The Grand Marquise Ballroom Reviews

I’ve worked with this venue for numerous events. From weddings, birthday celebrations and Quinceaneras.
They are always a breeze to team with and the team is always willing to go above any beyond to help you create the experience for your guests.
There isn’t another venue near that offers a ballroom luxe vibe!

The Grand Marquise is one of the most beautiful venues both physical and emotionally. The building itself is just immaculate. All of the details from the architecture of the building to the big chandeliers and mirrors that make their room look 10 times bigger. And the beautiful paintings on the ceiling just adds such a beautiful touch. Down to the smallest details in both the groom suite and the bridal suite that just make it feel so homey. The staff was absolutely incredible and treated us with such grace. With this thing you you get so many more perks than you wouldn’t and the other venue. They have both up lighting and down lighting. They have surround systems and one of the best perks is they have a jewelry store connected to their venue that we were able to find the most beautiful setting for my ring and the most awesome ring for my husband. I would absolutely recommend this thing to anybody.

The Grand Marquise Ballroom was the perfect venue for my 50th birthday party. It is elegant and breathtaking. Its grandeur was mesmerizing and left many of my guests and me speechless. The staff was professional, personable and helpful. I am looking forward to returning for my next event.

Alyssa assisted us with our 35th wedding vow renewal ceremony in April 2024 and I cannot say enough about her support, guidance, follow through and attention to detail. She listened and heard what we were requesting and made the process smooth. Alyssa always responded promptly and she was transparent about what could and could not be offered which is important. This ensures that you do not have not last minute surprises. I would recommend The Grand Marquise Ballroom in Garner, NC. The pictures do not do the venue justice so contact the venue and schedule an appointment so you can see it for yourself. The ballroom is beautiful and doesn't require a lot to enhance the beautify it already has. Also, they have a list of top tier preferred vendors which I highly recommend. The preferred vendors already know the venue, what is expected/required and most if not all have a great working relationship which is always a plus. If you want a fairytale wedding and the experience of a lifetime book The Grand Marquise Ballroom. You won't be disappointed!

It was a such a pleasure working with Cathy and Meredith. Our guest cannot stop talking about how beautiful the ballroom was. The staff that worked our wedding that evening were also fantastic. We couldn’t have asked for a better venue. Thank you again!

We selected this Venue for our wedding on February 22, 2022. They have been so polite with people wanting to visit venue and allowing us to come see the venue. It has been a pleasure working with The Grand Marquise Ballroom.

Anfesa’s Grand Marquise Ballroom, thank you from the bottom of my heart for such a beautiful reception this past weekend. It was outstanding.

Anfesa and Meredith you are so very talented at what you do.

The room was gorgeous, great detail, went into it. Wonderful vendors you had chosen, as well as your kind, friendly, and professional staff.

It truly was breathtaking.

AMAZING Customer Service to say the least! Meredith was VERY Flexible with me & ensured that I had EVERYTHING I needed for my Special Day! I’ll be the first to say that I’m a VERY picky Bride but I wouldn’t recommend anywhere else honestly! If you’re looking for that WOW factor this is the place! My guest are STILL talking about my Wedding! My Husband & I even purchased our rings from the jewelry store there named Anfisa Jewerly! I live in a different state & Meredith made the transaction smooth as possible!!! Do yourself a favor and BOOK THIS VENUE so you’ll have memories to last!

Beautiful venue. Staff is professional and attentive in making sure their clients are happy.

Meredith was amazing and so helpful in rescheduling our wedding due to the pandemic and made some amazing accommodations for us to still get married.

We really loved working with Meredith & Kenny for our impromptu elopement due to the COVI-19 so our couple could still use their marriage license. We can't wait to celebrate their 1 year anniversary next year with you guys! It's going to be AMAZING!!!

EVERYTHING was amazing from start to finish!! I absolutely loved working with the GMB team! Meredith is amazing!! My entire team of vendors really made my wedding a dream come true! Very professional, polite, and easy to work with. Absolutely recommend!! If I were to have my wedding all over again, I would not change a thing! You guys are the BEST! Thank you so much Grand Marquise Ballroom staff! Thank you for helping to create truly the best day of our lives!!

It has been a year 6/16/18 but I tell you what, I still don't have best words to describe my experience with Meredith and GM. Meredith, my sister from the other mother... you were amazing. I couldn't have my day other way. I love you and will always do.

GM,
GM is the most amazing venue that my hubby and myseld fell in love with. We have looked most venues but with GM it was love 1st sight. GM & MM are the best combination for a memorable day like a wedding.
I love you MM.

The beauty of The Grand Marquise Ballroom and the expertise of the staff (Meredith, Anfesa, and Gloria) made it possible for my daughter to have the wedding and reception of her dreams! I would not have changed anything!!

Just booked my wedding her and I’m so excited! The staff is very professional and will help you through everything! This place is magical!

The best venue in NC hands down! My wedding was magical.

Absolutely the best and most beautiful place to have your wedding. Excellent in all categories
Staff is the best!

Everything was perfect. Staff was very attentive, professional, and relieved our stress. The venue itself is beautiful to say the least.

Grand Marquise Ballroom made our wedding so beautiful! From the moment we first met Meredith and staff to discuss prices and options for our wedding day, we were always confident that we picked the best place to hold our wedding ceremony and reception. We were thoroughly impressed with the personalized and courteous attention given to us.
From the start, our questions were answered promptly and courteously and we were always treated like a top customer. Because of this treatment we never once worried about how our ceremony and reception would turn out with regards to the staff and coordination. Thanks for making our wedding day look so magical! I would definitely recommend this venue.

The Grand Marquise Ballroom is absolutely beautiful!!! Meredith and staff was amazing and help made our wedding day perfect!! If I had to do it all over again I would still choose them as a venue!!! Thanks for making our day special!!! Highly Recommended.

We got married on 10/7/17 and it was absolutely everything we could’ve wanted and more! The ballroom was immaculate every time we were there announced or not. The staff was incredible especially Meredith. She helped us with whatever we needed to create our perfect day. People could not stop commenting on how beautiful it was. Highly recommend!

From the moment we got engaged, we knew we wanted to have our wedding reception at the Grand Marquise Ballroom! Meredith and Anfesa were amazing to work with - we will forever be thankful for how attentive, kind, professional, and accommodating they were, along with the rest of the staff! Anytime we had questions or concerns, Meredith was very quick to respond to our needs. She helped communicate with our vendors, stayed on top of every little detail to ensure everything went smoothly, and made sure the bridal party was well taken care of, which allowed us to remain stress free on our wedding day! The Ballroom was absolutely beautiful (we are still receiving compliments with how beautiful it is), and our wedding day was a real life fairytale. My husband and I HIGHLY recommend the Grand Marquise Ballroom - it exceeded all our expectations and hopes!

You can't find a more beautiful venue for a wedding! It is perfect, and so is the staff! Everyone at The Grand Marquise Ballroom was very accommodating and wonderful to work with! Highly recommend them! Our daughters wedding was beautiful!

The staff at the Grand Marquise goes above and beyond to take care of every single detail. I felt like we didn't have to do anything. And if I had forgotten about something, they went over final details and were very responsive to questions so it really helped us make sure we had everything covered. They work closely with the catering companies so that you don't have to worry about all the tiny details, and instead just get to enjoy your wedding. We are so happy we chose the Grand Marquise and can't imagine more helpful or kind people than Meredith and Deborah. Truly a wonderful experience!

We would like to thank Anfesa and Meredith for a beautiful venue on our wedding day. We could not have imagined a better location for us to celebrate. You two ladies define southern hospitality. From the time Stephen walked in to buy the perfect ring until we said "I Do", both of you were absolutely amazing to work with. I feel honored and privileged to have shared our special day with you. Every time we had questions or needed advice from either of you, you were quick to respond to our needs. You both made it so easy for us planning a wedding eight hours away. Thank you for making our fairytale become reality, our wedding day was absolutely perfect. We love you both and would HIGHLY recommend The Grand Marquise Ballroom to any newly engaged couples or anybody looking for a venue for an event!!!

Our overall experience at the Grand Marquise was amazing. Meredith and her staff were wonderful on our wedding day. I appreciate all that they did to make our dreams come true.

GMB is absolutely stunning. Meredith helped my fiancé and I have the perfect wedding. Meredith allowed the bridal party to come in long before the wedding started and we had a great time. She made sure we were well taken care of and the staff at GMB did everything to make sure the day was perfect. I would recommend this venue to EVERYONE! This venue is so breath taking. I was in awe the day of the wedding. The flip between the wedding and reception happened much faster than expected! My guest are still talking about the chandeliers and the staircase! Best venue Raleigh has to offer.

Meredith at the GMB was very helpful and the staff performed with amazing on the day of our wedding/reception, we opted for the flip and they did an outstanding job. We highly recommend this venue and also working with Meredith!

Absolutely AMAZING experience!!!!!!!!!! Meredith and her staff especially Ms. Deborah and Gary were exceptional and so sweet!!! I consider them friends of mine now!!!! They allowed me to do some things I never imagined!!! They worked so well with me and my wedding team!!! They even let me take a picture on the roof!!!! I'm so grateful to them!! This venue is spectacular!!! Definitely had my dream wedding there!! I couldn't imagine a better place!!!!

The Grand Marquise Ballroom is the most beautiful venue in the Triangle hands down and Meredith is amazing to work with so professional and helpful every step of the way. I love the staff so much at The Grand Marquise Ballroom that some of them have become friends they were amazing in flipping the room and timely, attentive, professional and outstanding and helped create a gorgeous event. I cannot say thank you enough to the venue for making our wedding day simply perfection in every way. Thank you for being a part of our wedding.

My time at the Grand Marquise was speechless, My guest can't stop talking about the event, The staff was very loving, friendly and kind, I will refer there service to my church friends and business friends, I have a new family at the Grand Marquise. I love them and their service.

The Grand Marquise Ballroom is beautiful on its own, but the staff make it PERFECT!!! Meredith was excellent and on point from beginning to end. If I had a question she had an answer. And it never mattered what time I emailed or called, I would always get a response back by the end of that day...even when I emailed her late at night. The day of my wedding ran so smooth and I literally didn't have to do anything!! They work very well with the caterer and any other vendors and everything is done with a smile. I am convinced that our wedding would not have been perfect at any other location and because of them we earned the hash tag #EpicWedding! HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Worth every penny

We had an amazing wedding at the Grand Marquise Ballroom in February of 2014! Meredith was fantastic at getting everything coordinated and it was an absolutley beautiful experience. I would absolutley recommend this venue for anyone looking for a full service spot that is gorgeous!

One word....BEAUTIFUL! The Grand Marquise Ballroom absolutely was amazing. The venue was breathtaking. Meredith was such a pleasure throughout the entire process. I was handled with extremely great service and I am forever grateful I was able to have my wedding at such a beautiful place.

My husband and I celebrated our 50th Birthday Party at TGM. It was Amazing!!! The Ballroom is so Beautiful! We Love it!! Meredith and Anfesa are the Best!! They both worked so hard to make sure our event was perfect and it was. They gave us recommendations for all of the vendors that we used and we were very happy with them all. We would highly recommend TGM and we look forward to having another event there in the future. Thanks again Meredith and Anfesa!!

Very beautiful vendor! Although the lighting could be difficult for photographers and videographers, it is absolutely amazing!

Meredith and the staff of Grand Marquise were amazing! The space is absolutely beautiful. Above all else, Meredith ensured that everything went just as planned. In spite of her own personal circumstances, she made sure that she was there and helped every step of the day. If we had to do it all over again, we would only do so at Grand Marquise Ballroom.

Meredith and The Grand Marquise made my wedding dream come true. At a young age most girls dream about their wedding, mine was even better then what I could have imagined. The wedding and reception was absolutely perfect. Meredith was so friendly and polite and helped my family and I with the whole process. She brought up things that I did not even think of. Even though I forgot a few things on the actual wedding day, Meredith had what I needed. Seeing her smiling face put an ease to the crazy day/evening. People are still talking about how beautiful the venue was and how wonderful everything went. It was a pleasure to work with Meredith and The Grand Marquise to make the process of planning a wedding a little less stressful.

I loved this ballroom!!!! Meredith was sooooo helpful and flexible! I love her southern accent! She was very professional and assured me that things would be perfect! At the time I was living in Indiana, and my planner had to pretty much be my voice. Meredith did a wonderful job of communicating with and keeping me on one accord as well!

The compliments that we received about our Venue are still coming in. After a long search of wedding venues in our home town Greensboro, we decided to venture out, I looked at about every venue within 2 hours from Greensboro and the very last one before I was about to give up was the Grand Marquise Ballroom. I saw two pictures and knew that my search was over. We couldn't wait to call the next day and get all the details and set up a meeting. We were greeted by a sweet and charming Meredith and the rest is history. As soon as I walked in the lobby I knew that I wanted to sign on the dotted lines and pay our deposit. The Grand Marquise is gorgeous, the staff was a joy to work with and my day went perfectly. We thank Meredith and her staff for all their hard work we loved every moment spent at our phenomenal wedding Venue!

With Love,
Ricky & Marquita

Meredith and her team were absolutely AMAZING! She was more than accommodating to whatever we needed My guest are still talking about the wonderful venue, Two Thumbs Up!!

The Grand Marquise and Meredith were a pleasure to work with. The venue is gorgeous and their team is so delightful. Our wedding was definitely a day to remember thanks to the Grand Marquise Ballroom and staff.

Meredith with the Grand Marquise was absolutely fantastic!! From the all of the planning stages until the reception was over, everything was organized and very professional. The facility is beautiful - so much so that it was the first and last one we looked at. We chose it the day we saw it. Meredith worked with all of our vendors to make sure setup went smoothly. I didn't have to worry about a thing as she was on top of everything along with the coordinator. She was very flexible and accommodating. I HIGHLY recommend the Grand Marquise and their staff. I don't have a single complaint and our wedding/reception was beautiful!

This was the perfect place to make my wedding fairy take come true :-) beautiful venue, awesome staff. Turn over from ceremony and reception was fast and organized. I recommend the grand marquise ballroom for every couple who is getting married :-)

There is truly no place like The Grand Marquise Ballroom in North Carolina. This ballroom exudes opulence with its Louis XIV fixtures, ornate details & crystal chandeliers. Meredith Eiseman is a sweetheart and a joy to work with. She works hard to make sure your dreams turn into a reality. I would highly recommend The Grand Marquise Ballroom for both ceremony & reception.

I really do not think I can find the words to describe the beauty of this venue. After looking at many other places to possibly have my wedding no other place measured up. Meredith was absolutely amazing to work with. She was prompt in her follow up and very knowledgeable about everything. She gave great honest advice and always remained patient and professional. For the convenience in having your ceremony and your reception in the same location, you simply can not go wrong with this venue. The Grand Marquise Ballroom made my wedding day absolutely magical!!!

Last December, they held a drawing for their Ballroom for your special day. My husband and I ended up winning. Everyone who works there were so wonderful. Everytime we walked in, they always had a smile on their face and helped us in anyway possible. Meredith did everything possible to make sure that our day was perfect. Without her and her staff, our wedding day would not have been anything close to perfect. If you want someone who is helpful and wonderful to work with, chose the Grand Marquise Ballroom and you will not regret it.

OH MY STARS! I am the mother of four daughters. Three of which are now married. I feel I am qualified to share my experience at the Grand Marquise Ballroom with perspective from all our weddings!
I would take me pages to accurately communicate the impeccable service, delivery of services, and overall experience we had. The staff was available to us. Phone calls were timely returned, we physically meet at the site too many times but were always greeted with smiles and time, which is so reassuring as your planning and going over details. Ideas and suggestions were shared as we needed. Meredith was nothing but lovely, kind, knowledgeable, and preciously encouraging. Regardless of our lack of budget, she never made us feel less than in any area and gave us confidence. She was flexible with our needs and even helped with small mother/daughter disputes! haha NOT JOKING! The facility was gorgeous. With nothing at all added, it is just beautiful and any wedding or even held there would leave a positive impression with guests. The dressing areas and perfect for bride's and groom's and their families. The staircase is beyond a backdrop. Brides have a moment of fantasy and all their dreams come true as they descend and ascend for pictures.
Beyond the beauty of the venue itself, the love, care, and service we received was more than anyone could provide. Our experience was amazing, and my daughters wedding felt magical. Last daughter......I KNOW we'll be back, if they will let us! It was simply an honor to have worked with the people at the Grand Marquise Ballroom!

This vendor far exceeded our expectations. The Grand Marquise Ballroom is the most unbelievable place. Words can never express our heartfelt gratitude to Anfesa and Meredith for all they did to make our daughter's wedding a dream come true. Their kindness and helpfulness was beyond anything we could imagine. We were overwhelmed by the beauty of the ballroom. The reception was flawless! Every inch of the ballroom is gorgeous and there are so many amazing features. The Ballroom is perfect in every way. We are so blessed to have had our daughter's wedding reception at The Grand Marquise Ballroom. It was like "a day of Heaven on Earth".

Meredith and the Grand Marquise Ballroom staff were amazing. Every time I needed something leading up to our special day they all were really helpful. I cannot express how much I appreciated Meredith and all of her help. When I needed vendors she was there and gave me great tips. I was told by multiple people that I was so stress free leading up to the wedding and that is thanks to everyone at the Grand Marquise. My husband and I had our ceremony and reception at the Grand Marquise. To see the transformation to the room from the ceremony to reception is amazing to see. All of our guest were so surprised when they walked back into the ballroom. I cannot express enough how amazing this venue is. I would tell all my friends to use them. We both wish we could do it all over again!

Meredith and the Grand Marquise Ballroom staff were wonderful to work with! My husband and I held our ceremony and reception at the beautiful ballroom in Garner, NC, and we were amazed by the detailed expertise and dedicated service of those we worked with. If you're looking for a venue in North Carolina, definately take a look here. You will be so impressed with this venue and will always remember the exceptional service you recieve.

This ballroom is the most gorgeous venue I have ever seen. It is regal and classy. It fit perfectly with my Royal Fantasy theme. Meredith is extremely helpful with anything you need from suggestions of vendors, to schedule, to general wedding protocol. She is quick to respond to emails and very willing to meet with new vendors unfamiliar with the venue, answering all of their questions so that they feel comfortable on your wedding day. It is obvious that her goal is to make your day exactly what you want it to be. Her staff is also very efficient and had the ballroom flipped in no time and lended a hand to other vendors when they needed help. The bartenders were even willing, and excited, to wear bowties I rented for them so they would match the wedding colors. I really had a wonderful experience with this venue.

My wedding was this past weekend (4/14) at the Ballroom and everything was fantastic. I have been dealing with Anfesa Matthews and Meredith Eiseman since August when my husband purchased my engagement ring from their adjoining jewelry store. They have been there with me throughout the ENTIRE process, often stopping everything they were doing to offer advice or answer questions. The entire staff was extremely professional and nice. They flipped the ballroom from the ceremony to the reception site in the absolute quickest time that I could imagine. We decided not to use a florist and do the centerpieces ourselves with a minimal amount of work due to the sheer beauty of the ballroom itself. There was no need for extensive decorations in this luxurious place. The lighting was also to die for. We had the most perfect evening and it was made largely possible due to the Ballroom, it's owners and its staff. The only thing I would change would be for it to slow down so I could take it ALL in. We would definitely have an event at this place in the future such as an anniversary party or a renewal of our vows. Thanks for the amazing experience.

I can't say enough great things about the Grand Marquise Ballroom. We first contacted them in the fall of 2010 when we started planning our wedding for the fall of 2011. We lived in Ohio at the time & were planning the entire wedding long distance. Meredith was extremely helpful and professional in helping us think of all the details. She was also planning her own wedding there and gave us plenty of suggestions. The day of our wedding was absolutely perfect & if there were any kinks I never knew of them. All of our guests loved the venue, food, & DJ (recommendations from Meredith) Our photographers were so excited to take pictures at such a beautiful location. I really can not expresss enough of how easy and enjoyable it was to work with the Grand Marquise Ballroom.
This venue is really a class act. I would absolutely recommend them to any bride looking for a beautiful venue with amazing staff. They far exceeded my expectations. My wedding day was perfect :)

I always dreamed of a fairy tale wedding and the Grand Marquise Ballroom (GMB) made it come true!

We had our wedding ceremony at the Robert B. and Anna Gardner Butler Chapel on the Campbell University campus, and had the reception at the GMB. Anfesa Matthews was lovely to work with and plan my wedding. On the days I requested to visit with my wedding planner, Anfesa opened up the ballroom for as long as we needed.

She was honest about pricing, and made excellent recommendations for caterers, invitations, party rentals, etc. Anfesa was very flexible in regards to any special set up times for the caterers, DJ, and other wedding service providers. On the wedding day, it is imperative to have a venue that graciously allows the bride to set up the day before and open early on the wedding day.

Anfesa was very supportive of any idea the wedding planner and I suggested, even those made last minute. She encouraged me to have the wedding of my dreams. She truly wanted her venue to be how I pictured my wedding reception. Meredith graciously offered her help in planning the wedding as well. These ladies worked closely with all my vendors to facilitate their work. My vendors were thankful for how pleasant it was to work with Anfesa.

The location is great! The dance floor was sparkling white. The lighting added a dynamic ambiance at night. You couldn’t ask for a “grander” ballroom.

If you have a chance, please check out the jewelry store. My husband bought my engagement ring at Anfesa’s Jewelers. When I went to pick out my wedding band, Anfesa special ordered several rings for me to view. She never hesitated when I wanted to change the size, color, etc. of the ring. Anfesa’s Jewelers has the largest selection of diamond jewelry compared to other local jewelers.

I know people have commented on the price of the GMB. All I have to say is, it doesn’t take but a few extra dollars to go first class.

We couldn't have asked for a better wedding venue than the Grand Marquise Ballroom!

Meredith and the other staff were so helpful and friendly. I felt like they were just as excited as I was on my wedding day. I planned my wedding in 4 months and with every question I had Meredith was quick to respond and always able to calm my nerves. On our wedding day the staff was always close in sight and available. They set out all 275+ place cards on the display table while we were busy getting ready. I knew I didn't have to worry about anything other than enjoying my day!

The GMB is so beautiful you can't help but to feel like a princess when you walk in. The ballroom is full of beauty. Between the warm rich colors, amazing chandeliers, elegant details, and of course breathtaking staircase there wasn't need for a lot of decorations.

My dream of always having a princess wedding came true when we used the Grand Marquise Ballroom!!

Meredith was WONDERFUL to work with!! She coordinated well with my wedding planner so that I didn't have to worry about anything. The ballroom is absolutely gorgeous and the lighting was perfect. The guests loved the beautiful chandeliers and the floor lighting. And of course my selling point was the dramatic staircase. Meredith and everyone at the Grand Marquise truly made us feel like royalty for a day. Thank you!!!

Love the venue; wedding coordinator is excellent. Communication is open and timely throughout the entire wedding planning process. No hidden fees. All information is presented upfront. Facility is absolutely gorgeous and venue does a great job working/coordinating with vendors to make sure that wedding day is smooth. Minimal decorations are required. Bridal/groom's suites are cozy and accommodating. Venue is picture perfect for ceremony, reception, bridal portraits.

Both bride and guests will be thoroughly pleased with this ballroom. Based on a recommendation, I visited The GMB first and didn't go anywhere else. Go for it :-)

The Grand Marquise Ballroom is an elegant establishment. My family had the pleasure of working with Meredith and she made sure all of our needs were met. My wedding and reception were absolutely beautiful and the guests enjoyed every moment of it.

Meredith at the Grand Marquise Ballroom was great! This is the most beautiful place in the Raleigh (Triangle) area. You really need little decorations because this place is flawless. Even the bathrooms a gorgeous. Fantastic place!

This venue is amazing!!! I definitely felt like Cinderella getting married here. It was classic and elegant in every way. I had my ceremony and reception in the ballroom and had 150 guests. The flip of the room was very smooth and the bridal party was able to take plenty of pictures while it was being done. I would highly recommend this venue as they are very professional and made my wedding as stress-free as possible.

If you're looking for a beautiful venue for and indoor wedding with an amazing staircase, wonderful dance floor with monogram, and a variety of lighting options where the owner and staff are super professional and accommodating, this is it. Might seem a little pricey but you get what you pay for!

The staff at Grand Marquise are so professional! They can flip a room from ceremony seating to reception space in minutes! While the were inconspicuous, their presence and attention to detail was obvious as the lights changed from ceremony to dinner to dancing and the newlywed's monogram appeared on dance floor. Prior to wedding we sat down with Metedith and created a day made just for the bride and groom.

The GMB was a beautiful venue for our wedding. Our guests were AMAZED by the breathtaking ambiance of the entire wedding and reception. The beauty of the GMB is that the room really does not need alot to make it beautiful...it is already very ornate and just gorgeous. Any decorations that are added would just be the frosting on the cake. Meredith and the entire GMB team are very professional and responsive. When planning a wedding you deal with alot of vendors and the last thing you want is for someone to not respond to you in a timely fashion, but I never had that issue with the GMB Staff. I would HIGHLY recommend this venue for ANY wedding. It is first class.

This venue is breath-taking, our families are still talking about the wedding and how beautiful it was.

The venue is a little pricey. That being said it was GORGEOUS! I got so many compliments. Meredith was incredible. She was so quick to email me back with any questions I had. I had my princess wedding here for sure :)

The venue was perfect for our wedding. The staff was friendly and easy to work with. Highly recommend this venue if you want and elegant fairytale wedding. Thank you Cathy for all of your help!🙂

My husband and I celebrated our wedding at The Grand Marquise Ballroom. The ambience was absolutely gorgeous and required very little decorating. Our guest were blown away and had such as great time.

The Grand Marquise is an absolutely fabulous venue for someone that is looking for glam and a statement!! My fiance and I fell in love the moment we walked in. We wanted to have a place that was guarantee regardless of rain or shine (got Married in March). Meredith and her team were readily available for all our questions and the guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful the venue was. We were so pleased with how quick the flip was completed and we couldn't imagine our wedding at any other venue!!!

The Grand Marquise was everything I could have hoped for and more on the day of my wedding. Meredith was very accommodating and even saved the day with safety pins after a fashion fiasco with bridesmaid dresses. I thought the price was a little steep since we only had the reception there however I couldn't have dreamed of anything better! I would highly recommend the ballroom to anyone looking for their fairytale wedding!

Very great, very beautiful venue. Service and staff were wonderful. Not a complaint but a comment based on our experience...it is a bit pricey but very much worth it. You will not regret the money spent.

Gorgeous location. My wedding day was beautiful.

The venue was absolutely gorgeous. I got married in May 2019 there and everyone was in awe. It is very expensive for just one day though. If you want a beautiful location without spending lots of money on unnecessary decorations this is the place but if you want flowers and all the fixings be prepared to easily spend over 10k on just the location and minimal flowers. They do provide chairs and round tables though. The staff was nice but on the day of the wedding I had minimal interactions with them as this location does require a day of coordinator

My event coordinator stopped working with the company and I was never informed until traveling to the venue for a tour. After the tour I was informed that my date was already booked after being in contact with my event coordinator on and off until she stopped responding. It would have been more helpful to be informed that she was no longer with the company before driving 6 hours to see the place.

The Grand Marquise Ballroom truly takes your breath away. We used this venue for our reception, and from the chandeliers, to the lighting and details of the room, the grand staircase, and monogrammed dance floor we created a pure dream for our guests and ourselves. Although it is pricey, it is well worth it. The room makes you feel regal, and you can design it as you want. The only drawback is the bar. To pay $500 for two bartenders and a minimum of $1,000 on the bar given the $6,000 you’re already paying for the venue was overkill in my opinion. However, I would still choose Grand Marquise all over again. When those doors open from cocktail hour and your guests see the room for the first time, they instantly step into a dream. Some of our guests said they had never seen anything like it before. Working with Meredith was stress free, pleasant and professional. So all in all prepare to put our some cash, but it is DEFINITELY worth it.

We absolutely fell in love with this venue. All the detail and thought that was put into this venue is exquisite! My only complaint was that the bar was excessively expensive and had to be closed for an hour to cut over $800 off. Other than that we loved everything about it :-)

This venue bought our wedding dream to reality. Such an amazing place to get married. There were a few things we thought should be included with the price, such as the bartender. There was a set up fee plus a minimum you had to meet for drink purchases. The hours you pay for the bar includes the set up time. So for instance a 4 hour bar is $400 just to have the bar but 1 hour is for set up and 1 hour is for break down so technically they are only serving for 2 hours. It wouldn't have been a huge deal if the venue wasn't so expensive in itself. Also, I noticed after looking at wedding pictures that my name was spelled wrong in the monogram on the floor. My name is so long and we were so busy that I didn't notice the extra letter on the night of the wedding. But even with these things I can honestly say I do not regret having my wedding there and neither does my husband. As you can see by the overall rating, it was truly amazing. Meredith stuck with us the whole time and assisted all the vendors with their needs. They flipped the ceremony for the reception in record time and it all came together so well. Thanks for making our wedding memorable!

The venue speaks for itself and Meredith is a pleasure to work with. Given the price you pay for this location and the exceptional reputation I would expect nothing but the best. I was very disappointed as the bride with a few things. I arrived on my wedding day comfy and excited. I took my shoes off in the bridal suite and walked around for a short time and my feet turned black! The carpet was very dirty. My makeup artist even said oh ya I was here last weekend and the same thing happened to me. The other disappointment was the odor of the septic system that they are aware of having an issue but haven't fixed the problem. After the flip I walked into the ballroom to the smell of the septic, I had several complaints about the bathrooms for the guests and the foul odor. You would think if they know about the issue why not keep some febreeze or air freshener handy? These two issues alone are disgusting and to pay the money you pay for this site should not have been a problem.

I actually contracted this place for my daughters wedding on October 15, 2011. The venue is absolutely breathtaking. However, the venue is way overpriced. The problem is there are not any other places in this area that are that nice and the owners are sucking it up for all its worth. It was an absolute delight to work with Meridith. She was fun and professional. However it was not until after the wedding and time to get the deposit back that her mother Anfesa showed a whole new side to working with Grand Marquise Ballroom. Fortunately, for me Meridith worked quickly to resolve the issue. This place is soooo beautiful that it stays booked. They have probably paid for this place five times over by now. Therefore, what's the reason for the astronomical prices and then the attempts to not return your deposit at the end? Also, how do you change prices once someone has signed a contract. All I can say is that if you are looking for a place to have a Cinderella wedding then this is it; but buyer beware and read and question every line of the contract. I've seen other posts up here that did not give a good review of Meridith as well. Meridith is not the problem. She is just the daughter of the owner. She really does try to do the right thing; it is the mother Anfesa that you need to be concerned with. Meridith was there the entire time for my daughters wedding and did an excellent job in making sure everything ran smoothly from their end. I will definitely recommend this vendor to others but I will give them things they should be aware of beforehand.

If you are looking for a grand ballroom in this area, this is definitely the venue for you! They are very nice and easy to work with! We did not like that the price of drinks went up before we had our event. They are not flexible with making special accommodations. We were also told by our wedding planner later that it was very difficult to find any staff during the event to get them to play our “love story” on our USB, and that was why it wasn’t played during dinner and was played during the dancing portion of the reception. It’s an absolutely beautiful venue, but they do not offer much except chairs and tables.

Updated review

2 stars for poor communication

Grand Marquis Ballroom was beautiful for my wedding, but I’m having an extremely hard time getting in touch with someone about my security deposit.

I was told that the refund would be processed
30 days after the wedding and returned via mail. I haven’t seen anything so I’ve been emailing and calling to follow up and I haven’t heard from anyone. I’m 12 days from being 60 days after my wedding.

Of course they wanted he reviews before the deposit. Highly advise NOT doing that.

Just a small concern I want to socialize for anyone considering having your event here especially if you aren’t local. Will update as needed.

We are extremely disappointed with the service we received at the Grand Marquise Ballroom. Its unfortunate because it is a gorgeous ballroom. I had my wedding there recently, and I had been happy and excited every moment until arrival.
First, we had been working with Meredith, so it was our assumption she would be there the day off. She was not. The owner however was. The owner was RUDE, DISRESPECTFUL, and UNPROFESSIONAL. On my wedding day she wanted to cause issues, call myself and my mother a liar due to prior conversations we had with Meredith. It was extremely unsettling. Oh and did I mention this was AN HOUR before the ceremony was to start. Because of her behavior, I ward anyone far away from the Grand Marquise. Its beauty is not worth price AND the owner.


As far as pricing goes. Don't be fooled by the initial "only this". There are a bunch of hidden costs, cleaning fees, deposits (that you will not likely receive) and sadly all they supply is the room, tables and chairs.

Just be cautious and avoid the owner at al costs.

Our wedding was one of the 1st weddings at this particular venue. We were so excited, but Anfesa turned out to me one of the most unprofessional business people that I have ever worked with. Her daughter, Meredith, was pleaseant, but the woman behind it all, was absolutely horrible. Please see below for examples:

Repeatedly Made Unauthorized Changes to the contract

1.Caterer's Fee: Use of "Full kitchen facility" was noted on the contract signed by both parties (the Grand Marquise and the Johnsons) in Jauary 2009. The Johnsons hire caterer in May 2009. In August 2009, the Grand Marquise forward at contract to my caterer attempting to solicit 10% of the food costs at my wedding. My caterer, in turn, tries to incur the new 10% charge on me because this fee was not included in our original contract. When I confronted Meredith at the Grand Marquise about this NEW fee they were trying to charge my caterer, she argued that this fee is "typical for vendors to charge in the Raleigh/Durham area." When I argued that the fee should have been in our original contract, she proceeded to tell me that her mother, Anfesa, was not going to budge on it. I set up a meeting with both Anfesa (owner) and Meredith to discuss the fee further in October 2009.

I did some research on my own to find out exactly how customary this "caterer fee" was in the area as they argued. I called approximately 20 different reputable venues and caterers in the area, and NONE of them knew about such a charged. Even my reputable wedding planner and caterer thought this fee was unheard of.

When I shared my research with Anfesa and Meredith and told them that they have not right to charge this fee as it was not in the original contract, they proceeded to tell me that "I could host my wedding at some other venue!" This is 2mths prior to my wedding, mind you. I told her that she knew this was not an option for me and she thought she was doing me a favor by lowering the fee to 5%, even though my contract says blatantly that I get "full-kitchen facility" included in our package. I suppose the only way to avoid the caterer fee would be for me to cook my own food.

I realized from this encounter that Anfesa and Meredith are very callous and money-hungry individuals who lack any sort of integrity in their work policies. I even asked the to change the wording in the contract to specify the inherent caterer costs, but they refused and stated that "nothing was wrong" with their contract.

2. After the wedding, apparently Meredith could not get a hold of my caterer to collect the 5% fee that she charged him. So, she calls me to threaten to hold my $500 securty deposit if he did not pay! First of all, that contract is between my caterer and the grand marquise, so trying to keep my $500 security deposit would not EVEN hold up in court. At this point, I was just too through with them, so I went along, called my caterer, and he payed them over the phone immediately. Come to find out that the grand marquise had not even attempted to contact him via phone.

3. Bar Fees: We decided to have an open bar for the cocktail hour (up to $750) at our reception and cash bar for the remainder of our reception. We paid for our bartender, bar-set up, and cocktail hour all in ADVANCE. However, some how or another, Anfesa and Meredith found a way to charge me an additional $400! She explained that her bartenders had to stay after 2 extra hours for clean-up so we had to pay for that. Needless to say, I found it uphauling that we paid for our bar in advance but they found a way to charge more fees yet again. She threatened to hold my $500 security deposit yet again!

Summary: If I could turn back the hands of time, I would have ran the opposite direction of the Grand Marquise. There are too many reputable venues out here, to put up with their sloppy business practices! They were the most stressfull part of my whole wedding experience and I would do anything to make sure that no other bride submits themselves to their unprofessional and unorganized ways. They invested way too much into this pretty building and they are desparate to make money in order to pay for it.

My goal is to inform you and I am so thankful for a forum like weddingwire. If you have found this before booking an event at the Grand Marquise Ballroom (GMB) also known as the event room of Anfesa's Jewelers in Garner, NC I can only hope it results in protecting yourself as a customer and bride who should be enjoying every moment of the journey. This is my account of my experience with them, through objective statements. I will NOT say about what I personally think about the GMB. All I will say is I should have not overlooked that if there was ever a problem with this venue is my only recourse would be to deal with the family that runs it; no board like a country club, or management team like a place that has had a populace backing it for years and years. Now I’ve learned to follow my gut and my purpose is to make sure no one ends up with the same unnecessary stress I did. I also need to tell my story and you can make your own conclusions why:

Our wedding date was May 28, 2011. We contracted on June 16, 2010 and paid 50% down, plus a $350 cleaning fee + the $500 refundable security deposit.

No further communication took place until we received a letter in the mail claiming that “due to the rising cost of gas and bad economy” they would be raising alcohol pricing. My first thought was that this accidentally went out to the wrong person as we contracted well in advance, under much different pricing. The price increase they suggested would bring it from $8 per person UP TO $14. I wrote their coordinator, who happens to be Anfesa’s daughter, an email inquiring. At the end of the day she said if we paid by March 1 we could lock in the original pricing. I didn’t really see any other option; zero power was in my hands as I would be creating a heated argument and possibly jeopardizing my wedding reception. On 2/28/2011 I estimated the number of guests and paid in full. Not even having the time to think of a final guest list that early, I overestimated, of course.

In April we experience issues with bridal portraits, wine selections, flutes we wanted to buy from their jewelry store, minimum bartender hours and lacking communication. In early May we experience issues concerning the rental company arrangements and a GMB’s request: CE rentals must now pick up the rented items in the evening, not early morning as they had done in the past. The GMB claimed this is because in the past they didn’t have a problem with leaving their things by their dumpsters and parking lot outside. Whatever the case, we paid an additional $350 same-night pick up fee. Later they gave us a cake plate rental for free to attempt to even out the charge (I sent the coordinator an email personally thanking her for doing that on June 8th).

Our wedding planner brought in our things for set-up on wedding day. Among our items were still wrapped and packaged confetti poppers we were planning to use for our exit. According to our planner and as evidenced in email conversations between her and Anfesa, the poppers were confiscated to her office and we were given left over sparklers from her daughter’s wedding that past weekend. The last minute change was brought to my attention that on very day and I had no choice but to go with it. Neither I nor my planner saw Anfesa or her daughter, the coordinator, at my reception. Instead there was a girl named Jessica who served as the coordinator. I never met her.

After the wedding I noticed a seemingly high charge on our card. Especially since they were going to put a credit toward alcohol since we paid for 190 guests and ultimately had 177 RSVP ‘yes’ and only 155 showed up (The coordinator told me that was going to be done from the beginning and they work with you on underage guests and understand not all drink and not all show up. She also made reference that they always over-order alcohol as they are always using it). My planner and I both sent an email asking for an itemized bill. On 6/14 she responds with a credit for overcharging, less $100 for what she states are additional bartender’s hours. Our reception did not go any longer than scheduled (for a fact the DJ played the last song at 10, just as a reference). And this was not mentioned in the previous billing.

On 6/27 I email asking for our deposit as I haven’t seen any refund activity on our card. I get back no response. So I re-email about the deposit on 7/13. I am told she is out of the office for a few days and will get back to me when she “reviews my file.” On 7/18 she issues an email claiming we had used confetti poppers and thus no refund of the security deposit. Within hours I send an email back with a time-stamped picture of the very confetti poppers in a bag, as they were returned to me, and question their professionalism and truth. Anfesa emails me back with no resolution but:

1. Now it is important to point out that the invoice she had attached as a receipt on this email was dated 7//14/11, a day after I emailed them asking for my security deposit for the second time. I had to ask them repeatedly and no mention of this was made previously. It was also for 3 hours of hand labor, 3 hours for an additional foreman, and 20 bales of pinestraw on the Sunday morning of Memorial Day Weekend, from their choice landscaper
2. It is also important to note each picture shows maybe a grand total of maybe 30 or so tiny pieces of maybe alleged confetti. Some look like petals. Absolutely no time stamp.
3. Our planner had sent them an email stating she was so confused, as the actually confiscated the poppers before the reception even started (they were still in the packaging), so they were never used and she didn't get them back until the end of the night when she was packing up.
4. Here the GMB states another wedding party was in the ballroom on the date we rented the property. ANOTHER WEDDING PARTY!

Two more emails were exchanged after this, as well as our wedding planner again stating she was in confusion over this directly to her, but nothing was mediated.


THEREFORE I am taking the GMB/Anfesa's Jewelers to district court. That is how unfair and unjust we found our situation with them to be... I would not wish this undue stress and negative experience on anyone. They keep trying to flag and ultimately delete our reviews (others' reviews are currently flagged as I rewrite this!!) but I feel too strongly about protecting other brides in the community!

**If anyone would like to contact me on here I would be more than happy and eager to share more details, refer you to my blog and another fellow bride's facebook group that documents other negative experiences, and/or give advice on a list of things you should make certain in the contract to protect you!