If you are considering booking Almansor Court for your wedding, I strongly recommend asking for…read moreevery fee, restriction, and policy in writing before signing. We just had our wedding there, and unfortunately the experience was extremely frustrating.
The biggest issue was how many restrictions and extra charges came up later in the planning process. Many details were not made clear until our final meetings, when it was already too late to realistically change venues.
They are very restrictive with outside food and beverages. We wanted to add a boba bar, ramen bar, and other personalized late-night options, but outside food was not allowed. Even our candy table had restrictions. If you want a highly customized wedding with outside vendors, this may not be the right venue.
We also asked early on for a few reserved parking spaces near the venue for security reasons because Asian weddings often involve monetary gifts. We were initially told this could be accommodated, but later found out it would cost $25 PER SPACE.
We booked the Lakeview Room and later learned that the standard tables are 72-inch rounds seating 12 people each. We had been told the room could accommodate around 300 guests, but it was not made clear that this meant 12 guests per table. They were also unwilling to bring in 60-inch tables. With our Gold package, the standard linens did not even half way, so we were encouraged to upgrade to Platinum for another $10 per person plus fees.
There were many other additional charges. Babies or guests without meals would not automatically receive the same decorated chair, and extra chairs were quoted at $3.75 each plus fees. A projector was approximately $200 and the screen another $65. On top of everything, there was a 22% service charge, approximately 11% tax, and a 2% environmental fee.
Decorating was also very difficult. For an afternoon gazebo ceremony, we were told we could not begin decorating until around 4 PM. Reception setup was also limited. We were told we might be able to start earlier if there was no lunch event, but an event was booked about two weeks before our wedding. These restrictions make DIY decorating extremely difficult unless you have a large team who can set everything up very quickly.
The hosted bar was another concern. We started with a $1,000 tab and were told about an hour into the reception that the entire amount had already been used, even though most of our guests were not heavy drinkers. We added another $500, which was also apparently used. We were not provided with a detailed breakdown showing how many drinks were served. Guests also received inconsistent information about whether soda was complimentary or required payment.
Unfortunately, we also received complaints about the service. Several guests told us some waitstaff were rude or yelled at them. Some guests said their plates were cleared while they were temporarily away from the table, including one guest who went to the photo booth and came back to find half of their prime rib gone.
There was also a problem with meal distribution. Several guests did not receive their meals because of a mix-up with meal tickets. Staff insisted all meals had been served, but we had three last-minute cancellations, so there should actually have been extra meals available.
To give credit where it is due, the food itself was good. Guests said the prime rib was tender, the salmon was not dry, and the chicken portions were generous. The food was probably the best part of our experience.
Late-night snacks were also restrictive. For items priced per person, we were told we had to order for our entire guest count rather than a smaller amount for the guests who would actually stay late. Because of this, we chose only flat-rate options.
The bridal room was also extremely hot because the AC did not work well.
We also learned that after their one-week deadline, prepaid items could not be removed or transferred to something else. Because of the heat, we wanted to move everything indoors, but we could not receive a credit for umbrellas we no longer needed.
Overall, our biggest disappointment was the lack of flexibility and the number of extra costs and restrictions that appeared throughout the planning process. Individually, some charges may seem small, but they add up very quickly.
If you want a simple event and are comfortable following Almansor Court's packages and rules, it may work for you. The grounds are attractive and the food was good. But if you want a highly personalized wedding with outside food vendors, DIY décor, flexible quantities, and the ability to adjust plans as needed, I would recommend looking elsewhere.
My advice: before signing, ask for a complete list in writing of all fees, setup restrictions, table sizes, outside food policies, chair charges, bar pricing, AV rentals, late-night food minimums, and change deadlines.
