Monte Event Space

pointing. What should have been our happiest day became stressful and embarrassing due to unprofessionalism and mismanagement. From the start, communication was inconsistent. Their materials said our final count was due 10 days prior, but weeks later, they abruptly demanded it 30 days out. This forced us to reorder invitations and move up our RSVP date, adding stress and cost. During our February tasting with the owner, Eric, the food was excellent. We finalized a menu of London Broil, Honey-Glazed Salmon, Pasta Primavera, and Rice Pilaf. What was served on our wedding day was nothing like what we agreed to. In the final weeks, communication worsened. We had confirmed batch cocktails would be included to avoid long bar lines. Just days before payment, Eric and the coordinator, Lilly, said cocktails would be twelve dollars each. After arguing, they offered to batch a small amount for free. It felt manipulative, especially since this was already finalized. The problems escalated on the wedding day. Dinner began over 30 minutes late because the venue ran out of salad before service even started. Staff reportedly went to the grocery store mid-event to buy more food. The entrees were completely different from our tasting. The “London Broil” was a tough pot roast, the “Honey-Glazed Salmon” was dry and full of bones, and the “Pasta Primavera” was cold and missing its sauce. The “Rice Pilaf” contained nuts, even though we had disclosed two severe nut allergies. The lack of care was shocking. Service was equally disastrous. Guests waited over an hour for food. One server told family they didn't have enough plates and needed guests to hurry so others could be served. Our contract stated dinner service would take 30 minutes; it lasted over an hour and a half. Because of the delays, we had to cancel our plated cake course. The cake was placed on tables during dancing, and hundreds of dollars of it went uneaten. We ended up ordering late-night pizza so our guests had something to eat. Our day-of coordinator described The Monte as the worst she had seen in years, citing poor leadership and rude staff. Lilly, the on-site coordinator, was dismissive toward vendors and avoided responsibility. Eric later admitted he had not supervised the kitchen and had hired a new, unvetted chef. These failures disrupted our timeline and cast a shadow over our celebration. Despite attempts to resolve this, including a demand letter from our attorney and a complaint to the Attorney General, The Monte has refused to respond or offer any refund. While the venue is stunning, it is run with alarming disorganization. The catering is unreliable, management is unresponsive, and the owner avoids accountability. We have documentation—contracts, emails, and photos—verifying every issue. We strongly advise couples to avoid The Monte to prevent the same stress, embarrassment, and financial loss we experienced.