The Ruskin Venues

summer time, and the staff were very helpful. With the help of the staff members, we were able to get set up and torn down with ease. Much thanks to Paul and his wife, as well as Mrs Kim!! Now, the only reason we did not leave a complete five stars was because of an altercation our planner, our band, and our family had with the owner of this venue. We had no prior interaction with the gentleman before this, so we may have just caught him on an off day. But basically what happened was this: The cave was very wet from condensation due to extremely high humidity over the course of several weeks. This was totally okay, but it forced our band to have to move closer to the mouth of the cave in order to keep their equipment dry. They weren’t set up with their backs to the mouth of the cave facing inwards, but rather they had their backs against one side of the cave and they were facing the other side. Well, apparently this was the first time a band had done this, which took the owner by surprise. He ended up questioning my planner and the band, which disrupted some of the getting ready portion of the day. But this wasn’t the biggest issue. The biggest issue was when I (the bride) was trying to do a “first look” with my dad, the owner had come up to my parents on a golf cart to complain about the band’s positioning. Now, I totally get it if you want things a certain way. But band positioning was not in the contract, nor was it something that could be helped. We worked it out the best way we could. But he continued to go on about it with me standing there waiting for our first look, even after my mother told him what we were trying to do. It finally took my maid of honor saying something for him to excuse himself and move along. Anyways, like I mentioned earlier, the venue is beautiful, and the staff were very nice and very helpful to us during our wedding. But what the owner did and when he did it really threw us off. However, we may have just caught him on a bad day, which I get. Regardless, we still had a good time!

nd on the day of the wedding. My wedding was perhaps more chaotic than most due to weather. Brides know to plan for rain, but I definitely wasn't prepared for flooding or tornadoes. Huge storms flooded out the venue: I didn't know until the MORNING OF THE WEDDING that we could use the Ruskin. As a disclaimer, the issues I have with the venue have nothing to do with the weather since that is outside of their control. However, I feel like I need to talk about how it was handled. So five DAYS before my wedding (ironically on April Fools Day), I got a phone call from the venue owner Doug informing me of the flooding issues caused by the weather and some construction being done on a bridge just outside the venue. Apparently the venue had flooded out a week or two earlier and had since been cleaned up. However, there was a huge storm forecasted for the weekend of my wedding, and he was concerned that the venue would flood again. He was very apologetic, but he essentially gave me the options of A) delaying the wedding, B) moving the wedding to another venue, or C) "rolling the dice" with the Ruskin (his words, not mine). Now this venue contractually requires you to have a wedding planner--or at least a day-of coordinator. I think this situation would have been handled a lot better if Doug had called my wedding planner FIRST so that she could have a game plan ready by the time I was told. Instead, I had to tell him to call my wedding planner before hanging up the phone and having a panic attack. I also found some of his wording misleading. From what he said, I gathered the impression that the venue flooding was unprecedented. He specifically said that no wedding had ever been cancelled due to flooding before. Well that's not quite the entire truth. Other weddings have been flooded out at this venue before, but I learned that up until a few years ago they owned a second venue that they would use in the event of flooding. My understanding is they no longer have this venue. That being said, Kim the venue manager was amazing. She helped coordinate with another venue to be a "back up" venue in case the Ruskin flooded. She and my wedding planner worked HARD in those five days leading up to the wedding. The venue did flood on Saturday, but it was usable by my wedding day Sunday April 6th. The pathways were flooded, so the staff had to transport us all in golfcarts everywhere. Even Doug the owner was hard at work driving guests back and forth in golfcarts throughout the wedding and reception. The only other issue I have is the cleanliness of the Rock House--a cute little cottage that is used for rehearsal dinners and such. My husband and I ate there privately during cocktail hour. This was something planned, and it was in the itinerary as early as a month before the wedding. However, the Rock House was very dirty: dust and bugs everywhere. Despite the issues, we overall had a good experience with the Ruskin. For future brides, I would advise that you discuss the risk of flooding before booking and the venue's plan to prepare for it. I would also advise to schedule the wedding on a Sunday if you can. I think the fact that the wedding was on a Sunday is the only reason why we were able to find another "back up" venue available on such short notice.

red that every detail was perfectly executed. The beauty of the grounds is simply breathtaking. Surrounded by lush greenery and nestled amidst the tranquil ambiance, Ruskin Cave provided a picturesque backdrop that was unmatched for my daughter's special day. It's a hidden gem that offers a sense of serenity and charm, making it the ideal setting for such a momentous occasion. What truly sets Ruskin Cave apart is the exceptional staff. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and genuine hospitality were second to none. From the initial planning stages to the day of the wedding, they went above and beyond to ensure that everything ran smoothly. Their dedication and commitment to excellence were evident in every aspect of our experience. Furthermore, the facilities were immaculate and well-maintained, providing both functionality and elegance. Whether it was the spacious event spaces or the charming outdoor areas, every corner of Ruskin Cave exuded charm and sophistication. Overall, I cannot recommend Ruskin Cave highly enough. It is a truly magical venue with a team of wonderful staff who are dedicated to creating unforgettable moments. If you're looking for the perfect setting for your daughter's wedding or any special event, look no further than Ruskin Cave.

yone was always more than accommodating with our extremely specific needs. Our day was more perfect than I'd ever imagined it would be due in very large part to The Ruskin! As we left the next day, we lamented that we couldn't get married there again immediately. I'd recommend anyone interested in a beautiful venue with friendly and experienced staff book The Ruskin.