illustrated’s Best 18 Holes in America.
Mount Airy Casino Resort is reachable with just a 2-hour drive of Philadelphia, New York City and Northern New Jersey. Rolling mountains surround you as you drive to the Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Penn., home to the stunning hotel and casino. At night when it is lit up, it is even more spectacular. My wife and I were especially lucky to visit the Mount Airy Casino and Resort during the holidays; the seasonal decorations combined with sparkling snow outside provided magnificent ambience. A winter wedding in this beautiful location would be spectacular.
The guest rooms at Mount Airy Casino and Resort are brilliantly decorated and include thoughtful upgrades rich, cherry finishes, beautiful, thick bedding, comfortable chairs for lounging, double-headed, large showers, and high-end toiletries. It is clear that much thought went into the decorating of guest rooms, which provide an amazing oasis for couples. Suites are also available and are so beautifully decorated that they can provide a picturesque backdrop for an intimate wedding ceremony.
Le Sorelle Cocina
An important consideration for many couples planning a wedding or deciding where to honeymoon is catering and food options. During our time at Mount Airy Casino Resort, we indulged at Le Sorelle Cocina, Italian for “the sisters’ kitchen.” This restaurant, which is only open for dinner Wednesday through Sunday, features farm-to-table ingredients reflective of the culinary influences of southern Italy. Dishes such as braised short ribs with sweet pea tortellini and spaghettini with lobster warmed us on a cold winter’s night. Mount Airy also houses Red’s Steakhouse, open Friday-Tuesday evenings. Although we were not able to sample Red’s cuisine, frequent guests we spoke to at the resort raved about dry aged steaks. Red’s and Le Sorelle Concina are next door to each other and share an outer bar where you can get before and after dinner drinks in an upscale and relaxing atmosphere. There is also an intimate private dining room for small groups area located in between the two restaurants that would make an ideal location for a rehearsal dinner. Because of its location, food served in the private dining room can be catered by either of these two fine dining establishments. Casual dining options also include Betty’s Diner (featuring American classics such a cheeseburgers and French fries), Noodle Bar (Asian inspired cuisine), as well as a traditional buffet that includes options ranging from omelet stations to seafood buffet dinners. Mount Airy Casino and Resort also houses its very own Starbucks.
Mount Airy Resort Casino is a dreamy wedding venue, complete with a full-service spa and salon available for pampering you and your wedding party. Your wedding party can be together as you get pedicures and manicures, as well as hair and makeup before the big day. Champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries can be served for you and your guests as you take time to pamper yourselves. You can also relax with massages, a eucalyptus steam room, a sauna, and a relaxation room. As a guest of the spa, you have access to all of these calming relaxing elements during your treatment. Lounge areas for guests include relaxing lounge chairs, tea, infused water, and peace and quiet before the boisterous wedding ceremony. My wife and I treated ourselves to the ultra in spa services: Swedish massages provided by stress-releasing massage therapists. Afterward, we continued our couple’s time in the eucalyptus spa room and relaxation area—it was absolute bliss.
There are options for both indoor and outdoor weddings at Mount Airy Casino Resort. If you’ve always dreamed of an outdoor wedding, you might consider getting married by the lake under the gazebo, built specially for weddings. There are plans in the future to expand the conference center allowing for more wedding options to come. In addition, Mount Airy Casino Resort also plans to open an indoor/outdoor pool and amphitheatre this summer. For weddings, you can use your own clergy person or be married by Catherine Thayer. Catherine has worked with Mount Airy Casino and Resort for nearly 20 years and is a non-denominational minister. We found Catherine to be absolutely delightful. The friendly, warm and thoughtful wedding officiant shared with us her own experiences planning a wedding for her daughter and her soon-to-be wife.
Lastly, the Mount Airy Casino Resort provides extensive options for wedding packages that can support small to large weddings. Wedding packages generally include complimentary valet parking, audio/visual equipment, room rentals, bar services, linens, a wedding cake, and an elegant meal for guests. One of their most popular packages, The Queen of Hearts, starts at $59 per person for a minimum of 30 guests. Upgrades are available for an additional cost.
With a rich history of pampering couples that has only been improved by its recent transformation, the Mount Airy Resort Casino is an excellent setting for both weddings and honeymoons. Although married twice already, we were certainly inspired by the setting and hope to return to renew our vows with Catherine someday soon.
Mount Airy Casino Resort
44 Woodland Road
Mt Pocono, PA 18344
877-682-4791
mountairycasino.com
