Our wedding reception (not the ceremony itself) was held at The Gaines Estate in August. We booked…read morethe venue from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. for a brunch reception and were told we could arrive an hour early to decorate. I had attended a wedding here years ago and remembered it being beautiful, so I had high expectations. Unfortunately, our experience was nothing like what we expected. We paid $4,044.80 for mediocrity and insolence. In April, I paid for the venue over the phone, yet we were never given a contract or even a receipt. During our reception, William "Bill" approached me and accused me of never paying. Imagine being accused of not paying for your wedding venue while your guests are still there. It was embarrassing, insulting, and completely avoidable. He only believed me after I pulled up my bank transaction and proved it. The lack of communication between Bill and the event coordinator, Allyson, was obvious from the start. They frequently contradicted each other, we were told things were included that weren't, and the result was unexpected charges and unnecessary stress on our wedding day. Trying to communicate with Allyson beforehand was like pulling teeth. It often took multiple attempts to get answers, and several of those answers turned out to be wrong. We were promised comfortable chairs for our photo booth...they never appeared. We were told the projector and microphone were available, only to find out they'd cost nearly $100 extra, despite barely working. The microphone was practically useless, and the projector had no sound. Instead of enjoying my reception, I spent nearly an hour troubleshooting their equipment. When we finally got the video to play, I had to hold my phone against the microphone because the projector couldn't produce audio. We also felt rushed from the moment the reception began. We had been told we could leave our decorations overnight, but before the reception even ended, staff repeatedly insisted everything be removed by 3:00 p.m., even telling us, "Well, we can't do anything until you get your stuff out of here." That was never what we had been told. Unfortunately, our guests noticed the staff's attitude before we did. Two guests even left early because of how they were treated. That's completely unacceptable for a venue charging thousands of dollars. We specifically asked staff not to clear our plates because we were greeting guests. They ignored us and threw away our meals anyway. I managed to eat one carrot, a bite of crab cake, and one bite of chicken and waffle before my plate disappeared. The food itself was equally disappointing. The chicken tenders were dry and tasted old, and the waffles reminded me of a budget motel breakfast--I'm talking Econolodge, not even Best Western. Guests received two tiny, stringy tenders, half a waffle, and a small salad. I had specifically requested the nuts be left out because of allergies, but they ignored that request. They at least warned guests the salad contained nuts (so people wouldn't die), but then had the audacity to tell some guests no one had informed them about allergies. Ironically, the only decent chicken tenders were the appetizer tray we paid extra for because we knew the kids would eat them. They were noticeably better than the entrée version...but of course, I never got one, and if I had, it probably would've been thrown away before I had the chance to eat it. The crab cakes were acceptable, but nowhere near worth almost $5 each. To top it off, once condiments ran out, they were never refilled. Our reception felt like an inconvenience to the people being paid to host it. Your wedding celebration is supposed to be one of the happiest days of your life. A venue should help reduce stress...not create it. Sadly, The Gaines Estate did exactly the opposite, and I cannot recommend it to anyone planning an event.

Great food, attentive staff, great bar and pleasant atmosphere!! Live music on Wednesdaysread more

Very experienced and knowledgeable about show business. The president of this company comes…read moreprepared and very good at problem solving. Would hire again for any event!

The President of Showtrends, Ic., has a history of breaching contracts. He and his company cost me…read morethousands of dollars in damages incurred because Mr. Campbell breach a contract. Beware!

Outstanding photographer. He has covered several sporting events, tournaments, and practices that…read moreI am involved in. Darrel does quality work and you won't be disappointed.

The best photographer ever he taken plenty of pictures for me an they are alway great quality an…read moreamazing photos an he is so easy to work with an lets you help out he is definitely my number 1 pick for photos an he will take all my special events !!!

Ok little place for entertainment..small little armory in fact. Not alot happens here..but we went…read moreto the bullriding there tonight and it was a ok affair. I have been to the convention center side and it is much nicer and decent catering for a event..its all we got so we gotta make the best of it!

Bridge Day was SOOO much fun. Not only was there such beautiful scenery but we got to see a tons of…read morebase jumps from the river down below. We took the bus to watch at the landing spot. Such a great vantage point. We watched the jumpers land on target, in the water and in a tree! Also enjoyed watching the rappelling as well. Great atmosphere. Loved it!

When there is something unique that you come across you either keep the information to yourself or…read moreyou spread the word. It always amazes me that people don't explore the cities within their state as well as states that border your own. West Virginia is no exception. If you ever feel the need to spend a weekend camping but also watching people base jump, then it doesn't get better than this. The New River Gorge Bridge gets closed for this one day of the year to celebrate the completion of its initial building. There are people jumping and rappelling down to the banks below. Camp out near and watch them come down or join the masses up on the bridge to watch from above. ~

Had a great dinner on opening week. My next time will be under more critique because I always take…read moreit easy when a restaurant just opened. The food was good, staff was so friendly, cocktails were delicious. I'm glad we have a new spot

My 1st experience at Cast Iron Smokers was great. The staff is super friendly and inviting and all…read moreof the food was quality! I ordered brisket, dry rub wings, Mac & cheese, beans, and fries. My friends enjoyed their pulled pork Sandwhiches as well watched WVU football. It is likely that we will be back for week 2 of college football. This is one of my new favorite spots in the Beckley area.

This particular restaurant is quite amazing as it is locally owned and operated. Always has…read moredelicious food, cakes, and anything else you could want, or need. The power Brenda Vandeline is kind and willing to take time from her busy day to make sure you found what you were looking for. Reasonably priced and unmatched quality for this area.

Hinton Floral has been serving the local community for over 50 years. While the long-time owner…read morerecently retired, new management seems to be smoothly providing the same level of service as before! Im addition to doing floral arrangements for gifts, prom corsages, centerpieces, weddings, funerals, they also have an array of tasteful and charming gifts. The shop smells lovely, and they always do a nice job decorating for the season.

I currently live in Milwaukee and wanted to send my grandmother some flowers, I placed an online…read moreorder and they looked exactly like the picture! I was so happy! I got a confirmation email letting me know my orders has been placed and she absolutely loved them! So pleased with the their service! I will definitely be ordering from them again!