Stunning Views Await at Western Lakes Golf Club
Holds ceremonies and receptions
Deals
Custom discountPermanent
50% Off Venue Rental on Remaining 2026 Dates
Claim Deal
AWARD WINNER (6X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Western Lakes Golf Club blends natural beauty with modern comfort, creating a stunning backdrop for weddings, celebrations, and corporate events alike. With both indoor and outdoor spaces, you can host your event in any season—whether you’re dreaming of an open-air ceremony or a stylish indoor reception. Our main ballroom accommodates up to 300 guests, and our newly renovated wedding suite is the perfect spot for your bridal party to relax, sip champagne, and enjoy the moment.
We believe unforgettable events shouldn’t come with an overwhelming price tag. Western Lakes is one of the most affordable full-service venues in the area, with food and bar packages designed to impress your guests without stretching your budget.
From engagement parties and bridal showers to rehearsal dinners, next-day brunches, and even corporate galas or team celebrations—Western Lakes Golf Club offers a versatile, welcoming setting for every milestone. We’d love to help you create something truly memorable.
No business details yet
No team details yet
Amenities + details
Amenities
Ceremony Area
Covered Outdoors Space
Dressing Room
Handicap Accessible
Indoor Event Space
Liability Insurance
Outdoor Event Space
Reception Area
Wireless Internet
Ceremony Types
Civil Union
Commitment Ceremony
Elopement
Interfaith Ceremony
Non-Religious Ceremony
Religious Ceremony
Second Wedding
Vow Renewal Ceremony
Settings
Ballroom
Country Club
Tented
Trees
Venue Service Offerings
Bar & Drinks
Food & Catering
Planning
Rentals & Equipment
Service Staff
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Reviews
4.8
out of 5.0100 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help
you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Western Lakes Golf Club is highly praised by multiple reviewers for its outstanding communication, exceptional service, and delicious food. Guests consistently complimented Michelle and the staff for their professionalism and attentiveness throughout the planning process and on the day of the event. The venue's beautiful setting, floor-to-ceiling windows, gazebo, and balcony provide picturesque backdrops for ceremonies and receptions, and the indoor option is equally stunning. The affordability, seamless planning process, and accommodating staff make this venue a highly recommended choice for weddings.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 8
Krista W
5.0
6/09/2025
This venue was outstanding! Communication was great throughout the planning process. Jamie and Michelle made working with them a smooth process and were quick to follow up if we ha...
d any questions. Nearly every guest stopped us to talk about how unbelievably amazing the food was!
Nick R
5.0
11/12/2024
We worked with Michelle and team for our wedding in November and we couldn't have asked for a better experience. It started with a great tour of the facility, fair & transparent pr...
icing with an honest evaluation of what would be the best fit for our desires. Additionally, a smooth planning process took as much stress as possible off of our plates.
Then we can talk about the food, best wedding meal I have ever experienced. Wow. Short ribs, the appetizers...all of it was outstanding. The only thing we wish is that we can experience that meal again.
Highly highly highly recommend using Western Lakes for your wedding.
Any questions?
Andy R
5.0
10/11/2024
We had the most incredible wedding at Western Lakes! The venue was perfect, and the staff was out of this world! The staff was attentive, friendly, and always complimenting us, and...
making sure we had everything we needed! Food was out of this world and friends and family are still talking about it a week later!
-Andy & Amanda Rodriguez
Ilya L
5.0
8/19/2024
This past Saturday my now wife and I had our wedding ceremony and reception at Western Lakes Golf Club. When I say the customer service was amazing that is an understatement. From ...
the continuous contact with the planner, Michelle, to the food selections to the actual day or assistance. And the food…our guests raved about the food. The quality and portions were perfect. We would recommend this venue and Saz’s to any potential bride and groom.
Ashley P
5.0
6/26/2024
Venue is absolutely beautiful and staff were wonderful to work with! From planning to day of they were very supportive. Our food was amazing. Our guests raved about the food and st...
ill do!
Stephanie M
5.0
6/16/2024
Hands down the best wedding food I’ve ever had. The service was amazing and everyone was served on time with a hot plate. The bartenders were fast and kind. Working with Michelle ...
(the event coordinator) was a breeze, she answered all my questions in a timely manner. And of course the site itself is just beautiful for reception and ceremony.
Cassidy G
5.0
12/14/2023
We got married here end of April 2023 and it was a great experience! Western Lakes is an affordable option compared to other venues in the area. They provided linens, did the room ...
flip, and helped coordinate day of. They also have drinks and food in house which made the planning process so smooth! Not to mention our guest were raving about the food. We were hoping for an outdoor ceremony but due to Wisconsin weather we had it inside. The large windows still provided an amazing feel for an indoor ceremony. The lower level provided a place for guests to go during cocktail hour and allow the room flip to occur upstairs without hinderance. The large trees on the golf course and the gazebo provided AMAZING backdrops to our photos. Would highly recommend this venue.
Callie G
5.0
12/14/2023
I am so glad we choose Western Lakes for our wedding in April 2023! They were so accommodating with our wishes for food, logistics, and timeline. They were very easy to get ahold o...
f, very communicative and always willing to help. The food was delicious and we got so much food and drinknfor the price we paid. Our day was absolutely perfect because of them!
Caroline R
5.0
12/14/2023
We got married here in October and it was absolutely amazing. Everyone that we worked with was very professional and nailed all the details from room setup to the menu. We would re...
commend Western Lakes 100x over!
Cortney K
5.0
9/30/2023
Western Lakes was a great spot for our wedding. I always wanted to get married at a beautiful outdoor gazebo, but what made me choose western lakes was the fast the indoor back up ...
option was just as beautiful with the floor to ceiling windows over looking the golf course. The balcony was also a great spot for guests to take a break from the dance floor and get some air. Also really enjoyed the bridal suite for getting ready so all my bridesmaids would already be at the venue and ready for photos when hair and make up was finished. We were also able to order food to the suite so we could have lunch before the ceremony. Sazs catering is also an amazing plus because all of the food options are so good, the cheddar chive mashed potatoes were a huge hit. We had the festival favorites late night food and it was delicious. Michelle was very helpful every step of the way in our planing process and the day went so smoothly. I would certainly recommend this venue to others for their wedding.
Jeffrey V
5.0
9/20/2023
We had an excellent experience. Michelle, who helped coordinate our wedding, was awesome to work with. Great food and beautiful venue. Having the dance floor, bar, and bathrooms...
within 50 feet of each other made for a fun night. We would definitely recommend this venue.
Kristin W
5.0
9/12/2023
9/9/23: If staffing and service level is important to you (as it should be) look no farther than western lakes/saz’s! The food was incredible, the staff moved quick, and kept a ver...
y nice flow. Our guests never got antsy. Working with Jaime and Michelle was a breeze as well! We had originally booked at silver spring golf course and backed out with only 6 months to spare due to my gut feelings that it would not run very smoothly or be adequately staffed. Lo and behold found out their chef quit a week before our wedding date so I am beyond thrilled with my decision to make the switch! Our guests all complimented the level of service, food, and attention to detail. We had the ceremony outside which was beautiful and the reception inside. It’s a very modern atmosphere that really needs minimal decorating. A lot of our guests said it was the best wedding they’ve been to in a long time and the party of the year!
Kellie R
5.0
9/01/2023
I cannot say enough good things about our experience with western lakes. We had both our ceremony and reception here and from the very beginning when we toured through the day of, ...
the help and support from the staff was incredible. The food was unbelievable - we received several comments from guests about how great it all was. Michelle was knowledgeable, responsive and kind- we really loved working with her. The ceremony in front of the gazebo was beautiful too. Sazs/Western Lakes made our day PERFECT! We are so thankful.
A A
5.0
11/28/2022
So happy we found this wedding venue! Staff was so friendly and attentive, pricing was so reasonable, and the food was absolutely to die for. I wish we could get married again so w...
e could go back!
Melissa T
5.0
11/17/2022
I can not say enough good things about Western Lakes. The venue was beautiful, and the food was delicious. More importantly, however, it really felt like the staff went above and b...
eyond to help make our day perfect. We had some hiccups the day of and the staff was quick to help in anyway they could, including adjusting to last minute changes in our timeline. Everyone was kind and generous. I would highly recommend checking it out!
Taylor E
5.0
7/11/2022
Saz’s and Western Lakes was fantastic! Michelle is a great coordinator! She answered all questions and was able to help in whatever was needed. The food was amazing! My guests were...
very satisfied with the variety of food offered as well! I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a well organized venue space.
Marissa E
5.0
5/03/2022
My world was changed the minute we said yes to this vendor. We booked our forever. Little did I know what these wonderful people would do for us. First of all, Amber and Michelle a...
re absolutely wonderful. From the initial meet to the final product and meal, I cried and still am. The food was hands down the best food I have ever had and our guests could not agree more. I still am getting messages about how wonderful the food and venue was. I never thought my wedding would be as perfect as this. But perfect is an understatement for what myself, my husband, and ALL of our guests felt. From set up to tear down, I constantly thanked the staff. It was 3 days ago already and I want to repeat the day. This venue was accommodating and flexible with EVERYTHING. If you are looking for a place, PLEASE book here. My heart is so unbelievably full. I hope we will be able to book here again for an event, I wouldn’t go anywhere else.
Mary P
5.0
9/21/2021
We had a wonderful experience hosting our event at Western Lakes! So many aspects surpassed our expectations. Michelle, Joe, and Jason were flexible and accommodating throughout th...
e planning process, ensured our day went smoothly, and brought our vision for this celebration to life! It really meant a lot to us that everything went so well on Saturday especially after having to delay our wedding celebration in 2020. All the staff we interacted with at the venue were excellent and we could tell they cared about the success of our event. Western Lakes helped us create many memories this weekend that we will cherish for a lifetime. I would absolutely recommend Western Lakes/Saz's Catering in a heartbeat!
Liz L
4.0
8/23/2021
Joe and Adrienne were very helpful and kind! They made sure things ran smoothly before Wedding started. They were flexible with setup times and held things I forgot until I was abl...
e to pick up. Food was amazing. I actually did add the ribs to menu and they were a hit! Late night food was also delicious and much needed. Prices were affordable and was able to host open bar for most of the night.
Daniel G
5.0
7/19/2021
Like many of couples, our reception was put on hold for a year. In our opinion it was a blessing in disguise. We had chose another venue previously but since it was not operating...
we looked to Western Lakes. I had previously attended a wedding there and loved the set up, panoramic view of the golf course with a great little balcony when you need a little fresh air. As a long time service industry employee the first thing on my mind is the quality of food. I was surprised that the food was Saz’s, didn’t even know they did catering. That’s a great pedigree. I’ve been to enough weddings where the food was overpriced, terrible, and you sit in a dark and gloomy wedding hall. Not the case if you go to Western Lakes. Joe was amazing, he knows the stress of putting on a reception and he literally does all the work for you. With all the crazy variables you have to deal with on your big day, this won’t be one. Joe will take care of everything you need. The place is beautiful the service, food, and setup is amazing. My wife and I feel so blessed the other place didn’t work out for us.
Chelsey R
5.0
6/24/2021
We had our wedding here- everything was amazing. We had a great experience and worked with joe who was organized and made sure everything was perfect for our day. The tree backdrop...
and outside ceremony with gazebo was beautiful. The food was amazing and the amazing staff with great hospitality. Our family and friends really enjoyed themselves and will not stop talking about what a great time they had and the food! If you are looking for a venue for your wedding go to western lakes golf club!!!! You will NOT be disappointed
Abigail J
5.0
6/15/2021
Western Lakes is a beautiful venue everything is in one place, the tree backdrop is lovely, the open concept is perfect, and the staff is wonderful. Michelle our coordinator was wo...
nderful to work with and everything went as planned. It was very affordable the food was delicious (Sam’s catering) and the staff helps you set up. Everyone loved our venue and raved about the views and the food for weeks to come. Definitely take a look if you want the best value and the best pictures!
Courtney J
5.0
5/04/2021
We chose Saz’s to cater the food for our wedding and are so glad we did! We loved them and so did our guests. The food was absolutely delicious and all of the staff was amazing to ...
work with! Saz’s not only provided the food (appetizers for cocktail hour, dinner and late night pizza) they also provided the linens as well. And the purple napkins matched our colors perfectly. I would definitely recommend Saz’s to anyone looking for a caterer. Great food, lots of options, friendly staff- what more could you ask for?
Jim T
5.0
4/22/2021
My wife and I contacted Joe, after having our original venue(Seven Seas) shut down, first to Covid and then permanently when the venue was put up for sale.
Joe jumped through ever...
y hoop we threw at him to make our vow renewal and reception come off perfectly! We couldn’t have asked for a better spot to hold our event! Joe and his staff had every detail taken care of, from start to finish.
If we had to do this over again, our first and only call would be to Joe at Saz’s Catering and would definitely hold it at Western Lakes Golf Club again! We had nothing but compliments about the entire event, from our guests, thanks to Joe and his staff!
Jordy B
5.0
4/14/2021
I cannot recommend Saz’s and Western Lakes enough! Joe and his staff truly went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect and went smoothly! We received so many compliments...
from our guests on the venue, food, and bartender service! Joe was also very responsive and was able to help with any question and accommodate any request we had. I highly recommend booking this venue for your wedding, it was the best decision we made regarding our big day! :)
Elizabeth P
5.0
4/12/2021
My name is Elizabeth And my now husband Steve and I used Saz’s for our catering for our wedding at Western Lakes . We could not be happier . Joe was attentive , helpful and so supp...
ortive of the many questions I asked and last minute changes . The food was wonderful . The servers were so great . I especially loved the tortellini and Mac and cheese bar . I cannot recommend that enough . I even emailed joe the next day and asked how I could get that again . Steak was wonderful as well. The servers were so helpful and came up to me various points in the night to ask if everything was okay . Such a wonderful staff. They even rallied last minute when I made everyone in my wedding party late and we were behind schedule with the Food . They helped us get back to being on time. They also helped so much with clean up and condensed what we put on the tables . It was all so wonderful !!!!
If your getting married or want to host an event , go with saz’s because they will take great care of you !!!!
Kelly R
5.0
3/27/2021
We used Saz’s to cater our 3/13/21 wedding. They were so patient with our million questions and requests. We have both been to weddings where the food has been not so great and wan...
ted to find a caterer that our guests wouldn’t consider it “wedding food.” We found that in Saz’s. Weeks later our guests still won’t stop talking about the food. We even had some say it was the best wedding food they have ever had. Prices were reasonable and communication with staff was excellent.
Kim Z
5.0
2/04/2021
We got married in January 2021 at WLGC. Joe was awesome to work with and made sure we had the best experience. He answers all questions thoroughly and is very responsive. The venue...
was clean & the staff was friendly. It was the best decision to have our wedding there. We highly recommend having your event there.
Lauren T
5.0
10/31/2020
My experience with Jason and Saz’s Lake Country catering has been above and beyond incredible. Planning a wedding is stressful to begin with, not to mention during a pandemic. But ...
Jason has put me at ease and made accommodations to relieve stress. I can definitely tell that they will do whatever they can to make sure my wedding day is everything that I hoped it would be. Food is such a big part of a wedding day so if you are looking for your perfect caterer, look no further. Not only is the food spectacular but you have supportive staff to work with you along the way. I highly recommend Jason and his team for your catering needs!
Bridget L
5.0
10/30/2020
We had a rough start before the wedding, as we went through 4 different point of contacts after Chris left as the longtime manager of that location. Our last point of contact, Mich...
elle took very good care of us before and after the wedding(I sometimes felt our emails were text conversations because of how fast we were both replying to each other). But the food was amazing(shout out to the server who after I joked about my own bowl of cheddar potatoes, she gave me my own to-go container - I cried tears of happiness). And the staff were great to work with. Just watch what is and isn't included on your open bar if you are having one - that was really our only issue and Michelle took care of it.
Emily E
5.0
10/26/2020
Western lakes was everything we dreamed of and more for our wedding. Jason was on top of everything. He texted and called me the week before to confirm everything and made sure eve...
rything was what I wanted. The room set up was beautiful and the venue is beautiful for pictures. The ceremony was amazing as well. Our guests raved about our food. I couldn’t have imagined my wedding anywhere but western lakes.
Abbey H
4.0
8/17/2020
Overall a very nice venue! My husband and I had our wedding reception there on August 1st. They allowed us to go in the day before and set up the venue, and the team there was supe...
r responsive and flexible. We did have a food tasting before the big day, and picked out the food, and unfortunately one of the items that we picked was not in our buffet. We had also upgraded the beer package for the bar and some of the beers were not on hand the day of. Minus those few issues, everything went smoothly!
Samantha A
5.0
7/31/2020
Sara and Chris with Western Lakes were a pleasure to work with. Sara was always there to answer my emails and even during this troubling time, we were able to have a wonderful wedd...
ing. They took all the necessary precautions for the safety of our guests and even when I needed things on the day of the wedding, they were able to accommodate me! The venue itself is beautiful and well laid out for many more guests than we had and the gazebo outside gave us some wonderful photos of our day! The food is amazing and our day stayed on track.
Justine D
5.0
11/01/2019
We met Chris and Sara when we were touring Western Lakes Golf Course as a potential wedding venue. We LOVED them but ended up going in a different direction for the actual wedding ...
venue. When it came time at our new venue to find our catering company my husband was very adamant about wanting something special…a pasta bar! We then found out that Chris and Sara did outside catering for other lake country venues and we could have them! We met with them and they didn’t have the pasta bar on the menu but they custom made one just to fit our dreams. They were VERY responsive and kind throughout the entire process. They always made us feel at ease when dealing with stressful wedding planning things (even about things that didn’t deal with our food). I’m not quite sure how they have it down so well because they are incredibly busy, but they are such a great team with an amazing staff and not to mention, the food was PHENOMENAL…all the guests were raving about the quality of the food (even the late night pizza 😉 ) Hands down we would choose them over and over to cater our wedding. 11/10! Thank you so much Chris & Sara!!!
Carrie P
5.0
10/20/2019
Beautiful venue with sweeping views of the golf course. Our wedding was just perfect and the staff was unbelievably easy to work with!
Elena G
5.0
10/20/2019
We could not have chosen a better vendor for our ceremony and reception! First, the Saz's food was amazing. All of our guests said it was the best food at a wedding that they hav...
e ever had! Western Lakes was also super flexible and worked with us. Sara always responded super quickly and answered all of our questions. It rained on our wedding day and the venue was able to move our ceremony inside and still made it beautiful. The people at Saz's and Western Lakes were amazing to work with and the venue itself is gorgeous. We are so happy we went with them!
Amanda R
5.0
10/19/2019
We are so happy we chose Saz’s Lake Country to cater our wedding! From start to finish, Sara was so amazing to work with! We received many compliments from our guests on how amazin...
g the food was, it was delicious! We have family members with allergies and Saz’s met our needs for that, and the staff service the day of was amazing too!
Courtney S
5.0
8/22/2019
I can’t say enough good things about our experience with Western Lakes! Sara was beyond amazing to work with during the whole process. She answered every email super fast and was s...
o patient with the millions of questions I had. The food was amazing and the entire staff was so nice and accommodating. It was the perfect place to have our wedding! Everyone bent over backwards to make our special day perfect and I can’t thank them enough!
Melanie B
5.0
8/07/2019
We recently had our wedding ceremony and reception at Western Lakes Golf Club. We were beyond happy with the entire experience from start to finish. Sara and Chris were an absolu...
te pleasure to work with and the food was sensational! We received so many compliments on the entire evening. I highly recommend this venue!!!!
Jessica P
5.0
6/17/2019
My (now) husband and I had discussed having our ceremony and reception at the same location and had a more limited budget. I knew an outdoor ceremony would also be magical (if the ...
weather cooperated, which it did thankfully). Western Lakes and the Saz's Catering Lake Country partnership checked all of the boxes! We knew the second we walked in and met with co-owner and catering manager, Chris, that we would have our wedding there. The way the team there structure everything is top notch, and they were all actively engaged in making our wedding spectacular. Coordinator Sara even responded to one of my (many) emails with questions while on a beach vacation, which was above and beyond the call of duty. The team even put out all of my signage, set out the place cards, and strung lights on the balcony that morning, so we didn't have to do a thing. We loved every minute of our special day, and we are still getting responses (a month later) from our guests with how wonderful everything was during our wedding!
Aleah M
5.0
5/01/2019
I would recommend Western Lakes in a heartbeat. Their staff did an exceptional job both in helping us plan everything and in service the night of the reception. Sara and Chris were...
very organized and flexible and everything went off without a hitch. Plus we barely had to lift a finger for setup. The food was lovely and the servers were very efficient and polite. The price was also very reasonable, especially for everything that we got and I can't count the number of compliments we got on the venue!
Kristine G
4.0
4/01/2019
Western Lakes Golf Club was a great venue for our wedding. We received numerous compliments from our guest about how beautiful the venue is as well as the great food! It is very ...
reasonably priced and since we had an off season wedding we received numerous perks. The staff the night of were very polite and set up the hall just the way we wanted. The biggest compliant we had was that the entry way and the hall below ours was getting painted that morning! So when we arrived the building smelled of paint fumes. To help, doors were all opened to help "air" out the rooms but then it was very cold. By dinner time the smell had gone away but we were upset about it and hadn't received any apologies even after complaints were made to the manager on staff that night. Overall the food was great, the hall is beautiful but apparently we needed to request that no painting be done that day.
Nicole B
5.0
11/28/2018
Sara and Chris were wonderful to work with. Planning the reception was almost simple with their support and input. Sara did a wonderful job of making sure that my vision for the ...
table decorations came to life and they were super flexible. The food from Saz's was wonderful, as always.
Greg W
5.0
11/01/2018
Right when we walked in we fell in love with the place. It’s the perfect venue for our fall wedding ceremony & reception. The manager is prompt, amiable, and cares for what we have...
to say. The food tasting was out of this world and we cannot wait to have our special day there!
Kristin R
5.0
10/28/2018
Our August wedding at Western Lakes Golf Club was an absolute dream! The venue was beautiful and well maintained and the staff was so helpful throughout the entire day. Sara & Chri...
s were fantastic during the entire planning process - super responsive to emails, answered all of our questions, and were very accommodating the day of. I would highly recommend Western Lakes for both your ceremony and reception venue!!
Britteny B
4.0
10/17/2018
Food is amazing!!! Everyone was very helpful. It was very windy the day of our wedding and I was so happy they had backup plans set for us !!! Everything turned out beautiful
Kim M
5.0
10/06/2018
Western Lakes is a beautiful venue for a wedding. Saz's catering was great and it was wonderful working with Sara and Chris. They sure helped make the day run smoothly. I would hig...
hly recommend WLGC and Saz's catering for your wedding
Ashley M
5.0
8/22/2018
Having our wedding reception at Western Lakes was the greatest decision we made during the planning process. Sara was incredibly responsive to the (what seemed like) never ending ...
questions I had for her and always responded to me within a 24 hour window. The week of the wedding I dropped off multiple Rubbermaids with no direction as to where to place things throughout the room, etc. On our wedding day, I checked out the room early in the morning to see how everything looked and was so impressed with how great the room looked and how they knew exactly where to place everything without my instruction. I dealt with Chris more so the week of our wedding. He was such a wonderful person to work with. He really made me feel confident that they had everything under control. I just cannot thank Chris, Sara and the Western Lakes/Saz's team enough for all they did to make our day wonderful. Thank you times a million!
Caryn K
5.0
7/18/2018
Saz's and Western Lakes made my wedding the perfect day! I had both ceremony and reception here - ceremony was outside on the grass, so pretty!! I didn't have to worry about anythi...
ng related to decorating the reception space and it turned out better than I even thought it would! Chris and Sara did an amazing job with everything from start to finish and were so quick to answer all my random questions leading up to our day. Not to mention the food was great, especially the late night fries and cheese curds, which were a HUGE hit! Agree that you definitely don't need a separate wedding coordinator if you have your wedding here.
Jackie R
5.0
6/27/2018
We had such an amazing wedding this weekend at Western Lakes Golf Club. Chris and Sara were amazing to work with. You do not need a separate wedding planner if you are going to get...
married here. They answered all my questions in a timely manner and are just amazing and fun people to work with! We highly recommend them!
Want to book a visit?
Start the convo
*=Required
Use this secure form to reach out and share your wedding vision.
Wedding vendors in Pewaukee
Western Lakes Golf Club
Why use The Knot to message vendors?
Messaging our verified vendors on The Knot is free, safe and secure. Conveniently track vendor messages and planning details all in one place. Our mobile apps make it easy to stay in touch with vendors while you're on‑the‑go. For personalized pricing and package details, sending the vendor a message is the fastest way to get info.