If I could give this business 0 stars, I absolutely would. I DO NOT RECOMMEND LONE STAR EVENTS…read more Please read the reviews and do your research before trusting this company with your wedding.
She was supposed to begin setting up at 4:00 PM, but the setup still was not completed when my guests were arriving around 5:30 PM. A bystander even had to help with the setup. My guests were waiting for the ceremony area to be finished when they should have been able to arrive and enjoy the wedding.
Even worse, before my ceremony I was texting and calling her asking whether everything was being set up. My focus should have been on ME, getting ready, enjoying the excitement and preparing to marry my husband. Instead, I was worrying about whether the person I paid to handle my wedding was going to have everything ready. I can never get that time back. I hired a professional specifically so I would NOT have to manage my own wedding setup.
I paid for 30 chairs and received only 26, something she has acknowledged in writing.
Then there was the arch. She now claims she brought it to the beach, but I personally never saw it or saw an attempt to set it up. Someone who was there told me she commented that the arch was expensive, that I "didn't pay enough," and that she didn't want it to break. She says wind was the reason it wasn't erected. However, there were other weddings on the beach that day with arches set up. After hearing that comment and never seeing my arch, I absolutely questioned what happened.
The finished setup was also significantly different from what I believed I was purchasing based on the photos used to advertise the service. When I questioned this afterward, she told me the advertisement was an "inspiration/design image." If an advertised setup is only inspiration and isn't representative of what the customer should expect, I believe that needs to be made clear BEFORE payment.
The lack of preparation also shocked me. At one point she was sweeping the beach with a hanger because she did not have the proper equipment. This was a planned beach wedding. I expected an experienced event professional to arrive prepared.
I also was not told until AFTER I had paid that she herself would be my officiant. Even after finding out, I gave her a chance. Unfortunately, when she arrived, I did not feel her clothing, shoes or overall presentation were appropriate or professional for someone who would stand beside us during our vows and appear in our wedding photos. Her shoes appeared several sizes too large, and her feet and extremely long toenails appeared to have what looked like a fungal issue. This isn't about judging someone's appearance. I expected a paid wedding officiant to arrive clean, polished and professionally presented.
I was so uncomfortable with the situation that I had to pay a judge at the last minute to officiate my wedding instead. That is not a decision I should have been dealing with immediately before getting married.
Thankfully, my family and others came together and saved my wedding day. Without everyone stepping in, I genuinely believe my ceremony could have been a disaster.
Afterward, she acknowledged in writing that four chairs were not provided and the arch was not erected, but offered only a $150 "customer service adjustment." I explained why I didn't believe that adequately addressed my experience, but she maintained the offer.
I will update this review if and when I actually receive the $150. As of posting this, I have not received it. I also noticed another reviewer previously updated her review saying she had not received a refund she was promised, so I will update mine accordingly.
Before another lengthy explanation appears underneath my review, I encourage potential customers to read the other reviews AND the business's responses and make your own judgment. After going back through them, I noticed concerns that felt very similar to my experience. I wish I had paid more attention before booking.
Her texts and responses to me also came across as AI/ChatGPT-generated. I obviously cannot know what she actually used, but they felt extremely formal, generic, repetitive and impersonal rather than like a genuine conversation with the person I trusted with my wedding.
Your wedding day cannot be redone. I paid a professional so I could enjoy mine without worrying whether my setup would be completed, whether everything I purchased would be provided, or whether I would need another officiant at the last minute. Unfortunately, those are exactly the things I dealt with.
I would NEVER use Lone Star Events again. Based on my personal experience, I absolutely do not recommend this business. Read the reviews, ask questions and get EVERYTHING in writing before you book. I truly wish I had done more research before trusting this company with my wedding day.
