jcmunson's reviews

This venue was a very convenient choice for us as we also live in Cypress, but it is also very reasonably placed for anyone in the Houston area as it is located just off Highway 290 in Cypress. We actually chose a different venue than this one, but it would have been our second choice if plan A was not available. It seems that they run different specials each month because when we went to tour the facility, the salesperson worked out the pricing for our particular wedding right there. This was a very nice service because we walked away knowing exactly what we would be paying if we went with this venue, including taxes and service fees. I was a little put off by the reception hall as it appeared that an addition was added at some point, and there was a separation between the two rooms so that half of your guests would have been in a different room than the rest. Another turn-off was that the ceremony building (the 'Tuscan Room') was separated from the reception building 'The Lodge') by a huge parking lot. This is great when the weather is nice but what if it is pouring down rain? There was a very nice outdoor area by the pond to hold an outside ceremony but again it would be a terrible option in the rain. Other than that, they did include a lot of extras that other venues did not even offer, and they were very reasonably priced compared to other venues that we toured that day.

This venue is very reasonable in price compared to other all-inclusive venues in Houston. I would say they are about middle of the road in price. They give you the option of two different packages that have buffets, and the big differences are colored linens versus ivory linens and premium versus house liquors. They do not include a wedding coordinator but if you were to want one, their sales person Janet has her own business as a coordinator. If we had gone with this venue, I would have gladly paid her fee of $50 per hour to help me with the wedding. She is very nice and seems to be on top of her game. My biggest turn-off was that the venue is located at the end of strip-center on Westheimer at Dairy Ashford and the outside is just not very appealing. Three different events can be going on at the same time, which means that three different limos will be waiting out front and three times the amount of people will be parking in the parking lot. I was looking for a venue with a little more ambience that this, but that is just me. Many people will find that this venue suits them just perfectly as people will be spending most of their time inside anyways. This venue should definitely be included in brides' options when they are visiting venues.

For brides on a budget, this is a great place to have your reception. You can have your ceremony here too, but the only pretty place to have it is in the courtyard area in the back and that may not be an option if it is raining. They can set up the ceremony inside the rception hall but they just move the tables and chairs out of the way and then move them back when its over. A buffet is included in the package, but you bring in your own alcohol and they do not allow hard liqour, only beer, wine, and a margarita machine. The place is very simple and has the potential to be very nice, but you would need to bring in outside decorations to dress it up.

Chris was the very first vendor that I booked because I knew even before I had the date picked out that he would be my photographer. He was the photographer for my friend's wedding where I was a bridesmaid and he was a blast. He took amazing before shots of both the bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as the bridal shots and they looked great. During the reception, he was dancing with us out on the dance floor, all the while snapping the camera and they ended up making some amazing action shots. He is shooting my engagement and bridal sessions as well as the ceremony and reception and I can't wait. He is pricey but I am willing to pay in order to get great shots that will last a lifetime. He also included (for me at least) a flat screen TV for the reception that he will project a slideshow of the engagement and bridal photos. Well worth it if you are looking for an amazing photographer in the greater Houston area.

As stated by previous reviewers, this place is gorgeous and perfect for hosting both the ceremony and reception at the same site. My fiance and I toured this place as one of our options and felt that we could find another suitable place at a less expensive cost and still get more than what they offer for a cheaper price. One of my favorite aspects of the building is that if you choose to have your ceremony indoors, your guests relocate uptairs but can still view the after-ceremony photo shoot as they have cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres in the upstairs area while they are transitioning the dining area into the reception. A big negative for me, personally, was that a wedding coordinator is not included in what you pay for. If I am going to pay upwards of $20,000 to one venue who boasts to be all inclusive, I expect to get someone who can corral guests and other vendors without having to pay extra. If you have an unlimited budget, then this is the place for you, but if you are informative and clear on your expectations, you can surely find better options for the same price if not less.