Tyler P.
Yelp
(3.7 out of 5) - Honest Review of Our Wedding at Callaway Winery
My wife and I were married at Callaway Winery this fall and wanted to share a transparent review for future couples. The venue itself is stunning. The Tuscany-style views, the Barrel Room, and the West Lawn were even more beautiful in person than in photos. Our tour with Tanya made a great first impression and we even joined the wine club afterward because we genuinely liked their wines.
Planning Experience
The all-inclusive package made planning from out of state much easier, and Mariah, our main coordinator, was wonderful--responsive, patient, and helpful. That said, I'd still recommend couples hire a dedicated month-of or day-of coordinator to ensure small details don't get missed.
Food Tasting
Our first tasting was extremely disappointing. Several appetizers were served in small black plastic cups, the meatballs and sliders were cold and dry, and the entrées lacked seasoning. We paid extra to bring parents and our MOH, and it felt like a poor value given the quality. The second tasting, however, was excellent and restored our confidence. The only lingering issue was that, despite requesting multiple times that no appetizers be served in black plastic cups, they still appeared on the wedding day.
Bar & Drinks
This was our biggest frustration. We expected a full bar but later learned the venue only allows beer, wine, and lower-proof spirits. The "premium bar" still used very low-tier brands, and cocktails defaulted to plastic cups unless we rented glassware. We requested two bartenders repeatedly but only had one on the wedding day, which created long lines and pushed guests to switch to wine or beer. Drinks also lacked consistency because the bartender was free-pouring everything--one groomsman even asked, and the bartender replied, "Yeah, because I am baller." Not ideal for a black-tie wedding.
Wedding Day
Beyond the bar issues, the day was beautiful. The remodeled bridal suite is gorgeous, Soiree Floral made the dinner terrace look like a magazine, and the sunset over the vineyard was unreal. The Barrel Room was the perfect ending and the coffee bar was a huge surprise hit--hand-crafted lattes and chai were loved by everyone. Our DJ, Mark, kept the energy high all night.
One unexpected stressor was being told at the end of the night that we needed to handle all breakdown, cleanup, and clearing of the suites ourselves. Our package mentioned setup and breakdown of personal décor, so we assumed this would be handled. Instead, we scrambled for over an hour and missed the first part of our after-party.
Guest Feedback
Guests raved about the venue, food, and overall atmosphere. The only consistent complaint was the long bar line.
Final Thoughts
Callaway is gorgeous, romantic, and has an amazing staff. We truly had a beautiful wedding. However, the bar limitations and staffing issues were the biggest drawback and not aligned with the elevated guest experience we envisioned. If bar service is not a priority, Callaway is a great choice. If it is, I recommend asking very specific questions upfront or considering other venues that offer a true full bar.