Overture Center for the Arts Reviews

Overture Center for the Arts

Madison, WI

4.8 out of 5 rating, 44 reviews

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4.8 out of 5 rating

4.8

Excellent

44 reviews

Recommended by 95% of couples

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Quality of service
4.9 out of 5 rating
Average response time
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Professionalism
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Value
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Kaity Sent on 07/15/2024

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Our dream wedding venue - come to life!

My husband and I are forever grateful to Mary, Haley and all of the Overture Center and Catering a Fresco staff for being the best partners in planning and coordinating our wedding. We connected with Mary a year and a half before our wedding date for a venue tour, and she was our constant teammate ever since. Always prompt in communication, an incredible expert in wedding coordination, and at the ready to answer our many questions -- we wouldn't have been able to have our dream wedding without Mary! Haley led all catering aspects for our special day and was an incredible person to work with. Her attention to detail helped us figure out our catering contract, set up our menu tasting and ensured all guests who had dietary restrictions were cared for. One of our friends is vegan and was absolutely delighted by the delicious vegan entree they made specifically for her! Our guests are still raving about the entrees and the late-night mac 'n' cheese bar! Our ceremony, cocktail hour and reception all ran smoothly thanks to both Mary and Haley, as well as our day-of onsite event coordinators Allie and Erin. All of our guests were in awe of the outstanding, expansive beauty of the Overture Center. It was so special to get married in the heart of downtown Madison.
Claire Sent on 10/21/2019

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Wonderful Venue Ceremony and Reception

I got married at Overture in July and couldn't be happier that we decided to go with Overture as our ceremony and reception venue. Tara and Kristin did a wonderful job throughout the planning process. I was planning the wedding from across the country and Tara and Kristin were great about communication, keeping us on track, and making that sure we considered everything. The day ran without any hitches thanks to their hard work. Also, the food was fantastic and we're still getting compliments.
Kb Sent on 07/08/2018

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The Overture Center is nothing short of incredible. Danielle / Youngjin could not have done a better job throughout the entire process. Perfect venue. Perfect food. Perfect wedding.

Katherine Sent on 06/26/2018

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The Overture Center went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect. Throughout the wedding process, they checked in several times to answer any questions and were continually available. The catering provided a wide range of options and were flexible to accommodate specialty cocktails and late night snacks. On the day of the wedding, they coordinated with our various vendors seamlessly. The reception went by so fast and without a hitch due to their efforts. A secret gem of a venue in Madison!!
Christine Sent on 02/14/2016

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We had a blast working with Catering a Fresco and the Overture Center for the Arts. The two companies made a great team for venue and food. The food was beautifully crafted and tasted just as good (if not better) than it looked. our guests couldn't believe the quality of food, venue and service and are still talking about the artful salads and the reception lighting. Our team was a joy to work with, timely, proactive, professional, and fun! Even through the crunch time planning they were easy to work with, open to changes and customization, and our day came together perfectly and without a hitch. They are considered an expensive Madison venue, but for us they were worth every penny. At the end of our reception we felt that our caterer and event coordinators were part of our new family because of the time and effort they put into making our day amazing.
Allison Sent on 08/16/2015

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My wife and I live in Oakland, CA but are originally from the Madison area. When we got engaged we knew we wanted to get married back home. We searched around but soon settled on OCA and Catering a Fresco for our event. Taralinda, the event coordinator, was beyond amazing with her responsiveness, professionalism and creativity that helped make our wedding ceremony run without a hitch. Amanda, the catering manager, was very informative and flexible, which is what we needed when planning our day from 2,000 miles away. Our ceremony and reception took place in the Promenade Hall and Terrace--it was simple beautiful. We are both vegetarian and so was our entire event. We had many skeptical, meat-eating relatives that could not stop raving about the food! Amanda and Taralinda were also great at coordinating with our other vendors to ensure that day was perfect.

It should also be noted that we are a same-sex couple and were a bit concerned when searching for a wedding location. OCA and Catering a Fresco were extremely inclusive and treated us and our guests with the utmost respect. We would HIGHLY recommend this location to our LGBT family.
Charlie Sent on 08/12/2015

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Amanda Caldwell-Jernigan (Wedding & Events Coordinator, Catering a Fresco) and Taralinda Willis (Event Coordinator, Overture Center) are the dynamic duo that you dream of having for your big day. After seeing the Overture Center when my now husband and I went searching in Madison last year, it quickly became clear to us that it was exactly where we should have our wedding - and what sealed the deal were the immediate and awesome relationships that we formed with Amanda and Taralinda. Their dedication to the big and little things, their flexibility, consideration, meticulousness, and going above and beyond with planning a wedding where the bride and groom reside in Illinois, my parents are in New Jersey, and the wedding is in Wisconsin - was absolutely tremendous, and they executed everything with ease. They made the entire planning and execution process stress-free, simple to navigate in every way possible, and made our special day the best day of our lives so far. We had our ceremony on the Overture Hall Main Stage (which we highly recommend to all you music and theater fans out there!), the cocktail hour in the Promenade Lobby and the reception in the Main Lobby downstairs. Overall, everything was spectacular, the food was remarkable, and we danced the night away! We highly recommend them as well as the Overture Center for a wedding or any catered event!
Connie Sent on 04/23/2015

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We were able to rent the Overture Center Main lobby and Promenade Lobby for the wedding reception and dinner at a discounted price. This happens occasionally at the Overture Center as the Madison Symphony Orchestra rents the entire space plus the theater to practice. Essentially we subletted from them. Our event began at 4:30 pm and their practice was over by 5 pm. We never saw or heard from the symphony to it worked out very well. Working with Overture staff and Catering a Fresco staff was very comfortable. They were organized but flexible. They answered all our questions and provided assistance at the event when needed. The food was outstanding! Hot and delicious! The flow of the event was natural and on time. They know how to handle large groups. I highly recommend them to service a wedding event. I have two more daughters that will married in the future and I would not hesitate to host again at Overture.
Matt Sent on 09/02/2014

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Can I give them a higher rating than 5 stars! They helped make our wedding what it was. The venue is beautiful and they do everything they can to make your day easy and stress free. Our wedding and reception were perfect and this is in large part due to their professionalism and flexibility. Taralinda and Amanda are amazing and I like to think they work as hard for everyone as they did for us. We looked at a few venues but the overture was the one for us. We knew it immediately when we walked in. I am still getting compliments about the food, it was DELICIOUS! There is so much more I would love to share about what they were able to do for us but you will have to find that out for yourself.
Allison Sent on 06/17/2014

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Catering al Fresco was amazing at our Overture Center wedding! Amanda, the catering manager, was fabulous to work with. We chose a package for our guests. The food, drinks, and service was amazing! We got so many compliments on our food post-wedding. The wait staff and bartenders were very quick and friendly! Amanda was also great day-of. I would HIGHLY recommend them! As for Overture staff, they are nothing but excellent! Taralinda was amazing, she was my pseudo-wedding planner. All her recommendations for vendors & planning were just perfect. I couldn't have planned a wedding without her. Gorgeous venue & incredible staff!
Jenny Sent on 01/17/2014

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We had a very positive experience -- and it was arranged in just over a week! It was a very small wedding, but the numbers changed, there were dietary restrictions, photo booths, musicians and a dance floor were added as planning evolved -- and Overture was closed for two holidays. The time constraints were severe, but everything go done on time, to spec and with grace. It was a very professional, kind, accommodating team -- on the event and catering side, and unfailingly polite and efficient bar/wait staff the night of. We had a simply brilliant wedding reception. Hats of!
Becca Sent on 09/11/2013

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The Overture Center is a beautiful place to get married. The staff is outstanding, and very helpful. Any questions you have, whether it's related to overture or where you can find items for your wedding, they will go out of their way to help you get answers. They make you feel very comfortable, and are quick on their feet when responding to situations that may arise.
Kelsey Sent on 09/03/2013

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My wedding was everything I wanted and more. The Overture is a beautiful space that doesn't feel stuffy, crowded and is muted yet beautiful you can make it all your own!
User1269227 Sent on 08/02/2013

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Excellent service, presentation and quality of food! All of our wedding guests were amazed with how good the food was. Also being able to accommodate our guest who had food allergies was wonderful. We can't thank you enough for making our wedding dinner reception wonderful and unforgettable. We couldn't have asked for anything better!
User1257268 Sent on 07/25/2013

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Everyone at the Overture Center was extremely helpful, kind, and accommodating. Our event coordinator, Taralinda, was exceptional. Like many brides, I was worried about a lot of the small details for my wedding, but Taralinda handled everything beautifully. Because of her help, Kyle and I were able to sit back, relax, and actually enjoy being at our own wedding.
Tara Sent on 07/01/2013

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The Overture Center far exceeded our expectations. Our wedding reception was absolutely beautiful! The staff at Overture went above and beyond from the initial planning to the time the reception was over. They were attentive, helpful, and so wonderful to work with. We would highly recommend the Overture Center!
Luke Sent on 05/15/2013

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The Overture Center event and catering coordinators are extremely professional and helpful. The facility stands out from all other facilities in Madison to host your wedding (much better than the Monona Terrace). Guests will be talking about how good the food was for weeks!
Megan Sent on 05/15/2013

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A truly stunning venue for our reception. We had the Promendade Terrace and Hall for our 150 guest wedding. Prior to the event, Taralinda from Overture and Lyndsay from a Fresco were so helpful in getting things set up and ideas together. They're quick in getting in contact with you to answer questions and offer suggestions.

The venue was raved about by our guests and the food was excellent--beyond "wedding food". When my husband and I circulated around tables of guests all we saw were empty plates.

A wonderful experience and it exceeded our dreams of what a reception venue could be like. Thank you to the staff who were so helpful, polite, and professional!
Kira Sent on 01/14/2013

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Amazing place to get married and have a reception! The staff is top notch.
Ray Sent on 10/04/2012

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The management and staff are wonderful. They provide a lot of guidance and help. The food was fabulous. Hot, tasty and well presented. We had veveral glowing comments from the reception guests (We didn't do our ceremony there)

We felt that the room was tastful without being stuffy.
In comparison we didn't find it to be overly expensive for what you received.
Laura Sent on 07/16/2012

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We had our wedding reception at the Overture Center and it was absolutely amazing. It is a beautiful space, the food is delicious, and the staff and quality of service are wonderful. Taralinda (our room coordinator) went above and beyond – she worked closely with us to help make our wedding perfect. When I first saw our space, I was blown away at how closely she listened to my ideas and how perfectly she executed them. She had great suggestions and was very responsive and attentive. And Lyndsay (with Catering a Fresco) was a great resource and had so many wonderful ideas and recommendations. She made sure the entire event ran smoothly, and I loved how she continued to check in with my husband and me throughout the evening. I felt like I had wonderful relationships with Taralinda and Lyndsay, and they both made the planning process so much easier.

The people at Overture are true professionals and the quality of service cannot be matched. It may be a little more expensive than other venues, but it is entirely worth it. I can’t recommend them enough!
Nicole Sent on 11/01/2011

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The Overture Center for the Arts was fantastic. The food was excellent and everyone was so professional and accommodating. I would definitely recommend this venue for your wedding reception (I had only my reception at the Overture Center, not my ceremony).
Dawn Sent on 07/21/2011

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exceptional service! food was wonderful. Very nice venue!
User4782097 Sent on 08/31/2015

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The staff at both Overture and Catering a Fresco are great! Throughout the entire planning process they were on top of everything, helping make sure I was on track, and asking about all of the details. They respond to emails immediately and are flexible. I was able to set up everything for the reception the day before and when I didn't like the head table set up we had chosen, they rearranged it for me no problem. They follow up with the vendors and coordinate with them so you don' t have to worry about it.

On the day of, our wedding was perfectly coordinated and the food was amazing! Everyone was so helpful, pleasant, and & attentive.
Amirah Sent on 09/03/2014

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The Overture Center was an amazing wedding venue. It stands on its own. For a bride that looks for simple elegance, this is your venue. They can also go crazy - Taralinda and Amanda want to know the vision of the couple and will do whatever they can to get it done. Catering a Fresco was a bit pricey, but it was worth it. They will do everything to make sure all guests are happy. The food was great! I would definitely go with the Overture Center again for my wedding.
Stephanie Sent on 08/12/2014

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The overture center main lobby is an amazingly beautiful space. A little pricey but you will not regret it. Getting to work with Taralinda (overture event coordinator) and Amanda (fresco caterering coordinator) by going with Overture center as our venue was like getting a free wedding coordinator team (we didn't have to hire anyone else). They are well versed in all the details needed to make your day amazing and have it go off without a hitch and walk you through the process step by step. They also have ample recommendations of other vendors for the additional things you may want but are never pushy about who you work with or what options you select. They were flexible in our meal selections as well. We could not be happier with our choice of the Overture.
Michael Sent on 11/20/2012

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The Overture Center Staff was highly organized, and ran our event flawlessly. The food was amazing, and it was very easy to set everything up via phone and email.
User917735 Sent on 08/30/2012

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They were able to provide wonderful all-vegan options for our non-traditional wedding, and everything from the presentation to the service was wonderful. Taralinda is amazing - DEFINITELY request to work with her as your coordinator. The event was absolutely perfect, and our friends and family are STILL talking about it. :)
User1082707 Sent on 02/01/2013

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Beautiful in every way. I've loved going to the Overture Center since I was a kid. It was so amazing to have my wedding ceremony and reception here. Everyone we worked with was wonderful. The prices for downtown Madison, WI are also extremely reasonable. I would highly recommend. The only minor complaint I had was their "security" was a little bit rude as people left the room to use the bathroom. I suppose they have to be, so it really didn't ruin the evening. In general, I was very happy with the venue. Also, catering a fresco their in house catering service is GREAT. Worth the extra penny.
Jessica Sent on 04/02/2012

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Had our wedding ceremony in the Promanade Lounge. It was a beautiful setting and exactly what were were looking for to accomodate our intimate wedding with about 20 people. Immediately after the ceremony we had the bar open and hors de ouevers served. Staff was very friendly and helpful. Overall it was a great day and I can't wait to see my pictures!
Kimberly Sent on 11/03/2010

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I had my ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in the Promenade Terrace and Hall at Overture Center. It was one of the most elegant and intimate spaces and it was just perfect for us. I had people calling and emailing me for days raving about how great every our wedding was. The Overture staff are amazing and end up serving essentially as event planners. Brenda M. oversaw all of the room set-ups and Lyndsay with Catering A Fresco was in charge of all of the food, beverages, and service. Between the two of them they made sure every detail of the wedding went off without a hitch. Brenda had an HDTV brought in to broadcast the UW vs. Ohio St game during the cocktail hour/reception which was a blast. Lyndsay made sure that every dinner that was served was piping hot. Lyndsay also made sure that the whole dinner was prompt so no one had to wait for their food. And the food was super tasty, got many many compliments on it. Overture may have a reputation for being pricier that some places in Madison, but I think when you weigh in the fact that they have almost all rentals on-site (tables, chairs, linens, etc.) and that the catering is also on-site (no traveling so it's all hot) those cost differences go away. They have a variety of different spaces at different price points for rental as well as a large and diverse set of catering options. The only downside is you might have to be a little flexible on your date since they host events like Broadway shows and aren't available every weekend. I couldn't have been happier about my experience there and would highly recommend the Overture Center.
Rebecca Sent on 07/22/2014

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We enjoyed working with Overture, specifically Leigh and Tarlinda, and appreciated that they both helped us make our wedding ceremony go smoothly. Leigh was extremely helpful, as well as a calm and knowledgeable presence during our rehersal and pre-ceremony. Taralinda was fantastic about replying to my emails when Leigh was out of town which was very reassuring. She also seemed very enthusiastic. We had a beautiful ceremony as a result of their efforts.

While we appreciated the deal we received (we booked last-minute), we did feel it was pricey overall, for what ended up being 30-45 min of time (plus set-up of course). However, the level of customer service was fantastic, and in the end, I suppose you could justify the money spent by knowing we didn't have to worry about anything.

Overall, a great experience.
Kate Sent on 10/04/2014

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The Overture Center main lobby was such a stunning setting for our wedding. When we got engaged and decided we wanted to be married in Madison (we went to undergrad there, but now live in New York) it was at the top of our list, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. So many of our out-of-town guests who had never been to the Midwest were blown away by the beauty of the space, and with 200 people, it felt full but not crowded.

Taralinda (Overture planning) and Amanda (the house catering company, Catering a Fresco) were so great to work with. They're responsive, happy to explain anything you might have questions about and on the night of, were on hand to make sure everything ran seamlessly (which it did). We were planning long-distance and they really made the experience easy for us. Nearly three months later I'm still reliving the night, so much in part because of their hard work!
Susan Sent on 06/28/2010

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It was a beautiful place for our reception, sit down dinner, and dance for our daughter. Our guests were very satisfied and expressed how much fun they had at our daughter's wedding. We utilized the 3rd floor for our reception where we had server's that served the horedourves along with an open bar and also table items for our guests. We held the dinner and dance on the second floor in the Promenade Hall and we also rented the Promenade Terrace as an overflow for people to have another area to sit at tables away from the music. It was a perfect set-up and can be decorated in many ways. We had 150 people and it worked great for us and allowed for a dance floor and people to move about freely. We did not have a head table, but chose to put our wedding party at round tables with their guests and the bride and groom were at a heart shape table with the round tables on each side of them. It was a great set-up and was unique.
I would strongely recommend this as a venue for your daughter or son's wedding. It was beautiful.
Cassandra Sent on 10/16/2009

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We had our wedding ceremony in the Promenade Terrace and were very happy with Overture. The price was extremely reasonable, they were very helpful with answering questions and were easy for us and our other vendors to work with. In addition, they also went out of their way to make sure that our space would be quiet by closing the entire main lobby below to the public and checking to make sure there weren't any performances at the same time as our ceremony. We were very impressed.
Carly Sent on 07/19/2014

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Our wedding at the Overture Center was absolutely gorgeous! They did a great job helping guide us in planning with our timeline of only 6 months. It is a pricier venue, but many things are included that you would have to rent elsewhere, like tables, chairs and linens. Also, we had our wedding on a Friday and received a 25% discount, which ended up making it comparable other Madison area locations. You are limited to using Catering a Fresco, but their food is fantastic, so it wasn't a concern for us. There were some restrictions with the decorations (we weren't allowed to have a unity candle in the ceremony space), but a little creativity we were able to have a beautiful day!
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I only had my wedding ceremony here, but they were very accommodating even when I realized at the last minute that I forgot table linens for the 2 tables I needed at the ceremony.
User884934 Sent on 08/01/2012

4.3 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
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  4 out of 5 rating
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  4.5 out of 5 rating
We loved holding our wedding at the Overture Center. The venue is beautiful and we loved that we could have the ceremony and reception at one place. There are so many great spaces to host an event and it really lends itself to whatever style of wedding/decorating you want.

The staff was wonderful and very helpful. If you can request to work with Brenda we absolutely recommend it - we didn't get to work with her the entire time but thought she was fabulous!
Libby Sent on 08/12/2018

4.2 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  3.5 out of 5 rating
Having our wedding at the Overture Center was one of the best decisions we made! Danielle (the wedding venue coordinator), Youngjin (the catering coordinator), and Tara (the day-of logistics coordinator) were both exceptional to work with: professional, patient, responsive, helpful, and communicative. The venue is unparalleled in its beauty, and we loved that we didn't need to do very much to make the space shine. The venue really worked hard to get everything set up to match our expectations, and to have everything ready to go in time for our Friday evening rehearsal.

We had our wedding ceremony on the stage of Overture Hall, which was truly magical. I wasn't sure if the added cost would be worth doing this, but it without a doubt was. It was so beautiful, memorable, unique, and personal. They did a magnificent job accommodating our vision on the stage.

A few considerations: (1) You are required to use their in-house caterer. The food and service was very good, but this limits your options. (2) We wanted to do more of an interactive station/small plates style dinner rather than a plated meal, and their service offerings really didn't accommodate this, so we ended up doing the plated meal instead. They are very good at what they do, but are not necessarily in a position to deviate from this and to customize options. (3) There can be multiple weddings on the same evening in different parts of the venue (they are very up front about this), so this can put some restraints on what time your food can be served, and can mean there is some ambient noise from other weddings during your own.

There were a few details we would have changed, but overall the beauty of the space, quality of service, and responsiveness of the staff made the Overture Center a truly magical venue for our wedding.
- +3 photos
User1335935 Sent on 09/18/2013

4.2 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4 out of 5 rating
The space is absolutely beautiful and even though we were in the main lobby where the ceilings and architecture are tall and open, the space is still intimate.

The catering staff/managers were informed and professional, quick workers and provided amazing service the night of the wedding and the hectic week before.

The Overture wedding coordinator could have been a bit more helpful and failed to respond to a few emails, causing a last minute room layout/table numbering mix up. But the catering staff were quick to help me solve the problem.

Food was amazing. Pricey, but guests came away remembering good food, not boring or bland food, so that was plus. We were a little disappointed at the way the bar pricing was set up. We ended up paying triple the cost of a cheap beer we wanted for our guests, which was a little hard to swallow.

Overall, the Overture Center was an amazing space, professional staff, fantastic food, great catering staff, decent organization from the wedding coordinator, and absolutely amazing location for a downtown Madison wedding.
Lauren Sent on 09/26/2017

4.1 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
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  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4.5 out of 5 rating
Overall, my experience with the Overture Center and their team was wonderful. Want to give a specific shout-out to Bailee and Amanda who were truly fantastic! They were responsive, helpful and went above and beyond to make the day seamless. There was one member of the staff who stood out at as being far less interested in being helpful -- but thankfully, this person was not my day-of coordinator. The venue really blew my guests away, as expected because it is breathtakingly beautiful. The food was also tasty, the servers were friendly and the bartenders even friendlier. My only other downsides were that while the food seems to be fairly priced, the venue itself is quite expensive in relation to other venues. I also wish that catering allowed us to try more than just the two dishes we thought we would order for ourselves. It would be nice to also try some other entrees and any of the appetizers (you have to choose blindly). I knew all along I wanted to get married at the Overture Center so I paid their premium - but I'm not certain it's the fairest of pricing. All in all, I would recommend the Overture Center to others and would change virtually nothing about my experience with them. Thanks for making our day so special, Bailee and Amanda!
Lydia Sent on 11/29/2012

4.1 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4.5 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  4 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  4.5 out of 5 rating
The Overture Center is a beautiful place to have a wedding and/or reception. Our day couldn't really have gone better, and a lot of that was due to all of the hard work and planning by the staff there. Overall the people were wonderful to work with and were very accommodating to our needs and wants!
User1363647 Sent on 10/04/2013

4 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  4 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  5 out of 5 rating
We were in the Upper Lobby for the reception and the Wisconsin Studio for the reception. We had about 110 guests. The space was gorgeous, especially the Upper Lobby. The catering staff was very responsive and were very easy to work with. They checked in throughout the event and followed our schedule exactly. The event coordinator was the only negative of my experience. She would never respond to emails and often forgot things we discussed in email. I had to make several calls to get a hold of her and get simple questions answered. She also changed my ceremony set up without confirming with me first. In the end everything worked out and the ceremony and reception were beautiful.
User1490277 Sent on 12/31/2013

3.5 out of 5 rating
- Quality of service
  4 out of 5 rating
- Average response time
  3 out of 5 rating
- Professionalism
  3.5 out of 5 rating
- Value
  4 out of 5 rating
- Flexibility
  3 out of 5 rating
This is a beautiful place to get married with great food and service. Some of the inflexibility of the venue is due to the fact that it's a performing arts center which has scheduled performances throughout the year that cannot be changed. It is also open to the public so you have a little less privacy. However, we were on the third floor and mostly uninterrupted so it was fine.

The staff were pretty helpful though we had some difficulty in getting clarity and quick responses from the pre-event coordinator. Overall no major problems.

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