Elizabeth B.
2/5
I would like to start by saying that Willow Creek is a BEAUTIFUL venue. I cannot tell you how many compliments I got from my guests!
I have never written a review before, but I figure if it helps just 1 bride out it might be worth it.
The owner of Willow Creek Farm is nice but was very challenging to work with. My husband and I had a difficult time getting into contact with her after we had signed the contract. Communication is such an important part when it comes to wedding planning, and not being able to get a hold of the owner of such a major part was honestly, one of the most stressful parts of planning our wedding. We initially tried to contact via text (when she told us that was the best way to reach her) and we would not hear back from her for days, weeks, or sometimes at all. If she did answer us, often, she would not address a few of the questions we asked her. Often times her response would only answer 1 of our questions or would not clear up a question we had at all. We attempted to e-mail her and this seemed to work better for a little while, but it would still take several days usually before a response.
One of the biggest pieces we noticed while working with Willow Creek was the constant change in answers. We were told that guests would be able to feed the animals, with food supplied by the venue on the day of the wedding. I am a huge animal lover so this was very exciting for me and something I had talked to many guests about prior to the wedding. After the wedding I realized there was never any opportunity arranged to do so. The owner had also told us that we had access to the whole barn and were able to use all of the decorations as we pleased. There was this gorgeous gold hoop to be used as a back drop. My family and the groom's family had arranged the hoop for pictures. We got a text the morning before the wedding stating that the ring was being taken because there was a different bride who wanted to use it that weekend. Thankfully it was not a major piece for our wedding, but it was still upsetting to think we were having decorations that we were planning on using being taken away with little warning.
What was the biggest disappointment overall, occurred on the night of our wedding. The owner had previously told my husband, both sets of ours parents and I that music was to be shut off by 11, we would gather our belongings and our guests, and we needed to be out of the venue by midnight, and this is what we had all remembered (it was nowhere in her contract, however). We had arranged a shuttle service for us and our guests with the last shuttle to arrive by midnight. As we were gathering things and packing up, around 11:25, the owner and her staff came up to us and our guests and asked us when we were leaving. We explained about the shuttle and they told us that was not going to work because her staff needed to go home. She hovered over my husband and I as we scrambled to find and charge a phone to call the bus company. We were asked several more times when we were leaving, when they were getting there, and if the bus was actually going to come. Her staff also went up to guests and were telling them they needed to leave, where they had to then defend themselves by telling them that they were waiting for the shuttle. This was just a very disheartening and frustrating way to end such a beautiful day.
All in all, the venue was beautiful and gave our evening a magical feel! However, With all the back and forth, miscommunication and confusion from working with The current owner, unless she puts someone else in charge of her venue. My Husband and I would gravely recommend no one using this venue unless you are prepared to be very pushy, or have a wedding planner who is willing to fight for you.
