Clifton Inn LLC

While our wedding turned out to be wonderful, thanks largely to our planner Barbara and other vendors, we cannot recommend The Clifton to couples seeking a smooth, professional planning experience. For context, we hosted a full weekend of events at the venue, including a Thursday night dinner, a Friday-to-Sunday room buy-out, a Saturday wedding, and a Sunday brunch. Although the property itself is stunning, the mismanagement and relentless nickel-and-diming severely undermined what should have been an extraordinary celebration. Here are some of the key issues we encountered: Abysmal Customer Service The most disappointing aspect of The Clifton was its lackluster customer service, especially given the six-figure cost of our wedding. The general manager was consistently rude and unresponsive throughout the process, adding unnecessary stress to an already complex planning process. During the planning process the sales manager verbally assured us that the bride and groom’s stay during the wedding would be fully covered. However, after the wedding, we were charged the full amount for our stay. When we raised the issue, management not only denied their prior promises but also claimed we were entitled only to a 50% discount. Even after we accepted the 50% discount, our repeated efforts to resolve the matter and receive the refund were met with silence. The hotel ultimately stopped responding entirely, forcing us to dispute the charges with our credit card company to recover what we were rightfully owed. This level of dismissiveness and unprofessionalism was shocking for a venue of this reputation and price point. Broken Promises on Event Size We booked The Clifton over a year in advance, enticed by the idea of hosting our closest friends and family for an intimate weekend. When we booked, we were told that the venue was already hosting a “petite” wedding the Friday evening before our wedding. We were assured that The Clifton’s policy for a “petite” wedding meant fewer than 50 guests, and that they would never host two full-sized weddings over the same weekend . Just three weeks before our wedding, we were informed that this event had ballooned to 124 guests. The Clifton’s response? A dismissive “we have the right to do this,” despite how it had been presented to us when we booked the venue. Couples should beware—get everything explicitly written into your contract and signed. Ultimately, The Clifton comped a few of the rooms Friday night for our friends and family most affected by staying in rooms overlooking the “petite” wedding, but not without a lot of unnecessary stress, hassle and anxiety on our part shortly before our wedding. Unacceptable Issues for the Price For a venue of this caliber and cost, the amount of issues was astounding. Warm beer was served during the reception due to “insufficient cooler space”—a shocking oversight given the $109 per-person bar tab. Guests reported unpleasant smells, excessive bugs in their rooms, tiles coming off the floor, and a broken balcony railing at the farmhouse. During the not-so-petite Friday wedding, our guests were disturbed by loud music, despite being promised this would not happen. Additionally many of our guests mentioned that one woman on the waitstaff was consistently unpleasant and rude. Bottom Line The Clifton is a stunning venue, but its management is profoundly unprofessional and disorganized. If you’re accustomed to the service and professionalism of similarly-priced hotels, you will be sorely disappointed. It’s a shame that such a picturesque property is so poorly run. Look elsewhere for a wedding venue unless you want unnecessary stress during what should be one of the happiest times of your life.