Bennett Bunn Plantation Reviews

The Grand Ballroom was a beautiful venue for our May wedding. Tom & Jill were very helpful in allowing us to bring in our decor early (2 weeks early!) and storing it for us in the spacious catering area, and they were incredibly flexible with our choice of caterers. It's a great value - all tables and chairs are included - and the views are spectacular! The windows really allow you to have an out-of-doors feeling with inside comfort - especially because there was rain for about 45 minutes on my wedding day! Jill was great about arranging numerous meeting times so that my out-of-town family could see the venue prior to the wedding, and she worked seamlessly with my planner to ensure a flawless event. I can't recommend enough - the venue is truly unique and beautiful in Raleigh and Jill was incredibly helpful!!

You may see another review for 4/22/2017; however, that does not appear correct as we were the ones married at Bennett Bunn on 4/22/2017 and can attest to the fact that we were MORE THAN SATISFIED with our decision to hold our wedding at this venue. Privately owned, the husband and wife team were more than responsive to all of our questions and concerns, taking great care to deliver on everything! Our guests are still gushing about the feel of the beautiful farm, the special touches of the main lodge and the overall beauty. Even the smokers, sequestered to a spot off to the side of the building, found comfortable chairs and a working fire pit to keep off any chill.

To stress how happy we are with this venue, we are already considering holding an annual event to gather friends and family as NO ONE WANTED TO LEAVE THE NIGHT OF OUR WEDDING!

We wish the owners much success and to future brides or grooms, this venue is awesome! Jill, we would be more than happy to be added to your reference list!

Cheers,
Marcia and Melissa

"Breathtaking" is the only word I can use to describe Bennett Bunn. The venue, natural surroundings, all of it. It's also the word that I heard from our guests over and over again.

We considered other venues, but BB had everything we wanted. No tents to set up, because the space provided was adequate and perfect. The caterers (Rocky Top Hospitality) were so pleased when I told them that we had chosen BB, because they appreciated the facilities provided. First class, all the way around.

I worked with Jill for several months and she made the process made this not only an enjoyable experience, but one that was very personal to me and my husband. We wanted the wedding to reflect us, not a picture from a wedding magazine.

Jill . . . thank you, thank you, thank you. You made the most important day of our lives even more beautiful.

The Grand Ballroom was beautiful and perfect for our wedding. We did the ceremony and rehearsal in the same room with a cocktail hour between to provide time for a second set up. Everything worked out perfectly. For reference we had 120 people seated with a full band and dance floor. Perfect amount of space. Everyone at the facility was so helpful and flexible both before the event and during. The day of, everything was set up just as we had anticipated, perfection!

Everything about my wedding was perfect. I couldn't have imagined it being anywhere else. The location was a perfect setting for a Downtown event, with parking close by, and easy access to other downtown hot-spots. The interior of the room was beautiful and the space well planned to handle my guests. Even the rooms downstairs were just what we needed to get ready beforehand.

Katie was a tremendous help along the way. From meeting her at the venue early on, we clicked right away, and she was able to give me guidance as to what I needed to get started and provided assistance with anything that I needed along the way. She was with me picking out the rentals for the table settings as well as providing assistence during our rehearsal the night before.

With the days leading up to our wedding, Katie took control of connecting with all of my other vendors and made sure everything went smoothly setting up beforehand.

When the wedding night finally arrived, I had nothing to worry about thanks to Katie and her team. I know they helped make that night one that I will never forget. I will highly recommend the team here at Historic Venues to any of my friends looking to hold a special occasion.

The best experience we could have had! Not only were the owners flexible and nice but we gained a great friend (venue director) out of the process. Highly recommend! Beautiful setting. I've already referred some friends.

I had my wedding and reception at the Bennett Bunn Plantation with Historic Venues, LLC. This was the most beautiful place and most comfortable venue. I loved everything about the place, and because of how beautiful it was I didn't have to decorate too much. The staff was exceptional and had everything in place just like we agreed on. Everything was perfect and smooth thanks to the staff. They were attentive and made sure that everything I requested was done correctly. They were always helpful and willing to offer suggestions for layout. My wedding ceremony and reception were both perfect thanks to the venue and the staff. Wonderful!

Everyone at the Bennett-Bunn Plantation was absolutely wonderful to work with from the time we booked the venue through the day of the wedding and beyond. They were super flexible, and did everything they could to make the day go perfectly. We couldn't have asked for a better place to get married!

The Grand Ballroom was wonderful. If we had to plan our event over again, we would not change a thing.

I had my bridesmaid's luncheon at the BB Plantation in Zebulon Friday the 19th of April 2013 then that evening our rehearsal dinner in the Ballroom downtown. The Hendrickson's (Katie, Jill and Tom) are so easy to work with. The family owns both venues. I loved the feel of the plantation with all the animals and beautiful land just minutes from downtown Raleigh. It was a hit with all my friends and family. It was very different than going to a country club or restaurant. There is a peace to the plantation you will not find in the city! They have done an amazing job with this venue! A must see!

Friday night was unbelievable! Katie and Jill were there and helped the vendors set up and knew from our conversations exactly how my husband and I wanted everything! The ballroom is a lovely site in downtown Raleigh.
I would highly recommend BOTH sites to my friends and others looking to make your special day perfect!

Thank you for everything you did to make our weekend fabulous!
Sally Howell Donaldson

My husband hosted our Rehearsal Dinner at The Grand Ballroom atop the Historic Capital Club Building and we cound not have been more pleased! Jill is such a warm-hearted person and was willing to work with my husband and I. I am originally from Raleigh, so finding a one of a kind place in the heart of downtown Raleigh was really important to us. The views are just fantastic and your guests will certaintly be "wow-ed"! Jill could not have been more professional and accomodating. We highly recommend The Grand Ballroom for your wedding venue!

We greatly appreciated the opportunity to host our event at the Grand Ballroom. Thank you!

Beautiful downtown venue that is close to hotels and bars for guests to go to afterwards. DJ or Band should bring uplighting since the overhead lights are so bright.

My wedding day was amazing! Our number one complement was how beautiful the venue was. it was absolutely perfect for us. Thank you!!!

First off these have been hard times for many and I do not want to minimize that for individuals or businesses. My Fiancee found this place to be the location for our wedding ceremony and reception. Getting in contact with the owners Tom and Jill to schedule to meet their employee to make a cash deposit was easy. Also I did pay in cash for a 10% discount which I regretted later. We met with Stephanie to go over the contract in September of 2019. Stephanie is the employee that takes care of the farm and she was very helpful in going over the documents to schedule an April 25th 2020 wedding. We all know that the Governor shut down many events, larger weddings and gathering were canceled , however, the owner Tom called and canceled our wedding date two weeks before there were any mandates on large gatherings. At the time the CDC made recommendations, but nothing from the Governor on large gatherings. This was very disappointing of course and when we were told by Tom and Jill to wait things out, we did so very very patiently. The April 25th date came and went and we continued to wait for our inept Governor to open things back up. July 2020 and still waiting and at this point I call Tom to discuss a refund and he puts me off every chance. Many times I had to call from a different number and when he would pick up he was busy and about to have a meeting or he was very short with me and sounded upset that I called. Tom told me he would talk to Jill to see what she says about their money situation. Another couple months went by and so I start calling again for some answers on this. After a few back an fourth short dismissing calls I get a call back just before Christmas. Toms says they cannot give a full refund, but as a good gesture for Christmas send $500 of the $2750 that I gave them in cash. I never meet with the owners and nothing was done with the venue to warrant keeping the deposit. At the very least they could have given half of the deposit back which still they did not earn. Tom tells me that there is up keep with his farm and my deposit went to that upkeep. What a joke! Our deposit was for the Venue, a place that I would be paying for on the 25th day of April 2020. Of course the deposit was for half of the total cost and we were just using a building and a gazebo. Nothing was done in prepping the venue as our date was canceled far in advance. Very sad that there are people doing business like this. I work with folks that take deposits and during these times we gave all deposits back to people that worked in the industries that were effected by these shut downs. I feel like the only option left for me was to write this review and give this rating. Not happy to do this, but we feel a responsibility to let other folks know who they are signing a contract with when planning a wedding or any other gathering or business function.

This place took my deposit pre-covid for my wedding. Here we are 1 year later with no wedding, they were closed for covid and they will not give me my deposit back. This place is a scam.

They took my brothers deposit for a wedding that Bennett Bunn canceled because of covid and they will not give the $2750 deposit back. The deposit was given in September 2019 and Wedding was planned for April 25th 2020. Here we are almost a year later and the Owner of Bennett Bunn will not refund my brothers deposit. I will not be recommending a place with ethics like this.