GUEST REVIEW: Attended a wedding here on a Saturday in September…read more
I assume most wedding parties have a similar setup consisting of:
- Ceremony outside in the designated area with an artificial grass/turf to the right of the building.
- Happy Hour/ Cocktail and Light Apps upstairs and to the left with deck access and some outside seating.
- Reception Dinner & Dancing upstairs and to the right, also with deck access.
As a guest, everything seemed great and to go well. They were well staffed and everyone was friendly and busy with their tasks and stations. They were timely with moving us between spaces and activities, and had everything set up and ready to go. The only real "waiting" was between HH and Reception which can take time, but there was light bites and drinks to keep guests occupied.
For this wedding it was a beautiful day and the weather was pretty good. It was a little chilly outside and a non-complaint was that it was a little windy.. just something for brides to consider but that should be expected when choosing an outdoor venue, and one that is beach/water front!
The outside ceremony area was nice. They have some fake grass down that helps with shoes, so ladies can wear heels without the "beach" concerns like sand and rocks. The musicians were set up to the left and it was a nice area with the bride/groom sides and aisle in between. It is "enclosed" along the back and side with a wall and pretty doorway - doors were closed and opened for the brides entrance. The microphone/speaker had some interference - unsure if that was quality, connection, or wind reasons - likely a mixture but it was more "cutting out" then static or ringing, etc.
The building was nice and simply decorated. Downstairs had the restrooms and I think also the bridal suite. The stairs are to the left as you walk in and there is also an elevator. It did get a little crowded to get in after the reception as everyone is trying to get up stairs. The bathrooms were a little tight with only 2 stalls in the womens, but it was manageable.
As mentioned, there are two rooms upstairs and the hallway area where the seating chart and wedding items (decor, envelope holder, sign in book, etc. - and later party favors) were placed.
The HH room is a little smaller and had a long barstool seating table down the middle, a cute little corner with sofa and chairs, plus tables set up along the perimeter. There was also some seating on the deck which was nice for fresh air as it did get crowded, depending on the guest size. The bar was on the far end of the room.
The reception room was larger in comparison and had sliding doors - those were kept closed during HH and then opened once it was time to transfer. The layout had the tables right as you entered, and then the dance floor and "stage" at the far end. There was a door or two to access the deck from the reception room on the left-window side at both ends. The only complaint I had with the setup is that there wasnt really a proper "aisle" or entry way for the bridal party to make their entrance - they had to weave through the space between tables... not a big deal though. We were seated in the middle - only one table between us and the stage but it was a little difficult to see the happenings on stage at times - but all in all, it was a nice space with enough room where it was needed.
They had a bar only in the HH room, so you did have to go between the two rooms for bevs - outside of red and white wine, which was conveniently on every table. I did not see a water station which I think is one thing I would recommend they add...
The staff was very good about getting the courses out and tables cleared to keep the night going... but almost too good during the after meal/party time... i understand wanting to have an easy or quick cleanup for the night end but for example, they started removing the wine and water carafes and glasses... and again, with no water station that I could see, when you went back to your table to drink your water or wine, and it was gone, it left you surprised and thirsty!
The food was pretty good - we had option of a chicken, steak, and maybe pasta? dish. Everyone at our table got the meat... they were all cooked slightly different temp/doneness wise, so mine was a little more well done than I would have preferred - still tasty though.. lots of flavor and seasoning! They had the cake slices put out at a table up front so guests could help themselves... and they set up a coffee/tea station in HH room.
All in all, I thought it was a nice venue. Well staffed and the staff were friendly and all where they needed to be doing what they needed to do! The space was decorated nicely (base) and I'm sure each bridal party has the ability to decorate to their style and liking. And it was a pretty decent size allowing for a good group of guests.