$3,500 starting price
151-200 guest capacity
This venue can host up to 200 guests
About this vendor
A Historical Home and Cirtus Grove on the River
La Venture Grove is a historical home and citrus grove nestled in the heart of Switzerland, Florida. The six acre property sits on the east side of the St. Johns river promising breathtaking sunsets. It is graced with beautiful 500+ year old oak trees draped in Spanish moss. The home was built in 1880 by the Moremen family. It features a brand new luxurious bridal suite, an old smoke room style grooms suite, as well as a brand new 2,000 square foot pole barn style pavilion. We have many amenities including hand made farm-style tables , whisky barrel cocktail tables, a handmade arbor, and much more! Give us a call or go to our website to book a tour or inquire for more information! Thank you for showing interest in La Venture Grove!
Pricing details
Starting prices
Reception:
$3,500
Ceremony:
$3,500
Bar services:
Contact for price
Catering:
Contact for price
Starting prices don't include service fees, taxes, gratuity, and rental fees. Guest count and seasonality may also affect prices. Peak season for this venue is Jan-May and Sept-Dec.
Amenities + details
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Liability Insurance
On-Site Accommodations
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Indoor Event Space
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Ceremony Types
- Civil Union
- Commitment Ceremony
- Elopement
- Interfaith Ceremony
- Non-Religious Ceremony
- Religious Ceremony
Guest Capacity
- Up to 200
Settings
- Backyard
- Barn
- Farm & Ranch
- Beach
- Waterfront
- Estate
Venue Service Offerings
- Destination Weddings
- Destination Wedding Packages
- Destination Wedding Planning
- Planning
- Destination Wedding Planning
- Wedding Design
Reviews
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4.1
out of 5.034 reviews
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I hate giving bad reviews so I wrestled with writing this. I truly wanted things to work out with this venue on good terms. I like the idea of it being a small family business. Unfortunately, working with them was disorganized, unprofessional, and ultimately very disappointing.
My in house coordinator, Paige, quit just 4 days before my wedding, leaving me scrambling.
I tried to hire my own coordinator due to the fact that my in-house coordinator had just quit but was given push back by Tammi (owner) who said that she would be my coordinator now and everything would run smoothly on my wedding day, she assured me that I didn’t need to worry because they do weddings every weekend and she would make sure it’s everything I wanted and had discussed with Paige.
Unfortunately, this was far from the truth.
There were so many balls that were dropped:
1. After several photos where already taken, my photographers noticed that none of the groomsmen had their Boutonnieres on. With no coordinator in sight, my maid of honor went looking for our boutonnieres from the in-house florist (Brook). The florist did not help and no coordinator around. As a result, both ring bearers are without their boutonnieres in all of our wedding photos.
2. While in the middle of taking photos, bartender, from in-house bar service, asked groom where ice was for the bar. This arrangement had already been made with coordinator for ice to be delivered from a vendor - when it wasn’t delivered on time and there was no coordinator in sight to handle the situation, as coordinators are supposed to do, bartender asked groom - who was in the middle of taking wedding portraits- causing additional stress.
3. Champagne glasses for the best man & made of honor speeches, that were packed and labeled accordingly were never given to them, so neither had a glass of champagne in hand while giving their speeches.
4. The personalized cake topper with my new last name was never put on the cake. This was labeled as “Cake topper” but somehow forgotten. All cake photos are without the personalized cake topper I personally ordered for our wedding cake.
5. It was very important to me to have bud vases with flowers on the memorial table display with the photos of my dead father and dead sister. That may seem like a small minor detail, but to me, the bride, it was a big deal. I made sure to put it on my ‘details sheet’ so that it wouldn’t get forgotten. All the photos of my memorial table are without the bud vases, with flowers that I was promised would be there. What is the point in having a details sheet outlining all of the details that matter to you, as the bride, if so many of the details are going to be disregarded?
The contract I signed with La Venture Grove for coordination services included:
-Vendor referrals and management throughout the process.
-Creation and distribution of event day timeline to all vendors and VIP’s. Yet my hairstylist, had to followed up with me asking for my timeline that Paige told me she had sent already to all of my vendors but had not. I truly believe the services that I paid for, were not rendered. I used all their in-house services. Coordinator, bar service, and florist. Working with them made the whole wedding planning process so much more stressful than it had to be because of their disorganization, lack of communication, and unprofessionalism. This place is beautiful but it truly was an unpleasant and disappointing experience working with them.
I hate giving small businesses negative reviews but I would like to inform brides to help them make a decision.
This venue is very beautiful but the staff and owners limited me on having my wedding here.
They were awful at communicating with me and my mom. I reached out to address concerns and potentially put down a deposit right then at that meeting. I drove over an over after work to meet them and the owner Tami never showed to the appointment.
After 25 minutes and a few texts later we decided to move on to look at other venues.
If communication is your priority (which mine was) please address this with them on your first meeting and see how they can be better.
Congratulations to all the future brides and know that the perfect venue and team behind them are out there for you. 💕
I had my fairytale wedding at La venture grove!! It was so magical from the orange grove we got married in to the reception on the water. It was everything I dreamed of for my wedding. This venue is stunning to say the least and has everything a bride is looking for !! I will always tell people about how wonderful this place is, it is truly one of a kind. 😊
Any questions?
If you are looking for the perfect venue…this is it!!!! The venue offers a little bit of everything…from coastal vibes to farmhouse vibes to outdoorsy, old Florida vibes. Even better you get all of this at an affordable price! On top of that Paige (the coordinator) was a complete dream to work with! Everyone was on point with communication and making sure my vision was brought to life. I HIGHLY recommend!
We were married at La Venture Grove on March 21, 2024, and everything about the day was absolutely perfect. To begin, the venue itself is magical. So thoughtfully designed and maintained. There is so much space and diversity, from the orange trees to the St. John’s River to the gorgeous house - there is no shortage of beautiful scenery. We had our ceremony in front of the large tree by the orange trees, our cocktail hour on the river, and reception in the covered space. I cannot tell you how many of our guests told us it was one of the best venues they had been to! Paige was our coordinator; she had four weddings the week of our wedding, but you could not tell at all. From beginning to end, our day ran flawlessly, and we did not have to think about anything! The setup was exactly what we had envisioned and discussed with Paige. She ensured our vision came to life and was very helpful throughout the process. We are so thankful for this venue and team! Definitely recommend.
I can’t say enough good things about this venue!
I recently got married in January of 2024 and the day I had was a day every girl can only dream of. I got engaged in October of 2023 so planning a wedding in 3 months is definitely no easy task. But the La Venture Grove team made this the most stress free 3 months ever!
To start at the tour Tammi made my mom, aunt, and I feel right at home. She worked with us! Never once did we feel like she wanted us to book because she wanted to make money. But she made us feel like she wanted us to have the most magical day no matter where we decided to book!
Working with Paige was also so amazing! She was so professional! And even as she was bringing a baby into the world, she made sure we were updated about our meetings!
Lastly, Callie, or coordinator brought everything together so perfectly. It was like my older sister was planning my wedding! Never once did Callie let me, my mom, or my husband go without. She was always keeping us updated about details. When planning, she asked me all the important questions about details that I would have never thought about! She was so personable and a joy to be around.
I can’t thank the La Venture Grove team enough. It’s evident how much this family cares about you and your big day. I would recommend them to anyone!
I was the last bride to get married at La Venture Grove in December 2023. I will say despite the venue dropping the ball on several logistical details, our wedding day was still so beautiful. We had an incredible day of coordinator, Callie, who I would have been lost without on wedding day. Thank goodness God brought us Callie because I do not have faith the day would have gone as smoothly as it did, given the circumstances, without her.
About 4 months before our wedding, communication became the first red flag with missed appointments and email responses taking on average 3 weeks for a reply. 2 months before our wedding, we still experienced delay in responses which per our contract, unlimited communication was included in our package 60 days out. My Husband and I had planned to book the family-affiliated floral company, Flora Grove thinking an inclusive floral package might make wedding planning and communication all around easier for us. After reaching out to Brooke numerous times for a floral quote (at this point our wedding was a month and a half away) and being promised countless times the quote would be sent “by the end of the day” or “by the end of the week”, the quote was delivered a mere 4 weeks before wedding day, staggering at almost $14k. I had been requesting a floral meeting and quote 3 months before wedding day, and the quote did not come until a month before my wedding day. After a call with Brooke to discuss how we could repurpose flowers throughout the space, I was told our florals were unable to be repurposed due to “time consuming labor” and the money she would have to pay to bring in additional people. I worked in the wedding industry for 2 1/2 years and have never heard of a bride not being able to repurpose florals.
I did what any bride would do and price shopped to find someone within my budget, 1 MONTH before my wedding. Thank goodness I was able to find a florist who was not only able to replicate our exact vision, but had no personal issues with us repurposing our flowers to reception space.
When I informed Brooke of my decision to go with a different florist within our budget, I received the following response - “I really don’t appreciate you wasting my time with meetings and creating a quote. I spent a lot of time on that just for you to copy my quote and get price matched. Good luck with your wedding.” I was shocked at such an unprofessional response!! Especially considering the floral contract I had been requesting for weeks was never sent over. I simply did not have the energy to respond to such unprofessionalism, and only looked for reassurance that my decision to not use the family company wouldn’t impact wedding day.
About a month before wedding day, our hopes rested on the shoulders of Callie, who thankfully stepped in due to our original day of coordinator being placed on maternity leave. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Callie and her attention to detail, and none of the logistical issues we experienced on wedding day were to Callie. Per our “partial” planning package, we were entitled to 1 lead coordinator and 2 assistants on the day of… Callie was the sole coordinator throughout the night, and I am amazed at how gracefully she kept her composure. 2 days before our wedding the venue reached out about charging me for napkins, which they were clearly not knowledgeable about which contract we had, as napkins are included in the contract we paid for. I was approached on wedding day a few hours before ceremony about being charged for table runners, which again, were included in our coordination package.
As wedding day unfolded, various logistical issues arose, pointing to a lack of venue staff. Chairs were missing from our sweetheart table, so after my Husband and I’s first dance we had no place to sit. The arbor cross I requested for ceremony site was missing, the yard games were never set up or put out, and the two fire pits my Husband and I paid $130.00 to have were never lit. It wasn’t until halfway through our reception that I noticed the two fire pits we paid to have were not lit. Callie was able to find staff to light one of them for us. At this point in the night, we were so beyond over the venue we didn’t even make a stink about it. Our sheet cake was cut and set out for guests before my Husband and I were even notified it was time for us to do cake cutting. None of these issues made any sense to me considering how organized and specific I was about our requests.
In conclusion, La Venture Grove is a beautiful space but the combination of unprofessionalism and lack of accountability creates a stressful wedding planning experience. The day would have been a disaster had we not had Callie. She was so professional and was constantly being pulled throughout the night to fix issues the venue dropped the ball on. I don’t even care to attempt to get my money back, I just want to wipe my hands clean and be done.
The best advice I can give to future brides that decide to book with La Venture Grove would be 1) Your wedding day is special and you only do it once. Hire an outside wedding planner. 2), Know the exact details of the contract you sign so there are no attempted financial surprises hours before your ceremony.
While the venue is beautiful & we had an awesome wedding day, we had major issues with the in-house coordination that warranted this review. We truly do not think we got what we paid for, and honestly felt neglected by our coordinator.
The partial coordination package was 3500. It was meant to include: "Initial Consult, Unlimited communication and planning hours 60 days prior to wedding, Vendor Confirmation, Full wedding timeline, Customized Ceremony order, Access to Decor Closet, 1 hour rehearsal coordination, Décor set-up + teardown, Full Day wedding coordination, Lead Coordinator and 2 assistants, 4 one-on-one planning meetings, Handles all vendor communication one month prior to event, Creation of floor plan + seating chart, Floral design services, Design layout."
Of these, we didn't receive:
1. "Unlimited communication and planning hours 60 days prior to wedding." Trying to get in contact with Brooke was like pulling teeth. For every five emails I'd send to her, one might be responded to a week later. This was IMMENSELY stressful. After many emails & texts with no response, I had to text her mom, Tami, and email her sister, Paige (who responded so quickly), because it was getting down to the wire & I needed help.
2. "Vendor Confirmation." If vendors were communicated with, I wouldn't know. It felt like the only extent of communication they received with Brooke. Explained further on 6.
3. "Customized Ceremony order." I don't know what this is exactly, but if we got it, I wouldn't know. Explained further below 4.
4. "1 hour rehearsal coordination." Brooke was late to our rehearsal by a good 20 minutes, and then left early, being with us maybe 20 minutes of the 45-60 we were there. I legitimately felt forgotten about and not cared for. Great the day before my wedding. I coordinated my party myself.
5. "Full Day wedding coordination." Brooke was nowhere to be found when we arrived. Two awesome women who introduced themselves as assistants came soon after we did, and were so involved and on top of things. They felt like real coordinators. If I had gotten them from the beginning, that would have been awesome.
6. "Handles all vendor communication one month prior to event." I was communicating with hair, makeup & photography by myself. I had to figure out what time they should all be there. I needed Brooke, and she was not there for me. My emails were not returned. My hair stylist ended up helping me figure out what time those vendors should arrive.
7. "Creation of floor plan and seating chart." I ended up editing/creating the floor plan based on two example floor plans shown to me. I emailed the floor plan to Brooke, who did not answer until I contacted Tami & Paige. I got approval from Paige and (eventually) Brooke that it should work. At the rehearsal, I went to check out the tables. One was missing (Brooke was absent to figure out if there was another table somewhere) & was told the tables couldn't be laid out like my (approved) floor plan. This threw off my table numbers/seating chart. Again, stressful not knowing if your seating is going to work the day before your wedding.
Other thing that bothered me: People doing pilates on the property? That's fine, but I wasn't made aware that would be happening. Having strangers walk through the house while we're getting ready & your wedding is being set up wasn't cool.
To put it simply, Brooke was not, whatsoever, a good coordinator. For what was paid, we're very displeased.
Our wedding day was perfect and la venture grove is absolutely stunning. We fell in love in with it when we toured it and am so happy we chose it as our venue! Tami, the owner, is great and communicative. HOWEVER... we had a very difficult time working the coordinator they originally assigned us, Brooke. We couldn't get a response for literally months from her and the unlimited communication months prior was pretty much non-existent. She was simply overbooked and didn't have help. I pretty much handled all coordination duties myself until the day of the wedding. They ended up switching our coordinator with a new hire, Paige, and she was a lot better at communicating with us and apologized for the previous ones short-comings. Overall, she did a good job. It seemed like they were going to be using her from now on so hopefully our issue we had won't be an issue for other couples. So even though our wedding planning process with them was not good, our wedding day was beautiful and I wouldn't have changed a thing.
We had our wedding in January and it was the absolute best day and while the La Venture team did many things well, there were undeniably things they dropped the ball on big time. Tami and her husband were very kind and helpful. Paige was also a dream to work with for the bar! Day of the wedding it rained and La Venture team worked so hard to make it perfect for us. I am incredibly grateful for their willingness to pivot and make it all happen day of. They were rockstars! We even had the Jags game playing thanks to their help #dtwd!!! It was a dreamy little night that I will remember forever. However, there were many areas that I had to choose joy in and overlook in the moment instead of being bothered by that day. Now that it is over, I want to give honest feedback and inform future brides.
At the time of booking we were required to hire Brooke as our wedding coordinator - I believe that requirement has since changed. After booking, Brooke was nearly impossible to communicate with. We paid for the package that included “60 days unlimited communication” not sure what that means or what I was expecting, but at the very least I would expect it to mean within that 60 day window I would have a response or acknowledgment within at least 48 hours. Unfortunately, she would take weeks to respond to urgent texts and emails. The week before the wedding she did pick up her communication pace, but the money we paid to have the 60 days unlimited communication was truly a waste. It was like pulling teeth to try to get her to respond. When she would respond there was never an apology for her delay and she lacked the professionalism to provide out of office notifications.
We had meetings to discuss vision and details, which at the time I felt great about. I took the time to send inspirational pictures and clear outlines of my vision and attach them to our Google Doc and included a Pinterest board link. She completely disregarded my Pinterest board link and never joined it. She also paid no attention the notes and pictures I left on our Google Doc where I was VERY specific about my desired color palette for the florals. I will start by saying, Brooke is incredibly creative and talented. However, she is not attentive to listening to the bride because while I had the most beautiful florals they were NOTHING we discussed. I outlined very clearly on multiple platforms of communication with her that I wanted my flowers to match my color palette of ivory, browns, oranges/rust, and hints of blue. My flowers were vibrant and colorful and filled with pinks, purples, and yellows - colors I never discussed or desired. It did not match what my vision was.
A few other mishaps of the day that are worth mentioning. Brooke was MIA for multiple points of the night. She didn’t assist in sending tables to get food and that was slightly chaotic. Our tables were set incorrectly - I was informed later that this was brought to her attention and she said it didn’t matter. My mom had requested spoons also be laid out with the flatware and they not included.
All in all - beautiful venue and a sweet family who owns it and they were helpful in most areas. Brooke’s coordinating services were incredibly subpar and not worth the investment if you value communication, professionalism, and having your specific vision executed.
The venue is absolutely stunning and one-of-a kind. We stumbled across this venue searching for outdoor venues in Florida. From the moment we stepped onto the property, we fell in love. This gorgeous property is surrounded by orange trees with fresh oranges scattered across the ground, vibrant pink azaleas, palm trees, and gorgeous live oaks with Spanish moss. It is the most magical and dreamy venue I have ever seen. The reception area is the perfect relaxed, intimate setting for an outdoor wedding. During our reception our sweetheart table had the most amazing backdrop of the St. Johns River with a deep red and orange sunset. Our guests raved about how perfect the venue was! The quaint, historic home was the perfect place for the bridal party to get ready in the day of the wedding. Tami and Todd (the owners) are incredible. They felt like family and worked with us before our wedding and the day-of to make sure everything was absolutely seamless behind the scenes. We hired their daughter Brooke as our day of coordinator and Florist. I was blown away with the florals and how they made my Pinterest board dreams come true from the bouquets, to the table settings, everything was perfect!
I had a deposit down for my wedding taking place this year with La Venture Grove and they have been harder to work with... Everyone there was extremely welcoming and nice; we were excited at the start! They have coordination packages that couples can choose from or that are included in some of their smaller wedding packages. From our experience, they did not follow what is offered in those packages and so it was stressful for a new bride when she’s trying to plan a wedding and there is no answer to plan! Honestly, I really loved the beauty of the venue too but had to cancel out of fear for how this could end and it’s not worth the stress for an experience that is suppose to be fun and exciting! I was sad having to notify all the venders and our family of the news but what concerns me is no one has gotten back to me about the cancellation months ago at La Venture Grove and I received an email since asking to set up my rehearsal to which I responded I’m still trying to cancel. I just don’t wish to get charged any late cancel fee or anything like that lol! I truly hope they try and start giving everyone, regardless of who they are, a great experience for something so special! Communication is key! Best of luck!
Gorgeous old-Florida venue, attentive and thoughtful staff, a talented wedding planner who doubles as the Flower Goddess--what more could you ever want? (seriously, she's truly gifted when it comes to flowers and greenery y'all!)
Brooke, Tammy, and the entire LaVenture team did everything in their power to make sure our event was exactly as envisioned. They were creative, listened well, and rolled with last-minute changes and workarounds--there is ALWAYS something--which demonstrated their commitment and agility to their customers.
Their recommendations for a celebrant, band, and photographer were greatly appreciated and delivered a great experience. Ideas for tablescapes, decor, and little details such as signage were welcome.
Our family and friends were stunned at the transformation of this vintage homestead into a romantic, intimate space that was just ideal for our wedding for 90+/- people.
Would recommend LaVenture Grove and Brooke without hesitation.
We had our wedding here and the experience exceeded all expectations. The venue on its own is gorgeous and our guests could not stop raving about how beautiful in was. The owners of the venue and their family did everything to make the day beautiful and stress free for me. Our coordinator, Brooke, also did an amazing job planning our decor and set up with a just few generalizations of ideas of how I wanted things to look. The decorations in their “decor closet” made the day and were absolutely stunning. The whole wedding planning experience was a little overwhelming for me and she took the reins for the details and made everything beautiful for us. I would 100% recommend her services to anyone looking to have their wedding here.
I was married in March 2021 at this location. The weather was perfect and this place allows some of the most beautiful perspectives. The hanging moss and being able to look over the river made it very special for us. The owners were very professional and accommodating and it felt like they provided everything they could to make our event more comfortable for us. I could not have found a better place for our wedding.
There are not enough words to describe what an amazing place La Venture Grove is! The moment my husband and I pulled up I knew it was the place I had to be and after spending time with Brooke and her family I knew there was no other place I would even consider. My heart was set on that dreamy venue! They were so much help leading up to the wedding and I had Brooke be my wedding coordinator without hesitation. I couldn’t have done it without her help and just having her presence made me feel like nothing could go wrong! The wedding was absolute perfection and to this day everyone who came still talks about how glorious the location was. Just let me spend everyday roaming around La Venture Grove and with the family behind it!
It’s hard to find the words that appropriately describe this venue. Gorgeous, magical, and very unique are words that hit my mind. It is filled with lush Florida greenery and old orange groves with southern oaks draping the property with Spanish moss. This property turned my dream wedding into reality but it wouldn’t have been what it was without the staff at LaVenture Grove. I decided to get the coordination packages that comes with the one of the packages. This included the help of Brooke and Kendall who both had a huge hand in making my wedding day what it was. Everything ran so smoothly from the day I signed the contract until I made my exit after the reception. There’s always the option to hire outside coordination,
However, I felt that hiring the staff at LaVenture would make things a lot easier- and it did. I’m so happy with LaVenture Grove and I would recommend any one wanting a beautiful Florida wedding to spend it here. I still have friends and family raving about how beautiful this place was. My bridesmaid, who is now engaged, just signed her contract with them as well. Don’t sleep on this place!!!
Absolutely the most beautiful wedding we have ever been to! From the moment we arrived at La Venture Grove with its sprawling oak trees we were captivated with every amazing detail! This venue is stunning! Everyone on staff was so nice, professional and went out of their way to make sure all of the guest were comfortable and having a good time. I can’t even describe how beautiful the sunset on the river was...you have to see it for yourself. The pictures of the bridal party in front of the sunset are breathtaking! The historic home at the venue has beautifully appointed rooms for the bride, groom, bridal party and groomsmen to get ready. I hope we get to attend another wedding at La Venture Grove cause it was the most fun wedding we have ever been to!
I have thought about if I should write this review since my wedding a month and a half ago but today was the final straw. I'll start off with the positives of this venue because it's definitely a beautiful place to get married. Lots of great picture worthy areas and a beautiful old house to get ready in. The owners Todd and Tammy were wonderful and accommodating and if I could have solely dealt with them then this would be a very different review. Unfortunately, their "coordinator" Brooke was the cause of most of my stress regarding wedding planning due to her complete lack of ability to communicate with a bride(she was not my planner but she was in charge of all communications with venue). It could take up to a week for a response, she didn't show up to ANY of the 5 meetings I had there after cancellations up to ten minutes before appointment or just not showing up at all. i have still never met this person face to face. Luckily someone from her family would usually arrive eventually to save the day and be able to show me and my planner around. Brooke told me and sent photos of items I could rent, then told me one week before my wedding that they no longer rent to people who don't use her planning services which had me scrambling for decor days before my wedding. The final straw was when I was told my seating sign which was accidentally left was found after an email conversation.. my mom drove 40 minutes to get it and had to wait to be let in 15 min past the time she was told she could come, then was told my item actually was not there and a very insincere "sorry" was given before she turned her back to my mother and walked away. The venue itself is great. I want to recommend this venue but I could never recommend dealing with their coordinator to anyone.
Response from the Vendor on 02/26/2021
Hi Lindsey,
Thank you for the kind words about our family and our venue. Here at La Venture Grove, our family business, we strive day in and day out to give the best service we possibly can. There is constant due diligence to provide each and...
every client with the upmost respect, service, and communication. As you said in your review, Brooke was not your coordinator, therefore she did not provide you with any coordination services. We did however, communicate with you and your coordinator as promptly as possible. I did have meetings with you and you also had my number as well for any communication you might have needed. Unfortunately, you have a different take on the process. I apologize for the inconvenience but I know that your wedding was wonderful as you have so pointed out. Good luck to you and your Husband, God bless.
- Owner of La Venture Grove, Todd + Tami Sandiford
A uniquely classic and elegant venue for an outdoor wedding. I swear this place twinkles when the sun shines through the trees! It is absolutely surreal! It is a beautiful place to get married as the sun sets over the St Johns River. Brooke works so hard to help all your visions come true- she was literally foraging the property for the perfect accents for my centerpieces the day of the wedding! She is a very busy woman and can sometimes be challenging get a hold of, but as my wedding approached, she became much more available. I also did not realize she offers a coordinating service until late in my planning, but I would DEFINATELY recommend it. I never felt pushed or pressured to change my vision, always met with "we can make that happen." I started my day with yoga on the porch, married my best friend, and sailed away from the dock into married life. Pure magic. The venue and vegetation is decoration enough (did I mention a 1000+ year old oak tree and orange trees of the original grove?), and the history of the grove and the St. Johns Rive is quite interesting as well. Huge thank you to Brooke and her team!
I just had my wedding here about 6 weeks ago and it was absolutely PERFECT. Brooke and her team do an amazing job making sure every little detail is taken care of so you can relax and enjoy the day! My wedding went off without a hitch and I didn’t have to stress about a single thing. Beautiful venue makes for STUNNING videos and photos. Highly recommend this venue to anyone getting married!
This was a beautiful venue for my parents 60th wedding anniversary. Absolutely breathtaking.
The owners were so hospitable and helpful.
The perfect place for a wedding, vowel renewal, party, etc.
I was amazed at the different places on the property you could have a wedding.
Whatever look, scenery you are looking for, La Venture Grove has it all.
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
Thank you, La Venture Grove, for giving my parents the anniversary celebration of their dreams.
Words can’t express how beautiful my daughter’s wedding and reception was at La Venture Grove! The ceremony took place by the water, and afterwards, we simply walked a few steps to the reception. The beautiful, massive oak trees with hanging moss and the orange trees that dot the venue as well as the historic home onsite create an enchanting experience. The setting alone is worth the money, but there’s more. The proprietors truly went above and beyond to make our day the best day ever. They were day all day as we decorated and they made suggestions, moved tables- whatever we needed, they were there. The wedding planner, Ashley, was so on top of everything and made our day run so smoothly! She was so calm through the entire evening, and we couldn’t have done it without her! Just magical!
Our wedding was beautiful — we had perfect weather and it was an absolutely perfect day with our family and closest friends. I’ve chosen to give an honest review of La Venture Grove in hopes that the process will go smoothly for those who choose the venue in the future. Our day was perfect regardless of the avoidable issues we encountered along the way.
There were many unprofessional issues and working with the venue was difficult at best. Among these issues were:
• Being stood up for a scheduled venue visit. The original appointment was requested to be changed by LVG less than three hours prior to our confirmed meeting time. It was moved to the following day for us to come do a walk through and pay the remaining balance. We showed up ten minutes early and waited for 45 minutes at the locked gate. My attempts to reach LVG staff went unanswered, so we left. I was called later that night with an apology, being told they forgot about the meeting and that they’ve been busy and chaotic prepping for the wedding that coming weekend. I was also told we would receive a discount to “make it right.” We were not given said discount.
• Communication issues. The average turnaround response time was a week. When trying to give vendors answers and plan, this isn’t acceptable. I do not know of any business that waits minimum seven days to respond to clients. When I did get a response, there was an apology and a reason given that they were busy with events happening at the venue. This is an event venue with many events on the calendar and blaming lack of response/communication on other paying customers is worrisome. I’ve also reached out regarding items that were not returned to us that we brought to the wedding. I provided a detailed inventory list on wedding day so nothing would be misplaced/left behind. I still have not received a response. I live out of state so I cannot simply swing by the venue.
• Invoices/Discrepancies. We were originally misquoted and paid too much for day-of services. We were told that since we’d have a large number of guests that the overpayment would go towards the cost of portapotties. On wedding day we were surprised to see no portapotties and we still have not been refunded for the overpayment.
• Staff Attitude/Conduct. On wedding day some members of the staff were dressed inappropriately — low cut/see through clothing. The tone and attitude of some staff members communicating with my mother, the wedding party, our vendors, and even their own staff members was appalling — saturated with snarky and condescending comments and impatience and cursing.
I understand that this is a new venue, but there’s no excuse to not operate with integrity and professionalism. It’s truly disappointing to have personal ties to both the location and coordinators and to still experience these issues. I am rooting for this venue because it truly is a magical place and could be one of the best event venues in the area.
Response from the Vendor on 03/12/2020
Hi Kristi, We are so sorry to hear about this. We would like to resolve this situation, if you could, please contact us at laventuregrove@gmail.com . Once again we are so sorry about this and we take pride in our services and will do what we ca...
n to resolve these issues. Thank you.
La Venture Grove will no longer be a hidden gem. This new venue is nestled in an orange grove on the St. John’s River and transports you back into the beautiful “Old Florida” times that many have forgotten.
We had the most beautiful wedding ever! The venue is complete with a historic home that is the focal point of the property. The home accommodates the bridal party comfortably with both a bride and groom’s suite. We used the home for our dinner buffet and it felt like the guests had gathered at the family’s homestead. Our daughter chose to get married on the front porch of the home and walk down the palm lined walkway to her groom. It was something to be remembered. The outdoor covered pavilion with farmhouse tables and many beautiful features created the perfect place for our guests. The property is stunning and the views of the river at sunset are breathtaking!! The owners, Todd and Tami are genuine and professional. They accommodated our requests and last minute changes due to an impending storm. Brooke, our day of coordinator was amazing and put together a full staff to make our wedding run so smoothly.
I can’t say enough about this amazing wedding venue!! We feel so blessed and fortunate that we were the first large wedding at La Venture Grove and our daughter’s dream of an “Old Florida” wedding came true! If we could give this venue more than 5 stars, we would!!
Response from the Vendor on 10/29/2019
Darlene, we can't express how thankful we are to have had the opportunity to host Ashley + Jason's Wedding at our venue. It was absolutely breathtaking and we wouldn't have had it any other way! Thank you so much for your kind words about our v...
enue and our family!
This is one of Saint Johns County‘s best kept secrets! I live in the area and never knew this existed. It is absolutely gorgeous, beautifully decorated and very charming. We attended a wedding here at this weekend and it was by far one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever been to. It was well run, the organizers had obviously done an incredible job and it has one of the most beautiful sunsets of any place in North Florida. I will highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a venue. I can’t say enough wonderful things.
Response from the Vendor on 10/29/2019
Thank you so much for this amazing review of our venue! We are thrilled to be a part of an amazing community with wonderful locals like yourself. Thank you again for your kind words and recommendations of our venue! We are very happy you enjoye...
d yourself!
Attended a wedding here this weekend and I was truly amazed at how beautiful and well organized it was. The bride and groom were able to enjoy their day and spend time with guests while everything was handled perfectly. This is one of the most gorgeous views around with a spectacular sunset. You won’t be disappointed!
Response from the Vendor on 10/29/2019
Thank you!! We strive to make our bride and groom have the best day they possibly can. They deserve it! We are so happy you enjoyed yourself as well!
The venue is beautiful, they were very accommodating, detail oriented and went above and beyond anything I could have imagined. The wedding planner did an amazing job ensuring that our wedding went smoothly. We were able to enjoy the day without worries. We can’t say enough wonderful things and we really appreciate everything and highly recommend you guys!!
Response from the Vendor on 10/29/2019
Thank you, Pete! Our coordination team's #1 goal is to make sure the bride, groom, and family have a relaxing and stress free wedding day. We are so glad you noticed. :)
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ This place will blow you away! The setting is absolutely stunning with beautiful landscaping and a breathtaking view. The rustic/vintage decor inside the farmhouse includes unique antiques and it’s beautifully decorated. Having a wedding here is like having a wedding at a family members house. The family here is more than accommodating, they go above and beyond to make sure your day is perfect. We can’t say enough wonderful things and will always highly recommend this amazing venue for any occasion. Our wedding was absolutely perfect!!
Response from the Vendor on 10/29/2019
Thank you so much Mary! We had a blast at Brittany + Justin's wedding and we are very grateful to have clients like you and your family. Cheers!
Place is absolutely gorgeous! Breath taking. Unfortunately, they don’t allow open bar. Only wine and beer. If it weren’t for this it would be a solid contender in a venue!
Response from the Vendor on 08/03/2019
Hi Natalie!
Thank you for your kind words about our venue! Unfortunately no we do not allow a full liquor bar. However, we do allow signature cocktails, beer, and wine. Sorry about any confusion there. Good luck in your search for a venue!
This venue is amazing not only because it has character and is beautiful but also because the owner is absolutely amazing! Brooke goes above and beyond! She blows me away not only with her eye for details, people skills but also her ability to give historical information on the property! I cannot wait to recommend this venue to my future brides!
Response from the Vendor on 06/13/2019
Thank you Becca for your heartfelt review, we look forward to many events with you!
I seriously cannot begin to describe how beautiful, historic, unique, and simply romantic this venue is!! From the amazing house, the oak trees that are some of the oldest I have met in Jacksonville, the sunset views, to the orange grove that's on the property. This venue is by far one of my favorites! The owners have always been amazing and very hospitable! I couldn't ask for a better venue!
Response from the Vendor on 04/24/2019
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review!
The property is beautiful and amazingly restored. You feel like you are in a different world. It’s an amazing property, but the owners are still learning how to handle brides and weddings. They quoted us one price, got us out there to see the property, then we were quoted a different price on the contract that was quadruple the original estimate. They won’t honor the original quote due to the date we chose. At the time we informed them of our date, they did not mention there would be a price difference from the quote until we physically showed up on the property over a week later. Great property, but just know they are still learning their way around how to handle things.
Response from the Vendor on 04/24/2019
Hi Lauren! Thank you for your kind words about our property! We are sorry to hear about this miscommunication. From what we understand our event planner discussed pricing with you for a weekday pricing of under 50 guests. Our event planner was ...
unaware of your date being on Christmas Eve. Unfortunately pricing for holidays differs from our standard pricing. We are very sorry about the miscommunication. We attempted reaching back out to you but did not get a response. If there is anything we can do please feel free to give us a call at 904.891.6341. Thank you, and good luck with your search for a venue!
We recently went to an event close to Jacksonville & St. Augustine | Fruit Cove Florida at La Venture Grove! This place is amazing & sits on a high bluff overlooking the St. Johns river with a west facing sunset.
We toured the 140+ year old Florida cracker house, it was stepping back in time. The art is a must see, famous original work from many North Florida artist like Mike Perry.
Once the event started we moved into the covered pavilion which kept with the rustic old Florida feel.
The kids ran land, played corn hole & when the sun finally set the place actually got even more exciting with live music & fire pits....
We met the event management team the "Standford's", I cannot express the pride they have taken to bring this place back to life. You will never meet another family with that combines unique talents, faith & hard work!
If your looking for an outdoor wedding or event location I would recommend this unique place! A+ RATING
Response from the Vendor on 04/16/2019
Thank you so much for your A+ rating . We have strived to make La Venture Grove a very special place for people to enjoy family and friends.
Thank you again for your kind review.
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