The Rustic Barn at Half Moon — Attraction in Jacksonville

The only regret about our daughter's wedding is choosing The Rustic Barn as the venue. The management is unprofessional and refuses to engage in clear communication. Management changed after we signed our contract. We received calls prior to the wedding citing a different date. Each time we had to correct them and she always said they needed to look up the contract. New management discontinued communication via Honeybook and would only respond with vague emails and request to speak over the phone to answer questions versus having the responses in writing. Our contract was sent to us via Honeybook by the previous management and we had that documentation to dispute any contract changes they attempted to make. The venue manager called the bride, 48 days before the wedding, and said our caterer was not approved. She gave no explanation and said that if we chose to keep our caterer we may not be able to use the venue. 48 days away AND paid in full. I requested a meeting with the owner. We called the caterer. He spoke with the owner who was unaware there was an issue and confirmed that our caterer is approved. This caused unnecessary panic. There was absolutely no issue with our caterer and we had chosen him 8 months earlier at The Rustic Barn Wedding Expo. We got calls asking about vendors. We had previously submitted all required paperwork for each vendor. We got the bar package at $24.95 per person plus gratuity. They said we would be charged for every guest. We should only be charged for guest over 21. The manager then said that guest over 21 would have to wear a wrist band. We understand need to ID, but it was a no to ID and wrist bands at the door. The invoice for the bar package was incorrect. I requested a corrected invoice and continued to receive incorrect prices / balance. I was told that it is unusual that I had an issue because they always rounded up. I requested a correct invoice with the amount we agreed upon. I asked about extending our 4 hour package by an hour. The manager said she could do that for $750. That was not the breakdown of the package pricing, just a made up number. The manager told the staff to serve NO ONE until 4:30 because that is what the wedding timeline indicated as end of ceremony. The ceremony ended at 4:15 and the staff stood there and refused to serve our guest until 4:30. Our caterer was serving passed apps, everyone was excited exiting the ceremony. It was as if they had never had a formal wedding before. 4 hours is 4 hours no matter when it begins. The staff completely shut down the outdoor bar and transitioned to the interior bar during cocktail hour before the doors were opened for guest to go inside. That 30 minute switch was not credited to our prepaid 4 hours. They continually carded the same people at a private event. They also had a tip jar out which is tacky considering the large mandatory gratuity had been prepaid. The TV and speakers in the bridal suite were not working and needed a password. We asked the staff and they said there was password, but the manager had it and would not be back for a few hours. We were told that the golf cart would be available to take my daughter around the property for photos. The staff told us the manager said that they are not using it today. The venue was paid through 10:00 PM. My daughter and her husband were having their last dance while everyone lined up outside for the grand exit at 9:15. The staff and venue manager began turning on all the lights, stripping the tables and sweeping DURING this time. I discourage anyone from having their wedding here if you expect clear and fair pricing, professionalism, customer service, and good etiquette. The Rustic Barn disputed the review I left on Wedding Wire, stating we were not clients. We have validated that we were clients for the review to be reinstated. That claim and the response below that claims to have proof that this review is false continues to confirm the unprofessionalism and lack of integrity that our family, amazing vendors and 98 guest...

The Rustic Barn is stunning in appearance, but everything else about my experience with this venue was an absolute disaster. If I could go back, I would avoid this place like the plague. I booked this venue in 9/23 with the prior coordinator, Rosemarie, &was promised a fully stocked décor closet as part of the décor package. However, just a month before my wedding, I found out via a Facebook post that Rosemarie was let go. This was the first of many blows. Melissa, the new "coordinator" (who made it clear she didn’t want the job), took over. She was unprofessional, rude, and clearly overwhelmed. When I met with her, she showed me the décor closet, which was practically empty. I was left scrambling, having to spend hundreds of dollars on new flowers and decorations, after I had already paid $800+ for the décor package that was supposed to cover everything. This is beyond unacceptable. Melissa’s attitude was dismissive, and she even joked about how "not décor savvy" she was—exactly why I hired a décor package in the first place! The issues didn’t stop there. The bar situation was a complete mess. We paid in full for the bar package (which was for 100 guests), but a few hours into the wedding, Melissa said we needed a card on file to pay an additional $1,900 for liquor that was supposedly consumed. This was after we had already paid $3,900 for the bar. No one could explain how this charge was calculated, and when I demanded an itemized receipt, the staff couldn't even provide one. Instead, they called the sheriff on us! On my wedding night! The sheriff basically gave us an ultimatum—pay the bill or face criminal charges. This is not only embarrassing but completely unprofessional. It gets worse. After the wedding, I was contacted by the coordinator who had the nerve to ask me if I forgot to pay her. I reminded her that I had won a $1,000 gift card for her services at the wedding expo, and the venue was supposed to cover it. The Rustic Barn refused to pay, and my husband was forced to go to the venue at 8 a.m. to resolve it. What followed was an aggressive, hostile encounter with the owner, Don JR Jones, who verbally attacked my husband and accused us of lying about payments. It was a complete disgrace. To top off the nightmare, several guests complained about the unprofessional bar staff in sloppy T-shirts, pouring shots when they weren’t supposed to, and not knowing how to make basic drinks. The staff had such a terrible attitude, and the lights were turned on 45 minutes before the event was supposed to end, signaling that the party was over. It was a disaster from start to finish. I wouldn’t recommend this venue to anyone, no matter how beautiful the barn may be. The lack of professionalism, unorganized staff, and blatant disrespect for their clients made my wedding day feel like a nightmare. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. Edit-this place of business sent a letter from their lawyers office asking me to take...

This is a true experience and it ruined the wedding day!Check the dates and times of the other reviews. They all were written after my post. The truth hurts when its negative and they are trying to fix the rating. My experience with the Rustic Barn is the most horrible experience of my life. Let me start with the rehearsal. We were scheduled to rehearse at 4pm I asked everyone to arrive at 3:30 to make introductions name tags and provide a little window for those coming from out of town in case they got lost. When I stepped out of the car the manager approached me and said to me "who told you that you could be here at 3:30" mind you I am at my car in the parking lot. I said to her I'm sorry I didnt know there was a problem with being early. I wanted to make sure everyone would be here ready to go at 4. She said thats not how this works. I didnt give you permission to be on private property you need to leave until 4. Your bridal party can show up between 4 and 4:30 you can do a walk through from 4:30 to 5 and must be off the property by 5. How long is your ceremony gonna be that you need more than 30 minutes to learn how to walk down an isle." She went round and round and was so rude. She proceeded to say to me "who are you anyway?" I said I'm the mother of the groom its my responsibility to make sure rehearsal goes smooth. She replied "I dont have a contract with you. I dont have to accommodate you at all. I answer to the bride" now I'm telling you that statement because at the wedding reception she told the bride basically I dont have to listen to you, that statement was made after a ton of other problems. The owner even came over and told me to get off his property until 4. The manager and the old man scolded me like I was a child. When we got there at 3:30 we were not being rude by walking all over the ground or going in and out of the building we simply parked our cars and were waiting for everyone to else to show up. All this was just about the rehearsal the wedding is going to have to be it's own review as well as the reception. I have 4 other boys and one of them is planning a wedding and said there's not enough money in the world they could give him to make him have his wedding there. Please dont waste your money. They are rude and disrespectful. They say anything to lure you in. Your bride and groom or mother and father or your sweet 16 family members deserves better than how the rustic barn will treat you. Please please please find a different venue your party will be better for it. I would give negative star rating if it...