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Weddings

520 on the Water Reviews

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Reviews

4.8 out of 5 rating
4.8 out of 5 rating
21 Reviews
97% recommend it
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Awards

21
WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards 2021 Winner
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    Amanda D. Sent on 05/31/2023
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    Simply delightful

    Brides, Grooms…look no further! This DIY venue is beyond stunning!! It sits on the water (Lake Monroe) with stunning sunsets. We were married on a Friday evening in May. Our ceremony was mostly cloudy, so we didn’t think we were going to get a sunset…but we got one of the best I’ve ever seen!!
    We chose this venue for a few reasons: 1- the view, 2- you can bring in your own caterer, 3- you can bring in your own alcohol (their bartender serves it), and 4- our beloved dog could be there all night long!
    We dealt mostly with Vicky, we used her as our day of coordinator (HIGHLY recommend!!). We did speak with Judy a few times and she was just as friendly!! Vicky responded to our questions quickly and sent us pictures of possible table settings and centerpieces. She truly has an eye for decorating! Vicky helped ensure everything was stress free and really helped us enjoy the best day of our lives.
    The outdoor ceremony space is beautiful! We used their decorations (chose the signs), and had Vicky set everything up. We were beyond satisfied with the ceremony set up, it looked amazing!!
    In addition to outdoor ceremony space, they have a fire pit and yard games. It was warmer, so we didn’t use the fire pit and I’m not sure if anyone played games…I was too busy dancing in the A/C🤣.
    The inside of the venue is gorgeous! There’s windows galore so you can watch the sunset and boats going by. The restrooms have little items in them in case your guests may need a freshen up or anything like that. There are steps to go outside onto the enclosed deck as well. They placed tall tables out there so people could enjoy the outside without the bugs.
    The space was perfect for our wedding of about 100 people. We had plenty of space for dancing, the food, cake, bar, Photo Booth and the DJ!
    I cannot thank Vicky enough, she knocked it out of the park! We recommend 520 on the Water to anyone and everyone looking for a venue!
  • Alicia
    Alicia M. Sent on 01/09/2023
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    Great for Corporate Event

    Perfect location for our company holiday party. Judy was fantastic to work with and the venue was beautiful with holiday decorations. We utilized their fire pit to have smore's as part of our desserts and purchased our centerpieces from the venue. Everyone had a wonderful time.
  • Curtis
    Curtis A. Sent on 08/11/2022
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    Perfect Venue for a Lakefront Wedding!

    520 has to be one of the best venues that I have worked in the central Florida area. They have a beautiful view of the water and an excellent ballroom. Vicky is the event manager there and she is super easy to work with. It is also very convenient that they have an outside area for a ceremony and have power for a speaker system as well. If your looking for an affordable venue in central Florida for your next event, I defiantly recommend 520!!!
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  • Sasha
    Sasha O. Sent on 04/25/2022
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    Amazing from start to finish

    From day one, when we met Vicky and Judy, we knew we made the right choice! They made us feel so comfortable and were always available to answer any & all questions! Every time we wanted to go "check out something", or take a second look, or just wanted to take it all in....again!!!, they were available for us. They made our day beautiful. Their staff was very kind & helpful to all our guests. The venue is gorgeous and there was never a time we second guessed our choice for our wedding. Never felt rushed at any point, even the day of. You will not be disappointed in any way! This bride/groom were very impressed! Thank you for everything!
  • Rafael
    Rafael V. Sent on 06/08/2022
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    Fantastic Venue

    We loved working with Judy and Vicky, they have been doing all types events for a long time and are experienced, so they know what is needed to get the best results for your event. Recommended them 110%. Vicky helped us with the place setting, colors of the linens, vendors and hotel for our guests. They worked with us on the price of the venue. If we had to do it all over, we would choose them again for our wedding venue.
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    Jillian Sent on 04/25/2022
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    DIY brides look no further!

    My partner and I wanted to have a Filipino Peruvian themed wedding, so having authentic food and drink was very important to us. We struggled to find a venue that would allow us to bring our own caterers until we found 520 on the Water. From the get go I could tell Vicky understands the upcharge of the wedding industry and is committed to giving you the best deal possible. We were able to have our favorite restaurants drop off catering tins and bring our own liquor and bar supplies, while they took care of the serving and bartending.

    Vicky and her team executed our vision beautifully. They were also very accommodating for any special touches I had, like specialty drinks and décor placement. They even allowed more out of the box ideas like our alpaca meet and greet during cocktail hour which was a huge hit with our guests! They really allowed us to enjoy our wedding, knowing everything was taken care of.

    Overall, if you want a cookie cutter wedding, this might not be the venue for you. However if you've been looking for a place where you can truly have a special day unique to your tastes, from the big picture to the little details, then absolutely check this place out.
  • Jeanie
    Jeanie Sent on 12/19/2021
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    Amazing value for

    Vicky was a pleasure to work with and knocked it out the park with our very last minute wedding! She was a miracle working when we had a shower that delayed the ceremony an hr and then a power outage. Her servers were fantastic and the whole team hustled to make all the details of our wedding day perfect! So thankful my cousin recommended this venue after attending a wedding there herself. Super accommodating also in terms of vendors one can use and we also found our amazing photographer/videographer (Polk Brothers), makeup artist (Marin Makeup) and DJ (Gabriel) thanks to their recommendations! Highly recommend this venue. View is so nice and amazing value for money!
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    Kara T. Sent on 11/08/2021
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    Absolutely perfect!

    We really wanted to have our wedding in the town we live in and love. 520 on the water was the perfect place. They were so laid back and allowed the quirks we wanted (dogs in the wedding, beer on tap). We opted for the wedding coordinator option and Vickie was worth her weight in gold I swear. It got to be a few days before the wedding and the weather was just not going to be in our favor. We thought November would be safe rain wise but lo and behold - it was a monsoon with inches of rain and so much wind and yet we still had such an amazing day. This venue, the people, the services, the flexibility, all of it was just perfect. Thank you guys for making my day what I never dreamed it could be when I woke up friday morning to flood warnings and watched the rain just pour down for hours and hours.
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    Holly D. Sent on 10/26/2021
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    Fabulous Wedding Day

    Our wedding and reception at 520 on the Water was amazing. Vicky and Judy are truly great people and so easy to work with. We hired Vicky as our Day of Coordinator and she went above and beyond to make sure the wedding went smoothly. She was so efficient and truly understood our vision. And the day was stress free. Could not have pulled it off so well without Vicky's help. The venue is beautiful with the warm wood and the large windows looking out at Lake Monroe. Absolutely charming. The ceremony was outside next to the lake under a beautifully decorated arbor. The outdoor deck was a huge hit with the guests. It allowed for people to move around and enjoy the indoors and outdoors. So many of our guests mentioned that the wedding was one of the most enjoyable weddings they have been to and how wonderful the venue was. I just cannot say enough about how happy we are at how the wedding went. Vicky and the staff she hired for servers and bartenders were professional and outstanding. Thank you to all that made this a fantastic day!

    520 on the Water's reply:

    Thank you Holly! Glad to hear your wedding was a great success. You were great to work with as well.
  • Kimberly
    Kimberly Sent on 08/18/2021
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    Amazing venue and coordinator, would do it again!

    Venue 520 on the Water is not only an amazing location but such a great price for what all is included I booked immediately at the first viewing. Vicky is an amazing woman, she is very thorough, helpful and dedicated. She transformed our wedding into everything I wanted and more! After seeing how she decorated, our wedding became so REAL... I was in awe of how such a beautiful location became even more beautiful with all the details and decoration Vicky and Judy put into it. Vicky made sure everything went smoothly the day of and did everything we asked of her to make sure the bridal party was stress-free and everyone was in proper order. including the vendors. Vicky put so much thought into designing and decorating, her expertise helps so much for someone who has never had a wedding before so they have no clue what they're really doing! I loved that this venue had more to do than just dance/eat, it includes a fire pit, corn hole, giant jenga, horeshoes, tic-tac-toe. Lake Monroe and a nice little garden area made for great photo-ops. Even if it rains, the wedding can be held indoors and still have a beautiful background with the window/walls looking out to the lake. The bathrooms are clean & cute, flip flops are offered in the women's restroom to wear when heels become too much. Bartender is provided at additional cost. Everything is setup/taken down at additional cost, but SO worth it because Vicky really knows what she's doing and how to make everything look and flow nicely. Theres also a back patio for cocktail hour. Lots of available items to choose from to use as decorations. Option to decorate yourself but again I highly recommend going through Vicky because she really knows how to make everything look beautiful and does what you ask of her! I cannot recommend this venue enough!
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    Kathleen R. Sent on 02/18/2020
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    Wedding and reception

    Judy is great to work with and was very flexible with our wedding planning. The venue is a beautiful setting for a wedding ceremony and reception. We brought in our own caterer and hired servers from the venue. The servers and bartender were on top of everything the entire night.
  • Anna
    Anna C. Sent on 11/12/2020
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    This place is gorgeous

    This was very affordable, beautiful scenery and we had such a great time just having the property and venue to ourselves.
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    Elizabeth L. Sent on 05/26/2020
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    Relaxed! Beautiful!

    This venue is perfect for the bride who gets easily overwhelmed by the demands of planning a wedding. I was nervous when I was looking at for vendors because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but when I found 520 they were so calm and reassuring. I love the location, but even more I love the flexibility of this venue. I can’t wait to see what the big day looks like in November, but I’m so glad I found them This venue is perfect for the bride who gets easily overwhelmed by the demands of planning a wedding. I was nervous when I was looking at for vendors because I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, but when I found 520 they were so calm and reassuring. I love the location, but even more I love the flexibility of this venue. I can’t wait to see what the big day looks like in November, but I’m so glad I found them.
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    Laura W. Sent on 07/08/2020
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    Excellent. She went way out of her way to make it happen for us.

    Vicky was the best ever. I can't express my gratitude for all she has done for me. I don't know anyone else who would talk to you at midnight. Thank you again for being the person you are don't ever change ❤ 💗 💓
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    Ana G. Sent on 12/21/2020
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    Absolutely wonderful

    I was worried that it would be difficult to ensure everything was in place on my big day; Vicky more than eased all of the worry, and she followed my requests perfectly ❤
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    Shannon Sent on 03/15/2020
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    Wonderful place to have a wedding

    520 On The Water was a dream to work with. They are so flexible and didn’t mind our numerous visits and emails to get all the details right. The venue was so stunning for our wedding and we cannot thank the staff enough.
  • Kristen
    Kristen B. Sent on 11/17/2019
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    Judy is one of a kind

    Judy and her husband have brought life back to an old dusty party of downtown Sanford. She truly has created a new gem on the St Johns river. I cannot wait to have my rehearsal dinner at 520 on the Water. It be so magical to be with friends and family as we prepare for the big day. We will enjoy a meal as the sunsets no the river!

    520 on the Water's reply:

    Thank you so much Kristen for your wonderful review. It is greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to hosting your event.
    Judy
  • Samantha
    Samantha F. Sent on 11/27/2019
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    Wedding reception

    We couldn't have asked for a better place to spend our wedding reception at. beautiful views. Very professional, wonderful owners to work with. They made it very easy for us just to enjoy our time. We would highly recommend to anyone who has an event to plan.
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    Shelly W. Sent on 11/11/2019
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    Amazing Place

    As the mother of the groom I was very involved with the venue. 520 on the Water exceeded our expectations. They were so accommodating for set up times and table arrangements etc. You can bring your own beverages for the bar and choose your own caterer. The venue at night is spectacular with lights and the water. Would recommend this venue 100%.

    520 on the Water's reply:

    Thank you Shelly, Enjoyed working with you and your family. Wishing your son and Kelly the best of luck in their future. Judy
  • K
    Kelly Sent on 11/25/2019
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    Wedding Reception

    Venue was perfect. Easy to work with and plenty of room to sit or to get up and dance. So happy we picked this venue.
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    Angel B. Sent on 08/17/2021
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    Unprofessional Service

    This venue is absolutely stunning. It is right on the water and the windows and sunset just make the whole space magical. Our wedding was gorgeous..., unfortunately, I can't recommend working with this venue. We were getting married in FL from out of town, so we were only able to see the venue one time prior to the wedding. I set up a time to meet in June, sent a reminder email when I hadn't heard back, and then Vicky was still 30 minutes late to our first meeting. We decided to brush that off. However, after we went back home the communication between myself and Vicky & Judy was really frustrating. I would wait weeks after sending an email and then receive an invoice that had incorrect information on it. I was finally told (after calling and talking to Judy) that I should be texting Vicky (no apology about the lack of response!).
    I was getting increasingly nervous as Vicky was handling the buffet staging and all decorations of my wedding and none of it had been finalized. We talked on the phone two weeks before my wedding and she said she would be out of town the next week but we could meet on Monday or Tuesday once I flew into FL. On Monday my husband and I called to go meet them and Judy and Vicky acted like they had no clue why we would be wanting to go over things because "it was all handled". Well, I was told we would need to pay the final invoice that week, AND I was told that the centerpieces and other decorations would be chosen on that day (only 1 week prior to my wedding day!). Vicky told me that we could just talk on Saturday during my rehearsal. That was not ideal for me because I had a lot of things going on that day (!!) but we figured it was the best we could get. I then got picture texts of possible centerpiece options throughout the week, which was honestly not how I was wanting to spend my week prior to the wedding (I had tried and tried to get that settled beforehand).
    Then, on Saturday...Vicky didn't show up to my rehearsal! I was left with my coordinator trying to find things like the amp/mic, where things would be, etc. I finally asked Judy at the end of the rehearsal what happened and she said Vicky had worked really late the night before and couldn't make it. Well, I understand that, but as a customer I would have expected a phone call and apology at the VERY LEAST. I got neither and then had Vicky texting me MORE questions during my rehearsal lunch with all of my family the DAY BEFORE MY WEDDING. She asked what ceremony decorations I wanted...which was really frustrating because I had never even been shown the options!
    Then, ON MY WEDDING DAY, Judy texted me saying, "Hi Angel. Sorry to bother you on your big day but your balance of $3542.50 needs to be paid asap as final payment was due over a week ago..." We had tried to pay on Monday AND on Saturday, but no one was available on those days. I also hadn't been given a finalized invoice because there continued to be mistakes. And to be contacted on my wedding day was just ridiculous. My husband called Judy to handle it and as he was giving credit information realized she was WRITING IT DOWN ON PAPER and wasn't even at the venue. She really violated our trust by not following basic protocol for keeping our financial information safe.

    The venue was gorgeous but the service was horrible. We never received a single apology, it was always them being defensive. I could go on with more detail, but basically, if you want a professional experience, don't use them.
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