Review: A Beautiful Day Thanks to Family, but Major Venue Letdowns…read moreThe Good:
Our wedding day ended up being amazing, but that was entirely thanks to our incredible friends and family who pitched in, rather than the venue itself. I also want to give a shoutout to Cathy and Kara, who were trying very hard under difficult circumstances.
The Challenges:
We are a very laid-back couple (this was a second wedding for both of us), but the sheer number of issues we experienced was unacceptable. It felt very clear that a leadership conference happening at the resort was the priority over our wedding.
Room Accommodations & Storage: We booked the Jimmy Buffet Suite, but they gave it to someone else, forcing us to stay in a different room on our wedding night. Our room wasn't ready until 3:50 PM for a 4:00 PM ceremony, giving us no time to move our belongings. We were also promised a secure room to store our centerpieces and decor upon arrival, which did not exist.
Ceremony Disasters: The ceremony space was unkempt. The grass wasn't mowed, and ant hills were left intact--I actually got ants in my wedding dress! Infuriatingly, they mowed the grass and swept the ant piles the very next day. Furthermore, there was no signage directing our guests, causing people to miss the beginning and walk in late.
Reception & Setup: We were delayed in setting up the reception room, and when we finally got in, the room was split down the middle and still had trash in it. Staff originally told us we had to set up our own ceremony chairs until we pushed back. Some staff members were seen hanging out and laughing instead of working until our guests intervened.
Seating & Table Layout: My husband actually had to provide the staff with the printed room and table layout--a layout the venue had designed and sent to us themselves! Even with the map in hand, they numbered the tables incorrectly and left paper shipping stickers on them. Because of their error, our wedding party, who was supposed to be seated right by the dance floor, ended up seated the furthest away.
Food & Beverage Oversights: We had a special top tier of our cake specifically for our son, and the staff never cut or served it. For our 40-person rehearsal dinner, they moved the room at the last minute and didn't update the directory board, leaving guests confused. We also ordered food service twice for my pregnant Maid of Honor, which never arrived; the front desk later told us they don't even have room service.
Resort Amenities & Billing: Advertised pool amenities were closed. One morning, breakfast stopped at 8:00 AM, and we overheard staff refusing to refill the bacon early in the morning. Finally, I was explicitly told our final bill would be adjusted for guests who couldn't attend, and that never happened.
The Verdict:
It seems like this establishment has a corporate issue--staff are stretched way too thin and generally don't seem happy to be working there. There was a complete lack of management visibility; I couldn't tell you who the manager is, what their name is, or what they look like.
I hesitated to write this because I didn't want to revisit the stress, but future couples need to know. Because we are so laid back, we rolled with the punches, but I cannot imagine how devastating this experience would be for a first-time bride or someone expecting a seamless day.