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Maui wedding -- Gannons??? Please help

Styler83Styler83 member
First Comment
in Hawaii

Hello!

My wedding is planned for July 18, 2011. I am really just getting started with the planning & although I had decided on Gannon's... I am just now getting the contract sorted out and I keep coming across less than desireable reviews.

My heart isn't set on Gannon's, so I am open to other venues. I just really want some place that is beautiful and has good food & service. Also not excessively pricey!

Has anyone had any experiences with Gannon's or do you have other venues you could suggest? We would like to get married outside & also have the reception outside or at least with beautiful views.

Thanks for your help!!

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Re: Maui wedding -- Gannons??? Please help

  • caudiva7caudiva7
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I am having the exact same problem.  I am planning my wedding for October 2011 and while I have pretty much decided on Molokini Lookout for the ceremony, I am wondering now that I have the contracts for Gannon's for the reception if that is what I want to do.  I am now considering Spago at the Four Seasons which is supposed to be wonderful but is a bit more expensive.  I hope someone else suggests some other locations as well. 
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  • Styler83Styler83 member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one! I was starting to think I was just being silly, but I just need to know what else is out there to make sure it's right for me.
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  • ag1478ag1478
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm getting married at Ganon's a month from today :)  We had decided on them prior to the current owner taking over.  Ive heard some mixed reviews as well, but we really had our heart set on the location.   We did decide to use an outside wedding coordinator because their coordinator, America, we extremely slow to respond and told us to go ahead and use someone else.  Their event coordinator, Susan, has been very prompt and  easy to work with regarding the set up and the menu selection. 

    As far as the food and service, I can let you know after our wedding next month :)  If you have any questions you can PM me. 

    Good luck with your planning ladies :)

    -Amanda
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  • kaeshakaesha
    Eighth Anniversary 2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    We haven't had a ton of receptions over there since it stopped being the Seawatch. The reviews we have heard haven't been bad - they just haven't been as glowing as they were. Susan has been there since before the management change, so you're in good hands there.
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  • carrieoz_76carrieoz_76 member
    2500 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Our reception dinner was at the Five Palms in Kihei - some pics are in my bio under Wedding Pictures and Vendor Reviews.  You can also get married on their lawn outside overlooking the ocean - there are pics on their website, and HI knottie J Jo just got married there (I think), so if you search for her wedding teaser pics you can see what it was like.
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  • syounsyoun
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We're having our wedding and reception at Merriman's next August.  Their event coordinator is always very prompt with emails and she's been great to work with thus far.  I started getting worried if I made the right choice since I haven't really seen many reviews of gals who've had BOTH their ceremony and reception there but I tracked down a Yelper who recently had their wedding at Merriman's and they had very rave reviews about the level of service and food.  Tripadvisor reviews are all very positive about the food as well!

    If you have access to Facebook, look up Merriman's Kapalua for photos.  There are several pictures posted of the restaurant all decked out for weddings and receptions. 

    We are doing a lunchtime restaurant buy out which is such a steal!!!  There is a small lawn area available for small ceremonies, but the outdoor deck seems the way to go (which is where we are having our ceremony). 

    Good luck and hope that helps!
    After Wedding Sale!
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  • milanzmilanz member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    My wedding is coming up soon too. America has not contacted since I spoke with Susan. I only have a small aount of guests, but I would like to know how much everything is going to cost, what is available etc. All I know is that I am on the lower pond side and what food we are getting :( 

    How long did it take before America got back to you guys?
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  • mirdybirdmirdybird member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    Hello! I'm sure most of you brides-to-be have already chosen your venue but if anyone can use my review, please do! I have also posted this on yelp and wedding channel. Sorry it is long but it is about using America as your coodinator. My wedding was on May 26, 2011 at Gannon's.

    Having America as our coordinator is was the one thing that ruined our wedding experience.

    We originally booked Gannon's in mid 2010 for our wedding on May 26, 2011. Since it was so far away, we didn't contact America for obvious reasons. When the new year came around, we slowly started tossing ideas around. Every time we emailed with a question, we had to follow up a week or two later with "Hi, did you get our email?".

    Also at the end of March which was 2 months away from our wedding, in response to one of our "did you get our email?" emails, she responded with a 'I am dealing with March brides at this time. When May comes around, you will have my full attention.' Sure enough, when May came around, we did not hear from her and her last email to us was on May 5 and she didn't even answer our questions. She would call and and leave slightly snarky voice messages and then 10 mins later, leave another one to apologize that she didn't see the email we had already written.

    For our linens, it took her about 3 emails and a phone call to finally get what colors were even in stock. Since we had Tiffany Blue as a color which was non-stock, I had to do all the linen rentals myself and organize the shipping and details etc etc.

    As far as our flowers go, she put me in contact with Dellables in Maui. After I spoke with them for a few weeks and was ready to place my order through America, she said they deal with Bella Bloom so I was re-directed to me another company. Everything was done myself and she had no part in organizing the flowers. Even when I spoke to her on the phone the day of the wedding, she was all like 'so, are you flowers ordered? What flowers am I looking for?' I had sent her a copy of our order and advised who will be getting what flowers.

    Even when the ceremony was about to start, she shared her enthusiam that 'Oh Bella Bloom sent you an extra flower!' BUT, how does that work... the groom's parents get boutonnieres/corsages and the bride's does not? She had literally lost one of the flowers and to fix that, she ripped one of out my MOH's bouquet and pinned it on my mom's dress. After all the photos, we came to realize that the groom's mother's pin-on corsage matched my DAD's. He had this girly bow on his flower while again, my mom was missing. America mixed up the flowers and it was a completely horrible experience. I confirmed with Bella Bloom that they individually tagged each flower against the invoice that I paid with the complete set of flowers.

    I am not done yet. She had apparently also set up a marriage license appointment for us at 10am on a Monday, with the rehearsal and walk-thru following that. When we go to the marriage license office, there was a huge line and we were not even booked in. It took almost an hour and a half. When we were able to get to Gannon's, America's co-worker said 'America was expecting you at 10am... so she couldn't stay and left.' Although she was able to help us out, America totally ditched out on us and we didn't get a rehearsal.

    She was difficult to deal with, very un-organized and not friendly. She did not respond to our emails or communicate with us while our wedding was a month away. We didn't like paying (and mandatorily tipping) for a coordinating service that we did not get.

    I do not recommend using her, there are other coordinators at Gannon's so ensure you find someone else!!

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  • fabutanfabutan member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Sorry to hear about your experience and thanks for sharing.  Gannon's is a popular wedding venue, so this is an invaluable review!  We also seriously considered Gannon's as a wedding venue.  We ended up having it as our farewell brunch venue instead.

    Gannon's automatically refers brides to America Salinas for coordination (at least last year, not sure about now).  We also exchanged a couple e-mails with her, but I was less than impressed with her attention to detail.  She was also very picky about what she was responsible for and what she wasn't....and there seemed to be lots of little charges involved for things she deemed out of her 'territory'.

    If you go for full coordination (i.e. booking vendors with her), there's a % charge for each booking.  If you just go for day-of coordination, it's about $1000 flat fee.  We were originally interested in day-of, but she simply didn't seem interested in this (probably because it would mean a lower commission??...not sure).  It also took her a long time to respond to e-mails.

    I agree that lots of other coordinators on Maui plan weddings at Gannon's.  A florist we interviewed said it was a "wedding factory" on Maui when it was called the "Seawatch", so everyone has worked there before!  They changed owners to Bev Gannon, but it looks like the wedding business is picking up again.

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  • melanballsmelanballs member
    First Comment
    edited December 2011

    I was married at Gannon’s in Maui on October 8, 2011. I had both the reception and ceremony on the beautiful site. I really can't say enough good things about it. I worked with both Susan and Nicole, they were friendly, professional, and very accommodating. It could have been very difficult for me to plan a destination wedding, but these two women made it sooo easy! They selected the vendors and I just sent pictures of what I wanted. They came through perfectly. The officiant, Dennis DeRego was wonderful (gave my husband lots of good advice) the florist did and amazing job with my flowers, the guitarist was perfect and the grounds were gorgeous. The food was delicious, cake was fabulous, and the catering staff was super friendly and professional. The costumer service at the location was above and beyond. I would recommend it to any bride!  

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