Featured

Brandi Sent on 11/17/2018

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Beautiful hotel and service!

We had our room block at The Sam Houston hotel, and couldn't have been happier with the services. That provided us with a beautiful suite, accommodated a luncheon the next day for our guests in the Pearl Restaurant, and made the process of room blocking very easy for us. Definitely recommend!

Michael Sent on 08/22/2022

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Outstanding Venue and Service

We didn't originally want a hotel as our wedding venue, but once we saw The Sam and met with Michelle Scrimger, we were sold! The hotel has a boutique feel, and the Veranda event space is unique and beautiful. Michelle was fantastic to work with, and answered so many questions we had. Coordination with our on-site vendors was seamless, and their food and beverage options were top-notch. They worked with us to tweak a couple of things on the food and drink menus, and the day of ran extremely smoothly. Our package included the honeymoon suite adjacent to the Veranda event space, and it was perfect. We highly recommend The Sam Houston Hotel for a unique "hotel" wedding space.

Donna Sent on 10/29/2019

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Great, professional, beautiful venue

I love love love the vibe at The Sam Houston Hotel. You can feel the history of the building even though it's completely remodeled. Michelle Scrimger was amazing to work with. She answered all of my questions and I asked ALOT of questions! Lol She was amazing in helping us figure out the layout and just so patient. We got complimented on how great the food was at our wedding and how beautiful and classy of a place The Sam was. From the very start to the day after the wedding, the group at The Sam were just absolutely amazing. The chef himself greeted us at our tasting. We also had lunch there the day of the wedding (before the reception) and the head chef brought out our food and greeted us. The venue itself was gorgeous. At the Veranda, you get an 'outdoorsy-rooftop' feeling without the mosquitoes or humidity that Houston has. It is completely enclosed. The greenery wall that stretches from one wall to the other was gorgeous. I didn't really need to do much decorating except for our sweetheart table. You will not be disappointed if you have your wedding at THE SAM. We highly recommend! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE AT THE SAM FOR MAKING OUR WEDDING SO MEMORABLE!!!

Sara Sent on 08/29/2018

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BOOK THIS HOTEL FOR YOUR WEDDING!! Not only is the Veranda absolutely gorgeous, but the staff is amazing to work with. From the moment we visited the venue for an initial look to the morning after our wedding, they treated us like we were the most important people in the world. I felt so comfortable and worry-free during the entire process. They were responsive and worked with all of our requests. I could not have been happier with how everything turned out. Oh and the food!! The chef was wonderful to work with and all of our guests raved about the authentic taco bar we had! I could not recommend this venue more.

Shauna Sent on 09/27/2016

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Outstanding service and location, not to mention visually stunning. So why would you want to look elsewhere?

We had the pleasure of working with Christopher (event manager) and his kindness and eye for details are impeccable. Christopher is just wonderful to work with and each meeting we left excited and couldn't wait until we could return back. You will have a such a great time coordinating things with him!

In addition to Christopher other staff such as Chef Ed were also a pleasure to work with, he was so amazing and from our first meeting it was nothing but laughs and good food and on our wedding day it was exactly the same, HOT plates and perfectly cooked food. Another staff member to mention to you all is Janice. Should you make the correct decision and book your event here Janice is responsible for bar tending services. She made our specialty cocktail experience so much fun! The event staff as well as the hotel staff will make sure your experience as well as each guests experience is nothing but exceptional. In the end our guest as well as ourselves were treated to a wonderful event thanks to each of these wonderful people!

Laura Sent on 10/26/2015

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When we first booked the Sam Houston Hotel, the Catering Manager that we booked with quit and the Catering Director at the time was not very helpful. However, then came Christopher P. the new catering manager and made our wedding the most beautiful experience we could have dreamed of. He constantly reassured myself and my wedding coordinator that everything would be alright, additionally, he met with must multiple times for my wedding staff to see the venue, the rooms for prep work, tastings, etc very easy. Anything I wanted, Christopher made it happen without stressing me out. We went up to the venue several times during the 15 months prior to our wedding and every single person at the Sam was AMAZING. From the valets to the bartenders to the front desk. We even picked our own bartenders and the staff stayed to watch our Mariachi perform. Janice S was also AMAZING; She and another bartender Chris created our signature drink "Fleur de Cartiz" for our New Orleans meets Old Mexico theme and needless to say it knocked everyone's socks off.
We truly felt like family to the staff at the Sam...we completely and whole-heartedly recommend this vendor to all of the future couples out there that are looking for a boutique hotel feel, where everyone knows your name and your are the star priority.
#teamlitebrite #Cartizwedding

Mr. and Mrs. Carter est. Sept 25, 2015

User2179561 Sent on 06/15/2015

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We used the Sam Houston / Veranda 17 - for the rehearsal dinner.
Everything came out spectacular.
They helped out and accommodated us in every way possible.
The staff was so helpful. The meal was up to par tasted delicious and the presentation was phenomenal.

Jennifer Sent on 07/02/2014

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Natalie and her team helped make my dream wedding come true!!! They were so professional and easy to work with... I would recommend the Sam to any bride-to-be. We got so many compliments on our decor and this beautiful venue!!

Richard Sent on 09/25/2013

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Natalie and her staff were amazing!!! The phone calls with compliments are still coming in! Top drawer service and attention to detail. You will LOVE this place.

Tania Sent on 09/18/2013

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I lucked out with Natalie! I didn't have to hire a wedding planner, she is so spot on with details and quick at returning calls and emails and has wonderful ideas. I can truly say she went above and beyond my expectations and was very nice the entire time. I was treated like royalty by the entire staff from the moment we walked in til the moment I walked out and even days after the event.

worth the money, look no where else!

Elizabeth Sent on 09/05/2013

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When my husband and I walked in the Sam Houston Hotel, we knew that we wanted our wedding at this venue. Starting with the reception area, very chic and then the Veranda, kinda indoor/outdoor concept, totally different than other venues. We met with Natalie Monk, who is very professional. She was very helpful with all our questions and responded promptly to all our emails. Even the day of the wedding she was taking care of all the details, and that made me feel stress free. The service was fabulous, they even assigned somebody to our service for every need during the wedding (thank you!). My guests were amazed by the food (delicious), the venue and enjoyed the cocktail hour at the reception (great time to great the guest and relax after the ceremony). I would definitely recommend the venue, they exceeded my expectations.

Janice Sent on 08/17/2013

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I am so pleased I chose the Sam Houston hotel for my wedding venue..... They have a beautiful setting for the ceremony. After the ceremony, you and your guests go downstairs for a cocktail and appetizers while the staff flips the room into a beautiful reception room!! The staff was so polite and helpful!! The food was delicious!!! Loved it!!!!

User1258369 Sent on 07/25/2013

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The Sam Houston Hotel was an amazing venue to work with! The staff went over and beyond my expectations! My guest were pleased with there services and have commented on how beautiful and well put-together my wedding was. I never had to ask for anything, they were right there to tend to all my needs. They made me feel special and important on my big day:)

Mike Sent on 07/13/2013

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From the initial meeting with Natalie Monk we felt very at ease working with the team at the Sam Houston Hotel. They exceeded our expectations on the night of the event and made it a truly memorable experience. Everyone on the team from our coordinator Natalie Monk, to the general manager, food & beverage coordinator and Shirly who catered to our every need on the night of the event. The next morning we had an impromptu breakfast for 30 and they acoomodated each of us. We would recommend this hotel to anyone and are planning to host future events at this venue.

User1127021 Sent on 04/05/2013

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We had our son's rehearsal dinner at the Sam Houston. Drinks and appetizers served in the lobby. Dinner was served upstairs in their beautiful room that could be open outdoors. The room is temperature controlled and everyone was comfortable. They have a wonderful chef and everyone commented that the food was delicious! Their staff is extremely professional. They promptly addressed all my questions and were extremely detailed oriented to my event. I would recommend the Sam Houston to anyone that would be having an event.

Grace Sent on 03/18/2013

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The Alden was fabulous! The events coordinator, Natalie Monk absolutely the best, helpful, attentive and resourceful, she couldn't do enough for us. The venue beautiful and the food and drinks not only delish but pleasing to the eye. Natalie was spot on with suggestions/recommendations for florists to photographers to room set up. Would highly recommend this venue for not only weddings but any party/meeting function.

Rosaura Sent on 02/16/2013

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Amazing team! They really listen to what the bride and groom want. They are always available through email. Thank you so much for everything!

Cindy Sent on 01/30/2013

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My daughter got married almost two weeks ago. We had the ceremony and the reception at the Alden. It was perfect! The venue itself is very unique. The food was absolutely delicious. I have received many compliments on the venue and also the food. Everything went very smoothly. I worked with Natalie who is the coordinator at the hotel. She was amazing during the entire process. She was always very responsive to my emails. She was very organized,helpful, and made the whole process stress free.She is a huge asset to the Alden. The rest of the Alden staff were also very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. No complaints at all. I can't say enough about the Alden and Natalie. I would highly recommend .

Mary Sent on 10/29/2012

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The Veranda is a gorgeous venue and the food was delicious! The ivy wall is such a pretty backdrop for the ceremony and the sleek and modern lobby somehow held all the guests during cocktail hour. They accommodated our requests for a special brunch menu and made us yummy shrimp & grits and fried chicken & waffles. I had a wedding planner so I did not work with Natalie M. directly but she was very pleasant on the occasions we did chat.

One small con about the venue would be their hotel rooms. The Alden is a boutique hotel and the rooms were pretty small. We booked the deluxe suite (biggest one offered) and it was extremelyyy tight with a bride, 4 bridesmaids, mom, 4 hair/makeup artists, photographer, and videographer. It did come with 1 king, 1 queen pullout sofa, and 2 bathrooms but even then it was cramped with only 4 girls in the room. This is a small nitpick and I'm still giving the Alden a 5* rating :)

User904247 Sent on 08/19/2012

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Alden was just the perfect setting for my wedding. Natalie was so on the ball leading up to the day of and throughout the entire planning process. Even though we didn't hire a coordinator, Natalie made it so easy for us: she oversaw the entire day of set up, arranged a suite for us for the weekend, coordinated all of my vendors including the band, she personally brought gifts to my room to make sure that they all got there, had food and drinks in our suite at the end of the evening, and she kept us on the timeline the whole night. I could go on and on- she was so patient and helpful & made the day so stress free for me!

Aside from that, the menu that we selected was perfect-our guests couldn't stop raving about the short ribs! The hotel is very beautiful and would make a wonderful backdrop for any event. I shot my bridal portraits there for no charge and my pictures turned out gorgeous. All in all the whole weekend was a HUGE success due to a talented staff! I would recommend the Veranda to any bride.

Jaime Sent on 07/06/2012

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I would recommend any bride to the Alden. I wanted to do as much included as possible in my venue and also keeping with a more modern and contemporary look. If that is what you're looking for-go with The Alden. They provided AMAZING food, drinks, linens, basic decorations, and excellent customer service. Their coordinator Natalie responds back to all email and phone calls quickly and she made the whole process easy for me. It was nice for me to enjoy my day and not have to stress about all the little things. I also liked to that they didn't try to "nickel and dime you" for every little thing. Services like cutting the cakes-we didn't have to pay for each slice. For any extra decorations I wanted to put up or have set out, I just dropped them off a few days before the wedding and Natalie made sure everything was like I wanted it. It's also nice that the venue photos well. Our pictures turned out great. We took a few inside the reception area, in the lobby, and also outside.

User844332 Sent on 06/27/2012

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The Alden hotel is such a beautiful venue and the service that I received from Natalie (event manager) was second to none! I could not believe how responsive she was to all of my emails. I was amazed that with all of the weddings that they do, she still made me feel like her one and only bride. Beyond the service, the food was outstanding! I am still getting compliments on it from my guests. All in all, I could not have been happier with my wedding day thanks to Natalie and the staff at the Alden! Thank you!!!

Madeline Sent on 05/15/2012

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Outstanding Service and Beautiful Venue!!! I did experience the constant transition of wedding cooridinators which got me nervous. But at the end it was a blessing in disguise. Natalie was the Best! She helped me plan my evening, provided a shoulder to lean on when I was stressed out, helped with the arrangment of all the favors and decorations. She was AMAZING!!!!!!!! The food provided was even better than the taste test and everyone loved it! Good job to the chef, Eduardo! Alden is the perfect place to provide an outdoor feel without the being outdoors. It also provides a cozy place for any size wedding which is why we chose it. We thought we would have 100 and ended up having 160 at the end. I highly recommend the Alden Hotel for a wedding reception and hopefully Natalie will be there because she does an amazing job!

Orna Sent on 03/19/2012

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The staff was very professional and made the planning very easy. It made the weekend relaxing and enjoyable for me and my wedding guests. The Alden is a very unique and beautiful place to hold a wedding. It has a garden feel in an urban setting. The food and beverage coordinator, Rey, was especially helpful in making the reception and all events go smoothly. He went the extra mile in setting up a beautiful brunch for our guests the morning after the wedding.

I would highly recommend the Alden Hotel to any couple looking for a wedding venue.

Kristin Sent on 08/12/2010

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My husband & I looked at numerous venues to have our reception, and just felt like we couldn't find one that we "loved." We decided to make an appointment to see The Alden, and that was to be our last place to look at as well.
Once we stepped onto the veranda, we knew this was the place. From the service, the friendliness of all the staff, the food at the reception, everything was excellent. We had so many compliments from our guests on how much they enjoyed themselves. The whole environment we wanted to create during our reception was possible because of The Alden (we wanted to bring the outside in, keep it modern, simple).
The only thing I can think of that was semi-stress inducing, is that we started with one sales/catering coordinator and a few months before our wedding date, she was no longer there & we were to work with another coordinator, Catherine. But she was awesome! She was attentive to our needs, and even worked with us when we had to change one of our menu items close to the wedding date. It felt almost like we were working with her throughout the whole process.
Minh was such an awesome banquet mgr, he made sure we were happy with everything during the whole process up until the day after our reception. We are so happy we used The Alden for our wedding reception. Thank you to everyone there that made our big day memorable.

User2006453 Sent on 01/12/2015

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Everyone was so professional, and helpful. My daughter's wedding was perfect. The venue is lovely the food was great. It was a pleasure working with Dani and all the waitstaff. The transition of the room from ceremony to reception was excellent. The staff worked well decorating the tables with our personal things. They took it upon themselves to decorate the cake table and it was perfect. I was contacted throughout the evening and was made aware of any details that needed my attention. The bridal suite was convenient to the reception, so it made moving gifts easy. The housekeeping staff cleaned the suite after all the bridesmaids used it, and got it ready for the newlyweds during the reception. Everyone had nothing but praise for the wedding and overnight guests loved their rooms.

User1438796 Sent on 11/15/2013

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My daughter had her wedding reception here. It was amazing. The venue is very contemporary with a clean look. It has exposed brick walls, an ivy wall and a tent-like effect which makes you feel like you are outdoors. Natalie and Brandon was wonderful at helping pull this together. They responded to every email quickly and took care of every question we had. The food was wonderful and the service fantastic. The waitstaff met our every need. The rooms were comfortable and clean. Our guests loved the venue and I would tell anyone to take a look at this place if you are having a reception of 180 or less. Thank you Natalie for making my daughter's wedding a dream come true.

Mary Sent on 01/30/2013

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My husband and I could not be more pleased with the wonderful Alden experience. Natalie Monk and the rest of the Alden staff were top notch in their guidance and execution of the big day! Natalie and the staff were friendly and helpful, and answered questions in a timely manner while making the plans. Natalie offered great suggestions and advice and took care of the details the day of the wedding so we could enjoy the day with confidence and no worries! The setting was beautiful and the food was fabulous! We couldn't be happier with the way the weekend went. We wouldn't change a thing! Thank you to Natalie and the rest of the Alden staff for a job well done!!!

Patrick Sent on 12/02/2012

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The Alden turned out to be amazing! Had a minor hiccup at first when we previewed there was no sweetheart table, but they fixed it with no problem and hassle. The cocktail hour was amazing we had a speciality drink available and they did an awesome job of making sure there was enough and the staff was very nice.

Food came out to be fantastic! The plates looked like it was from a speciality restaurant and not rushed like most weddings have.

The best part is the whole venue it doesn't feel or look like a ballroom and you barely even have to decorate. I am very happy to of had my wedding there and would recommend them to everyone!

Claudia Sent on 12/02/2012

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Our wedding was exactly what we had dreamed of and more. Natalie was a great communicator and just so professional. The staff was extraordinary. Great service. Amazing and delicious food. My husband and I didn't worry about any of the details on our wedding day Natalie made our set up, food tasting, cocktail hour and reception transition magnificently. The Alden hotel was our perfect wedding venue.

Megan Sent on 10/19/2010

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We knew we wanted to get married at the Alden Hotel the minute we walked in. I’ve always said if I could live anywhere, it would be in a loft in downtown Boston or Chicago, and the Veranda at the Alden very much reminded me of that. My husband and I have been to ten weddings together (six of them last summer!) and we wanted a venue completely different from anywhere else we had been. It was also important to me for people to be able to stay somewhere close so no one had to worry about being the designated driver…I would say the great majority of our guests stayed in the hotel that night, and that created quite an awesome party (and after party in the bar downstairs!)! The staff (especially Catherine Bradley) was great to work with. My only complaint is that the food was not quite as good as I expected it to be, nor was the presentation / serving of the food…but I don’t believe people go to weddings for the food, so if that’s my only complaint, then I’m happy! I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for something a little different than the rest of the venues in Houston…they won’t disappoint!

Soo Sent on 12/14/2015

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This was a beautiful venue! Staff was helpful and the day went super well! Everything was decorated perfectly!

Alexa Sent on 04/28/2013

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My [now] husband and I are so happy that we chose the Alden (now Sam Houston Hotel) as the venue for our ceremony and reception! The even coordinator, Natalie, was so helpful and responsive throughout the entire planning process, and the day of went super smoothly thanks to her and the rest of the Sam Houston staff. I loved every second of my wedding day, and wouldn't hesitate from recommending the Sam Houston to future brides looking for a venue. Many of my wedding guests raved about both the excellent food provided by *17 and the uniqueness and beauty of the Veranda.

Thanks so much for helping make my wedding day perfect!

Amanda Sent on 04/18/2013

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Natalie and The Sam Houston Hotel were absolutely amazing. Almost half of our wedding guests were from out of town and the hotel was super hospitable for their entire weekend stay. During the planning process, Natalie was very helpful, prompt and professional. There was no request too large for her and she was happy to serve. The food at The Sam Houston is absolutely fabulous. It was not "banquet" food. It was gourmet and very well prepared. Many guests were blown away by how delicious everything was from the cocktail hour to dinner and even the mini desserts. The wait staff was very accommodating and aimed to please. We had a special attendant, Shirley, who waited on us hand and foot. Our drinks were always full and she was always within an arm’s reach if we needed ANYTHING but was never in the way. Midway through the reception, we decided to extend the open bar for an additional hour at the last minute. Natalie made the last minute changes easily and gave no resistance to our spontaneity. We hosted a cocktail hour in the Sam Bar Friday night before rehearsal dinner and a post wedding brunch on Sunday morning - both of which were delicious and very convenient for all of our out of town wedding guests. If I had to think of anything negative to say, it would be that the veranda windows do not roll all the way up. I was initially excited about having an open air venue that felt semi-outdoor but when we showed up to the reception, the plastic windows only rolled up half way. It was an eyesore for someone of my taste but this was a minimal detail in the grand scheme of things. Everything else about the veranda was gorgeous, modern and perfect for what we were trying to achieve. Natalie was awesome as well as the other catering coordinators, wait staff, hotel concierge, etc. We loved everything about this wedding venue and wouldn't have traded it for anywhere else.

User970110 Sent on 10/12/2012

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Thank you, thank you, thank you, Alden and event coordinator, Natalie, for providing my daughter and son-in-law with their dream wedding. Natalie was very accessible and able to add rooms to our block just a week before the wedding. The staff was accommodating to our guests, making sure they received their gift boxes and the guest rooms were clean and pretty. The venue is so unique with the indoor/outdoor feel. We had many guests comment on the beauty and intimacy of the venue. We brought in a decorator and they were able to set up with no problem. Natalie oversaw the setting up of everything-from the place cards to the take home gifts. Everything flowed and we had no worries and were able to really enjoy the evening. The food was delicious-from the appetizers to the 3 perfectly cooked entrees. Everything was perfect.

Heidi Sent on 04/12/2011

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Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

We used the Alden for our wedding reception and catering. They were really great to work with. The only problems we had were with the rooms and the bartender after the reception. They kept forgetting to add more rooms to our block when it filled up so guest would call and be told that there were no rooms available when that was not the case. Also several guests mentioned that when they arrived, they were give the wrong room type (one of which was my mother in-law). There was also a VERY rude bartender the night before and the night of the wedding downstairs at the Sam Bar. Other than that they did a great job with the reception itself. The event planner was wonderful to work with and she was extremely responsive to all of my e-mails and concerns. She really did an excellent job at making sure the reception was exactly what we wanted it to be. They even did all of the set up for us and allowed us to bring all of our items to the hotel the day before the wedding. We had a great time at our reception and a lot of that was thanks to the wonderful staff at the Alden. We also can not say enough great things about the food provided. It was simply amazing! Everyone told us how much they enjoyed the dinner and how wonderful the food was! I should also mention that my husband left our rings at the hotel and showed up at the ceremony site without them and The Alden made sure the rings arrived via courier. I doubt many vendors would do that for their bride and groom!

Vicky Sent on 08/03/2009

4.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

What I love most about this venue is its unique modern style. My husband and I looked into a number of venues and were about to settle for one that we really didn't agree on 100%, but that was right before we came upon a magazine ad for this boutique hotel. We made an appointment to check it out, and upon arriving knew that this was where we needed to celebrate our wedding day. However, we did have one main concern: the size of the veranda. I have a large family, and my mom would want to share this day with some of her friends, too. But, it came down to what we most preferred. And the good news was the size turned out to be a non-issue: it was perfect for our 150 guests and provided an intimate gathering for our closest family and friends (including some of my mom's!). The hotel staff worked with us on the decor, food, vendors, and all the details. They were prompt, responsive, and overall very professional. Minh, the banquet manager, was also very easy to work with. He helped with the set-up of the veranda and projector and ensured the bar and food service was running smoothly throughout the evening. The one issue we did have was the portion of the food. We went with a plated dinner, and the portions were much smaller in size than what we had at our tasting and were told to expect. However, that aside, our guests really enjoyed the venue just as much as we did, and we are happy with our decision to go with the Alden.

Tammy Sent on 03/09/2012

4.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

I had my wedding ceremony and reception at the Alden, as well as having a large block of rooms for my many out-of-town guests. Overall they were so easy to work with and were very responsive to all of my many inquiries!

1. Food - We had a tasting which was great and allowed to to discuss our options, we ended up being able to make a custom menu with a mix of buffet and stations. All of our guests had nothing but great things to say about the food (even some of the pickier family members!). We got exactly what we ordered and the quality was superb.

2. Ceremony - We customized everything with them and the set-up was timely and flawless. The coordinator, Rey, did a great job making everything happen smoothly!

3. Reception - The set-up was done quickly and everything looked terrific. Even with all of our customization, they were able to start on time. Some of the "events" (cake cutting, toasts, dances, etc) felt a bit rushed sometimes, but that could have been wedding-day brain too!

4. Rooms - The rooms themselves are gorgeous, clean, and a good size. We had many, many problems with our room block though. Some miscommunications from some staff (who aren't there anymore) in the beginning of the process led to issues with having enough rooms. So many of the guests reported problems and rudeness when trying to book in our block - there weren't enough rooms (even though we added them), or they ended up in the wrong room type (grandparents needed a handicap room), or they had problems changing or canceling reservations. However, whenever we brought these issues to the notice of the Alden's own coordinators, they were very quickly resolved.

Overall, in the end, everything went very well, they took great care of us and made us feel special, and I would certainly recommend the Alden to any bride!

User2523511 Sent on 01/24/2016

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

As it was mentioned in another review, when we booked our wedding to take place at Veranda 17 last year the catering manager at the time did not seem reassuring. However, Chris P. took over and OMG everything changed for the better! Not only was he responsive and attentive, he is SUPER cool and sweet! He will work with you to make sure your needs are met. We can't say enough nice things about Chris and the staff for making our wedding spectacular.

As for the venue, there are certain limitations when it comes to taking photos. For instance, the Veranda room is the only photo-worthy place to take pictures at unless your photographer is really creative. One of the rooms that was provided (I think it's Raven or Mockingjay) does not have adequate lighting for nice pictures and videos (per our photographer and videographer) so it's best that you book a hotel room for groomsmen to get ready in. Also, it would be nice if the honeymoon suite that is provided for free of charge for booking the wedding can be prepared early enough for the bride and the bridesmaids to get ready in. We walked to the City Hall behind the hotel to take pictures before the wedding since the Veranda Room was being prepared for the ceremony.

Since outside food and drinks are not permitted, we ordered finger sandwich and breakfast taco plates to be delivered so we could nibble on them while we got ready. The pricing was reasonable and they were delicious! As for our reception food, we were a bit disappointed that food did not taste as good as they did during our tasting few months ago.

Nevertheless, our wedding was a blast and we loved every moment of it at Veranda 17. We had about 150 guests and the size of the venue was perfect. Having Chris as a catering manager is definitely a big plus!

Lauren Sent on 06/09/2014

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We held our beautiful Wedding Reception and Ceremony at Veranda by 17 and had a wonderful experience! Natalie and staff were extremely accommodating, prompt in responding, and helpful in budgeting. We emailed with Natalie continually through the planning process, and always received immediate feedback. The Veranda itself is stunning, and the only contemporary venue space I liked in Houston! Another huge bonus - their food is DELICIOUS! We had many guests comment that it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. The Sam Houston Hotel itself is also beautiful, and a fun, hip location for guests to enjoy. I would highly recommend this venue to anyone I know!

Tatiana Sent on 10/24/2012

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

My wedding at the Alden was a huge success. I can't lie and say that everything was perfect the entire way through, however in the end I was very happy with the outcome. The main reason I had frustrations during the wedding planning process was because I had to deal with 3 different coordinators. I ended up with Natalie M. She was very responsive when it came to answering my emails and getting me answers to any questions that arose. She worked with me when prices changed from when I originally signed my contract because I was on a limited budget. The week before my wedding they let me drop off personal decor items and Natalie made sure they were set up on the day of my wedding. Overall the wedding day went smoothly except for my groom and the groomsmen not getting their boutonnieres in time for their pictures although that may be my florist fault. I also noticed that the event staff was setting my reception tables up wrong and had to tell them. Other than those couple things the event flowed perfectly! Guests were very impressed with the food (braised short ribs and garlic mashed potatoes). After the wedding was over and we went back to our room I wasn't too happy that maids hadn't come to clean our room while we were gone. Although there were chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, and a nice note waiting for us.
All in all I would recommend the Alden if you're looking for a unique spot with the indoor/outdoor feeling.

Kathy Sent on 07/05/2012

4.6 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

This was the perfect venue for my daughter's wedding. The Veranda has an outdoor ambiance but is enclosed with A/C - which was perfect for a July wedding! The hotel is absolutely beautiful and elegant making the ceremony and reception a dream come true. Natalie (the catering manager) was wonderful - knowledgeable, reliable, calm, flexible and professional. She handled all last minute details with ease (and we were her second wedding event of the weekend). Every staff member we came in contact with was courteous and helpful as well. The plated dinner was delicious (friends are still commenting on it) and the event bar was well run. We had a wonderful experience. This is definitely a well run venue!

Veronica Sent on 01/11/2016

4.5 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

We picked the Sam Houston hotel after seeing a few very distinct pictures of the Veranda in wedding magazines. It was even better in person. It is the perfect mix of blank canvas and unique features. I fell in love with the greenery wall with the clear beaded curtain immediately! The brick wall was also a perfect complement. Once we sat down to discuss the details, I liked how flexible they were in everything – the menu, décor, and timing. The fact that they only do one wedding per night sealed the deal for us. We booked it 14 months out! The original catering manager we met with ended up leaving a month after we signed the contract, but luckily, Christopher (the new manager) was so accommodating and personable that the transition didn’t affect anything for us. I also liked that there was no specific charge for the room, it was a food and beverage minimum. We knew we wanted to wine and dine our guests so that was perfect for us. Once we started picking food and liquor packages, we set up a time to try the food and pick our signature drink. The bar manager was super helpful and didn’t stop trying to make the precise drink we wanted until my fiancée said Perfect! We also wanted a signature entrée and Christopher and the entire culinary had several meetings just to execute it seamlessly for all of our guests and people are STILL talking about it! I cannot say enough about how much Christopher worked with us, tirelessly and constantly to make sure everything was how we wanted it. Anything we would suggest, he would assist us in figuring out the best way to do it. He was priceless in making the reception flawless, stress free and stunning. Another perk is the ease with which our guests were able to make reservations to stay at the hotel the night of. The venue is perfect for having a small wedding (150 guests) without feeling crowded or empty like most hotel “banquet” rooms tend to. I couldn’t have helped so many guests without Miriam! She would answer my emails not only

Edward Sent on 05/20/2017

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

They have been willing to work with us from the beginning....

Megan Sent on 09/28/2016

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
4.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4 out of 5 rating

We had a good experience despite experiencing some turnover during the planning process.

User1501437 Sent on 01/09/2014

4.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4.5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
5 out of 5 rating

Veranda by 17 located at the Sam Houston hotel did an amazing job of making my dream day come true. Natalie and Brandon, the catering managers you work with you throughout the entire process, are really some of the nicest and most skilled vendors I worked with while planning my wedding. They responded to emails with my questions sometimes within minutes! The location itself is so beautiful and almost all of my guests mentioned throughout the night that they served the BEST wedding food they had ever tasted. I highly recommend this venue especially if your guest count is between 100-170. If you go over 200 it may get a bit too crowded for a dance floor and makes it difficult to walk around the room to greet your guests.

Kayleen Sent on 11/25/2012

4.3 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
5 out of 5 rating
Value
4 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2.5 out of 5 rating

I cannot say how happy I was with our entire wedding experience at the Alden Hotel! If you want to have a indoor garden wedding in a downtown environment then this is the location for you. The wedding coordinator, Natalie Monk, did a wonderful job fulfilling our requests as well. Also, the food from 17 is to die for!

User977966 Sent on 11/06/2012

4.1 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
5 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4.5 out of 5 rating
Value
2.5 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
4.5 out of 5 rating

The Alden provided a beautiful backdrop for my wedding. It is a perfect location for out of town guests, especially since it is so close to the metro system. The only issues I had were with the room block I reserved for my guests, the reservation desk could never pull it up. Secondly, the "discounted" rate that I was offered for my guests was more expensive that what was offered on other hotel websites. Aside from the hotel rates issues, everything else was great.

Brittany Sent on 02/03/2020

3.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
4 out of 5 rating
Average response time
4 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
4 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

Cute venue, minor issues, overall quite nice

I had my wedding at the Sam and overall thought it was lovely. Mitchelle the on-site coordinator was great but whoever was her replacement while she was on vacation was clueless. The food was super good and they let us customize our menu which was fun. The biggest issues were 1: There was not enough valet during the wedding and the cops decided to come to route traffic which made traffic worse 2: We ran out of the Lobster Ravioli before all tables were served 3: Checking in and out the hotel was difficult / the hotel staff struggled with remembering we had a room block 4: Our package came with a Jr. Suite but the staff seem not to know this detail even though it was in our contract which we pulled up. Our room had been given away but they put us in another room which the staff forgot was complimentary and tried to charge us for it the next day. Mitchelle is the best part of booking the Sam and once we informed her about our issues, was very apologetic and helpful. It was a beautiful venue but the staff needs a bit of work/better training.

Becky Sent on 08/31/2011

1.7 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
2.5 out of 5 rating
Average response time
2 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
1 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
2 out of 5 rating

Our daughter's wedding ceremony was outside of the country; however, we held a reception the day after we returned at the Alden for all the family & friends who were unable to attend a destination wedding. We worked with the event planner for several months prior to the reception date and felt very comfortable during the "planning" phase. We did a tasting in order to select the food & beverages that would be served. Unfortunately, the day of the event things began to unravel. The food that was served was in no way comparable to the food we were presented at the tasting. For example, we tasted & paid for a gourmet berries & cheese platter that consisted of fresh blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, etc, along with gourmet cheeses. What the served was a dinner plate with chunks of cheddar cheese that was sweating as if it had been sitting on the counter for awhile, along with a few strawberries. I could have purchased that cheese tray at Krogers for less than $10, but I can assure you that the Alden charged us significantly more than that. In addition to the disappointing food, the bartender assigned to us was rude, both to the Matron of Honor (Bride's Sister), as well as to the Father of the Bride. At the end of the evening as we were clearing our things from the room, my husband (Father of the Bride) asked the bartender for another glass of wine (from the open bottle sitting on the bar...), but she promptly told him "NO, we are done for the day". Another employee overheard her and quickly resolved the issue. After assuring us that she would be at our beckon call throughout the event, the event planner disappeared a few minutes after the reception started. I only learned this when I attempted to discuss my concerns over the food that was being put out. Not only did she leave the premises, no one was able to reach her via phone. When we checked out the following morning and asked for the top tier of our daughter's wedding cake, we were told that they lost it. Needless to say, we were not happy about that.

I will never use the Alden Hotel for an event again and would find it difficult to recommend them to anyone else.

Silvia Sent on 01/13/2023

1.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
3 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

The Sam Houston

I was very excited to book The Sam for our wedding. The food reviews were great and our goal was to provide amazing food during our wedding. I first reached out to Michelle in the fall of 2021 inquiring for a summer 2023 date. I was told that they could not confirm availability more than 12 months prior to the wedding. Once me and my fiancé settled on a winter 2023 date, I reached out again in December of 2021. This time it was around 12 months prior so I was able to book our date. We were planning a small wedding of 65 -75 guests. While the planning was relatively smooth, I felt like I was being judged for not having a full-time planner. I was planning the wedding myself and I hired a day-of coordinator, so I was doing most of the communication with Michelle prior to the wedding day. Every time one of our payments was due, I had to remind her that she could go ahead and charge our payment method. Finally, it came down to our menu tasting. The food was wonderful and the custom menu was exactly what we wanted. However, the day of the tasting, after Michelle left the table, a staff member was making conversation with my fiancé and I and said that the couple getting married the day after us (we had a Friday wedding) had a “$50,000 wedding”, they had money, and they were buying rooms for all their guests. And because they were spending so much money on their food and beverage, that he would be able to give us some extra perks. I was shocked and frankly insulted. I guess he assumed we didn’t have money, or at least not as much as the other couple and felt comfortable talking this way with us. That was very unprofessional considering all the thought we were putting into our big day and we still spent a considerable amount. I decided to let it go at the time. The wedding day came and when I checked in for our honeymoon suite we were given a room on the 5th floor. I thought that was strange because I had the impression we would be on the 2nd adjacent to the reception room. Nothing was delivered to our room, even though the package said we would get a special wedding amenity. I reached out to Michelle after the wedding. Some of our guests had cancelled and we were trying to work out a credit back (we did get some back, which I appreciate). I brought up what the staff member had said at the tasting and that we didn’t get the actual honeymoon suite or the amenity. She was apologetic about the staff member comments but had no interest in finding out who it was. She also denied the other wedding was $50,000. She did confirm that the couple getting married the day after us got the honeymoon suite on the second floor because they had booked the wedding six month prior to us booking it. That was surprising considering I was told we could not book prior to 12 months.
I think this is not the right venue for you if you plan to have a small, intimate wedding. I would recommend that the Sam Houston clearly state their preference for larger weddings planned by full-time wedding planners.

Samara Sent on 06/03/2021

1.4 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
Average response time
3 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
1 out of 5 rating
Value
1 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

Wasn't Even Willing To Discuss ANYTHING

This vendor wouldn't even give me the time of day. I sent a request asking for information for my wedding of 50 guests. Their response? "We can fit up to 180 guests, but at this time we don't think we and our services are a good fit for you."

Um thanks? How about if you just give me pricing information and I make that judgment call? Very unprofessional. Very rude.

User823984 Sent on 06/11/2012

0.8 out of 5 rating

Quality of service
1 out of 5 rating
Average response time
1 out of 5 rating
Professionalism
0 out of 5 rating
Value
1 out of 5 rating
Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating

This venue is beautiful; however, the service is TERRIBLE! I booked my wedding in April 2011 with Catherine B, the wedding coordinator at the time. She was fantastic! Then she left… and 3 coordinators later (yes, in the course of ONE year), I was stuck with Natalie M. Natalie was terrible. Here were my main grievances:

• The venue is NOT climate controlled! Do not believe them when they tell you that it is! I was told that the veranda was completely walled in and that it would not be hot on the day of the wedding. Our reception started at 7:00PM and it was hot in there! Yes, there is an A/C, but what they didn’t tell us was the “wall” has a 2 inch gap at the bottom, so all the cool air just seeps out. It didn’t get cool in there until almost 9:00PM when the sun was set.

• We had 4 coordinators in the course of 13 months! The coordinators were Catherine B, an interim coordinator that I never met but my mom dealt with, Terra W, and lastly, Natalie M. This is clearly a management problem.

• Natalie was rude. That’s the only word I can use to describe her. She frequently met us with crossed arms, rolling eyes and a ton of attitude. We spent $18000 on the Alden alone! I felt like the lease she could do was be pleasant.

• They wouldn’t let us add rooms to our block, even though there were almost 4 months until the wedding. We were told by the original coordinator that it would be fine to add rooms to the block, as long as there were rooms available in the hotel. Natalie refused to add rooms and said our guests would have to pay the current rate for the rooms, even though the hotel had plenty of rooms available in the hotel. My mom had to call the COO of Alden Hotels, and he personally added 15 rooms for Friday and Saturday for us with no problem.

• One month before the wedding, they raised our bar package price $8 per person! My mom and I had a conference call with Natalie and Ty (her boss, equally rude), and they agreed to only raise it $4/person.

• The day of the wedding, Natalie didn’t show up until 1pm. My mom had been trying to contact her to get some help organizing the vendors that showed up to set up for the reception, move a few table to fit the current seating chart, etc. Basically, we needed her to do her job and coordinate the reception set up. She stormed into the bridal suite and said to me “What do you want? You guys have been calling me all day! I don’t get here until Noon on Saturday!!” All my BMs, make-up artist and hair stylists stood there with their jaws on the floor! I never raised my voice and said that we needed her to coordinate the venue set up and that my mom had some questions for her. She threw her hands up in the air and then started to walk out of the room. I said “by the way, Good afternoon, Natalie.” She rolled her eyes and said, “Hi Kelly.”

• My florist and linens company pretty much set up the entire reception site and it was GORGEOUS (I’ll do their reviews in another post)! To my dismay, Natalie had set up 5 appointments to book clients on the day of my wedding! She was selling weddings using our set up, when she thought we had left for the church. She was bringing clients into the veranda and signing contracts on my linens when she was supposed to be working for us. I couldn’t believe that on the day of a wedding, the coordinator would book appointments to sign new clients! It was unbelievably unprofessional and I hope the prospective brides took notice that on their wedding day, they could expect her to be doing the exact same thing.

• Natalie left early from the reception. She told me that she was staying until 10 PM, but my maid of honor saw her leave at 9.

• The bartenders had tip jars out on the bar at the cocktail hour and at the reception. One of my bridesmaids asked Natalie to have them take it down. A few hours later they were back up and I personally told them to take them down! We paid 22% service charge that covered their tip. It was very rude to ask my guests to tip them to pour wine and champagne. Later I found out from one of my guests that the bartenders had a full bar of liquor behind the bar and was serving cocktails to the guests and pocketing the cash for drinks. This is unbelievably unprofessional and out of line!

Basically, the whole experience with the Alden is one that I will regret. They were rude, unprofessional and not willing to help at all. I feel like everyone was sweet until they got our money, then all sense of professionalism and customer service went out the window. I would not recommend the Alden to anyone! Yes it’s a beautiful venue, but it’s not worth the disrespect and terrible service you get along with it. Save yourself the hassle and book somewhere else!!

The Sam Houston Hotel Reviews

Reviews

The Sam Houston Hotel