Crystal Ballroom on the Lake — Attraction in Altamonte Springs

My personal experience at the Venue was horrible. They want all monies upfront, but do not deliver. After many calls and e-mails since this was my 40th Wedding Anniversary there has been no response to discuss.

The Bartending Service was horrible. The Bar was not set up on time for our guest to receive any beverages when they arrived, nothing was available for them. When I had my meeting, I was told I would have Beer and Wine available for my guests when they arrived. That did not happen! The appetizers were not available either. The Beer was warm, nothing was put on ice. We brought our items on the Wednesday prior to the event and was assured that our beverages that needed to be chilled would be put in a cooler. The Bartender was very inexperienced and should not have been put behind the bar. He did not know how to make drinks and looked like he was barely 20 years old. When ask for a certain mixed drink, my guest was told he did not have the mixers while we had more than enough, he just didn't know how to make drinks. We brought back most of our mixers and juices all our lemons and limes and someone else's brown old limes. My Uncle who came from Sweden for the event and is a Bartender, told me that the poor kid behind the bar did not know what he was doing. He said he felt compelled to jump behind the bar to help him out that is how bad it was. We had to get Rocio the food manager to go behind the bar to help. And come to fine out the Bartender Called out and they did not have a plan.

The food service was unacceptable. We had guests that were told that they could not have second helpings. The portions were dismal to say the least. When some our guest asked for an extra helping, they were told No!!!. The food service was put away too early, it should be open for at least for an extra hour after, just to give some guests time to get seconds. For the way the food was served. I should have just had my guest serve themselves and everyone would have had the portions they wanted. The coffee service was put away too early, and I was very disappointed. My guest was looking for Coffee and they were told it was put away. The distribution of the cake was unacceptable. Only a handful of our guest got to have a piece of Cake. We had guest asking for cake and they already had put it away. With all the problem with the food service, I should have requested that each guest serve themselves. Then all of this would not have happened. During the dinner, the staff was rushing to clear the tables, not giving my guests a chance to finish what little food they were given on their plate. This would happen when they went to the restroom or go to the bar. We had the Venue until 12:00 am. The staff started clearing the decorations off the table when our guest was still here around 11:30 pm. All of this was very embarrassing since a lot of money for this occasion to have it turn out like this. Here is my displeasure with this whole event. They need to cross train their employees to know how to bartend or have backup bartenders. Not just throw anyone who does not have experience behind the bar and hope nobody notices. Be more organized when handling the beverages and food for each event. Coolers should be designated for each event so there is no mix-up with beverages and all the beer and wine should be chilled appropriately in a timely manner. I feel that the items we did not get back were either used for another event or taken by the staff. I did not pay for someone else's event. So, all the beverage items and food that I am missing. I am curious as to where they went.

All in all, I was very disappointed after hearing all the complaints from my guests. If I had known, right there and then I would have jumped all over the situation especially the food and the Bar. The only thing was the decor which was nice. But the...

Crystal ballroom in the lake in Altamonte Springs .My husband and I got married there December 22. We were very unhappy with the way things went.yram banquet manager was not friendly at all.he was working around axing my guests for proof event of insurance. After my coordinator clearly tell him my husband had the insurance,when he come in he’s going to show it to him. say he going to start escort my guests out of the building for $100 insurance. Some of my guests got upset and leave the building.My guests come to the room that I was getting ready to tell me what yram was saying and my guests started to leave.i was frustrated and start crying. At my reception this guy yram got the nerve to start sweeping the floor. 45 to 30 minutes before evething was over he said to the DJ and the coordinator if he go one minute over he will charge us $500.There is nothing worse than a professional place who can not own up to their mistake. we spoke to the owner, she said she was going to set up a meeting with us and yram, we agreed to it it takes them weeks,we didn’t hear anything back from her. My husband went back to the place to go pick up the deposit he said to them he was supposed to get a call he never did get a call from the owner. Late yesterday around seven we got a email from Jackie the owner wanted to meet up with us at 9:30. Ask him to call miss Jackie,he called and said it was a short notice because We wanted to have our coordinator there, she said it was OK me and My Husband . we explained to her again how yram was behaving. Afterwords the owner Tara pull out her note with the that’s writing from yram how my wedding night had stress him and my coordinator out .First of all the whole time when he was stressing me out doing all this my coordinator was there with me telling me how to calm down and she got this and she don’t want me to stress over anything that he was saying. okay Tara the owner said to me and My Husband.if there’s any apology that me and My Husband have to apologize to him for stressing him Out. I did not wake up from my bed early in the morning to be in a meeting at 9:30 in the morning to be disrespected again by the owner 🤦🏽‍♀️.really for stressing him out okay. I don’t regret the money I spent,but I regret meeting those horrible hurtful people.However my experience with Tara the owner was horrible, she is rude and uncompromising and when things went awry she blamed me and my husband did not take any ownership. I praise to God that I never have to experience anything like this again.would NEVER recommend this place to anyone or even attended another event there ever again...

The venue is beautiful however the staff is sub par at best. The kitchen manager was very helpful and friendly so was Charlene the person that signed our contract. Other than those two everyone else was a mess. Lulu our "manager" was a snotty lady, that fake smiles, agrees to do what you ask and proceeds to do whatever the heck she feels like. I kept with my super friendly attitude and she finally started cracking a smile and being friendly, but she doesn't deserve credit for that In my opinion. The "bartender" literally does not know any drinks. the groom asked for screwdriver...he poured two types of vodka into a cup and handed it to him...my husband was like, your not going to put orange juice, this man said "oh it goes with orange juice?" He was also not friendly AT ALL, I don't know his name but he has odd eyebrows. Then simple request I made for extra decorations (which they encourage) were not followed. The use of their plates/cups/etc was part of my package (which was NOT CHEAP), these fools at the Crystal Ballroom on the Lake actually served me, my husband, and wedding party in glass cups and served the rest of guests in plastic cups like I wouldn't notice! Also Alberto or alfredo at the "design studio" is, I don't even have words for him. Totally unhelpful, I'll say that. I went there with all the information of what and how I wanted to venue decorated and he told us we could not pick any of those things because he picks them. I would not recommend this venue to anyone because it was slightly over 7,000, if the service would have been the way it was describe by Charlene then I would not feel robbed, but the service was pretty bad. I think I could have hired teenagers off the street and had a more put together and professional team. Not impressed or even happy with this...