Beautiful location. Disappointing experience…read more
The grounds are gorgeous--10/10. Unfortunately, a beautiful location does not make up for a lack of thoughtfulness, cultural awareness, or respect for the ceremony itself.
Our ceremony was spiritual and deeply meaningful to us. Every element was chosen for a sacred reason connected to our culture and ancestors, and we followed the venue's instructions by submitting our music selections in advance.
During our ceremony, they were rushing so much to keep everything moving that they played my groom's entrance song while the minister was walking out. This was not the correct moment for that song and should have began once the minister was in place so that the moment wasn't shared. But they were RUSHING. Later, during our sand ceremony, our Officiant was performing a traditional ancestral reading. This was a sacred moment that did not require background music. Then, completely out of nowhere, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" started playing. We had never selected this song, and it was not part of our ceremony or a song we would ever even choose for our wedding. It completely disrupted the ancestral reading, forcing our Officiant to speak over the music to finish. When I asked why it happened afterward (via text), I was texted and told, "I noticed nothing was planned for that moment," and that "I liked to have something playing softly in the background." Her personal preference is not a reason to insert a song into someone else's wedding ceremony, especially when we had already submitted our selections. I do not believe there was malicious intent, and she did apologize. However, the decision was incredibly presumptuous and showed a lack of awareness about the significance of what was happening. This was our wedding. Our ceremony. I still cannot understand how someone could look at a deeply meaningful ancestral ritual and think, "You know what would make this better? A random Hawaiian ukulele-style song that I think is great." Apology or not, that was an epic display of ignorance. She heard silence and thought, "I know what this needs. A song I like!" Unbelievable. Unfortunately, this felt like part of a larger issue, an assembly-line approach to weddings. We were the fifth and final wedding of the day, and there was a noticeable urgency to keep everything moving. The rush energy made everyone so uncomfortable. Before our allotted ceremony time had even ended (it wasn't even close), the owner began collecting our things. This lady is literally in our wedding pictures grabbing our things up. Our ancestral broom was picked up to "help" us, and I had to take it back because again that action was out of step with our cultural practices. I wanted her to Relax so bad. The Rushing was insane.Communication was another frustration. We were initially told we would have a rehearsal, then told something different after signing the contract. I happened to have recorded the original conversation because we were taking so many notes while choosing a venue, so there was no ambiguity about what had been said. It was just a sales tactic. Every conversation seemed to start over with each new person.My advice: do not confuse the tour with the actual client experience. The tour is phenomenal, and they know how to sell the package. You step into the garden, the music starts, the scenery is beautiful, and suddenly you are imagining your wedding. It worked on me--I signed up on the spot. But remember, it is a sales pitch. Once you sign, you are one of the couples moving through the system. Read everything and ask questions.Going over your allotted time costs $400 per 15 minutes. They are upfront about that ridiculous fee, so I knew about it beforehand. Still, $400 for 15 minutes should literally be criminal. We dod nit go over, but it is worth mentioning.I also strongly recommend skipping the optional sand ceremony supplies. I assumed the design would be etched or professionally printed onto the glass. Instead, it is a piece of paper scotch taped inside the vase, with the sand ending up behind the paper. For an additional $45, the quality cheap. Bring your own.Unfortunately, good intentions do not automatically equal the ideal experience. At some point, the business model seems to take over, and weddings become schedules, packages, upsells, time slots, policies, and couples moving through a system. Did I say Rushing enough. If you want a beautiful backdrop, this place is worth considering. If you want a personalized experience where your cultural traditions, sacred rituals, and individual ceremony choices are treated with attentiveness and reverence, I would think very carefully before booking here. I walked away with a beautiful venue, some good memories, and a brand-new understanding of audacity. I still enjoyed my wedding and the breathtaking location. Just don't assume the beauty comes with the same level of care for the meaning behind your wedding. It's business.
