A Secret Garden Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
![Valorie]()
Valorie Sent on 09/19/2024Everyone works well in this space and the space makes you feel like your in a fairytale dream
I highly recommend this space. If you are looking for a particular wedding theme or an outdoor garden wedding this is the spot. When you first meet with Russ and explain to him what you what for your wedding experience, Russ listens and takes notes. He loves his work and his garden and it shows. He engages with the family and makes sure that everyone is enjoying every moment from start to end. The staff who work within this space are very professional and take care of the couple with out hesitation. I am the brides mother and I couldn't have asked for a better space to see a beautiful ceremony take place. The reception hall is another space that is beautifully crafted to make you feel like your wedding dreams have come true. I have no pictures to upload as I was so enamored with the ceremony and the space that I simply just enjoyed the event. -
![Casie]()
Casie Sent on 04/01/2019Amazing people
Russ is fantastic! He listens to what I want as the bride and had ideas I would never have thought of. -
![Sydney]()
Sydney Sent on 12/20/2018Planning stages
We’re only in the wedding planning stages, but Russ listens to everything we want and need. He’s been fantastic and has worked with us so well! And the garden is BEAUTIFUL. -
-
Christina Sent on 03/20/2024
A dream come true
Beautiful elegant service wonderful!! It’s like getting it all in one stop. Russ makes everything easy and all about the bride!! This is your number one choice -
-
May112018 Sent on 05/19/2018From the venue, to the ceremony, to the celebration...all TOP NOTCH and magical! Russ and Racheal of A Secret Garden took beautiful photo shots of everything from the engagement to the wedding event! Everyone loved the entire evening! Russ and his entire team “think of EVERY detail”, was a common compliment from our family and friends. Anything that came up during our preparations during the months prior to the event, I'd call Russ and it was taken care of...I said often, "Let go and let Russ!" Some of the things he thought of, I could hardly believe! I knew we were in the best of hands thru the entire process! His vendors knew what he expected of them and delivered. Oh, what a night! We had a wonderful experience! #RussDelivers
-
-
Rae Sent on 05/16/2018A well-kept secret indeed! Before this review becomes Too Long; Didn't Read: highlights! Russ is spectacular from start to finish and beyond. The garden is a hidden gem. You will be so well taken care of, it's ridiculous!
Here's the scoop!
So, to be completely honest, I had no clue this place existed. My mom and I met Russ at a bridal show.
There was a little line to speak to Russ, but, within 3 minutes of talking to Russ, he had my mom in happy tears and we booked a site visit .
If you like, fun, whimsy, stress-free, and, fairy tales, this is your place. The entrance to the garden starts with a little puzzle, where you are then rewarded with a hallway decked in beautiful paintings done by Russ that then leads to the piece de resistance: The Garden. The work he has put into making this place full of magic cannot be understated. The winding pathway leads you past sculptures, ponds and fountains, beautiful trees and flowers, a curiosity shop, a treehouse, a waterfall, trees bedecked in chandeliers, and, if you're lucky, you will be visited by SG's resident white rabbit, Hatter! On the property, Russ has also built a stunning reception hall which is host to 3 bathrooms (1 men's, 2 uni sex), an English pub, a koi pond and fountain, as well as live flowering banana trees!
When it came to planning, it quickly became apparent that we had nothing to worry about. My husband (then fiance) and I are both incredibly busy, but Russ put our minds at ease by taking care of the decorations, tablescapes, flowers, photography(!), DJ, AND giving us a list of his preferred vendors. Day of, he provides Annie to be your bride minder/savior. He makes sure the couple eats and is constantly cared for. Same with Moms! RUSS WILL MAKE YOUR DREAMS FOR YOUR SPECIAL DAY COME TRUE. For all he offers, SG IS A STEAL, and, I can't say enough about it! 5000/10 would totally recommend to anyone who will listen !! -
-
![Joseph]()
Joseph Sent on 01/10/2025Ruined Our Wedding!!
My wife and I got married on September 28, 2024, and we wish we had taken our money elsewhere. Russ will sweet talk you into choosing this place. Yes, it's nice and can be breathtaking, but the problem lies within the customer service on the day of the wedding.
We had family and friends come from out of town to attend our wedding, some of whom had never been to Kansas City before, which made us feel very special. The night before the wedding, Russ called and informed my wife that we were over our guest list limit and needed to make an additional list of the people we really wanted to attend. My wife was up all night crying out of frustration because this was very last minute, and some people were going to be upset.
The wedding day was a horrible experience! First, Russ's assistant (whose name I can't remember) was the worst! She's black and I honestlt feel like she's racist against her own kind. She stirred up trouble the whole time, accusing the wedding party of smoking weed on the property. Keep in mind, weed is 100% legal, and if someone smoked it before arriving, it's their business. Second, there were no lights in the groomsmen's section due to a storm prior. When we asked if we could get a light to shave or whatever, Russ's assistant was very rude and even got mouthy with my groomsman, who showed her nothing but respect by saying "Ma'am" and "Please." Even after she was done chewing out my groomsmen over the light, she walked away, then turned back to finish chewing us out, informing us that certain things "were not her job." Her attitude eventually rubbed off on Russ, and he started talking to me like I was just a thug off the street, despite the fact that I had paid over $10k for this venue.
Third, they started trying to do crowd control with our guest list by refusing to let our family and friends in. Some had traveled from out of state and could not get in because Russ's assistant didn't use the list we stayed up all night creating. Instead, she passed the list to our daughter (who doesn't work for the company and wasn't present) to retype, which resulted in a number of people being removed. They let all the older people in (50+) and told anyone who looked young that they weren't on the list, even though they were.
Then there were the pictures. It took about 45 minutes to get the lights working outside for our pictures. Because they didn't let our younger family members in, a lot of older people had left before the reception even began, leaving us with a semi-empty room.
My only wedding! My lifetime memory ruined by poor customer service and micromanagement.
DO NOT USE THEM!! PLEASE GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!! -
![Meg]()
Meg S. Sent on 01/21/2021It’s not the location - it’s the people
My wedding on 9/4/20 was held at this venue and I would like to share details about my experience in regard to experienced issues with the service provided. Upon arriving at the venue, I noticed that my bouquets and corsages were all incorrect despite the 1-year planning for how they would appear; bouquets presented were not what was agreed upon in terms of flower use and themes for each bouquet as well as customized corsages for our grandparents were never provided/made. Family photos were completely rushed, despite having plenty of allotted time, as well as several family members were locked out of family photos. Members of our family and wedding party were not permitted to interact with my husband and I during dinner due to the venue valuing a private dinner for the newlyweds despite this never being a request from my husband or I. This created obstacles for my bridal party needing to obtain makeup for touch ups as well as trying to grab items for me (such as makeup for my own touch ups, a handheld fan as well as items I had hoped to take photos with). In addition, family members were stopped from attempting to try to come say hello to my husband and I, which included the mother of the bride and a 4-year-old cousin. I witnessed the venue gaining phone numbers from two guests, and later discussed via text opinions of the wedding, despite these individuals being absent from the signed contact/had no financial engagements with the event. Once returning home with the items that the venue packed up and sent me home with, I discovered that a sentimental cake cutting knife as well as our cake topper were missing. We are not able to replace these items due to the rarity of them. In summation, added stressors occurred as a result of these obstacles experienced on the day of my wedding at this particular venue.
-
Are you interested?
Are you interested?