Shannon Franklin
Google
My husband and I were married at The Abbey in late July. Overall, our experience had both highlights and frustrations, which I think are important for future couples to know.
We chose The Abbey because of its package options and the convenience of having everything in one place. This was a major benefit during planning and helped reduce stress. Jonathan, the coordinator, was personable and communicative throughout most of the process. We booked over a year in advance, and although communication dipped in the spring (likely due to a management transition), we were understanding. After that, things ran smoothly leading up to the big day.
The actual ceremony and reception were beautiful, and we were so happy with how everything turned out. The staff executed the wedding day well, and we were able to enjoy ourselves.
That said, we did hear from our guests about some logistical challenges:
Hotel Check-In: Some guests couldn’t check in until after 4:00, which left them scrambling with our 5:00 ceremony. Those who had planned to get ready on-site were especially affected.
Parking & Shuttles: Guests not staying at the resort had to park at a local elementary school and be shuttled in, something that was not communicated to us in advance. Had we known, we would have included it on our wedding website. Parking was very limited, and at the end of the night, shuttle delays left many guests waiting extended periods of time to get back to their cars.
The most disappointing part of our experience happened after the wedding. We were told by multiple staff members (including our Day-of Coordinator from Graceful Events) that we could safely leave our items on a designated table overnight and collect them in the morning. Unfortunately, this did not happen.
When we returned, the table had been cleared, and our vases and bathroom caddies were missing. Boxes we had left to pack the vases were untouched, but the items themselves were gone. I emailed Jonathan and our Day-of Coordinator immediately, but did not receive a reply until four days later. We were told there had been a miscommunication with the striking team, and that the items had been moved to the service entrance under the assumption vendors would collect them. We were also told our bathroom caddies had been found.
Excited, we made the two-hour drive back after our honeymoon to pick everything up. When we arrived, only our bud vases and a few small items were located—along with several items that did not belong to us. The bathroom caddies were nowhere to be found. Neither Jonathan nor the events manager were on-site, but the wonderful lady at the front desk gave the resort manager's contact info to leave a message. I later spoke with Tim Somerville, the resort manager, who assured me someone from his team would follow up. Unfortunately, no one ever did. I also sent a follow-up email to Jonathan and never received a response.
While the wedding day itself was wonderful, the post-event experience left us deeply disappointed. Once the event was over and payment was collected, communication and customer service dropped off completely.
Before & During the Wedding: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Great packages, convenience, and overall a smooth event.
After the Wedding: ⭐ (1/5) – Very poor communication and follow-through, unresolved issues with missing items.
We are grateful for the memories made at The Abbey, but we hope management addresses these issues so future couples do not have the same post-wedding frustrations.