I rented LOK for my big day and worked with the owner Marilia for the decor. It turned out to be great. However, I would absolutely NOT come back to LOK, or work with the owner for the reasons I will list below.
RENTAL: is empty white space in a factory neighborhood, the price is $3,500 for an evening. This is an okay price. BUT when you add up all the outside vendors you have to work with, such as catering, staff, and mainly DECOR.. it adds up to be the exact same thing as say.. Russo on the Bay. And more and more tedious work.
DECORATION:
Biggest Negative of working with Marilia: Last Minute Expensive Quote
Before I rented LOK, I requested more information from the owner for decorations, a broad estimate for a party for 100 people. She said she can do any range depending on what we want, 1K up to 10 K, depending on how big we want to go. She got us all hyped about the details she could potentially do. My biggest emphasis was my theme, and budget limits. We agreed on getting a quote. We started exchanging ideas, colors, themes. When I asked her about the quote she assured we can agree on the price and have the flexibility to play around it. Weeks later we asked for a quote, no reply. I texted her via Instagram, whatsapp, text.. no replies. There was a long silence. This made me super uncomfortable because I was looking for other vendors. And finally we agreed to meet with us to discuss details.
We met in person 3 times at the venue, at each time I was expecting her to give me a price range. Yet, that evening we discussed all potential ideas. She assured us and said "Don't worry, I will work with you, there is room for negotiation and we can remove the things we don't want on the quote." She was super convincing and took the lead on decorations without agreeing on the price. We started working on details. Meanwhile i kept asking her quote. She mentioned somewhere along the way her labor is $2000.. she almost brushed it off.. no clear message about this price was given on day 1 or on other communication, it wasn't given to us with clarity, or via written documents. She was almost non-transparent about this. It turns out this is her strategy.
2 weeks before I was asking for a quote, no word on that. 1 week before my day, she kept saying she will send on Friday, then weekend.. GUESS hen we received the quote? 3 DAYS BEFORE my night. It was almost 6K..!! Big Surprise. She mentioned I have to pay with chase zelle WITHIN 3 days to avoid TAX! I explained my frustration and tried to negotiate labor fee which she cared $2,000. All she said was her rate was non negotiable and her actual fee is $2500. That was a bummer. There was 1 item we were able to remove from the quote. Nothing else was negotiable. She made up a price list, and we were stuck with it. That long feeling of uncertainty was for a reason. I received the quote on TUESDAY, had pay 2K on that, day, 2 next and rest on Thursday. I told her that I'm hesitant on making the full to payment before Friday to assure she will do everything she said. Here is her answer and I'm quoting her here " I WILL NOT GIVE ACCESS TO THE VENUE UNLESS ALL PAYMENTS ARE MADE"... think of this for a minute. As a customer, putting months of planning and organizing about this night, she is THREATENING ME by not giving access to the venue, a few days before my event. HOW FRUSTRATING! This will not happen if you work with a professional person, or a venue. I should have had all the right to complete the payment until after I see all services.
On the day of my event, we noticed there is a few small pieces she promised, or said along the way that was not delivered. For instance the bulb roses at tables, cake table decor etc. but at that point I wasn't going to let small details get into me.
Learned lesson, don't trust people, they could be smiling and making you promises, its all business. I chose that place to stay within budget but i ended up spending way over my budget, and we were too exhausted to think all the details. I would have worked with a restaurant fo that prices, and knew what to expect with a budget. I'm writing this review, because I suggest NOT working with LOK and the owner. and if you happen to work, just make sure you have the quote in advance so she doesn't mess up with you.
During the beginning, she was super friendly and etc. BUT this doesn't promise anything. 6K for decorations was NOT worth it, she didn't do anything special. There was nothing worth 2K labor.
If you are planning an event, you want to have piece of mind therefore work with professionals. Who would work with her, if this conversation was upfront and we were told to pay 6K plus tax, plus $ 3,5000 rent? This is not including the food, staff, DJ, Photographer, and al other small expenses. Basically work with an actual venue that has all the services and a professional staff. Make sure you have the quote before you sign up to work with anyone. read more