Crystal Ballroom on the Lake

Looking for a wedding venue that will cancel your contracted date, ignore your calls, and force you to fight for your own money? That’s exactly what happened to me at Crystal Ballroom on the Lake. I booked this venue for my wedding, signed a contract, and paid a $2,000 deposit. Months later, they called to inform me that a “glitch” in their system had resulted in a double booking of my date. I was suddenly left without a venue and had to start from scratch, but the nightmare didn’t stop there. Even though they promised me a full refund, I was ignored, given the runaround, and forced to chase them for weeks. I was lied to on multiple occasions about when I would receive my refund. Their district manager was often unresponsive and clearly uninterested in making things right. After reporting them to the BBB, the Attorney General, FDACS, and seeking legal action, I finally got my money back. But only after a long, exhausting battle that no couple should ever have to go through. Had I canceled, I would have lost my deposit, as stated in the contract. But they canceled on me and acted like I was an inconvenience instead of a paying customer they had wronged. Planning a wedding is stressful enough, don’t let Crystal Ballroom make it worse.

Management had Poor professionalism lacking communication. Nancy the manager is the worst human being I’ve ever encounter! Trey was awesome until he went MIA due to personal reasons but no communication about his absence until day before my wedding. The crystal ballroom could’ve done better. I made the most mistake by choosing this particular location “ Altamonte Springs by the lake”. I paid for extra services which I didn’t receive like the red carpet, sparkles etc. I’ve been calling them for over two weeks to speak with management and they have been dodging me. You only get married once and the crystal ballroom Altamonte isn’t the place to make such once in a lifetime memories. I should’ve picked another location so it’s on me!

The day of our wedding, Crystal Ballroom delivered. Our day of coordinator, Estephany, was on top of everything. There wasn’t a missed detail. She was so kind and responsive throughout the process. Eli came into the venue at the beginning of 2021 and made sure we were taken care of up to the day of our wedding. We had a rough start with the previous staff. It came down to switching our date because of COVID. But when Eli took over he cleaned house and made sure everyone working there handled us with professionalism. We had a perfect wedding reception. All of our guests had the best time. The staff working the day of were so friendly and made everyone feel good. Definitely consider booking this venue.

I have to share this because it's weighing heavy on me. When my husband and I were younger we got married at the courthouse because let's be honest we couldn't afford the wedding of our dreams. So fast forward 20 years later we finally save enough to have this moment that I have dreamt of my entire life. Then boom! Coronavirus hits and we go through a shut down the week of our wedding. We reach out to our venders who are all completely sympathetic and understanding. We are not canceling, we are simply pausing till the madness subsides. All venders but one.... The Crystal Ballroom. They have decided that I must either have the wedding during these times. Of course everyone has to wear masks and have their temperatures checked and even though there are no windows and there are over 50 people coming, they feel this is completely fine. So either I have a uncomfortable wedding and risk the health of those I love. Cancel the wedding and lose all the money paid in full (which was my only savings for this wedding). The last option is to reschedule and pay a $600 deposit and only 1/2 of my payment can be used towards another date (as credit) and I still pay whatever amount they come up with for another wedding day (so I lose 1/2 of what I paid, pay an additional $600 and they doubled their prices for next year so I essentially would go from paying 5K to 10K). All for a situation I have no control over.... They wont answer my emails and they have nothing to say over the phone other than they are maintaining sanitation compliancy. The fact that they are doubling the costs of future events is taking advantage of a delicate situation for so many brides. They should ashamed of themselves.