I'm not typically one to write a review, but this place was so terrible from start to finish, I had to let others know.
I'm actually not a guest of this wedding, but another vendor, specifically a photographer. I've seen so many venue's in the greater Sacramento area, Napa, and Tahoe. And while I've been surprised before by the lack of quality a venue offers, this place topped it all.
We were scheduled to arrive to the reception by 6:15, we arrived at 6:00. I let the owner know, who also acts as an officiant, a coordinator, and an "MC". Ever heard the term jack of all trades, master of none? This couldn't ring truer. So we arrive ahead of schedule, which is usually ideal to a "coordinator". He scrambles around saying he's not ready to introduce them (remember he's also the "MC/DJ") because they don't have the music ready? Why are they only now trying to get this figured out?? He takes about 20 minutes to handle this. After he squares the music issue away, he tells me he can't read his hand writing clearly and it's too jumbled, so he needs to re-write the names before he can introduce the wedding party. Now it is 6:45, the guests have been waiting, the wedding party is anxious to get inside and finally he introduces them. When he does, he says, "I know you've all been waiting for this moment, and now that the PHOTOGRAPHER is done taking pictures, we can finally welcome the Bride and Groom" I about lost it there. He scrambled around for 45 minutes because he was unprepared and disorganized, and then blamed me for their tardy entrance!!!
So, after things calm down a bit, I go to him to discuss the timeline, because he introduced them so late, we were about 45 minutes behind. The Bride and Groom's package included 8 hours with me, and I knew that their events would not get covered in the remaining time. So I asked the Bride if she'd mind doing the "money dance" after I left so I could get the main events and some open dancing before hand. She said, sure, no problem, but then he interjected that that would "ruin everything"! I was baffled. What exactly would it ruin, I thought to myself?? She shrugged her shoulders and said, okay, nevermind, it is what it is.
I shoot weddings every weekend and so often a PROFESSIONAL dj and I work together to do what's in the best interest of the Bride and Groom. Of course, I would stay over-time, but that would incur fee's for the couple. To avoid that, sometimes we change things around and the DJ, coordinator, myself and all other vendors WORK TOGETHER to make the day perfect for the couple!
Dinner starts 15 minutes late and is by far the worst wedding food I've ever seen. You could just tell it was cheap. And one of the worst aspects of this place is that he is completely under-staffed and over-works his employees. And when I say employee's, I mean all 2 of them (for a 150 person wedding). He had one guy, about 20 years old, dressed inappropriately for a wedding- in jeans, a white t-shirt, an apron, and a nike baseball cap. He was serving appetizers people!!! The second employee, a girl, who was about 17 or 18, was in charge of everything else, the food preparation, washing dishes, clearing tables which she did ENTIRELY by herself. I watched the owner/coordinator/officiant/MC yell at his employee's in a degrading manner to work faster and harder. The girl especially seemed so frazzled. She had sweat just dripping down her face trying to catch up. When she finally cleared all the tables, she was then yelled at to cut the cake and serve it to guests (sweaty and all)
It's obvious he is a selfish business owner who over-works and underpays his employee's to maximize his profits. The end result is a team that does not function well.
Over-all, I've never worked with a place so unwilling to work as a team. I would strongly suggest couples look elsewhere for a venue. Some great alternatives would be chucky cheese. No, in all seriousness, check out Forest House Lodge, Empire Mine, The Ridge, The Monte Verde Inn..ANYTHING BUT THIS PLACE!!! read more