Crystal Ballroom at the Rice

WOW! I have only praises to sing about the Crystal Ballroom! 1. The space is gorgeous! The ballroom is one of the most elegant venues out there! 2. The event staff! Emily and Courtney are so organized, communicative, and an absolute joy to work with. They made all of the craziness of wedding planning disappear. I knew from our first meeting forward that we were in good hands... Emily and Courtney had everything planned down to the minute. On the day of our wedding, I had no worries and was able to sit back and enjoy everything while they worked behind the scenes to shuttle things along. 3. The food!! This is not your typical wedding food. We have had multiple guests call and ask us where we catered our food from, because it was that good! The Crystal Ballroom even offers gluten free and vegan options for guests with dietary restrictions. Seriously, try the chicken tostada and the pork loin, they are to die for! 4. EASE with wedding planning! When we hired the Crystal Ballroom, we instantly had a million details lifted off of our shoulders. Booking with the Crystal Ballroom gives you access to a day-of planner (who also helped with so much ahead of time!) and this was invaluable to being able to enjoy our big day.

Emily and Courtney are such a blessing! Having our reception at the crystal ballroom was one of the best decisions we made in wedding planning. We wouldn’t have changed a single thing!

Where to start. The Crystal Ballroom was a place I had thought about for years for my wedding reception and when my husband and I visited we knew this was the place for us. It is a true gem of Houston that is timeless. The event staff is INCREDIBLE. Emily and Cassidy were the absolute best! From the beginning of the planning process to the day of the wedding they were professional, organized, communicated and overall GREAT! They truly helped to make my wedding reception dreams come true and create a night that my husband and I will never forget.

Our wedding reception was on 1/8/22 at the Crystal Ballroom. The event coordinating team, Emily, Cassidy and their team, were absolute top notch professionals and such a joy to work with! These ladies are very experienced with weddings and it truly showed. My husband and I were impressed with their communication and responsiveness. They were willing to work with all of our ideas: boba tea bar, cultural food, distribution of guest parking passes, drink wrist bands, gloves for buffet line, hand sanitizer stations, extra outside reception seating and more! The week leading up to the day was incredibly stressful due to the unexpected omicron surge. We had to make several last minute adjustments and the CBR team made everything happen. The venue itself is a hidden historical wonder in Houston - so many guests were impressed with how beautiful the ballroom and balcony were, especially being centrally located in downtown Houston. Thank you again!

Oh man where do I even begin! The Crystal Ballroom was the most beautiful venue. To this day, we have multiple guests letting us know how much in awe they were. Our coordinators were Cassidy and Emily who were absolute rock stars. We had to reschedule our wedding due to covid and it was SO easy to work with them for that transition. They honored the original prices and were always available to answer all my ridiculous-bride questions. On the day of, oh man were they so professional and thought of it all! When the groom and I ate, they ensured we didn't get any food on us and also had a drawer with so many backup supplies we may have needed (hair spray, bobby pins, etc). Through out the night, they always ensured we had a drink in our hand and had the time of our lives. They took care of us from beginning to end, and I cannot be any more grateful. Thank you so much Crystal Ballroom team!

Crystal ballroom was the best choice as a wedding venue. The coordinator Cassidy Norton and Emily Conroe did an excellent job and knew what they were doing. The team was so organized with everything throughout the day and night, which made everything run smoothly. The venue is absolutely gorgeous and the tables were spaced perfectly. It made the most special day of our lives!

The Crystal Ballroom building is beautiful, but the current event-management company is awful. Do NOT trust them for your wedding. First, the event management “company” is actually owned and operated by the attached Sambuca Restaurant. They use multiple different LLC names on the paperwork, but all of my payments were made directly to Sambuca - whose parent company is actually based in Dallas. During the 9 months of planning for my wedding, I was passed to 3 different event managers, and many of the people I worked with were actually located in Dallas - not Houston. Furthermore, couples are required to use their in-house catering by Sambuca Restaurant, whose service was the worst part of my wedding. Sambuca Catering did not deliver the food/beverage items I ordered and prepaid for my wedding. They have not refunded me for 7+ months, despite verbal agreements to refund undelivered items, and now they have started ignoring my emails - after passing my case to 3 additional ‘managers.’ I paid for buffet servings per-person at my wedding - paying for more servings than I had people, and halfway through food service, the servers turned off the buffet lights and told my guests they were out of food. People left my wedding to buy food elsewhere. Thirty minutes later, servers came back with (presumably) the rest of the food and turned the lights back on. I also paid $55 per person for the “premium” alcohol package, and 1.5 hours into the 4 hour bar, they ran out of wine. I pre-ordered/paid for 6 bottles of Cava for my bridal party to drink before the wedding. Upon arrival, I was told they were only able to obtain 2 of 6 bottles I ordered months before. I did not receive a replacement for the other 4 bottles, and as mentioned, I have not been refunded for those bottles. I am no longer eligible to dispute any of the credit card charges, because Sambuca promised to refund me repeatedly - until my 90 day window with my credit card company passed. They have also been taking advantage of all the different company associations I mentioned by passing my case with the BBB back-and-forth between the Dallas and Houston companies to prolong the issue. I paid Sambuca $35,000 for food & alcohol, and I was treated poorly before, during, and after my event. I repeat: DO NOT trust Sambuca for your event. They will leave you disappointed and embarrassed, as they did for me.

We couldn't have gotten luckier to have the Crystal Ballroom (at the Rice) as our reception venue! We also used the Empire Room as our cocktail hour space and, between that room and the ballroom, we couldn't have been happier as both are just decorated beautifully to begin with and have so much history. If the elegance of the rooms didn't sell us already, the Crystal Ballroom team are phenomenal to work with and we couldn't have asked a better team to organize and execute our special occasion! Thank you so much to them as well as to Sambuca (for such delicious food)!

Choosing the Crystal Ballroom as our wedding venue was the easiest decision we made throughout the wedding process. This venue is gorgeous and not to mention the history of the building itself is a huge plus. We've received so many compliments since our wedding about how beautiful it was and that the food was actually delicious! Rarely have I experienced such great food at a large event such as this. The design and layout between the ballroom, parlor, terrace, foyer and the Empire Room provided so much space for our 230 person guest list. The Sales Manager, Hailey, was an absolute doll to work with as well. She was always so responsive to my many emails and calls. I cannot recommend this venue enough!

Ever since I was a little girl and visited the Crystal Ballroom for the first time, I knew this was where I wanted to get married. This venue was absolutely beautiful. With the wrap around balcony you can see most of downtown Houston! Great for wedding photos. The staff was so friendly and super accommodating. They were with us every step of the way. When ever we had a situation, they always came up with a solution! I had two wedding coordinators the day of the wedding (compliments of the Crystal Ballroom) who kept me updated on everything and made sure the reception was executed perfectly. The Crystal Ballroom is an absolutely amazing venue. With their wrap around balcony, french doors, high ceilings and old historic architecture, it is one of the most amazing places to be married.

BEST WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE! Where do you begin with such an amazing venue. Hailey, our coordinator, and her team were just prompt and knowledgeable about EVERY aspect for a wedding. Hailey was so open to anything and super organized. She definitely made the planning process super easy, as I was my own wedding planner. From the food pairing options, setting up, to even making sure my now husband and I were being fed and kept our wine glasses full! They made the whole event run so smoothly and you can tell that they know their stuff. The venue itself was huge and was able to hold all of my guests and have enough room to move around. It is in the heart of Downtown and our hotel was right next door. During my wedding, I even told a potential wedding couple to do their wedding there! This venue will NEVER disappoint. LOVE THIS PLACE!

Our experience with the venue was stressful, disappointing, and at times exasperating. Wedding was on Sept 2. The AC was not working properly and the room was uncomfortably hot. We noticed this hours before the event and raised it with staff. Throughout the afternoon they assured us help was on the way, but the tension continued to build and help did not arrive before our party of 280 entered the room for the wedding ceremony. Finally, after the ceremony and during a chaotic transition to prepare the room for the dinner/dance, heavy cooling equipment was installed. During the wedding ceremony the microphone did not work properly and had to be abandoned. In the lead-up and contract stage of our planning (the contract was with Sambuca Catering, Inc.) things seemed fine. In the interim there were personnel changes. Problems started the day prior to the wedding when the florist requested that the venue be open by a certain time on wedding day, to set up, and Sambuca personnel insisted this was not possible. I was only able to get this resolved after making aggravating phone calls that interrupted our entertainment of out of town guests. Sambuca personnel did ultimately accommodate on that issue, but the calls were an unpleasant distraction, and one that seemed quite unnecessary under the circumstances. The Crystal Ballroom is a beautiful room and the food met expectations. We were blessed that our daughter and son in law, and their friends and ours, had a wonderful time—as did we--despite the aggravations and disappointments with the venue.

I just finished a tour of the venue and I could not leave that place quickly enough. The whole second flood smelled like a men's restroom. I know that was probably just a one-day thing, but it was so off putting. The rest of the second floor (ballroom, empire room, bridal suite) looks very worn -- like no one has cleaned anything since 2002. Scuff marks all over the walls and floor, the wooden trim around the doors was crumbling off (a sign of mold or worse), and everything just felt dirty. Stay away, brides-to-be of Houston. This place is not worth your time. At least until they do a serious renovation and hire a new maintenance staff.

We had both our ceremony and reception at Crystal Ballroom and it was perfect! The setting right in the middle of downtown made for some awesome pictures and was so convenient for our guests. Plus, the ballroom itself is beautiful and the terrace was also really popular with your guests. The staff were all amazing, making sure we had absolutely everything we needed throughout the night. They made sure my husband and I were never without a drink and even came around to us on the dance floor and gave us water to drink quickly every so often . The food was outstanding and our guests are still raving about it. Paula and the rest of the staff here have weddings and taking care of guests down!

The Crystal Ballroom was the perfect place for my husband and I to get married! The venue is so gorgeous and very classy and glamorous.

We had our wedding reception here last month and it was seriously incredible. We had requirements we wanted for our reception venue and the Crystal Ballroom fit all of them: in downtown Houston, spacious dance floor, large outdoor patio, NOT a hotel, available before college football season, and hotels in walking distance. Jamie is a breeze to work with, from our first meeting to the wedding day! Everything was incredible, we had a sit down dinner and the staff was so nice and quick with the service! I've never had so many friends thank me for having a venue with so many bathrooms, probably the weirdest compliment I think I've ever received!

The catering manager Christine exceeded our expectations. Very friendly and showed she loved her job. We all felt very close to her like family. The only reason why we did not choose this venue is because we wanted an outdoor option as well and I have to say it was hard to make the decision because I would not be working with her!

My dream wedding came true with the Crystal Ballroom. Very classy and upscale. Jamie and her team were great to work with. Sara was our day-of coordinator and was pure magic!!! She helped the wedding go off without any problems! Would recommend this venue to anyone!

Excellent service and event management! Sarah our Day-of coordinator was amazing! She made sure we had the wedding of our dreams!

We decided to go to with the All-Inclusive Package that the Crystal Ballroom offers on Friday's. It included food, beer and wine (we added on liquor), reception photography, 4 hour DJ and the bridal cake. Aka- an awesome deal. Of course we asked that the DJ be there for the ceremony which ended up being an extra cost, as well as needing our photographer for longer than 4 hours, but those costs were no big deal. We also had our ceremony here in the ballroom for an additional cost. Jamie, at the Crystal Ballroom, is simply one of the most hard working people I've ever met. She's so good at what she does and is very straight forward. Most of the time she responds to emails quickly, but remember, she is super busy, so sometimes it's a little delayed. We met a few times in person, as I did mostly DIY stuff for our wedding, and I just wanted to make sure everything ended up where I wanted it to be...and of course it did....with the help of Sara(h). Sara(h) works with Jamie and was our coordinator for the night. Oh my freakin goodness I loved her so much. Jake and I didn't go a second without a drink in our hand, she and her other coworker (who I can't remember her name. So sorry!) made sure we had everything we needed at all times. She even followed us outside during pictures to bring us water. Since we had our ceremony in the ballroom as well, the Sambuca staff had to do a "flip" for our reception. It all happened so quickly and was perfect. Our guests raved about the food. My dad never compliments anyone, but he was also so impressed with Sara(h). My step-mom has Celiac Disease and Sara(h) made sure she got the proper food, which was a big hit for them. Long story short, Jamie and her staff are amazing, I really don't know how they do it. Thank you ladies so much! I truly enjoyed working with you, and thank you for putting up with me!

Five months later and we are still reliving our wedding reception.. It was truly the best day of our lives. I could not have imagined having our reception being anywhere else. Jamie and her staff were amazing. The moment we stepped off of our bus after coming from the church, the staff had glasses of champagne right there on the street for us. I knew from that moment the evening was going to be perfect - and it was! Jamie was very responsive and helpful throughout the entire planning process and made the night run perfectly. They are very accommodating and any desire you have, she will make it work. We had SO many compliments on the food...you cannot go wrong with anything on their menu!! The ballroom is so beautiful and unique. It was exactly what I was looking for when I first set eyes on it. You could go minimal on flowers and it would still be stunning inside the ballroom. My husband and I would HIGHLY recommend the Crystal Ballroom, you will NOT regret it!!!! Thank you Jamie!!

If I had to choose one word to describe our wedding experience here, it would be EFFORTLESS. Jamie is truly a PROFESSIONAL at what she does. She takes care of ALL of the thinking for you, it is such a breeze working with her. I loved my experience so much that I also had my rehearsal dinner with Erica at Sambuca, and our after party at Lawless (both their sister companies). The days/months leading up to the wedding, Jamie was available with any question we had. The day of the wedding, Jamie's team was UNBELIEVABLE! All of my guests not only raved about the food being fantastic but how attentive and nice the staff was. I will be forever grateful for Jamie and her team making our special day effortless, beautiful, and exactly what we wanted. THANK YOU!!!!

My daughter and I worked with the Crystal Ballroom and Jamie Purpera for 18 months prior to my daughter’s wedding. We never seriously considered having the ceremony and reception at any other venue. The historic elegance of the Crystal Ballroom was unmatched by any other venue we visited. Jamie was a pleasure to work with and provided just the right amount of help and guidance through all the planning steps. She graciously shared all kinds of good advice and had many cost saving suggestions. We quickly learned to rely on her expertise. We were excited for the wedding day and relatively calm knowing we were in good hands with Jamie and her staff. The actual day of the wedding was absolutely flawless. Our guests (many from out of town) were floored by the beauty of the location, the wonderful food and the warmth of the staff. There were so many kind gestures throughout the event that made the day special for my daughter. I've never attended an event, anywhere, with a more dedicated, professional staff.

We had our rehearsal dinner (Sambuca), wedding and wedding reception at the Crystal Ballroom. Erica at Sambuca was great in helping to plan our rehearsal dinner…she was able to get us a private room and bar to host our party. Jamie helped us for two years to plan the wedding and went above and beyond anything we could ask for. The whole place was remodel and everything looks amazing. As for as the planning, Jamie answered everything within a day and was there every step of the way whether it was vendors I needed, amazing food tasting and checking up on us until we left our receptions. She even had a few surprises for the wedding parties waiting in our room while we prepped for the wedding. Food was amazing, people couldn’t get enough. The whole staff was wonderful, never had an empty drink in my hand! All in all, this is absolutely the best place to get married and host a wedding reception. Jamie and her team are the best there is in Houston.

This venue has always been a Houston gem, we booked it before the lobby was remodeled but it was finished by our wedding date. It looked AMAZING! Our guests loved it! Janie and the team of coordinators were amazing! The took care of us ( groom and I) and our guests all night! They are the best!

DO NOT HAVE YOUR RECEPTION OR EVENT AT THE CRYSTAL BALLROOM! We recently had our wedding reception there and it was an awful experience that we are still having to deal with to this day. 1) Our original coordinator SWITCHED US TO ANOTHER COORDINATOR on the day of our wedding. The new coordinator had only been working there for 6 weeks and admitted it was her first time working by herself. The new coordinator had NO CLUE what she was doing, and it was far too late once we figured that out. 2) THE STAFF STOLE THE REST OF OUR CAKE. My sister overheard two employees talking to each other about how much of the extra cake to pack up but it did not dawn on my sister until the next day when we realized that they didn’t give us our cake that the employees were talking about packing up our cake to take home for themselves! 3) THE VENUE (OR STAFF) STOLE THE REST OF OUR FOOD. We were told from the beginning by the lead coordinator when we were still deciding on venues that the leftover food from the buffet reception would be boxed up and would be ours to keep. There were two whole GIANT unsliced slabs of roast beef sitting untouched under heat lamps near the end of the evening, with no staff there to carve them—which was another issue since we also paid the venue SEPARATELY for carvers that were supposed to be carving the beef for the entire evening. Were the guests just supposed to carve off chunks of beef themselves with butter knives? NONE of the extra food was packaged and given to us. When questioned later, the coordinator recited an INCORRECT health code and RENEGED on our original agreement. 4) The top tier of our cake that was boxed up for us was HALF EATEN INTO 5) Our cake stand was not returned to us and I had to attempt to track it down along with the rest of our cake and food WHILE ON OUR HONEYMOON! When we met with the event coordinator in person to address our concerns, she just sat there with a blank legal pad with nothing written. She shot down each issue with, “I talked to each of my employees from that evening, and they said they didn’t take anything. They have no reason to lie to me.” She simply could not grasp the point that we were trying to make that OF COURSE her employees are going to tell her what she wants to hear because she is their boss and don't want to lose their jobs. There were so many other issues that just wouldn’t fit into to character limit of this review such as serving watered down gumbo, running out of many side items and sauces, and a poorly coordinated send off that resulted in both sets of our parents completely missing us walking out of the reception at the end of the night. I understand that this is a lengthy review, but we feel very strongly about no one else having to go through what we went through with them. As a physician and nurse practitioner, we have no ulterior motives in poorly reviewing this venue. It is not about money, but rather, it is about respect. We expected a certain level of service equal to not just the amount of time/money we invested in our wedding, but also equal to the reputation of the Houston tradition that is the Crystal Ballroom. It is sad that these are the people that are now entrusted to run such a treasured part of Houston history. Wedding Wire has strict character limits on their reviews, so here is a link to my full Yelp review of this venue: http://www.yelp.com/biz/crystal-ballroom-at-the-rice-hotel-houston?hrid=ixIf2Az05Tq3G8nbY4hgLQ

I cannot say enough great things about Jamie and the entire Crystal Ballroom / Sambucca team. From start to finish, Jamie and her team were crisp, precise and helpful. They offered good advice when asked and were able to execute on everything we wanted. We did the wedding package and despite some reservations about choosing an all-inclusive, everything was just fantastic. We loved the cake, the DJ, and the catering - all were complimented by our guests. The venue itself is also just an incredible value-add. We were able to go fairly minimal on flowers and the ballroom still looked gorgeous and didn't feel like a cookie-cutter venue. We also had several guests from out of town, many of whom had never been to Texas. The Crystal Ballroom helped show off some lovely Texas history and Houston's skyline.

I chose the Crystal ballroom b/c of the look, pricing, and service they provide. Jamie always answers emails in a timely manner and very upfront. The only thing I would have changed would be to have had the event 1 hour longer. Alexandra was our planner there the day of and she was a ROCKSTAR. Always asking what I needed, what she could help with, and keeping track of time for you. The food..AMAZING! All of my guests have said it is the "best wedding food" they've ever had and now want to try out Sambuca more! The ballroom is absolutely gorgeous, they are doing some remodeling, but it looks amazing so far. The servers were so nice, attentive to the guests, and quick. The value you get, especially if you do an all inclusive, is top notch. If I had to do it all over again, I'd still pick them. Heck if I ever have a big event again, I'd use this place. Seriously though, can't say enough about Jamie. She was always open to having meetings, quick to return emails (even if they had, what I would think, dumb questions), and always up front and honest. She's very helpful and can't boast on her enough. Alexandra - my day of gal, was a Gem! My mom afterwards asked if we could take her with us. She was so helpful and always checking in on us AND just a great person- we had several one-off conversations. Can't go wrong here! Jamie and her staff will do their very best - no questions asked!

I only saw this venue because my husband had visited it with his mother and they had liked it despite me originally wanted to keep with the "rustic/vintage" themes that has been so popular the last few years. However, upon visiting it, I knew it was a truer reflection of us and I fell in love with the elegance of the wonderfully restored ballroom. I worked with Jamie who made everything easy, despite me being an out of town bride. She always responded quickly and her staff was friendly and helpful as well. Contract negotiations went smoothly and there are multiple ways to pay. We did a tasting (to which you can have 4 people attend) several months before-- they use Sambuca for catering, and the quality of the food held true to the day of. There was a walk-through about 1 month before where they make a floor plan and ensure everyone is on the same page. We did both ceremony and reception here with a cocktail hour down on the first floor lobby. There is valet parking available for $10/car or you can pay for your guests. There are several hotels within walking distance (I walked over) and a lot of people used taxis/uber to get around too. We had around 200 people with a royal table, so the room looked full without being crowded, and the stage was perfect for our live band. I will say, try to see the ballroom at the time you're going to have your wedding, it absolutely looks different in the evening than in early morning light. Jamie and her staff were AMAZING day of, everything was running smoothly; they made sure we got fed and I always had a drink on hand. They were super sweet to me, and I really appreciate all they did for us. Love them, definitely recommend them.

Oh, the Crystal Ballroom! What can I say about this place? I had my wedding here and it was absolutely perfect! Let me start by pointing out the most obvious things when you first walk into the venue. The venue is absolutely beautiful. Nice architectural details, very classic decor that requires little addition to make the space wedding-ready, and the most gorgeous wrap around terrace that you can imagine! The price point of the venue is average. It was less expensive than hotels we had considered but more than the more casual types of venues. But what a great value for such an elegant venue! The only decor we really needed in the space was flowers and lighting. To be honest, we were a little unsure about the food after our menu tasting- we were kind of limited in options because of our wedding guests' dietary restrictions (we ended up going with a chicken option). But on the wedding day, we were very impressed and it came out quite well- especially for such a large group. Jamie, the venue coordinator, was really great. She was very helpful and extremely responsive. I had a million questions as I planned the wedding almost 2 years out, and she always always responded in a very friendly manner. She did a great job working with our coordinator and we couldn't have imagined a more perfect wedding. Highly recommended!

All the reviews are true. One, rent the Crystal Ballroom because it is gorgeous and a great location. Two, rent the Crystal Ballroom because you will get Jamie and her amazing team. The second reason is worth the fee and comes with peace of mind. Wouldn't change a single thing about our big day, and much of that confidence comes from the fact we had a team of people there for us to help make our wedding so amazing.

I can't say enough good things about Jamie and her staff at the Crystal Ballroom. Wedding planning is stressful enough, but the easiest thing I had to do was deal with them. From the menu selection to cocktails, room set up, anything at all they are on it. They are so patient and kind. I never felt pressured or rushed to make a decision. The ballroom itself is simply stunning. So beautiful and so unique. Definitely nothing like it in Houston.

I just had my wedding at the Crystal Ballroom in Houston this past October and couldn't have been happier. The venue is truly beautiful and is one of the oldest buildings in downtown. I really loved the architecture and the outdoor terrace. Jamie, the wedding coordinator at the Crystal Ballroom was a delight to work with. She was honest and straightforward from the first day we met her and made sure that we stayed on budget. The Ballroom offered a fantastic all-inclusive package for our Friday wedding that included the food, bar, cake, photographer and dj all for an amazing price. Jamie worked with us to get the menu we wanted as well as accommodating our personal/cultural touches. They also have individual/customized packages if you are not interested in using the all-inclusive plan. On the day of the wedding, service was fantastic. Even though we had a buffet, servers were very attentive filling empty glasses, picking up napkins and clearing up the tables. All of our guests were very happy. Everything went smoothly and we all had a wonderful time. At the end of the night Jamie also helped with cleaning up and packed up goodie bags with food and cake for us to take home. I would really recommend this place if you're looking for a fancy place without paying the huge price tag.

I chose to use the Rice Crystal Ballroom as my wedding venue despite the high price, and now that the wedding is done, I can say that the Rice was my favorite vendor of the day! I mostly spoke with Jaime Purpera during the wedding planning process, although she was not there the night of the wedding; one of her employees was in charge that night and she was just as amazing as Jaime! Jaime gave it to me straight throughout the wedding planning process. I told her my budget and she was honest with me about what I could and could not fit into that budget. Jaime was so professional the entire time I communicated with her, and her employees were all so friendly and knowledgeable about my wedding plans which tells me they communicate well with each other at the Rice Crystal Ballroom. The food tasting I attended to decide what to include on my menu was so well put together; it was at the Sambuca restaurant in Houston, and there was a waiter there to see that my every wish was met while I tasted their delicious food with my family! Jamie even gave us each a free dessert off the dessert menu at the end of the tasting. I wish I could remember the name of the girl who was in charge on our wedding night, because she was AMAZING!!! Not only, were neither I or my groom ever without a drink in our hand, I was told none of my guests were left drinkless either! The flow of the reception went so well at the reception, with no long lines at the buffet, plenty of food to choose from, waitors circulating with drinks, no dirty plates being left on the tables, and the staff packed everything up for my parents at the end of the night and helped transport everything down the block to the hotel room my parents were staying at. The girl in charge was so great about maintaining our time schedule I never had to worry the whole night about things running behind. Lastly, I just want to comment on how beautiful the Rice Crystal Ballroom is itself with tall ceilings, chandeliers, a balcony overlooking the theater district in Houston, and large tall wooden windows and doors; it barely needs decoration, it is gorgeous on it's own. Basically I could not say enough good things about the Rice! If you can afford it, go with it because it is worth every penny!

Crystal Ballroom, Sambuca, and all the staff far exceeded our expectations as our wedding venue. The night went absolutely perfectly. We worked with Jamie from day 1, and as I'm sure she has hundreds of brides she is working with at any given time, I always felt like I was the only one. She was AWESOME about responding to emails and answering all my questions (from stupid small questions, to major decisions). I feel like I owe her so much for helping ensure that our day was perfect. The food was delicious, just as I expected from Sambuca. We are still getting compliments from people on how delicious the food was, and was so different from the typical wedding food. The staff on hand absolutely made the night. We had our rehearsal dinner in the Empire Room the night before our wedding, and was able to meet the staff and so it was nice to establish a relationship with them and know all their names on Saturday. Anytime any family member was low on a drink, there was someone there with another one. I felt a bit ill after dinner (from a tight dress), Jamie rushed in with a cool washcloth and someone else was there to fan me, I felt better in no time and have never been served like that before! We got a sneak peek of the ballroom set up for the reception before guests were allowed back in (we also held our ceremony in the ballroom), and it literally took my breath away. It was just as I imagined it. All the staff kept telling me how gorgeous it looked (even though I'm sure they see weddings in there all the time!). I would highly recommend the Crystal Ballroom to anyone who wants the classic, timeless feel for their wedding. It was the wedding of my dreams!

Jaime and her staff made our wedding absolutely perfect! Everything went just the way it was supposed to and we had no worries or issues all night! Jamie was reliable from the time we started wedding planning to the very end. She met with us a few times, responded promptly to emails and calls, and answered any question we had throughout the whole process. Sambuca catered for us and the food was delicious! The venue itself is beautiful and doesn't require any extra decoration to make it look elegant. The lobby makes a great space for cocktail hour and the balcony and Empire room are excellent for pictures. I also loved that there was a beautiful dressing room for me and my bridesmaids. We were so thankful for Francis who checked on us girls frequently and brought us champagne while we got ready. She also brought my family, husband, and me drinks all night! Absoultely gorgeous venue and unbeatable service!!

Jamie Purpera and her team at the Crystal Ballroom are amazing. An outside wedding planner was not needed because Jamie handled every detail. The food was amazing and my guests are still raving about it. The room is beautiful and ornate while the balcony is large enough for everyone to go outside. Jamie is very accommodating for any requests that you might have and the evening was flawless. I would highly recommend the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice for anyone looking for a venue. You will be in good hands and rest assured that everything will be taken care of for you.

The Crystal Ballroom was amazing. The historic ballroom is beautiful with its high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, arched French doors, and murals. The entryway is equally beautiful with its marble columns and high ceiling looking up to the 2nd floor balcony. The wrap-around balcony outside of the ballroom is spacious and great. It has a large dance floor, and the stage is awesome if you are having a band. Definitely a great space for a big party! Jamie is top-notch and ensures that your evening will go smoothly. She is responsive to all calls, emails and questions, and accommodating of all special requests you might have. The quality of everything is just wonderful and the service is impeccable. It is expensive, but reasonable for downtown Houston and you are getting your money's worth with the high quality service and beauty of the venue. This venue definitely makes a statement of beauty, class, and a great party spot!

Great venue. nice, complete service. the employees made sure everything ran smoothly and packed up my belongings for me and walked them to the hotel for us where we were staying (Magnolia). However, if you don't want all your belongings mixed up then pack it up yourself before the wedding starts (because you won't have time after that). A lot of my stuff was mixed up in various bags and I had a hard time finding things later that night. they also packed up to-go food from the buffet and boxed up the cake for me. I thought that was really nice. they always made sure I had a drink in hand, and as the bride, that's important because I was so busy running around partying with everyone. Jamie was good to work with and always answered my questions.

My experience with the crystal ballroom was phenomenal. Right when we arrived, Jamie (the ballroom's coordinator) met my husband and I at the valet with champagne and took us in a back way so we could have some hors d'oeuvres before being announced. We cannot speak highly enough of how beautiful the venue was, and how amazing the coordinator, Jamie was!

Helpful staff and beautiful setting made my day a success! Jamie and her team are amazing!

Our reception at The Crystal Ballroom was beautiful and fun fun fun! Staff was wonderful. Everyone had such a great time!

The Crystal Ballroom is a fabulous venue. Not only is it one of the few beautiful, indoor, non-hotel (even though historically a small hotel, very different than a chain or major hotel with ballroom similar to a meeting facility or several events in the same night), venue with significant capacity (400) in town. The outdoor porch/patio is a huge plus, with great views and convenient for guests to walk outdoors, see downtown, and access a 2nd bar set up on the patio. The dance floor is also very large, which can be very hard to find one big enough to accommodate hundreds of people comfortably. The food is provided by Sambuca, the hotel downstairs and owner of the Rice. Their food is amazing and they have so many items to choose from and ensure any tastes are available. The service is great. They really are experienced and have suggestions and knowledge to provide throughout the planning process, which is so helpful. Even more, their professionalism and organization the day of the wedding is priceless. They make sure EVERYTHING goes smoothly and can tackle any issues that arise, with class. They will accommodate you for any special requests and make sure you are tended to the entire night and ready for the various events that occur throughout the reception. For the quality of the venue, convenient location (I would also suggest booking rooms at the Magnolia across the street for guests), historic feel and aesthetic perfection, as well as food and service, the price really is reasonable. Nothing cheap but more than fair compared to other locations.

Everyone at the Crystal Ballroom did a wonderful job. They knew exactly what they were doing and service was great. Venue is beautiful!

The Crystal Ballroom is the best place for a wedding reception. The room is perfect and so beautiful, and Jamie is amazing! She is quick to respond to questions and so knowledgeable about wedding receptions. The food is amazing- everyone was raving about it.

I had the pleasure of having my reception at the Crystal Ballroom and I could not have been happier. I got married on October 2, 2010 and it far exceeded my expectations!!!! The staff( Jaime, Sophia) and others were spectacular. They were on top of everything. Sambuca catered as it is located directley below and contracted through the ballroom and let me just tell you my guests thought it was the best wedding food they had ever had!!! I can not say enough how attentive and accomodating the staff truly was. It was beyond amazing and I know that any bride or bridezilla would be pleased! It was my dream wedding!!!!!!