As a close family member of the bride and groom, I witnessed firsthand how disappointing the experience at The Garden Venue was. What should have been one of the happiest days of their lives turned into a day filled with unnecessary stress, frustration, and disappointment.
The wedding took place on 28 March 2026, and even more than three months later, the couple has received little more than ignored calls and dead-end responses instead of accountability.
The most upsetting issue was the food and beverage service. The couple specifically chose this venue because they were assured that all food would be catered by the agreed Halaal caterer to ensure everything served was Halaal. Instead, the venue prepared additional meat dishes themselves and mixed Halaal and non-Halaal food, offending several guests and causing unnecessary distress. There was also no assistance distinguishing vegetarian and meat dishes or alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The canapés arrived late, were cold, and there wasn't enough for guests. Vegetarian platters were also delayed, and many guests commented on how disappointing the catering was. The venue had assured the couple that no guest would go hungry, so they didn't arrange extra food. To make matters worse, there was an alcohol shortage despite guests not being allowed to bring their own alcohol, even with corkage. There were also not enough waiters, and basic items such as side plates, serviettes, and toothpicks were missing.
As family, we ended up helping with tasks that should never have been our responsibility. The ceremony area was muddy, chairs were dirty, some were broken or missing cushions, and guests were cleaning chairs before sitting. The ceremony wasn't ready on time, and guests were messaging the bride asking where they should go.
The reception wasn't set up when promised, and family members had to step in to assist while the bridal party should have been enjoying those special moments together. The bride's mother had to chase staff to set up the dessert and tea station and ensure the cake was cut. The cake topper wasn't placed despite clear instructions, there weren't enough cocktail tables, and the reception bathrooms were dirty.
The accommodation was equally disappointing. Several rooms weren't ready, towels and toilet paper were missing, some bathrooms had no doors, there were worms on the floor near the beds, and some rooms had little to no running water. The rooms clearly had not been cleaned properly.
The getting-ready suite had very poor lighting, making preparations difficult. Throughout the day, the coordination from the venue was lacking. The one person who stood out was Andy, the bride's chaperone, who went above and beyond to help and remained professional throughout the chaos.
It was heartbreaking watching our family try to protect the bride and groom from these issues on what should have been one of the best days of their lives. For the amount they paid, the service fell far below what was promised.
Based on everything I personally witnessed, I cannot recommend The Garden Venue for weddings.
