Crystal Reception Hall

UPDATE: Pending Formal Complaint - It has been over 6 months and I have not recieved my security deposit back.

I REFUSE to reccomend Crystal Reception Hall. My actual wedding was a fairytale, but dealing with this vendor was a nightmare! He has 2 locations one in Palm City and one in Downtown Stuart, and I would not recommend either one after having to deal with him for the past 10 months. He is currently withholding my $500 Refundable Security Deposit because 2 linens had melted wax on them and are damaged. Fine, just tell me how much... but he will not. It takes about month for a "report".

My review given on The Knot message boards on 9.27.10

I’m breaking this down into 2 parts, the actual place and the service

Reception Location –

C+

o The hall was beautiful. But for decor, I have no doubt that 95% of that is owed to Natalie and Rosemery! He provided tables, chairs, linens, dishes, sound system, lighting, ceiling sheers, chandelier, dance floor, Eiffel tower center pieces, bus boys and a bartender… I think that’s about it, but believe me, I paid for it.

o The fountains out front are disgusting; they have mold/mildew in them and cigarette butts floating in them.

o The flat screen tv’s that we were told would be there, were not installed (or possibly even purchased-he kept saying he was "too busy") in time for our reception. This was a big part of why we chose the location, as DH is a HUGE Yankee Fan and they were playing Boston the night of our wedding!

o The bathroom doors wouldn’t shut fully, (they just had hook and latch locks) and I could see people peeing and people could see ME! Seriously?

Customer Service –

F-

(pending how he handles returning my $500 security deposit)

You all know the issues I have had here, so I won’t re-hash them. Just sum them up…...

· Terrible communication

o Had to hound him to follow up on quotes I had asked him for

§ RD – Originally quoted $60 for labor… then received completely different price. § Price difference to cut alcohol – apparently it was $100 less for 3 hours alcohol for 75 people.

§ Charged full price for CHILDREN – Including alcohol… Think they even served the table of 15-18 year olds.

§ Was rude to me about “cancelling” the RD… (Because he could have booked another wedding…) when he told me one price then finally sent a quote WEEKS later that was NOT what we discussed… He could have told me why it wasn’t the $60 he told me…

o RD space was INCLUDED in my package anyway (so even if I didn’t use it, he shouldn’t have been planning on using the hall the night before anyway.)o Rude about seating arrangements, didn’t provide 75 seats even though I was charged for 75 people, and said it was MY fault.

· Broken Promises/Unfulfilled Commitments

o 2 Flat Screen TV’s – Not Installed (possibly not even purchased)

- Yet was still promising it to other clients in June.

o Told us that he was having a group tasting on 7/18 and we would taste all the food then. He never followed through and never bothered to tell us he was cancelling the tasting.o Said he would deduct money for the food portion for my convenience since he was unable to provide a tasting. Said, no one has ever gotten sick off his food. Like THAT is comforting.

o Cake Cutting – He Specifically told me they do not charge a cake cutting fee… and he never provided cakes, so to tell us at 8:45 that he was not cutting the cake was a huge surprise. (Again… Huge Thanks to Natalie & Rosemery for saving the day gracefully)o I’m sure there was more but that’s all I can think of for now.

· Lots of unpleasant surprises

Final Damage - $3207 (I think – That includes the $500 Refundable Security Deposit which I haven’t gotten back yet)