My now husband and I got married on June 20, 2026. If I had to choose one word to describe the day,…read moreit would be "fairytale." The empress staff was nothing but caring, professional, and supportive throughout our entire booking. We booked during our tour with Zoe back in February 2025, and he was very detailed in his explanation of the venue to us. Zoe also worked with us during our first planning session, and he explained everything thoroughly, gave us advice on what would be best for our budget, and helped us make the best choices for our day. Kim has a heart of gold and is the kind of person who makes you feel like family the second you meet her. We would talk with her at some of our tastings and communicate with her via phone and email. We had our final in-person planning session with her, and she listened to every fine detail we wanted added and made sure they were in our banquet order. We also added on a day-of coordinator, and thank god we did. Alexandria is a gem; it felt like she was in five places at once, always with an amazing attitude. She decorated our arbor and made it perfect, she coordinated our other decor items and made it look phenomenal, she was quick to adjust to last-second changes, she worked seamlessly with our other vendors to help the day run smoothly, and she helped perfectly execute our vision and made it a day we will never forget! The culinary team did an amazing job; the food was delicious. The head chef came out to check with us personally during the wedding to make sure we enjoyed the food, and we also saw him at a couple of tasting events, checking with guests, which shows how much care he puts into making sure the food is up to standard. The bartenders were very friendly and personable, the wait staff was quick and efficient, and a few times we have come to the venue to see the landscaping team working tirelessly to keep it looking beautiful! Many of our guests raved to us about how much they loved the location, the venue, and the food. Overall, our day was seamless, magical, and perfect in every way we could imagine, and we have everyone on the empress team to thank for that.

My husband and I chose The Empress Estate for its beautiful setting and the promise of an…read moreall-inclusive package. While the grounds are undeniably stunning, our experience was unfortunately marred by significant food service errors, frustrating logistical constraints, and a persistent feeling of being nickel-and-dimed at every turn. The Aesthetics Of The Venue: (4/5) The main reason we booked this venue was its beauty, and it did not disappoint. The grounds are gorgeous with multiple ceremony sites, providing a great backup plan in case of rain. We loved the open, airy feel of the chateau for the reception, and the dedicated parking was convenient. The all-inclusive nature for basics like linens, plates, and forks was also a helpful starting point. The Food: A Tale of Two Disappointments (Tasting: 1/5, Wedding Day: 2/5) This is where our major issues began. Food Tasting & Cake Mix: Our concerns started with the paid food tasting sessions ($20/person). The food was underwhelming, with dry chicken and overly sweet chewy beef. We later discovered why the cakes were so disappointing: my in-laws found a large box of empty, store-bought cake mixes (including Betty Crocker and Great Value brands) on the premises (photo proof available). For a venue claiming to have a professional chef, this was shocking and a huge letdown. Other couples we spoke to also mentioned inconsistent food quality across different tastings. Wedding Day Meal & BEO Errors: Hoping to salvage the meal for our guests, we paid to upgrade our entire package to the Prime Rib. While it was an improvement, the meal was still mediocre. More importantly, our confirmed Banquet Event Order (BEO) was incorrect: Wrong Entrée: We ordered the Tuscan Chicken specifically because my mother-in-law dislikes mushrooms. According to their own menu, the dish is described as: "Baked tender breasts of chicken marinated in basil, olive oil, and garlic, topped with Tuscan sauce with bell pepper, onion, and basil." No where does it mention mushrooms. We were served Chicken Marsala instead, which contained mushrooms and was not what we ordered. Wrong Cake: We had multiple conversations about our desire for the Earl Grey cake, which was confirmed on our BEO. We were served Champagne cake and only told after the wedding that Earl Grey was "out of season"--a critical detail that was never communicated to us beforehand. To make matters worse, when we contacted the venue after the wedding about these errors, they refused to take accountability. They were adamant that the chef had followed the menu, despite the clear contradictions from our previous emails. They even recalled (deleted) a previous email which states that Earl Grey cake was out of season and that we were served the Chicken Marsala. We had already seen the email and have a picture of it. This disappointing response and refusal to acknowledge their mistakes only compounded our frustration. Staff and Communication On a positive note, the venue manager, Kim, was extremely polite, responsive, and helpful throughout the planning process. The day-of staff were also very friendly and attentive, even boxing up our leftover cake for us. They also brought us drinks before the wedding started, which was a nice touch. The Cons: Frustrating Policies, Hidden Costs, and Upsells Strict Timeline: The rigid 3pm-10pm timeframe is non-negotiable without a $500 fee. This rushed our setup and forced our reception to end by 9:10 PM to meet the 10 PM cleanup deadline. Mandatory Fees: Be prepared for significant, non-negotiable fees: a 20% "Staff Charge" plus an additional 5% "Staff Gratuity" are automatically added to your bill. Alcohol Package: The drinks were weak, served in small cups, and the selection was limited to basic options. No Child Discount:We were charged the full adult price, including alcohol, for two children. Numerous Upcharges: The venue charges extra for the preferred ceremony site ($500) and for taking photos in the mansion ($300-$500), which feels like being nickel-and-dimed. Outdated Suites: The getting-ready suites are functional but dated, with poor lighting and old furniture. Coordinator Upsell: The "all-inclusive" package does not include a day-of coordinator, which costs an additional $1,480. Cleanup: We had to clean up our own ceremony flower petals, despite paying a mandatory staffing fee. Final Thoughts While the Empress Estate is a beautiful property, the operational side of our experience was deeply flawed. The failure to deliver on our confirmed food order, the use of store-bought cake mix, the venue's refusal to take accountability, and the rigid timeline with constant upcharges left a sour taste. We cannot recommend it without serious reservations. If you book here, be prepared to triple-check every detail on your BEO and factor in the extra costs for the time and features you will almost certainly need.