My daughter was supposed to have her quicenera in April 2020, but then the pandemic happened…read more Nevertheless, on 01/29/ 2020 I had paid the venue the full amount of $8500.00 for 400 guests. I also paid an additional $200 of $400 for a snack table, for a grand total of $8700.00. We chose Sun Palace because it is very spacious, has a huge dance floor, and several restrooms. However, on 03/18/2020, the quincenera was placed on hold due to the pandemic. In September 2020, we began discussing possible future dates for quincenera, with a possible date in April 2021, contingent on pandemic. In January 2021, the venue was still apprehensive about setting a solid date. In March 2021, my daughter no longer wanted a quincenera. The time of her wanting such an even had passed. When I called the venue to see if I could get at least most of my money back, they refused and stated that they were not giving ANYONE their money back. They said I could use the venue for another event. So, we decided to use it for my son and niece for a combined graduation party. Although I knew $8700.00 was way too much money for a graduation celebration, I had already paid for it and I was empathetic of what the pandemic had cost several businesses.
We had my son's and niece's graduation party in early June 2021. Although the place looked lovely, as it is already a beautiful place from the inside without decorations, there were many things that were extremely disappointing. Let me start by saying that I do not like to send any negativity into this world and this is the first negative review I ever write - and that's because I am in my 50's. I was compelled to write this review because I feel a responsibility to warn others.
The first thing I noticed were the two tiny cakes on display. Because I had paid for a quincenera cake for 400 people, I expected more and was concerned that it would not be enough for invitees. So I asked the staff if there was more cake in the back and mentioned that I had paid for a cake for 400 people. Staff looked surprised and called the owner. I spoke to the owner over the phone and she told me that she had stepped out because she was at Sam's, that I was lucky that she had done "the favor" of making the two cakes the way we wanted, for me NOT to discuss with her staff about any of my concerns, and that she knew what she was doing. She said not to worry about the cake, that there would be enough cake, and that there was more cake in the back. I felt as if I had just been scolded and wondered why her staff did not just tell me there was more cake in the back.
I estimate about 150 to 200 people attended. The event center only had one person to serve the guests, both food and drinks. Consequently, I became concerned whether or not the guests were getting their food. I had three guests complain to me about the server's rudeness and some asking if they could have more tea. I am not sure if this is customary, but the venue people were cooking the food in the kitchen as they were serving. Consequently, batches of food were coming out at a very slow pace and the portions were very small, like for a child. As a matter of fact, we were supposed to be eating by 7 p.m. and did not begin serving until 08:30 and were still cooking at 10:30 because not everyone had been served. Because I had paid for 400 guests, I was blown away when they told me that they had run out of food, claiming that they had served 400 plates to the estimated 150-200 guests that did show up. Then, they closed the door to the kitchen. Towards the end of the event, I found out that at least two couples did not get ANY food. The venue and us had agreed that the $200 that I had paid for the snack table would go to "pan de polvo" cookies to compliment the cake. However, they served chocolate chip cookies. After the event had started, family observed the owner getting off the car with bags from Sam's.
Although my son and niece had fun and the guest stated that the place looked beautiful, if you ask me if it was it worth $8700.00, I would respond, hands down, definitely not. I feel the venue cut several corners, took advantage of our vulnerability during the event, and did not fulfil the contract. However, let me go on record and say that my sister-in-law used this venue for an event about three years prior and her experience was completely the opposite. As a matter of fact, I consulted with my sister-in-law prior to booking this venue. I'm not sure why my experience was so different, but it was. I will say though that, I will never use this even center again and will warn others if asked. I booked this venue so I too could enjoy my son's and niece's graduation celebration, as they were supposed to take care of everything. However, I could not and did not enjoy the celebration because I was concerned about the food, cake, drinks, service, and basically...EVERTYTHING they were supposed to take care of.
