I had my wedding there and later, my retirement party. It was fantastic on both occasions. Everything was off the chart!! They have a stage where the band and DJ played, and a kitchen. I couldn't have asked for anything more. read more

We had our quarterly meeting here and it was quite a relaxed atmosphere. The place is reatively old school design but plenty of seating. There is a kitchen and nice outdoor patio, so those thinking of wedding venues might want to think of this locaion. Dodger Stadium is a stone's throw away from the lodge and the Police Academy is down the street. If I were to plan a party, I would certainly consider this location! read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - Frontage - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We had a 15 year Vow Renewal there. It was magnificent. The staff was extremely pleasant and easy to work with. The grounds are lovely. The kitchen is large and accessible. The bathrooms were all clean. read more

The wedding was on 8/9/25. I called about 9 times to get the gate open. I had a line of vendors waiting outside as well and some of them tried calling too. Someone got there about 1:15 finally. Young kid got dropped off. He didn't have a lot of information on letting me in. A bigger heavy set man arrived shortly after in a truck and was beyond unprofessional and rude. Apparently he wasn't on the clock and made me feel as though he was doing us a favor being there. He said he would verify I was on the list so he could let us in. A couple minutes went by as he sat in his truck. He got out and then opened up the gate. I thought we were cleared to go in so I followed. Mind you, we are all in a rush now so I thought "ok he was in his car for a minute or so and the young man had already arrived inside the office so he might have found the paper and called him to let him know we are good to go." He proceeded to break check me 3 times and almost hit my car as he was backing up into me. He finally got out of his car and told me to wait outside with the worst attitude ever. My mom was in the car with me and was about to lose it. He finally verified I was on the list and proceeded to walk back to the gate to let us in... by the time we got in it was closer to 1:30. I've never experienced such a condescending demeanor in my life. I thought the worst was over. We walk in and the fountain is completely drained. It smelled bad and it wasn't even cleaned. No one had answers to what had happened. Not one of the workers there moved a finger to try to clean it. My husband overheard one of the younger kids attempt to resolve it by making a call. Props to him! Other than that, I would not recommend this venue to anyone ever. The bride was furious and was one the verge of crying. I truly hope she gets a full refund and gets to come back for free to take pictures at some point. read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - 8/9/25 day of the wedding. We were not notified that the water would be drained. It smelled too. - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The views while on a hike parallel to the lodge are fantastic and make you return again and again.

Great location to host any meetings or parties? The grounds are beautiful and the water feature is gorgeous. It is located in Elysian Park so it is beautifully lined with large trees. read more

I got married at Grace E Simons on 9/23/23 to my husband Erick. I had a beautiful time. This venue is beautiful and the staff at Grace E Simons are helpful and kind. My husband Erick and I hired Love Inspired as our wedding decorators. Lisa and Evelyn did a great job decorating my wedding. Love Inspired team are kind, helpful, and listen to your ideas. I will recommend Grace E Simons and Love Inspired for any event. read more

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Highly do not recommend. I have been a DJ for over 15 years and Grace E. Simons Lodge was the first venue to ever shut down a party in my entire career. I was not aware of their contract or rules. I am known for my Krazy hour and clients pay me a lot of money to host their events. I still feel terrible about the entire situation. Their rules and employees have absolutely no courtesy. I can give you so many different ways to handle a situation in case of a breach of contract. I guarantee you will find a better venue to host your event. Their noise, alcohol and setup policies are absolutely ridiculous. Save yourself the time and book elsewhere. read more

A friend of mine recommended this venue to me and it did not disappoint. It's a beautiful versatile venue, very affordable and the staff are great to work with. We booked this venue on 2019 and though the venue went through changes, the staff were always in contact with us and answered all of our questions. Our venue was brought alive thanks to the great creative efforts of our event decorator who knows the venue inside and out, Love Inspired Decor Evelyn and Lisa are your go to for making your wedding day the most enjoyable, and most beautiful!! I really got lucky with them and you will be lucky to book them on your special day! (Linspireddecor@gmail.com) IG- loveinspireddecor read more

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We had our second event at this venue on September 6, 2019 with the help of our talented and amazing coordinators, Lisa Aguilar & Evelyn Ortiz. My husband and I met them after booking our wedding date with the venue. Our wedding day, January 8, 2017, ran smoothly thanks to Lisa & Evelyn. We could not imagine planning another event without them. They work as a family and have become like family to us. They are detail-oriented and go beyond the expectations. They decorated the venue with a Mexican touch as we requested and attended to our guests throughout the event. Evelyn even offered to take pictures, allowing us to focus on the event's highlights. Lisa, with her ever-welcoming personality, greeted our guests, assisted us throughout the day, and made sure everything was according to the venue's policy at the end of the event. Lisa and Evelyn allowed the organization, Uniendo Familias, to complete the task of reuniting families with their loved ones after decades of being apart. Check out their awesome work on Instagram. (@loveinspireddecorations). read more

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The entire staff was supportive, kind, and empathetic for our wedding on 12/12/22. From July 2022 to December 2022, Adrianna and Jackie worked with us to get the right seating layout, choosing vendors, and were very communicative the entire planing. They gave us options for layouts and were patient each time I wanted to visit the venue. The venue is beautiful and if you're looking for a simple and sweet wedding, this is the place to book with! read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - Outdoor bar area - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We got married at Grace Simons Lodge over Labor Day weekend this year. It was truly perfect for us! It hosts many people (we had about 150) and the outdoor area is just beautiful. It is more affordable than most venues since it is a public park, but that did not mean that it lacked in beauty and class! I also want to make sure to highlight our decorator team/day-of coordinator team from Love Inspired Decor. This family-owned business has hosted tons of events at the Lodge and has customized decorations for it. They were so easy to work with and truly brought our vision to life. We are so grateful for their partnership and expertise! I would highly recommend them for your wedding at the Lodge or another event elsewhere! (I didn't seem to have pictures of just the setting but wanted to include some!!) read more

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What a hidden gem. I've lived in the general Los Angeles area, and never knew this place even existed. It's actually part of the Parks and Rec Dept. It's a nice gated area that is available for rental from the city. There's a BBQ pit area and a little lake. There's a large grassy lawn and a few covered area for events. There's also covered concrete picnic benches. Also on the property is an adjacent building for events. I'm not sure if there is a kitchen, because the event I attended was catered. Really nice area and a great surprise. The only thing is that it is not easy to find. Using any major map app or directions using address listing only will take you inside Dodger Stadium. It's actually in Elysian Park. Once you are inside the park, there is signage directing you to the lodge. read more

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Reserved for next year event. A perfect venue for a tight budget birthday party. Can chose your own food caterers, DJ, INCLUDED: round/rectangular tables & chairs, kitchen, projector screen PARKING: 31 Spots, addtl parking across the street #GUESTS: 200 max PAYMENTS: Visa/Master. Check/Casher's check ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES: must use their exclusive alcohol service read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - Date reserved - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I kind of didn't want to write about this place because I wanted to be selfish and keep it a secret! But anyway, the story.... I woke up a bit early today to go "hiking" with my friend. I had planned on working up a sweat from trudging up some hills and running away from dogs. Instead, I somehow ended up at the Grace E. Simon Lodge. This place is a hidden gem in the Elysian Park! I always thought that it was closed off to the public because...well, I don't really know...there were scary looking gates that don't seem to be open, ever. Anyway, today there was a group of people there for a workshop so the gates right outside the lodge were open and we just walked right in. We walked passed the building and continued up a small, short path to the beautiful water garden! Check out the pictures...the water is so blue and there's even a cute wooden bridge. There are stone benches located all around the garden so you can enjoy the mini-waterfalls and the lovely river. **Please note: my pictures make the garden look a lot bigger than it really is. It's actually not that big, but definitely can accommodate at least 50-70 people! This place is definitely perfect for a small, intimate wedding. I heard from a friend that it costs $1,000/hour to rent out the place. read more

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We are having our wedding here, the place is beautiful. We worked with Jackie and May I say she was such a joy and breath of fresh air. She made us feel comfortable while also thoroughly explaining the rules and regulations, providing us with the necessary information needed. She answered all of our questions and concerns. read more

This location is VERY hard to find...GPS will take you up some random mountain and into private property...but once you find it, the location is actually very nice. Calming fountain in the background...wonderful service by the staff...the wedding I went to was absolutely beautiful. Decor was great, open bar was YAYYYYY!!!!, and everything was constantly refilled. Definitely somewhere to consider for large events :) read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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SUCH an AWESOME venue! A little hidden gem, we had our wedding here last Saturday, and everyone was so impressed! A perfect setting, at a reasonable price, and Jackie and everyone who works there is SO kind and caring, we felt incredible special and *magical* I cannot stress enough, also, how INCREDIBLE our decorators and day of coordination by Evelyn and Lisa was! I have recently gone through the reviews mentioning them, and every kind incredible thing said is true! We could not have done it without them, don't even consider another decorator for your event! They knew all the ins and outs of the venue, worked with speed and efficiency, and most of all, supreme kindness! Lisa even let me use her shoes at the end of the night! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for the most special, memorable night of my life! read more

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Great Venue for couples looking for an elegant wedding on a budget. Friends got married there and I was their photographer. Staff I met was very kind! Now I'm engaged myself and the lodge is high up on our list! Highly Recommended! read more

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Had my wedding here. It was perfect!! 200 guest. Only down side is that we had to use their alcohol catering companies, and they were all expensive. read more

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We held our wedding at this location and it was a good experience. We booked it more than a year ahead of time and the whole process was smooth. Alcohol for your party is serviced through 2 companies and they're pretty reasonable. Pictures came out amazing, scenery is gorgeous. The only down fall is to watch out for Dodger games, traffic is insane. Unfortunately mine was seasons Opening Day. Don't recommend that day. Other than that is a nice place to host your next event. read more

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I recently got married here and had a very positive experience. Beautiful grounds, nice pavilion next to the pond/waterfall/fountain: the pictures online really don't do it justice. We used Evelyn and Maria as our decorators and day of coordinators and they did a fabulous job as well. Our day ran smoothly, and we got our deposit back! read more

Grace E. Simons Lodge - Wedding at Grace E Simons Lodge - Venues & Event Spaces Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Since the cat's already outta the bag on this hidden spot in Elysian Park, I may as well add another review to the pile. It's often used for private and special events and I believe it's owned by the LAPD, but if you're ever in the area walking or hiking or just enjoying the park, you can usually sneak in here to have a stroll along the lovely Japanese gardens, complete with a pretty little bridge, and bright blue man made falls and fountains. There's also an attached event space but I haven't had a chance to peek inside since I'm usually ambling around the outer areas looking over my shoulder for someone to shoo me out. The lower area has some benches (and even clean loos!) to take a picnic, making it a great little romantic spot... so long as you don't get caught. ;) read more

I didn't have trouble finding Grace when I came looking at it for a possible wedding venue, but I know others have! I got married here in October and it was pretty great! Ana, who works at Grace for the City of LA was very helpful in showing us the venue and explaining everything. For a Saturday afternoon thru late evening event, utilizing both the gorgeous outdoor and ample indoor space, including security, it was very reasonably priced, especially for Los Angeles! I mean she isn't going to BEG you to have your event there or kiss your butt, because she isn't in sales! I actually appreciated that after checking out other venues. Grace provided the chairs, tables, sound system (we used an iPod and it worked well), as well as an outdoor PA for our ceremony. Also included in the price is your security guards for the event and an event monitor. $500 was returned to us as deposit after the event (there was a delay on this, but once I called a couple times we got it straightened out). Everything else is kinda DIY. I chose to hire a decorator who did a bulk of that stuff for me. She came on recommendation from Ana and her name is Lisa and she is wonderful! We brought in our own caterer. The only vendor you have to use is one of 2 city approved bartenders. we went with Sunseri's and they were great. All in all, we had a great wedding with a unique, secluded venue right in Los Angeles and saved a lot of money! read more

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We came here for a wedding. Because this was connected to a park and there was a wedding going on, parking was hard to find. The lodge was cute but the decorating by the wedding party made it look fabulous. It fit about 200 people comfortably. The pond next to the lodge was nice - but extremely green. We witnessed a hawk swooping down and taking some baby ducks! :( read more

I honestly don't know how to thank Grace E Simons lodge for making our wedding so extremely special. The venue is situated on these beautiful grounds, an oasis in the middle of Elysian Park. This place goes from a great little location with indoor/outdoor space, to a gorgeous dream location in what seems like no time! With the help of Evelyn, and her staff from @LoveInspiredDecor everything was perfect! Every single cent spent on Evelyn's services is truly worth it! Planning an event is an overwhelming experience, but the venue and Evelyn, made everything so much easier! I would truly recommend this venue and Love Inspired Decor to anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion. read more

I had my wedding in Aug. 2014 Cute hidden gem in Los Angeles! The staff are kind and will work with your ideas. Very flexible. I had my wedding there and was able to hang lanterns, lights, burlap wall, ribbon wall, and banners. For decorators I went with Lisa! She works with her daughter and they are an excellent team. Lisa and her daughter saw my vision and ran with it. Lisa the decorator basically was easier to get a hold of, neater and more up to date. For flowers and centerpieces I went with Details Done Right. Another mother-daughter business that did an amazing job! They are located in San Diego ca and have a Facebook page. I catered through Rodgers Catering in Norwalk Ca. I received so many complements about how delicious the food was. For the cake it was a little difficult to find someone inexpensive so I went with Frost my Cake in Brea. Even with delivery it was cheaper than most local bakeries. As for the bar I went with Sunseri's. As for the Dj I went with Vox Dj located in Manhattan Beach. The Dj we chose was Henry. He was great. They were also amazing and easy to contact. If you fall in love with this place, you can book a year in advance. We came at 6 in the morning on August 1 the year before to secure our date. Dates fill up quickly. read more

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I recently had my wedding at the lodge (10/18/15) and it was beyond beautiful. I would definitely recommend this venue for something elegant like a wedding. I held my ceremony and reception here and I received a lot of compliments from my guest because everything was in one place. I hired vendors for decor, linens, food, music and flowers. I went with Lisa for decorations because she knows the rules and regulations of the venue. I would recommend lisa to anyone trying to do their event at the lodge because she works with your budget and goes beyond what you requested. Lisa and evelyn her daughter where amazing on my wedding day, they set up my decorations how I envisioned and they set up more then what was originally asked. I hired Lisa to setup my decor, the ceiling decor, and clean up. If I could do my wedding again I would hire them as the event coordinator as well because trying to organize your own event is overwhelming. These women are worth every penny, they made it easier for me when it came to decorations and clean up. My caterer was also amazing her name was patty and I met her because they catered the open house at the lodge. Patty was also amazing she worked with my budget and actually gave me more then what I paid, everyone had more then enough food and they really enjoyed everything. If you go with patty hire her to set up, clean up, cut the cake and serve the food they will save you time and stress. She was also worth every penny!!! This venue was perfect for my intimate wedding, they provided 3 security guards that went around to make sure everything was under control and the venue provides you with tables and chairs. read more

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I own Elite DJs & Event Production. We hosted a Quinceañera this past March 31st at Grace E. Simons Lodge. This is a beautiful venue with many amazing locations for great photos. The staff was great. Yolanda was very pleasant to work with. Best of all we worked with Love Inspired Decorations. They transformed the entire in to some even more beautiful. They are truly professional. Lisa and Miguel where amazing to work with. If you are seeking a great venue and fabulous decor, then I highly recommend Grace E. Simons Lodge and make sure you ask for Love Inspired Decorations. You will not regret it. read more

The Grace E. Simons Lodge was the perfect place to celebrate my retirement! I had attended several functions over the years at the Lodge. I remember my first time I had a bit of difficulty finding it, but after the first time, I never forgot. Surprisingly, after that first experience, I noticed how well marked the signage was to get there, I had just not really looked up and seen all the signs. The Grace E. Simons Lodge is a slice of nature in the middle of an urban jungle. When I'm on the grounds, I feel like I have been magically transported to wilderness mountains. The brook, waterfall, pond, Japanese garden, and fountain all make for gorgeous photo ops. Also, we love that you can have your event either indoors or outdoors. This makes event planning free from weather worries ("weather independent"). While the Lodge can handle up to 200 people, our final count was a group of 110. Capacity was important to us because we did not have an accurate count until four days before my party. My retirement sendoff went off without a hitch, actually, it was perfect! When we arrived, the tables were set up exactly as promised. There was plenty of room for the caterer to set up his Hawaiian buffet with a separate serving station for the roasted pig. The Lodge provided a huge screen for us to project a photo slideshow. The podium and microphone/sound system were included at no extra charge. Everything was in perfect order. The restrooms were spotless and the kitchen was immaculate. The staff was helpful and accommodating from the first day I came in with my inquiries (about eight weeks before the event). This helpful attitude was maintained all the way through the process including our final minutes after the party ended. Shortly after I decided this was definitely the place for me, they held an open house which my wife and I attended. At the open house, there were many vendors demonstrating their offerings. We actually hired the Shave Ice truck we were introduced to at the open house. Most importantly, we got to meet the staff and the people behind the scenes and got a great feeling about how much they care. They were totally dedicated to serving us. As an example, on the day of the event, we asked if we could have a smaller rectangular table than we had originally requested weeks earlier. Their response was so relieving, "yes, we have several sizes, which size would you like?" They proceeded to fetch the table, set it up, and, all the while, with a smile. Most of the reviews I read used the Lodge for weddings. It is a great venue for weddings and so much more! As a fresh retiree, I can clearly say, the The Grace E. Simons Lodge was the PERFECT venue for me, my family, and my coworkers. I am thrilled to have had my party at the The Grace E. Simons Lodge. Special thanks to all the staff members that were so kind, effective, and diligent! read more

This location is great for weddings as there is room for an indoor reception as well as an outdoor ceremony. It's also great for birthday and quincenara parties. The chairs and tables are included but the decorations are brought in by the patron/decorator. The place becomes transformed once it is decorated. And the prices are reasonable. This lodge is owned by the City of Los Angles and there is more inforamtion on their website offering more pictures and prices etc. www.laparks.org in the 'Banquet Halls' section. And the prices already include 3 security guaurds for your event :-) Yes, the place is a little tricky to find and most car GPS's don't give the correct address. But the phone map (google) works great. read more

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We recently had our wedding and reception here. This is a great spot -- convenient to all of the city, beautiful and pretty economical. I especially liked being able to have our wedding ceremony and reception at the same venue. I'd give 5 stars except for a couple things .... Some of the things I'd requested in my 'layouts' weren't set the way I'd asked ... There was a constant stream of people coming to see the venue on the day of our wedding. Every time we'd been there (and there was an event) we were sent away. There was some confusion with the security guards (hired through the city). I had my first and only bridezilla moment while this was happening. AND security guards smoking on the job, in plain sight, when there are NO SMOKING signs everywhere -- and there are no real candles allowed, etc., is not cool. There are MANY great things about this place, and I'm sure that their booking schedule will become more and more full. Considering the size of the space and the simple beauty of the location, it's a very good deal. We would definitely book another event again. read more

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The is such a beautiful Hall! I highly recommend walking the grounds, especially the back. It may look plain but trust me, it can turn into a magical place with the help of Lisa, the decorator. I've had two Sweet 16's at this venue and she made it look amazing both times. From a princess theme to a Star Wars theme, she made it look amazing! Ask for her information when looking into this venue for your event. She has really nice linens, dinnerware, and decorations for both indoor and out. Her and her team are hard working, professional, and caring individuals. She took care of all our needs and made our parties that much more special. Lisa and her team went above and beyond! Thank you Lisa!!! -Lilly read more

I was married here back in 2012, what a hidden gem! The venue was amazing best part the facility has great spots for pictures no need to go anywhere else. You have everything you need. Not to mention the price is so affordable read more

I heard there is a year long waiting list for this place so plan ahead! Perfect for gatherings! It has a little kitchen for keeping food warm/service/ etc. Our visit was for a wedding and it is perfect for that. Great location for any type of event. read more

Simons Lodge is amazing ! I had my quince there two years ago. My closest friends have also had theirs there as well. It's secluded in a nice place up in Griffith Park. Really clean however not very big inside the place but the gardens and fountain make it a nice place. It's perfect for pictures in the afternoon and very clean.\ I think it's too pricy especially having to pay extra for bar and for alcoholic drinks! CRAZY. But in the end worth it ! All my guests love it just make sure to tell them to watch their kids near the fountain ! Also try to make some signs because you can definetly get lost trying to get there. read more

I orginally made a positive review for this location but can't find it to edit so I'm making a new review. My wedding was April 15th 2019 and originally I had awesome things to say. Rewind to today I have not received my $500 deposit back my location was gifted to me along with the deposit but of course the card holder is the one that receives the deposit when it's refunded. My really good friend and I have been going back and forth with this place for months. My recent email was August 12th 2019 and I have yet to get a reply. My husband and I have DJed and have done photo booth gigs for clients at this location which is how I fell in love with it despite the annoying customer service, it wasn't bad enough not to go with this location. I told everyone about this place and now that I'm out of $500 I'm annoyed that I did. When I verbally asked to talk to the person who refunds the money they told me it wasn't possible. My party guest left that venue spotless, cleaned everything and WE'RE OWED OUR DEPOSIT BACK. read more

Just had my wedding on 5.15.15. Had the best time. The staff was very professional and flexible with last minute changes. Of course like every bride I wanted to ensure everything was perfect and the staff made sure of it. I contracted Lisa Aguilar as our decorator and day of coordinator. She was amazing! I will be posting pics of her beautiful work as soon as I get them. Decorations were on point and so was the coordination. Our DJ was DJ/MC Ace from Flawless entertainment. His services were flawless and he kept my guest on the dance floor all night!! He was also amazing! We also contracted Sunseris bar services, the bartenders were great. Would definitely recommend this venue and vendors to everyone. All the vendors know the set up which made it easier for everyone. read more

HORRIBLE ! HORRIBLE ! The only words I could use to describe the events I saw go down on Saturday with the security staff. I was contemplating actually having my weeding here but NOT anymore. My terrified child saw the entire thing go down and is now left traumatized after seeing an authority figure act they way she did. Security should never threaten a guest the way this lady did. As soon as I saw her take out her security weapon I knew I had to leave the location. As beautiful as this place is I sadly would never recommend anyone to have any events here due to the lack of respect I saw the employees have. ( The women security in particular) read more

Had my daughters quince at this venue two weeks ago. The place alone is beautiful, what made it extraordinary was the decorations by Evelyn and lisa from @LOVEINSPIREDDECOR. Evelyn, Lisa and their team did an amazing job a decorating, helping throughout the event a they also offer dinner waiter services. Their team went above and beyond, and I truly mean that. We had took some special decorations on our own for the event but when it was time to leave we had no space in our cars. Evelyn and lisa offered to take the decorations and they would meet up with us the next day to return them to us. That is what I'm talking about. They are very attentive to the customer without a doubt. read more