I recently had the experience of planning my daughter's wedding at Tate House March 16, 2025, and unfortunately, it was not the pleasant experience we had hoped for. While the venue itself is lovely, with beautiful architecture but management left much to be desired.
First and foremost, I had several concerns regarding the food during the Bridal Tasting/ Open House which I brought directly to Kelly, our wedding planner. Both my daughter and her fiancé found the food lacking, and the cake was disappointingly dry. During one of our meetings, the chef had promised us two new dishes would be featured during the tasting, but they were absent. When I expressed my concerns to Kelly, she informed me that the owner had advised against personal tastings and shockingly stated that she would refund all my money. This was particularly disheartening, especially with only three weeks left until the wedding. It felt as if my concerns were met with complete disregard. I kept asking Kelly, how did we get here. I never asked for my money back. So my advice is to not express your concerns because Kelly and owner was quick to cancel our daughter's wedding.
On the day of the wedding, we encountered significant staffing issues. Kelly had assured us that there would be plenty of staff available to assist, but that was not the case. The lack of support was evident and added unnecessary stress during what should have been a joyful occasion. Kelly herself appeared agitated and flustered, which only compounded the situation.
Moreover, her behavior towards our guests was unacceptable. She was rude and dismissive, and I witnessed her being particularly harsh with my new son in law, insisting they leave the premises in an aggressive manner. This type of treatment is not what you would expect from a wedding venue of this caliber. To make matters worse, the owner was rude to my sister further highlighting a lack of professionalism.
The owner never introduced herself to us. She walked past us several times without even noticing our presence. We discovered that she was the owner because we saw her picture on the website.
My sister (bride's aunt) said before the wedding she had to go to the restroom. The owner said "where are you going go sit down." Very rude!!
In the wedding industry, hospitality and personal connection are crucial, and we left feeling disappointed by the lack of engagement from the owner.
Despite Kelly's promise to check on us throughout the day, I only saw her once in the bridal cottage. This lack of oversight contributed to delays that made our bridal party late for key moments during the wedding.
On a positive note, Cindy, Kelly's assistant, was a bright spot in our experience. She was friendly, approachable, and genuinely helpful, providing a much-needed contrast to Kelly's demeanor.
Additionally, I had to ask multiple times for the card box to be placed out during the reception--a request that Kelly brushed off, claiming she was too busy. To my disbelief, she had locked it away in a closet during the event.
In conclusion, while Tate House has the potential to be a beautiful venue, the overall management and service fell far short of expectations. The lack of professionalism, poor communication, and disregard for our concerns overshadowed what should have been a joyous occasion. I would advise other couples to carefully consider their options before choosing Tate House for their wedding. A wedding should be a celebration, and I regret that ours was marred by these challenges.
I hope the management takes this feedback to heart, as enhancing the personal touch could significantly improve the overall experience for future couples. read more