Recently, I had my wedding at this venue. I wish I could say it was the best experience but I…read morecannot. Christina Kroeplin. Owner, aka "Coordinator" My experience with her was .. emotionally draining and a great duress to say the very least.
My first bad experience with her came the morning I woke up to charges on my invoices. Maybe she didn't think I would notice?! But she certainly never talked to me about it before just adding charges.. I can't say the encounter in asking her was a pleasant one and in fact she refused to directly say WHY there were added charges until much later in the text message argument. She cites that her website says they charge for credit charges. Which if you go to www.TheRanchOnVintonRd.com you'll see, there really isn't much to even see on said website.. Despite this, I still called her and apologized and to squash it. However, Mrs. Kroeplin talked circles around me and broke me down so much all I could do was just cry and agree to everything she was saying. She made statements such as, "You didn't ask the right questions," "If you're unhappy you can cancel." It was 2 weeks out from my wedding and if I had canceled, I would have lost every single cent we put into the wedding.
This venue also doesn't supply ice. Which was told to me only 2 days before the event. AFTER We were completely tapped out of money by this point. Im not sure why it's appropriate to expect the bride & groom to supply ice for a venue?!(Oh the venue can.. but for an additional fee!) In order to have ice someone had to leave the property to go get the ice.
Day of the wedding, Mrs. Kroeplin was nowhere to be found. She finally made an appearance during our photo sessions, then where she went, I have no idea. What I do know, is it's 7pm and she's not coordinating my wedding. Mrs. Kroeplin was emailed an iternary and even previously promised me, "It will all be fine," "I got this" "Don't worry" Yet, my dear husband was downstairs coordinating 45 minutes after this wedding was supposed to start, because she did not. One of my guests, who was not even in the wedding party, went to go track Mrs. Kroeplin down to get her to do her job!
Nearly 2 weeks after my wedding, I haven't recieved any calls, text, emails, or even an invoice. I text Mrs. Kroeplin politely asking how she would be refunding my damage deposit I left. To which she replies, "things were missing" I proceed to leave several emails, over the coarse of a few days, politely asking for photos and basically proof that any items were removed from the property. Mrs. Kroeplin did NOT provide such proof. Matter of fact, She texted me random photos off her iphone. She then after, emails this completely arbitrary list saying; 4 cups, a pillowcase, a white container set, and 4 stick ponies were the missing items.
None of the above items, even if they were stolen, total an amount close to $400. And trust me when I say we didn't steal anything because to steal those items, I would have to look at them nearly everyday and be reminded of this horrible experience
Mrs. Kroeplin flat out had the gall to say my flower centerpiece belonged to her. No, I paid for them. $264 actually. It shows that on my invoice where it says, "keepsake centerpieces."
Which brings me to the insult to injury. After being accused of these items, I received another email flat out insinuating my bridesmaid stole her "$300 and up" sunglasses. My bridesmaid is a well known respected doctor who flew in from Dallas. Who also can easily afford Michael Kors glasses. Why on earth would she want yours?? After I asked for a receipt and you "had to go to sunglass hut to get one" I asked around and was told you should have a warranty for such expensive glasses. So I'm happy to hear that if you lost your glasses you can replace them under your warranty!
I might also add that You, Gary and your staff was on hand and posted up at the exit so if anyone tried to take anything, it would have been noticed. Mr. Kroeplin even walked us to our car when we packed up to leave the next day.
This venue has alot of promise but very obviously has alot of bugs to work out. Unfortunately I was left with having to report to the BBB all of this information. I hope future weddings will not have go through this disaster.
And to Mrs. Kroeplin, at this point I do not want my $400 back. You very obviously need it more than me or my family does. But please remember, one day you will have to stand before the Lord and give account of this...