Merrick Hollow

The Venue itself is beautiful, they’re kinda strict with some rules and what they’ll allow but other than that the venue is perfect, the reception floor is kinda ugly but the windows and the tree are a great touch. I deducted a star for the service. If you’re able to afford it, definitely get a coordinator, but I’d be careful getting the coordinators at Merrick Hollow, my experience with one of the girls wasn’t the best, we had only spoken to her once over a zoom call, in said zoom call she called us in a fast food restaurant, while on her lunch and the call was super short. She gathered the most basic details while smacking on her food and ended the call maybe after 10 minutes if that. Her appearance to me on my wedding day was very unprofessional, I understand she wasn’t part of the bridal party, or a guest, and my expectations wasn’t that she’d “dress up” for the wedding, but I hoped she would present herself in a professional manner that demanded a bit more respect than a large hoodie over a super casual flowydress. My main disappointment with the day of coordinator is I felt like asking her for any help at all was bothersome, she would just walk around with a mopey attitude, her demeanor looked angry and I honestly felt uncomfortable asking her to help me with the smallest tasks. Not once did she come up to me and actually ask “what can I help with”? which I thought was the whole point of her being there besides just telling the bridal party when their time to walk was, it felt more like she was just babysitting the venue. I had several, several people tell me throughout the day and night on my wedding that the day-of coordinator just walked around zombie like, looked upset and wasn’t very involved. We paid a lot for the food to make a charcuterie board  and then I come to find out as I was cleaning up at the end that half of the food didn’t get put out, and it was one of the only things I asked her for help with. This I remembered clearly because it was one of the only times she really approached me to ask how I was doing and what FINAL things needed to get done before my ceremony, this she asked while I was getting my hair and makeup done (At this point, after having people ask you hundreds of questions leading to that point, you really don’t wanna continue trying to guide people, I wish she would’ve asked way before that moment, which I thought coordinators were meant to be thoughtful enough to know). Half the cake didn’t get put out, and the catering company started cleaning up everything before we even started cutting the cake and she was doing nothing about it. I got sick at one point, came out and saw them cleaning up with her just staring at them, I had to personally go and speak to the catering company and ask them to stop.  I wouldn’t change anything about my wedding day, Thank God it was as beautiful as I could’ve hoped and things fell into place as best as they could, but it was one of the most stressful experiences and the little moments felt very very rushed due to trying to do a lot on my own. Thankfully I had friends and family trying to help as best they could but most of them were also part of the bridal party and needed to get ready. I wish she would’ve been more involved, I wish I felt like I didn’t pay her just to walk around, bring out some tables and space out the bridal party for their walk down the aisle. The only other thing I asked of her towards the end of the night (because our videographer had left) was to take a moment to record my final dance with my husband. I go back to check the video the next day, she recorded for 12 seconds. Something meant to be one of the most special moments for me and she couldn’t stand there for more than 12 seconds. I just wish she would’ve been more thoughtful and more selfless, maybe taken her job more seriously. Friendliness and a smile every now and then also would’ve been nice in times of high stress.