Lovely venue, but disappointing professionalism from the owner"
I typically do not leave reviews; however, in this case, I found it important to share my experience. Initially, communication with the owner was helpful and professional, and the venue itself is clean and well-maintained. I want to acknowledge that in the beginning, the owner was accommodating and even offered to fully stage the space at no additional cost. I was very appreciative of that gesture and expressed my gratitude to her multiple times. Additionally, any items brought into the venue early were done so at the owner's suggestion--not because I requested it--something I also appreciated.
I paid all monies owed in full and on time and fully understood that venue fees were non-refundable. I accepted that and did not ask for those fees to be returned. My only request upon cancellation was the return of my security deposit, which was specifically meant to cover damages--none of which occurred.
Upon cancellation, the owner boxed up my personal items and left them outside. When I expressed my concern, she justified it by saying there were cameras and that no one would have touched the items. I found this response unprofessional and dismissive. She also stated that my cancellation caused her to lose money because it occurred a week and a half before the event, leaving her no time to rebook the date. I found this confusing since she had already been paid in full, and my cancellation did not create any actual loss of income. As a customer, I followed the cancellation policy and accepted my financial loss--so I expected the same level of professionalism in return.
The venue's cancellation policy also states that if an event is canceled, it may be rebooked within the same calendar year, subject to availability. I expressed my disappointment that this option was never mentioned by the owner, even though I knew it existed in the contract. Based on her lack of professionalism, I had no intentions of rebooking with her, but I referenced this clause to make the point that it was an option. As expected, the owner conveniently replied that there were no available dates.
Instead of immediately posting a review, I first reached out privately to share my feedback. Unfortunately, the owner's response was filled with personal attacks rather than professionalism or accountability. While the venue itself is nice, my overall experience with the owner's conduct after cancellation was extremely disappointing.
Professionalism and respect should extend beyond the initial booking--and for that reason, I cannot recommend this business. read more
