I rarely write reviews like this, but I feel it's important to share our experience with Villa…read moreParker so others can make an informed decision. Unfortunately, from start to finish, our experience was a nightmare. It was extremely disappointing and stressful.
Communication was poor from the very beginning but Dawn was kind and professional. Over the course of planning our wedding, we were assigned five different day-of coordinators due to constant staff changes. Then, just three weeks before our wedding, we received an email stating that the venue had changed ownership yet again. We were introduced to Keisha, the new manager and point of contact, who assured us that things would be handled differently and that we'd be well taken care of. Sadly, that couldn't have been further from the truth.
Only two weeks before our wedding, we were told that they couldn't locate our signed contract. When we checked the digital link where our contract had been stored, it showed that it had been deleted. We were then asked to sign a new contract -- but this new version included multiple price increases, including higher rental fees. Despite having several emails proving we had in fact signed an agreement, the venue insisted we sign a new contract.
Even during that renegotiation process, Keisha repeatedly forgot to include key details we had already agreed upon. If it hadn't been for our day-of coordinator carefully reviewing the revised contract, several important elements would have been missed entirely. That kind of carelessness just added to the stress and uncertainty we were already facing.
When my husband (then fiancé) spoke with Keisha by phone to calmly address these issues, she raised her voice and continuously spoke over him like a child-- behavior that was unprofessional and completely unacceptable, especially just two weeks before our wedding. She was so rude and disorganized. I truly have never seen such a lack of professionalism from a venue. The entire ordeal caused tremendous stress in what should have been one of the happiest times of our lives.
To make matters worse, they wanted to charge us an additional $800 -- $400 per hour -- simply to arrive early enough to get ready at the venue, when we had origionally been told by Dawn that we had the day. We certaining didn't anticipate having to pay $400 an hour just to get ready. As a result, we were rushed on the day of the wedding. My hair and makeup team struggled to finish in time, and my husband ended up helping set up just hours before guests arrived -- something no couple should have to experience on their wedding day.
To be fair, our day-of coordinator, Brooke from Grace & Co., was absolutely wonderful. She went above and beyond to make the day run smoothly and was the only reason things came together at all. However, she does not work for Villa Parker -- she was contracted separately, and her professionalism stood in stark contrast to the venue's management.
As a Colorado native, I had always dreamed of having my wedding at Villa Parker. It was once owned by a couple who truly cared about making each event magical, but sadly, under the new ownership, that warmth, integrity, and attention to detail are completely gone. Even after our wedding, when we returned to pick up our items, the project manager Anne saw us and didn't even acknowledge us -- not a word, not a smile, nothing.
It breaks my heart to say this, but I would strongly discourage anyone from booking Villa Parker under its current ownership. The venue itself may be beautiful, but the management and treatment of clients are deeply disappointing. I hope in time they rediscover the excellence and care that once made this venue so special.