In my opinion this business deserves a ZERO rating, no stars involved! The owner aka "Connie" abruptly ended our daughters wedding reception, with absolutely no warning she threw on all overheard lights and yelled "Party over! Partly over!" all while frantically waving her arms above her head at 10:00 pm. The DJ was told not to play another song. Stunned guests stood staring open mouthed. They were informed to leave the building immediately. The bride and groom had not yet had their "last dance" and proper send off. Several guests along with the brides parents offered $$$ money if the reception could be extended for an additional 15 minutes (enough time for the last dance and to thank guests) but were denied. Contrary to the agreement that any overages would be paid in cash at the end of the evening the owner decided to immediately end the event on her own terms. Our daughter was humiliated before the remaining 100+ guests (several whom had flown in from other states), robbed of precious memories and spent her wedding night in tears. Hickory Lodge is NOT a stress free pleasant enviroment. Although the outdoor gazebo and surrounding lawns are beautiful the indoor service leaves a lot to be desired. I caution all to have a DETAILED SIGNED CONTRACT, including weights/measurements, exact times, taste test etc. DO NOT assume anything! Numerous accounts of Unprofessional behavior have been noted pertaining to our event "some" listed below. The decorator was phoned & told her to be at the hall, remove decorations by 10:00 pm or doors would be locked & items confiscated. Air conditioning was not turned on until the exact hour our event began, blaming the DJ for opening the doors to unload. DJ was warned not to play music too loud. Our DJ was also denied a fork, inquiry made as to if she was even on the guest list! (owner previously informed a table designated specifically for our working vendors and all were included in the guest count) When the DJ announced cake cutting, the couples cake could not be found! Once located & cut there was great delay in serving. Unbelievably guests were denied eating utensils, it being stated they should have kept their dinner fork! Waite staff removed tableware, food and beverages immediately if you left your place setting. Many opened half full bottles of champagne were dumped simply because people were dancing, visiting or in the restroom. Guests were repeatedly asked if they were done eating; waite staff commenting they needed the plates. Hickory Lodge holds NO liquor license so hosts must provide their own alcohol. Groom's parents brought in cases of canned beer, two different brands. When guests requested a particular brand they were told that there was no more. Upon further inquiry it was discovered that "Connie" did not want to open a new case since there was still the other brand available. At NO time did the hosts request guests be limited. We chose not to have liquor at our event but we still had to pay for a bartender (which surprisingly was non other than Connie) and a security officer (unrecorded sheriff's deputy) for which we were required to pay an additional hourly rate for each. Beware "extra" hidden charges tally up quickly. Hickory Lodge charges $1 per hour per guest ($4 per person) for water / soda. Guests were required to request soda from the bar. A serving consisted of warm soda poured from a 2 liter bottle sitting atop the bar to which a couple ice cubes were added into a "small" disposable plastic cup. We were charged full rate for toddlers as well. It was impossible that ANY guest was served the amount of soda that we were required to pay for. Tap water provided in pitcher at the table. Food portions were small and limited. Waite staff (including a fellow guests report was moments before mowing grass before he appeared in a white shirt slid over a dirty t-shirt) served guests cafeteria style to keep guests from lingering or taking "too much". (Connies exact words) No seconds permitted. As soon as the line passed thru, leftovers were immediately boxed up. Connie was repeatedly not available at appointed time for vendors arrival. ALL stated she was rude and difficult to work with. Connie refused to turn on air conditioning for the decorating staff, even though we had paid extra for 6 hours of time. Also NO beverages allowed to be brought in while decorating. Our area was experiencing heat in the 90's that week. It was cooler outdoors so we propped open a door which Connie insisted we close. The day before our event "Connie" informed us that we could not have a sign in table stating that people tend to congregate and hold the doors open. Despite admitting it had remained in the exact same location for over 20 years to date. A compromise was made in that the main doors were locked and guests entered through a side door, down a long hallway before signing in and receiving table assignmen read more

I attended a wedding here over the weekend, and was extremely displeased. It was not very cool in there. The air felt like it had just been turned on as people started to arrive. For a wedding that is in JULY, the owner should have expected for a very warm and humid day. There was dirt all over the toilet seat, and I heard men saying that there was mold under the seats in the restrooms. GROSS. The food portions were pathetic. I felt awful for someone that has a larger appetite than myself. I heard other people complaining that their food was under-cooked and cold. Before most people could finish their food, employees of Hickory Lodge started to walk around and collect the plates, bowls, AND eating utensils (AKA FORKS). The bride and groom cut their cake a short while later... The bride had to have a guest remind the employees to bring out the GUEST'S cake!! By the time the employees brought it out, it was extremely dry from sitting in the back already cut. The owner (who was behind the bar) denied guests a new fork to eat their cake, saying "if you wanted cake, you should have kept your fork". I'm sorry but it is not my responsibility as a guest to say "Please don't take my fork" while I am away from my seat giving the bride and groom my best. When at the bar, I also heard the owner deny a guest a particular type of beer that hadn't been open because "we needed to use what was open first". The mother & mother-in-law of the bride were asked if they requested that the beer be opened in a certain order, and they said no. I was also informed that the beer was supplied by the family, NOT Hickory Lodge; therefore, she should not have had any say in the matter. At 10:00 on the button, the lights turned on and the owner from behind the bar started flailing her arms, screaming "PARTY OVER, PARTY OVER" acting like a cop busting a high school party. The bride & groom were denied their last dance and their official send off. Many guest approached the owner offering money so they could end their first night as a married couple the right way, and still denied. All in all, I would NOT recommend this disgrace as of a business. read more