Alyssa L. Sent on 01/05/2024
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Quality of service
1.0 out of 5 rating
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Average response time
4.0 out of 5 rating
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Professionalism
2.0 out of 5 rating
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Value
2.0 out of 5 rating
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Flexibility
3.0 out of 5 rating
Biggest Disappointment
Kaloni was very kind and helpful during planning sessions. When the day of came, she did not come to see the bride for a long time and was no where to be found for long periods of times. As the wedding was getting close, decorations were not set out, first looks where extremely stressful and chaotic as Kaloni was missing and her husband was left to keep us on track, guests were not told where to go so they were not seated, ushers and helpers were not given direction, photographers and videographers could not find Kaloni for the first couple of hours, when she was helping the family organize food they cooked, she was not flexible and her staff was rude. Her staff would not listen to family members unless Kaloni told them to but again, she was missing frequently and family had to pick up the slack. Kaloni turned people away from food and dessert and her staff underserved and forgot the sauces so the groom’s family spent a lot of money on food that got wasted because of this. A few weeks before the wedding, Kaloni requested more money. We paid extra to have food served, cleaned, decorations set, and everything organized and it was all a disaster. The staff even refused to pick up trash and the family was forced to do it as the wind picked up. During our post-wedding meeting, Kaloni accused my family of lying and did not take any ownership of the day falling apart, which she was the only problem the whole day (although having the coordinator be the downfall means the whole wedding falls apart). Overall, this day was a disaster and we will never get our wedding back. We were so flexible the entire time and made light of everything, and I mean everything, that went wrong but this day was one of the most depressing days of my life. I will never get my wedding day back.
Kaloni was very kind and helpful during planning sessions. When the day of came, she did not come to see the bride for a long time and was no where to be found for long periods of times. As the wedding was getting close, decorations were not set out, first looks where extremely stressful and chaotic as Kaloni was missing and her husband was left to keep us on track, guests were not told where to go so they were not seated, ushers and helpers were not given direction, photographers and videographers could not find Kaloni for the first couple of hours, when she was helping the family organize food they cooked, she was not flexible and her staff was rude. Her staff would not listen to family members unless Kaloni told them to but again, she was missing frequently and family had to pick up the slack. Kaloni turned people away from food and dessert and her staff underserved and forgot the sauces so the groom’s family spent a lot of money on food that got wasted because of this. A few weeks before the wedding, Kaloni requested more money. We paid extra to have food served, cleaned, decorations set, and everything organized and it was all a disaster. The staff even refused to pick up trash and the family was forced to do it as the wind picked up. During our post-wedding meeting, Kaloni accused my family of lying and did not take any ownership of the day falling apart, which she was the only problem the whole day (although having the coordinator be the downfall means the whole wedding falls apart). Overall, this day was a disaster and we will never get our wedding back. We were so flexible the entire time and made light of everything, and I mean everything, that went wrong but this day was one of the most depressing days of my life. I will never get my wedding day back.
Cherry Creek Events's reply:
Alyssa,
I wanted to respond to your review and again address some of the accusations which we discussed at the follow-up meeting. Number one, I have never accused your family of lying and in our detailed emails, did take ownership of the areas where my team and I were responsible such as the overlap of food services and bussing when my team was serving dinner and your family decided to start clearing their tables before the team was available to bus the tables. They did bus the tables after finishing with food services. The addition of bussing tables along with serving food is the requested additional money you mention. Additional fees for additional service hours to pay staff for their time is to be expected.
Your biggest disappointment of the day mentioned in our meeting was the officiant having everyone rise for the bride early. You had accused me of this being my failure yet, as I pointed out in the meeting, my notes in the timeline and how we practiced at the rehearsal were the correct order. It is not on me if your friend officiating the ceremony made a mistake.
As far as your accusations on not being able to find me the day of. As we discussed previously,I was on-site the full day and only took 1 break. I was wearing black, had on my badge, and was decorating at the reception location. My staff and all vendors who checked in with me were able to find me easily. This location was also right outside the kitchen & groom suite where I was able to connect regularly with your family members prior to the event. During the event I was present and found multiple locations for additions and questions. My only break in the 10 hour day was a half hour for dinner where I sat inside the kitchen eating and reviewing the timeline. I was interrupted twice and left to go fix problems during my meal, so this shows I was easily found.My husband handled the back and forth walking up and down the hill between ceremony space and reception space as I was diagnosed with a high risk pregnancy which you were made aware of months prior to the wedding. We showed up and did our job as contracted.
As discussed at our follow-up meeting, I checked in with the venue first thing on arrival of me and my team and got them started with decoration set up as contracted. I then checked in with the groom. The photographer and I text as she was at the upper location and I was at the lower. Prior to your day the Timeline and layout maps were shared with all vendors and bridal party members. The timeline was also set to send text reminders throughout the day of the happenings. These things all happened according to plan.
After you accused my team of being “rude”, I reached out to vendors for their input. My team was helpful, respectful, and willing to jump in and assist.
Your accusation that I was not flexible is completely false. When your mother-in-law had day-of changes to what we had finalized in the timeline, but which went with her catering plans, I accommodated and told my staff to follow her direction pertaining to food. We never turned people away and had it announced twice for seconds for those wanting to walk back over to grab more food. The opportunity was presented, but we can’t force guests to eat extra just because it was paid for. The only time guests were turned away from a food table was when they were going for the desserts before the cake cutting had taken place. They were respectfully told to “Please wait until the bride and groom cut the cake” and I was the one to give this response. The family member got angry and shouted back that they could do what they wanted because they helped pay for it. During cocktail hour, your mother asked us to move the sign-in table from the top of the hill down to the reception area because guests had walked around the wrong side of the house for the ceremony. We did this without question at a difficult venue for moving items from one location to another.
You accuse us of not having the area decorated in time. This again is false, and we have time stamped pictures to show that we did complete prior to time. The live flowers were not put out in the sun until 30 minutes prior to ceremony; which detail was discussed prior and included in the timeline. That is all. The umbrella for your greeter was not set out because it kept falling when they went to set it up. This wasn’t part of our contracted services to handle, but we checked in on it anyway. We also handled the tables and chairs for the venue which in our contract specifically states we don’t handle, but we did in order to make sure you had a beautiful day. The photobooth from your family wasn’t set up until dinner as the items were not brought to us until dinner time as only half was delivered prior to the ceremony.
You say, “guests were not told where to go so they were not seated, ushers and helpers were not given direction…” We reviewed details at the rehearsal, which were also in the timeline for ushers and helpers. I had recommended a sign for the welcome area but that was decided against. When your guests were driven up the hill by your groomsmen and dropped off for the ceremony, they should have been dropped off by the welcome entrance for the flow we discussed, not taken back to where your bridal party was hanging out. As I had already sent out timeline information, venue maps (showing the welcome table), and discussed flow during rehearsal, it is not on me or my team that the ushers (groomsmen acting as ushers) did it incorrectly while we were busy setting up the other area.
You also write that we didn't handle trash, again painting an untrue picture of the day. My team bussed tables and picked up trash from the grounds. It is not our responsibility to empty the garbage for the venue and this was part of the venue contract services. It does not fall under the scope of our responsibilities as my team is contracted for other specific tasks, not hauling venue trash. When the big wind storm hit, we helped gather trash flying all over the venue. We also reset decor inside the building once we had taken down the meal service tables. It was your decision not to move inside when the storm hit. We handled the take down of decor in the wind and rain boxing up items and tossing trash as needed.
I don’t have the time to rehash on a review response the same discussions we had in July at your Follow-up appointment. All I will say is your review is inaccurate as I did service the contract.
