We were the first couple to use the venue after the fire, but The Sterling went above and beyond to make our day spectacular.
Staff: We loved working with Tanya Sue as part of t...he white glove package, and felt like every detailed was attended to. She was very prompt at responding my questions, and I never felt like I was left in the dark. The rest of the staff was great during the actual wedding and did a wonderful job setting up the venue just as I had envisioned.
Food: You know the food hit the spot when you take a bite of everything, look at each other, and give each other a thumbs up! During the tasting, we asked for some substitutions/alterations to the buffet, and they were executed perfectly on the day of the wedding. I think the only criticism I received was that the food was very dry for the last table that got served--we were trying to avoid this via the buffet, but otherwise everyone else raved about the food being one of the best wedding foods they've had. I think it's just an unfortunate consequence of food being under the warmer for too long. Oh, and everyone loved the late night snacks--I would comment on the taste, but by the time we noticed they had been served everyone had eaten them already. They were definitely a hit!
Venue: What you see in the pictures looks just as good in real life! My guests had a lot of fun with the outdoor games and roaming through the venue. I saw quite a lot of people take pictures on the island during golden hour, and heard someone say, "Guys, let's go outside, it's actually so nice out there." There were plenty of beautiful spots for photos--I didn't even know there was a tree swing, but that's one of my favorite pictures of the wedding!
Fire: Honestly, a lot of my guests didn't even know there had been a fire. We were a bit trepidatious when we walked in that morning because there was still soot and ash EVERYWHERE, but by 3PM everything had been cleared up and the second floor (which received the most fire damage) was skillfully draped over. I think I also just lucked out when I decided last minute I wanted a signature scent, so the candles successfully masked most of the smoky smell. To make up for the lack of a bridal suite at the venue, we went and used the suite at the Timberlodge and also received complimentary snacks (more than we could eat!) throughout the day.
Cost: This was the pricier out of the two venues we narrowed down to, but I think it's totally worth it (the husband was stressing over the price, but even he admitted it was worth it after the wedding). The food, ambience, space, service, and swift accommodations in the setting of an unexpected disaster more than made up for the cost.
Summary: the wedding played out just as I had envisioned it. I would recommend the Sterling to any couple who is looking for a venue in the area, they'll make your special day a dream come true!