I am sharing this experience to help future brides make an informed decision before committing to…read morethis venue.
If you are a future bride considering Deer Creek Country Club for your wedding, please do thorough research and complete your food tasting as early as possible.
I booked Deer Creek Country Club nearly two years in advance for a wedding of approximately 100 guests. The venue is visually appealing, and the lower cost for the ceremony and reception initially made it seem like a great option. However, I ultimately had to cancel my event due to serious concerns regarding catering/food quality, customer service, and the refund process.
Because I was planning my wedding from North Carolina, I was unable to complete my food tasting until much later in the process. The appetizers at the tasting were enjoyable; however, the entrées were extremely disappointing to say the least . I selected the chicken and flank steak with potatoes. The chicken was very dry and bland, and the steak was so overcooked it was difficult to chew. Knowing that this was a country club, My expectations were not high ...I simply wanted food that was reasonably enjoyable and edible for my guests but the quality fell far below that standard.
After the tasting, I reached out to the Events Director, Kathy, to express my concerns and asked whether I could change the entrée selections. She agreed to have me come in and try a different entree but At that point, her tone noticeably shifted and I began having second thoughts about keeping the venue. I also inquired about bringing in outside catering, despite knowing the contract restricts this option. I was informed that I would be charged close to $5,000 just to allow outside catering in addition to the cost of the new caterer. Charging thousands of dollars because a bride is dissatisfied with the venue's food felt excessive and exploitative, especially given the emotional and financial stress involved in wedding planning.
Due to these majorconcerns, I decided to cancel my event. While I understood that the security deposit was non-refundable, I was told the remaining balance would be refunded within 14 days.
Unfortunately, the refund process was handled very poorly. Fourteen days passed with no refund and no communication from Deer Creek. I had to reach out myself to request an update. I was told there was an issue with my bank (which was confusing, as my bank had no problem processing the original payments). No one from Deer Creek proactively contacted me to explain the delay or resolve the issue.
Over the next several days, I had to follow up multiple times for updates. One message went unanswered, and another resulted in being told that there was still no update from accounting. Ultimately, 21 days after cancellation, I was informed that a paper check had been delivered to the clubhouse instead of being mailed to my address as I had requested. I then had to take time out of my day to drive across town to retrieve it.
When I arrived to pick up the check, I was told it would be provided by two associates. Neither of those individuals (Or Kathy) came downstairs to greet me, acknowledge the situation, or offer an apology. Instead, a server was sent downstairs to hand me the check. The server was kind, the most positive interaction I had since cancelling my event.
Having funds held beyond the promised refund timeline while trying to manage other wedding-related expenses was extremely frustrating and easily preventable on Deercreeks end.
While Deer Creek Country Club may appear attractive and affordable on the surface, my experience shed light on significant issues with food quality, flexibility, communication, and professionalism. If the quality of the food you are serving your guests matters to you or if you value transparency and accountability, I strongly recommend doing extensive research before committing to this venue.
