Thunderbird Chapel

It goes without saying that this chapel is beautiful, and it is much more affordable than other venues in the area. It is incredible how much they help with decor and what’s included in the package. We didn’t have to buy any of our own decor except for flowers, and the tables were set up by the staff for us, saving us so much time and money. However, there was a very clear shift in Mya’s (the owner and day-of coordinator) effort and organization after about March 2024. She showed up for our tour an hour late, forgot about our rehearsal until I texted her and asked where she was and ended up being 45 minutes late, and didn’t arrive at the venue the day of the wedding until three and a half hours after she said she would. She did little to help with the flow of the wedding day and help us coordinate events. She did not help us with ordering catering through the chapel, so it’s lucky I remembered to do that by the deadline. She also did not reach out to schedule a detail meeting before the wedding like she said she would. I went to another wedding June for a friend, and this couple said it was exactly the same for them. She did take care of the reception table settings and some decor like she said she would, but she was extremely difficult to communicate with through the whole process and was quite rude if I had any ideas for my wedding that contradicted her. I would still recommend the chapel overall because it is beautiful and so much is included in the wedding day package, but I wouldn’t plan on having the help from Mya that she promises. Maybe this is a temporary lapse on her part and it won’t be like this for other couples. Everything else about the venue was fantastic.

I recently rented Thunderbird Chapel for a wedding, and unfortunately, our experience was far from satisfactory. Here are the main issues we encountered: 1. Cleanliness: The bathrooms were dirty and lacked essential supplies like paper towels, which was highly inconvenient for our guests. 2. Double Booking: Another wedding was taking place in the chapel simultaneously, which was not communicated to us beforehand and caused unnecessary confusion and disruption. 3. Coordinator Absence: The wedding coordinator, who is also the event center owner, was absent without any prior notice. Instead, she sent a replacement who was not briefed on our arrangements and was extremely rude. 4. Uninvited Guests: People from another upcoming wedding showed up to take pictures outside the event center during our event, which was very intrusive. 5. Unmet Catering Promises: We paid for lemonade, but none was provided. The food service was slow, leading to insufficient quantities and making our guests feel uncomfortable. We even had to take many guests out to a restaurant afterward due to the inadequate food supply. 6. Courtyard Condition: The courtyard, which was promised to be ready and blooming for our pictures, was in the same unkempt state as it was when we first visited 3-4 months prior. 7. Kitchen Hygiene: The kitchen where the food was stored and prepared was in a deplorable state, raising serious health concerns. I'm convinced it wouldn't pass a health department inspection. 8. Lack of Response: After the event, I contacted the owner multiple times to discuss these issues. She promised to look into them upon her return from a trip but never followed up. Despite repeated attempts, she has not returned my calls or messages. 9. Deposit Refund: We have yet to receive any of our deposit back, which the venue owner had promised to refund. In summary, our experience at Thunderbird Chapel was disappointing and frustrating. The lack of professionalism and basic hospitality made what should have been a joyous occasion into a stressful one. I cannot recommend this venue to anyone looking to create a memorable and pleasant wedding experience.

The staff was super helpful and did everything they could to make our wedding day wonderful and stress free for both of us and our families! The venue itself is so beautiful and very worth the price we paid for all the stuff that’s included in the package. Mya (the owner and coordinator) was very easy to work with and understanding, although her response times could use a little work. Sometimes I waited several days to several weeks for a response or for her to give me information on something I needed to know. For the most part, the experience was great though and I wouldn’t wanna have my wedding take place anywhere else!

Mya Kirk and her team ensured that my husband and I had a seamless and fun time at their venue! The decor provided was beautiful and everyone loved the food they provided as well. I could not imagine our wedding going better!