Anyone know anything about Safari Texas Ranch??

bRooklynRocks

In addition to some of the country clubs I am looking at, I will be checking out Safari Texas Ranch. Has anyone married there? Know anyone who married there? Anything?? They seem to be the best that fit my budget so I'm probably going to end up with them but any help will be good. Thanks.

abramlett79

I went to this place a while back and I was NOT impressed even if they are budget friendly. Make sure you see it in person before you definately decide on booking. I thought the landscaping was unkempt and ugly. They also do A LOT of weddings at once. I thought the way they direct people to each wedding was tacky.

AND when I went to tour the place, I was told to wait in a room and I ended up waiting for like 20 minutes, so we left.

aricherry

My best friend's wedding will be there in Dec, and she says its budget friendly all inclusive.  She likes it.  I had my prom there 8 years ago and from what I remember it was nothing special.  I still drive by there occasionally on my way home from church and the grounds are not that great.

bRooklynRocks

Yikes, well, I will be checking it out in a few days. The place looks so beautiful on the website and I thought it would be nicer in person. The price was what got me though. I even saw it profiled on Style Me Pretty and was impressed http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/06/22/vintage-styled-wedding-at-sugarlands-safari-texas-ranch/

emily.and.will

i don't know anything about the pricing or what is included, but i went to a wedding there in june and thought it was really beautiful. the outdoor space is small, but intimate and peaceful, and the interior rooms have a cute rustic feel that lends well to decorating. sure, the landscaping does have room for improvement, but it wasn't dreadful. to be honest i thought the river oaks garden club was more unkempt, and that is supposed to be a lush garden! i really thought it was a great place for a wedding.

MdniteMustang00

wasnt impressed with it OR the coordinator i met with. im sure it ALL depends on your coordinator tho.

mtsookasem

Wow, I'm sad to see so many reviews. I will be the 4th bride out of my group of friends to get married here!

I am having my wedding there in November 2011. I think the place is gorgeous. There are 6 different ballrooms, all with different looks. I chose the veranda room. (I inserted some pictures here). I believe each room has different ceremony options as well - the gazebo below is the option for the Veranda room.

For the price, I think it is a great value. I am paying $55/head for full open bar.

I agree that I am not that impressed with my coordinator, but she is very responsive to my emails and has been able to answer all of my questions.

novemberscarlet

I've been to a couple of weddings there and from a guests prospective I was not impressed. I thought the signs directing you to the wedding were tacky and the landscaping was not up to par. Also,one of the weddings was an outdoor wedding and it smelled funny. Animal stinky. I guess the wind was blowing a certain way but I noticed it. I don't know how things are run from the bride and groom's perspective but as a guest I suppose it just felt very 'budget'. Which is great if you're paying, but I've seen budget friendly places that don't seem budget, ya know. Anway, just my opinion.

bRooklynRocks

How come there are widely different takes on this place? I don't want to fall in love with the price and then, wham, when I see it, it seems all wrong. Although, truth be told, I am getting married in the evening so I don't really care about landscaping since I shall be taking my pictures at Herman Park before the ceremony.

To the posters above, where else would you say is budget that doesn't seem so budget? Where do you think you can get $55pp and open bar??

pooh8402

I have a friend of mine that got married there and raved about the place. he loved it. so I guess you'll find mixed reviews about the place depending on what people's expectations are.

bRooklynRocks

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-houston_anyone-anything-safari-texas-ranch?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:121Discussion:154adbf8-842f-43ff-8957-39e62d873cc9Post:8a9b00d1-7182-44f4-9b77-657511d686c5">Re: Anyone know anything about Safari Texas Ranch??</a>:
[QUOTE]I have a friend of mine that got married there and raved about the place. he loved it. so I guess you'll find mixed reviews about the place depending on what people's expectations are.
Posted by pooh8402[/QUOTE]Well, I guess. I mean, do you want the celebrant to rave when the guests think it stinks... or do you want the guests to rave and the celebrant thinks it stinks?? I am very concerned about the whole 'It looks so budget' thing that I'm hearing but it's about 4k cheaper going with them. I can use 1k to spruce up the inside I guess....

BabyBlueNTexas

This venue is nice---- it was once a place that had animals that roam-- and plenty of trendy brides are using the zoo-- **GASP**. Really Brooklyn you are going to have to do what every other bride has done to find a venue. You are going to have to go and see it for yourself, and then make the choice to see if it fits you. I have been to several weddings there, and it was just beautiful. That being said-- I don't always think the super expensive places are all that nice. It is based on your likes.. go with what you dream of.

Your guests will focus on the fact that they are there to take part in your special day. If they are there to be snide and rude about the fact that you chose something budget friendly,maybe you should consider inviting people who simply feel honored to be at the wedding.

novemberscarlet

I definately agree that it's a celebration and that you should be more concerned about how you like it and how it makes you feel. Personally I'm glad that there are venues out there for every budget and ultimately you should choose a place to please you not your guests. That said, when I offered my opinion on it from a guest's prospective, that's all I had since I've only been to weddings there, and only two of them. It's not a bad place, it's got it's charm and really, all weddings are beautiful. I just didnt' like some parts of it... the signs and the landscaping and I concentrated on that because it seems like it should be a lush country setting and kind of upscale but certain parts of it are not. All in all, it was ok and I wouldn't boycott going to a wedding there just because of a few things. I also wouldn't rule it out completely to have a wedding there if it meets all of your criteria and expectations. It's like buying a wedding dress.... when you try it on you know it's the one, even if others don't quite see it that way. In the end, it's your wedding and it will be beautiful.

mtsookasem

I agree that you just have to see it for yourself.

I understand what some of the girls are saying about the parking lot/surrounding areas, but none of that matters to me. Ultimately, I am not getting married in the parking lot or yard... I posted a picture in my first post of the gazebo where I will be having my ceremony. In my opinion, it is beautiful.

aricherry

I just gave my personal opinion, but I am sure that if you choose the place, that you will have a beautiful wedding there or wherever you choose.  Like I said my prom was 8 years ago and I have not been back since so m memory could be fuzzy.  ALthough I do not remember it being that great I also do not think it was bad either.  I guess if you are going for something different like a wow factor in a venue then this would be a good place.