Strong Mansion - Dickerson
Strong Mansion
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The rental fee is for a total of 7 hours, but you'll need to pay extra for setup and cleanup time. On the plus side, the fee includes a lighted tent, which is a wonderful perk. This makes it quite competitive in price with county rental properties in Virginia and Maryland. While those venues are relatively inexpensive, Strong Mansion offers a much more beautiful setting. After doing a lot of comparisons, I found it to be much more affordable than other lovely venues in the area. Patsy, who assisted us on the day, was fantastic. Although she isn't technically your Day-of Coordinator, she was instrumental in keeping everything on track and organizing people as needed. She did a wonderful job guiding us through our rehearsal, which we had to hold under the tent due to heavy rain the day before the wedding. I recommend calling them directly for a prompt response, as email communication can be a bit sporadic. Also, be sure to book well in advance; we reserved our date 13 months ago, and there was only one Saturday left in September!
1. On the day of the wedding, when we arrived at the venue, the parking lot was cordoned off, preventing any bridal party members or groomsmen from parking their vehicles. 2. The table rental company—a recommended vendor—was parked in the side driveway, leaving no space for any other vendors. 3. We were instructed to WAIT to enter the building during the time we had already paid for and confirmed. Esther informed us that we needed to wait until their staff arrived, which delayed our schedule and prevented us from getting ready. 4. The staff was incredibly rude to guests and the bridal party, and they enforced rules that weren't mentioned in the contract. This was contrary to what was discussed during our walkthrough with Jessica. For instance, Esther prohibited placing a picture frame of a deceased family member on the piano, despite it being approved in our previous conversation. PLEASE BE AWARE: The staff member you deal with on the day of the event may not be the same person from your planning meetings. We had coordinated everything with Jessica, but Esther was there when we arrived, and it was our first time meeting her. She was unaware of what had been discussed in the walkthrough and made up rules that were not in the contract. Esther seemed to behave as if she was a guest, helping herself to food and drinks, which wasn’t mentioned in the contract either. Had we been informed about this, we would have adjusted our budget accordingly. Another point to note: During our ceremony, the staff left the fountain running, making it impossible to hear our vows. It was only after the ceremony was nearly over that they finally turned off the fountain. The personal vows we exchanged are now forever lost because they were drowned out by the sound of the water. 5. There was a new rule about not having visible garbage cans (which wasn’t listed in the contract). Guests struggled to find a place to dispose of their drinkware, and inside, we weren't allowed to use any of the wastebaskets in the rooms. Additionally, the staff forbade my grandparents (including my flower girl) from using a downstairs room to get ready, even though we had prior approval from Jessica to use it. You'll find that what was discussed in the walkthrough may not be honored on the day of the event. They claim to be handicap accessible, but they do not accommodate elderly grandparents trying to get ready without significant difficulty. 6. The staff locked up the mansion before our contracted time had ended, which was time we had already paid for. They also left the parking lot dark with no lights on during our designated time, causing our vendors to clean up in the dark while the staff sat in their vehicles. Please heed this warning: While the mansion and grounds are beautiful, they come with significant drawbacks. The older reviews still hold true. I share my experience as a cautionary tale, and I encourage you to address everything in advance.
The grounds are exceptionally well-maintained, giving a welcoming feel without being overly formal. There was plenty of space for catering to operate discreetly, and the areas designated for the bride and her party, as well as for the groom and his, were the largest I've ever seen. There were multiple spots available for the cake table, gifts, and photo booth, plus ample room to wander, relax, and lounge—all within the immediate wedding area. The garden surrounding the mansion features charming nooks, stairways, and grassy areas. I can easily envision numerous setups for the ceremony, cocktails, dinner, and dancing in this space. The lighting is excellent, and the natural beauty of the location means you wouldn't need to invest much in decorations. The wedding I attended took place on a Sunday evening, and I'm not sure if that was the only availability or if there was a discounted rate (since it wasn't a Jewish wedding), but it truly was perfect. The interior of the tent looked different from the pictures I had seen. I'm not sure if that was due to changes by the venue or if the bride and groom brought in additional decorations, but the beautiful fabrics inside helped to mask the metal crossbars, and there were lovely chandeliers as well. I would definitely consider renting a dance floor for such an event.
My wife and I even changed our wedding date just to host our ceremony at this venue. When we called to inquire, they mentioned a recent cancellation, so we swiftly scheduled a tour and sent the deposit to secure our date. This place is truly amazing! Our guests couldn't stop raving about how beautiful it is and how well-maintained the grounds are. If you notice anything worrying during your visit, don't stress—the staff will address it before your event. During our walkthrough on Wednesday, we encountered a significant swarm of bugs, but by Saturday, there were none to be found. I must admit that while Kris may not be the most outgoing host, she is incredibly busy with the venue's maintenance. She is straightforward and completely honest. When we brought up the bug situation, she assured us they would take appropriate measures to eliminate them, although she couldn't make any guarantees since it was a natural issue. Whatever they did worked wonders, and our wedding day turned out to be an unforgettable experience for us and our guests.
When I mentioned that we were considering a wedding date in Spring 2013 but were flexible with other options, she insisted on knowing my date before scheduling a tour. She stated that there was only one date available but failed to tell me what that date was. When I asked about a tour, she questioned whether I was still interested given that they had no open dates. In her voicemail, she mentioned having other appointments lined up for the upcoming Saturday. It seems that all those appointments are for 2014 and beyond, as there’s only one date available in Spring 2013. Honestly, there's no need for such arrogance! It’s just Strong Mansion, not the White House or the Ritz Carlton! As a bride and an event planner with numerous contacts and vendor connections, I will certainly share this experience with others. I recommend you think twice before considering this venue. It feels like it’s Kris’s way or no way at all!
