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Weddings

Gari Melchers Home & Studio Reviews

Gari Melchers Home & Studio

Gari Melchers Home & Studio

Fredericksburg, VA
4.1 out of 5 rating, 15 Reviews
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Reviews

4.1 out of 5 rating
15 Reviews
  • Quality of service
    4.2 out of 5 rating
  • Average response time
    4.1 out of 5 rating
  • Professionalism
    4.2 out of 5 rating
  • Value
    4.1 out of 5 rating
  • Flexibility
    3.9 out of 5 rating
80% Recommended by couples

Awards

15
  • A
    Alexis H. Sent on 06/22/2019
    5 out of 5 rating
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    AMAZING venue, better people

    Gari Melcher’s Home and studio is beautiful, but the real reason this venue is getting such a great review is because of Meghan. Meghan went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect. I’m sure it’s not in her job description to cater to the brides every want and need but that’s what she did. Not only did she cater to me, but she was always one step ahead. Wonderful venue and wonderful person!
  • T
    Teresa Sent on 03/24/2018
    5 out of 5 rating
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    This was the perfect place to have our party. Everyone was accommodating and pleasant to work with.
  • D
    Debbie Sent on 01/22/2018
    5 out of 5 rating
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    I had the honor of not only planning my moms wedding but to meet some amazing vendors in the process. Meghan was amazing to work with and could not have been happier with the venue. The grounds are beautiful for pictures and the inside space is perfect for a beautiful view and reception.
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  • M
    Mark Sent on 12/18/2017
    5 out of 5 rating
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    Superlatives don't cut it. The simple truth is we had our dream wedding at Gari Melcher's Belmont. The venue, the staff, the atmosphere, the support throughout the entire journey ... all exceeded our wildest expectations. The grounds speak for themselves; history, beauty, tranquility. The pavilion is classy, comfortable, and transitions from formality to straight up fun without skipping a beat. Let's face it ... weddings are beautiful. When fortune smiles, though, and you get to have yours at a place like this, well, that's pure magic.
  • C
    Craig Sent on 04/17/2017
    5 out of 5 rating
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    Very nice and historic local venue. Has a lot of character and is a perfect size. The grounds are elegant and couldnt have asked for anything nicer. Pefect place to host any type of get together.
  • A
    Andrea Sent on 05/26/2014
    5 out of 5 rating
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    We just had our wedding ceremony and reception at Belmont and we couldn't be happier with how everything went. The grounds are great and you can get wonderful pictures if you are lucky enough to have a beautiful day, like we had. Everything from the coordination of the vendors to the wedding procession to the reception went off without a hitch. We even had a special Korean ceremony during the reception and it went very well! Betsy LaBar, Belmont's event coordinator, was awesome! As some people have mentioned this venue may not be for everyone since they are a historic house and museum and do have a few restrictions that some venues that are strictly event halls don't. However I'd say it really only depends on how important open flame candles and similar kinds of things are to you. The setting itself was much more important for us, and Belmont in the spring is stunning.
    Thank you Belmont, for help making our special day so special!
  • D
    D. Sent on 07/01/2018
    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    The outdoor setting and gardens were beautiful and intimate for an outdoor wedding. It was the perfect place for my daughter's wedding. Belmont is a great value and Meghan was always attentive and cooperative. We couldn't have been more pleased.
  • Lindsay
    Lindsay Sent on 04/09/2017
    4.8 out of 5 rating
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    My husband and I booked and planned our summer wedding in four months. We were very pleased with the flexibility and excellent service provided by the staff at this beautiful venue. The planning process was simple and everything worked out according to plan.
  • K
    Krista Sent on 11/04/2010
    4.5 out of 5 rating
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      3.5 out of 5 rating
    This is a fabulous venue. They do a great job of accommodating your needs, but they are strict about what happens in the reception hall because there are millions of dollars worth of artwork inside.
  • J
    Jennifer Sent on 09/16/2011
    4.4 out of 5 rating
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      2.5 out of 5 rating
    We didn't look any were else after we saw Gari Melchers. It is the most beautiful spot in Fredericksburg. It is a historic museum, so there are a few restrictions, no flames, no flowers or paper on the ground and a restricted list of caterers. None of this bothered us. Betsy was with us each step of the way and helped us to plan what we wanted to do without causing damage to the museum. We were even able to have the gallery open for our guests durning the cocktail hour.
  • L
    Lauren Sent on 06/14/2013
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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    Gari Melchers is a beautiful venue and I was very happy that I choose to have my ceremony there! The only complaints I have is that I wish I was provided with more direction for the rehearsal. I felt that I had to lead it myself while the staff just took directions. Also, the event coordinator sometimes took a bit too long to respond.
  • User1015582 Sent on 11/14/2012
    4.2 out of 5 rating
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    We hosted a rehearsal dinner for 60 people at Gari Melchers Home and Studio, we loved it! Betsy Labar was wonderful to work with, she was helpful in dealing with our supply rental company and helped with set up and taking down the room. Belmont will only let you choose the caterer from a preapproved list which is good and bad, the caterer we used was perfect for what we needed and they knew the space so that ended up being fine for us. If you don't want one on their list, then it doesn't work as well. That being said, for a dinner of the size we wanted in the Fredericksburg area, Belmont was great.
  • J
    Jocelyn Sent on 12/08/2017
    2.5 out of 5 rating
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    The grounds of this venue are beautiful but I would leave it at that. I would definitely not hold my reception here again, the walls inside are yellow and the layout is small. They also have a lot of restrictions about how you can decorate. I found the coordination day of not very helpful, I was running the show basically even though i provided a very in depth schedule for day of. My family ended up cleaning at the end of the night when that should have been provided by the venue. Overall I would not select this venue again.

    Gari Melchers Home & Studio's reply:

    We are saddened to read your review.

    We offer two wedding packages- “basic,” no day of coordination and “day of,” which includes day of coordination. Brides that are looking for full day of coordination are able to select that option upon signing the contract. In this case, the “day of” package was not selected. However, our special event staff’s goal is to make sure our clients are satisfied and always jump in to help if needed.

    Our event contract states all of our regulations, including removal of decorations after the event. Our staff always helps clients and their families pack and load all of their belongings at the end of the night. We never ask or expect our client to clean the venue, our staff does the cleaning when all guests and clients have left.

    In this instance the couple opted out of a venue tour before signing the contract, although we provide plenty of photos on our social media channels and website.

    Our event staff stands by our commitment to go above and beyond at every event to make sure our clients leave happy.
  • L
    Lynn B. Sent on 01/16/2023
    1 out of 5 rating
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    Beautiful Venue but terrible communication

    This was on our top 3 venues list but unfortunately the communication was terrible, and they were not friendly. Almost felt like they did not want us to book them. Four weeks and nothing was accomplished except for one random phone call that asked questions that we already answered, and an email that was very late. Don't beg any venue to take your money find someplace that will make you a priority. Was told that the venue holds 120 guests but maybe when they seen what we looked like they changed it to 80 guests, weird? also was never told a price or sent a contract. Moving on...
  • James
    James G. Sent on 01/17/2023
    1 out of 5 rating
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    Definitely feel like they don’t like dealing with black people

    I really wish I had something better to say about this place because it is beautiful but my fiancée experience has been horrible. As soon as my fiancée looked at the pictures she fell in love with this venue for our wedding/reception. The first day she reached out she got no response so the next day she just went by to see if she could get a tour. She went & said everybody was friendly & she loved the venue even more that she seen it in person. I asked her after the tour was over how much was the venue but she had no idea which I thought was very strange. The reason she said they didn’t give her a price because the event director was on “vacation.” That was the first red flag because most venues have a packet with all the packages/prices listed. Weeks go by & we don’t hear nothing, eventually the directors assistant reached out to my fiancée & said they she was going to send a email later that day with more information which she didn’t. I asked well did she at least tell you a price during your brief conversation & no she didn’t. Another week go by & we still don’t hear anything from this venue. My fiancée coworker asked if she got in touch with the director & she replied “no I don’t have her information.” Her coworker took it the initiative to reach out to help her out & in less than 24 hrs the DIRECTOR reached back to the coworker with multiple ways to get in contact with her. The same director that was on vacation & yes the coworker was white. A week today after the coworker received the email we have still yet to hear from the director & have no idea the price of the venue. I’m not sure if they didn’t want our business because we are black but that is definitely what it looks like to me. As a black business owner in the Fredericksburg area I feel extremely disrespected & disgusted on how my fiancée has been treated & I will make sure nobody I know even considers looking at this venue!!! TAKE YOUR MONEY SOMEWHERE ELSE!!!!