Oakwood Gardens

STAY FAR, AWAY FROM JOHN LEE, OAKWOOD GARDENS, AND ANY OTHER OF HIS NW EVENT VENUES. THE OWNER IS HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH! While the grounds are beautiful, I would be VERY, VERY, CAUTIOUS booking anything with this owner and/or his companies. The stress of dealing with this man, his superiority, and his attitude is definitely NOT WORTH IT! There is so much to this story, but I am only allowed so many words. I can't express all the threatening emails regarding canceling my event sent to me, just weeks, and days before my event from JOHN LEE/NW EVENTS. All of this was caused because his company lost my contract, documents, and the $1000.00 damage deposit check I submitted. Due to the stress this situation caused me, I ended up in bed with vertigo for three days, just four days before the event. I planned a Quinceañera for my granddaughter over a year in advance. I signed a contract with the previous owners. They, and their managers, Cindy and Steve, were amazing to work with! Two weeks before my event, I sent an email to the new owners event person, asking where to pick up the keys, and confirmation of the provisions that were included in my contract. I received a response from someone named John Lee, whom I had never heard of or dealt with before. His email stated, “182 people is not what they agreed to. The contract specifies limits, so please don’t respond to this email until you’ve talked to me.” He hit reply all instead of just to Amy. After that, it all went downhill. He said, there would be security to count every single person. In every email he sent, he made some kind of threat to cancel my event if I didn't agree to his terms. He went as far as to say he was under no obligation to continue with my event (even though I had a signed contract stating everything that was included). I finally contacted my attorney, sent him the contract, documents I had submitted, and all the emails. My lawyer informed me that John would be in breach of contract if he backed out of the event, and that he was merely using scare tactics in hopes that I would cancel my plans. I then email John everything previously submitted. After I provided proof to him, his demeanor changed slightly. While he still didn't offer an apology, he was no longer threatening like he had been in previous emails. He clearly didn't have the right contract, any documents, nor my damage deposit check of $1000.00, that I had submitted. I inquired about the whereabouts of my $1,000 check and expressed my discomfort with his inability to locate it. He said he would try to find the check, but it is now 18 days since my event, and I still have not received it! All of this is because his company lost my contract, check, and documents. He has yet to meet with me or offer an apology! On the day of the event, I was met by his new event coordinator, Destiny, and another staff member, Ashley, both of whom were extremely nice and apologetic! Dumpsters were provided; however, they were full. We pointed that out to the staff, and the response was the dumpsters are used for other purposes on the property, and we're sorry about that. Some of the chairs were dirty and still had food on them; we had to wipe them down with Clorox wipes. The Quinceañera chair we rented from them was dirty, and my sister spent about 45 minutes cleaning it up. The tablecloths provided were different sizes and styles. I went out and bought my own so they would match. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!

I have been to three(!) weddings and hosted my company's client retreat at this venue. The location is perfect, the grounds are immaculate, and the facilities are exactly what you want on the big day! No matter the occasion, this place is ideal.

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful venue!! It was our dream to have our wedding somewhere we could stay the weekend with our wedding party. The airbnbs on the property are spectacular. This was truly a dream come true to get married surrounded in this English garden. We got married in 2021 and our guests still rave about how breathtaking it was.