Duxbury Wedding 26.01.2024

We have been holding off on doing this review as we write this review with a heavy broken heart. My Fiancé and I planned our wedding at Cradle Valley for 26 January 2024 based on an open day viewing 9 August 2023. The venue was like "LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT" along with booking our special date with Mimie as there was a lot of valued added promised to us for our special day, part of that confirmed why this venue was the venue our of choice. My MOH and I spent the night at the venue which I felt was a great idea to unwind prior to our big day. The dinner served that night was just as spectacular as the breakfast the next morning (even though I couldn't eat much) and the room we stayed in was spacious and tidy. Sadly, on our wedding day we slowly felt let down by broken promises. In brief summary: No support / assistance on the day as we had to continually call in for what we needed - I was ready to walk down isle at 16:00pm - and nobody came to fetch us, I had to call numerous time to ask if all was okay - I asked that my 77 year old frail father could be escorted to my room yet he was left to find his own way to me - Guest names spelt incorrectly on the chalk board seating plan - The chalk board entering the chapel was blank while guests entered and our meaningful poem only added after, incomplete - Alcohol drinks were served to our guest who took them into the chapel prior to the ceremony (after we were told they would be served refreshing infused water prior to ceremony) - Wet wood at the boma after the venue closed clouded and smoked out the boma experience - Jacuzzi in the honeymoon suit was over 40 degrees (way too hot to use) - The doughnuts were not served in the buffet area as it was meant to, instead served in the bar area and not everybody knew this so most of our guest didn't get dessert - We asked for the bench with pillows in chapel to be removed which was not done, this got in the way of our photographers - Luggage of the bridal partly was also not moved to correct rooms after ceremony which left the groom tooth brushless the following morning etc. The next day we all, bridal party and guests (bearing in mind the entire venue was booked out by our guests, felt rushed to exit the venue not due to a wedding being held but due to a show day happening on that day. What saddens us about all this is that we went through to the venue to chat with Mimie a number of times prior to the day to ensure everything would go as planned. I planned my wedding day with so much effort. As much as we understand things go wrong, we were left a tad heartbroken. We had since been to chat to Rynard directly straight after our honeymoon and in all honesty, Rynard carefully listened to us taking notes in-between, the further feedback we received on email showed that they took our unhappiness seriously and will use this to further train all staff at Cradle Valley in order to ensure a consistent 5-star rating. In addition, Rynard offered us a complimentary dinner with B&B in the honeymoon suite on an available date of our choice, which we have book accordingly and are so looking forward to. In having said all this, the responses from our guests we have seen and been in contact with since (that didn't notice any of the above) was exceptionally OVERWHELMING... as said by many - "OUR WEDDING DAY WAS THIS WAS THE BEST WEDDING THEY HAD EVER ATTENDED" #ourheartsareonthemend