The Willow Creek Inn - Vale, NC

fondant which we didn't order. Grandparents cake topper not on cake! Lawnmower with hood up was parked in front of guest entry way. Flowers were not what I ordered. Didn't match what I had for brides maids. Lost a box for extra decor! Cost of white chairs had been finagled had green plastic chairs in dinning. Ran out of beverages before dinner was over. Wait staff was superb thank heavens. Paid him for photographer and he used pics on his website. I do not recommend this place for your wedding.

Mansour, I felt at ease immediately. He is very warm and wants to know everything about your wedding dreams. I chose Willow Creek Inn because Mansour is a chef and they charge you per person based on the menu you want. The rental of the grounds, tables, linens, and whatever flatware and decorations were included in the per head price. As my wedding planning went on, I found it hard to get price quotes from him on the extra items I asked him to help coordinate. He will take care of anything you want, and you tell him how much you want to spend, but it is hard to get details about what he will do with your money. For instance, I gave him a budget to do my table floral arrangements with the intention of using the small clear vases he had already. My flowers showed up on rehersal night in blue ceramic vases with chinese letters on them, with him saying the clear ones were too small. I sent him a picture of what I wanted, small clear vases with small arrangements, but he never called to clarify with me before ordering bigger arrangements. He did end up buying new vases when I insisted upon it, but there was a moment of panic. He included the wedding cake in the price of the catering, which I do not recommend. All I wanted was a chocolate wedding cake with buttercream, and I ended up getting a yellow wedding cake with chocolate fondant. Mainly, there were some miscommunication issues, so I suggest doing most things with your own vendors except the food. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!!! This is why I picked the venue, and I was not dissappointed. He took my vision and ran with it, and it was the best wedding food I have ever eaten. The grounds are beautiful, with a deck and gazebo by a stream to get married, a huge covered area with bathrooms and fireplaces and a bar where I held cocktail hour, and an open deck with fireplace that he enclosed for my reception. The deck extends out and has large oak trees growing up through it with wrought iron tables, so the party flowed beautifully from indoors to outdoors. If you are a savy coordinator and can do most of your own planning, I highly recommend the Willow Creek Inn because of food and beautiful grounds. The drive there is beautiful and there are lots of places to capture beautiful photos. His staff was very helpful and professional.