The Wilshire Grand Hotel

The entrance to the cream colored building, with its fleur de lis motif and bronze statues, looks like that of a large estate. Sliding doors give way to a homey lobby, with decorative flower arrangements and cozy seating around a fireplace. Adjacent to the lobby is a small breakfast area, often crowded in the mornings with an array of families, business travelers, and wedding guests. With a banquet hall attached to the hotel, The Wilshire Grand often simultaneously hosts numerous events on any given night. Many event goers choose to stay on premises, which can sometimes leave the hotel crowded, noisy, and overbooked. 

A quiet New Jersey suburb, West Orange is neither “minutes” from New York City or Newark airport as The Wilshire Grand’s website might have you believe; both are at least half an hour by car. There aren’t many tourist attractions in the local area, and the hotel attracts the majority of its clientele in the form of business travelers and wedding parties. Though the Wilshire Grand is located on a busy street in a suburban neighborhood, it manages to feel secluded thanks to the wooded area behind the hotel, where deer can often be seen scampering about the property.    

Rooms, particularly suites, at The Wilshire Grand are exceptionally large. All feature free Wi-Fi, pillow top beds, flat-screen TVs, iPod docks, mini-fridges, and microwaves. Decor is traditional and chain-like. Think: two-poster beds, maroon drapes, and patterned carpets  Suites have separate living rooms, small kitchenettes with glassware and flatware, and separate showers and tubs. Most suites have large whirlpools that are separated from the bathroom, which may be inconvenient for families, but romantic for honeymooners. All rooms include huge bathrooms with shower/tub combos, hairdryers mounted to the walls, and extra toiletries like a mending kit. 

The hotel’s on-site restaurant, La Primavera Trattoria, serves traditional Italian fare in a warm, casual setting. The menu is extensive and prices are fairly reasonable for the area. There is a free continental breakfast served each morning in the lobby breakfast room, featuring assorted pastries, hot and cold cereal, fresh fruit, and a few daily hot items. Past guests have complained breakfast ends too early, but coffee and juice are served all day long. A grab-and-go mini-market is available near the lobby, where guests can pick up cold drinks, snacks, and bottles of Champagne. Along with free breakfast, The Wilshire Grand offers guests free parking and free Wi-Fi. There are also a few books and board games available for guests to use during their stay. What the hotel calls its business center is really just a large desk in the lobby with two computers, a printer, and a fax machine. A fitness center holds four pieces of cardio equipment and a weight bench in a small, carpeted room. The Wilshire Grand is pet friendly (for a fee), and all animals must be under 35 pounds.  

With over 20,000 square feet of ballroom space and a seasonal courtyard, weddings at The Wilshire Grand are a regular occurrence. The hotel offers an attractive wedding package which includes: 

• A wedding concierge 
• An on-site catering team 
• A free night’s stay in a Bridal Hospitality Suite 
• Reduced room rates for guests 
• Bridal attendant