The Ashley Castle

day, every person got to enjoy the fun of the day as the staff took over every detail. Even my Mom, who is a perfectionist, hardly worried at all!

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venue was!!

entire day was flawless. We could not have asked for a better day!!

ng.

Also loved that everything was included in our package so we didn't have to go hunting for florists, and were able to bring our own alcohol which saved A LOT of money. Only negative is the place smells like manuer sometimes and the food that we chose was good, but we were not impressed with the other options. But overall I had an amazing wedding there and would recommend it!

rdinators are very nice and helpful, but between the time that I booked the venue and my wedding date (over a year) I didn't work with the same coordinator twice, nor did I ever see many of them again, except for Laura. Laura is extremely difficult to work with to the point that many vendors refuse to do any work at the Castle. Everything (from set up of the site to processional down the aisle) was her way or the highway. They were difficult to get a hold by phone and email -- but they sure were eager to talk to you when they wanted payment! We paid just for the venue, which was about $10k and all we got with the venue was ceremony/reception chairs and tables and an on-site coordinator. Their idea of on-site coordinating was literally just being there until I walked down the aisle and then they left. I may be biased since I plan events for a living and I would never have left my event site as the coordinator, but I thought that was odd. I went for a meeting that I opted to have less than a week before to review details with Laura. Even after over a year of planning she had many of the details screwed up. For example, after we explicitly told her multiple times we needed her to hire wine servers and have cocktail tables for us on the patio she still didn’t know we needed that. It probably is due largely to their inefficient system of writing notes on scrap pieces of paper and sticking it in a folder with your name and wedding date on it. She also had us meet with the DJ that day…after I told her repeatedly, all year long, from day one that we wouldn’t be having a DJ, we would be having a live band! They REALLY need to work on their organization. In this meeting, we also saw that the quality of the outdoor ceremony chairs was horrendous. It was so bad that I demanded they bring in new chairs. Laura flat out refused at first, it was her husband George that actually agreed. They ordered new chairs, but they weren’t going to be there in time for my wedding day, so I insisted they rent chairs. They didn’t like it but I wasn’t going to have my guests sitting in gross looking, dilapidated, rickety chairs….some of the seats of the chairs had even caved in under the cushions! It was literally a safety hazard and I told them that. One of the big perks of this place is that they allow you to bring in your own alcohol, however, it is required that you hire their bartending service, Medieval Spirits (Laura’s brother.) He and his staff were nice enough, but Laura demanded for them that they get their tip up front (since we opted for no tip jars) and we thought that was in poor taste. We later found out they were accepting tips from guests anyway, how tacky! It appears as if this venue is in some major financial trouble. They have slipped on the maintenance/upkeep of the grounds quite a bit. It is pricey for what you get but we obviously thought it was the best venue around which is why we chose it (since we didn’t want to go to a resort.) I wouldn’t necessarily dissuade you entirely from getting married there, but just know in advance what you are up against and you’ll be alright. On the wedding day, everything was beautiful, went off with minimal hitches, and we all had fun!

nned in our wedding and we were told all along that our vendors could get in at 10:30 to set up. The DJ kept telling us he thought there was another wedding, but both Laura and Isabelle insisted there wasn't. We didn't find out until the rehearsal that there actually was and that vendors could only get in 1 1/2 hours before the event. Everything was rushed!!! The people at the castle did not help set up even their own table and chairs, etc. There were so many details that I had planned that were not done because of time. Their contract reads that a staff member would be on site. They all left before the wedding was even set up! Our bartender had to keep leaving his station to get things for the "our" wedding planner. This was not his job since we were already paying him to bartend not to be staff for the castle!

es around. I wish they would have built the way you get married facing the Castle in the back yard. They designed the back yard where you don't face the Castle getting married. Other concerns were that you get different answers when taling with the staff about the same question. Over all,the important thing is. it was fabulous and beautful and turned out more than everything I dreamed of! It's a full package deal which is totally what I wanted. I didn't want to have to shop for vendors. I only had to get an officiant , photographer and videographer. I wanted to choose those myself without their requirements so it worked out great!

the cake was delicious and the food was good. One of the reason we selected Ashley was that we had the option of the liquor (bringing it in our selves but a bartender was provided), which helped with the cost. It also is located close to hotels so our out of town guests did not have to drive far (as you could work with the hotel on shuttles which helped so nobody drinking had to drive). I always enjoyed going and meeting with the ladies at Ashley Manor because the place was great. The only minor concern was the communication (sometimes email was down or phone calls were not returned promptly). But the venue is very flexible and willing to work with couples. Will miss going there.

and wonderful to work with!

eautiful gardens and an outside area covered by the trees canopy, which provides a comfortable setting even in the heat of July. The staff at Ashley is extremely helpful. Once we worked with them on the details, they just made it happen. After seeing other locations and having had the our wedding at the Ashley Manor, if we had to choose it again, we would still choose the Ashley Manor.

can purchase for an additional cost if you do not want to have to plan everything on your own. The gardens, patio, and reception hall were beautiful, and there is really nothing else like it in the area. Even the suits of armor around the space were cool!

y.;The room for the groom and the groomsmen to get ready in was rather small and there was not a bathroom in the room with them so they had to walk down the hall to use the bathroom.

backdrop for bride and groom and for family photos (before dark).;The turret room used for the cake is dimly lit. It needs additional lighting especially for photos of the cake cutting. Bring an extra light like a spotlight or a freestanding park lamp.

n pajama pants, and did nothing during the ceremony/reception.

ing able to bring in our own liquor as it cut down on price. I would highly recommend this venue to people who are proactive and don't mind being assertive.;The staff was friendly but not that helpful. They rarely contacted us unless we contacted them and sometimes not even then. Many times we called left a message and never heard anything back from them. And they need to spray for bugs. After dark there were many cockroaches.