Jonathan Starnes

Review of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden

To understand my rating please note this is in reg...

To understand my rating please note this is in regards to using the garden for a wedding venue. As a garden, Stowe is a beautiful way to spend the day.

Outside of this, I went to SBG to view as a potential wedding venue. We loved the spot but needed to choose quickly as my fiance's job deadline had moved up. Time was important. We called and set up a walking appointment (a gap of time of a week and a half). Our guide seemed nice and knowledgeable, and although some of their packages were a bit out of our price range, we found one suited our needs. Back to their office we were told couple's make or break point was around catering, which seemed odd considering SBG's vast facilities. I inquired about providing our own catering as I have a friend in the business. I was told "no, Best Impressions Caterers is our 'exclusive' catering partner."

When given the packet of information on the venue there was only one page on catering that barely amounted to a paragraph. It only mentioned that the catering van fee was $150 and to call a number to make the arrangements. After calling Best Impressions twice I finally received a call back from a Best Impressions rep who specifically reps SBG. He gave me a price of the total and I almost thought it was a joke. Over $12k for catering. NOW I understood why Best Impressions is the exclusive caterer. I asked for a break-down from Best Impressions SBG rep, who already seemed to be getting defensive that I'd even question the cost. After all, NOTHING is too expensive for your big day, right? He told me that SBG offers no tables, dining ware, table covers, seating, etc. Even though I just saw all those items inside for SBG's Christmas display, they have a classroom set up, and a covered patio with picnic tables. Aside from the additional $30 per person it would cost for tables and chairs, I was told that the meal costs per each person was roughly $30-$40 a person despite the fact that I had not given them my custom meal preference I was told Best Impressions would make upon request OR the fact that we were doing a buffet rather than a served meal. After mentioning it, I was told prices wouldn't change aside from a dollar or two and was chided that this was "the equivalent to an uptown upscale meal." You mean my buffet meal? Where the servers (who's costs were separate from the $40 per person) are only replacing water and busting tables? Best Impressions rep for SBG also told me that we would require a $2,300 tent that I was told by Stowe was not necessary. In short, the cost per person alone was shaped out to be over $100 for a buffet style meal that you can "custom" request. The rep tried to argue this is their standard cost at every venue but backed down when I asked if other venues offer their own tables, chairs, and dining ware. "...yes," was my sheepish answer.
For wedding venues, Stowe Botanical Gardens is a scam. This whole charade amounted to a month of wasted time. A month I could not get back to plan a wedding date that could not be moved. Upon calling Stowe Botanical Gardens back to ask questions, I was told by their manager of events that his hands were tied and he was sorry if I felt there wasn't enough transparency about Best Impressions. "In the future I will make sure this information is included in the packet. I don't know how that happened."

Unless you're willing to spend over $12k on your catering alone (not including photos, flowers, venue, cake, dresses, and tuxes), this venue is a scam and they should be ashamed to use Best Impressions as a way to back fill their wedding costs. There is a reason they've been partnered for over 10 years...look elsewhere if you want to get married and remain out of debt.