The Reserve at Dancing Elk — Attraction in Mathis

Review

Long review! Wedding date 11/12/23. The venue is very very beautiful and Chef Angela was cool and easy to work with for the most part. Took a minute for her to contact me back to get started on selecting our food choices. Had to reach out to her and Yvette a couple times before I got a response to set up a date. The main reason for the 2 stars is the manager Yvette. She is just plain rude!!! Her communication skills are lacking. She completely forgot about our scheduled “final meeting” as she showed up an hour late. The only reason we waited was because she said she would take 25 minutes at the most. Ended up being one hour before she made it to us. And then here come the excuses of why she forgot. Save it. We don’t need to hear that. Another thing was charging the cards for the balance. More lack of communication on her part. On 9/20/23 I emailed her to charge $2000 to the card on file. She replied and said okay. Then 10/15/23 I asked her to charge the remaining balance which I thought was just over $2000, but instead on 10/17/23 she attempted to charge $4200 cause she had never charged the previous $2000 I told her to do back in September. She claimed that she “called” and told me but she didn’t. I like to do things through email and text as the proof is there. So that was a whole issue. Then comes the day of our wedding. I had requested a few things such as the heat being turned on, some more light in the bridal suite (very dark up there), and paper towels for the restroom up there. Every time we had a request for something she ALWAYS had a rude or snarky comment!! EVERY! TIME! She has zero professionalism and doesn’t know how to make guests happy! When one of my girls asked if the lights got any brighter she told them “she knew how dim the lights were before she signed the contract, she took a tour so she she should have known.” Even if that’s the case YOU DONT NEED TO SAY THAT! Just say “no I’m so sorry, they don’t unfortunately.” Easy and nice. She didn’t want to give us paper towels to dry our hands…she had more rude comments about that too. I could go on and on about her. If you have a wedding here make sure you have a really good wedding planner that can deal with all her BS! I didn’t and I regret that. And then another thing, yes we did forget to have cash day of for the security guards and officiant, but instead of asking us for that money at 10am when we got there (which would have given us plenty of time to get the money) she hunted us down while we were taking pictures outside with the wedding party just after the ceremony! Like seriously!! Poor timing lady. Luckily the security guard and officiant were very understanding and accepted cash app. The well water is soooo stinky! I’ve been around well water but the water at this place is...

I recently had the pleasure of hosting an event at The Reserve at Dancing Elk Ranch, and I cannot express enough how impressed I was with every aspect of the experience. From the moment we arrived, it was clear that this venue goes above and beyond to create a memorable atmosphere. The ambiance of The Reserve at Dancing Elk Ranch is truly unparalleled. The combination of elegant decor and thoughtfully designed spaces set the perfect tone for our event. Whether you're looking for a sophisticated setting for a corporate function or a romantic atmosphere for a special celebration, this venue has it all. One of the highlights of the evening was undoubtedly the exquisite food. The culinary team at The Reserve at Dancing Elk Ranch demonstrated their skill and creativity with a menu that surpassed all expectations. Every dish was a masterpiece, with fresh, high-quality ingredients that left our guests raving. The attention to detail in both presentation and taste was truly commendable. Situated right outside of Mathis off Highway 37, the venue's location is ideal. It offers a convenient and accessible spot for guests, with ample parking and easy navigation. The scenic surroundings added an extra layer of charm, making it a standout choice for any event. The set-up at was flawless. The staff, led by the exceptional trio of Leo and Madison Martinez, and Yvette Johnson, went above and beyond to ensure our event was seamless. Their attention to detail, professionalism, and friendly demeanor made all the difference. I am truly grateful for their outstanding service. In conclusion, I wholeheartedly recommend The Reserve at Dancing Elk Ranch for anyone seeking an exceptional venue for their event. The combination of a stunning atmosphere, delectable food, convenient location, tantalizing appetizers, and the remarkable efforts of Leo, Madison, and Yvette make it a standout choice. I look forward to the opportunity to host future events at this...

Venue is pretty, it’s a nice ranch like wedding venue, but that doesn’t make up for lack of communication, lack of hospitality, and just overall rudeness. (My two stars is based ONLY on the venue itself or it wouldn’t even be that high.) Also, the chef was very kind and heated up the steak to well done for a couple of the guests that were pregnant and brought it back directly to their tables. However, the manager is terrible to work with. Bridal suite is very dark, unfiltered well water in bathroom (if you don’t know what that smells like just imagine rotten eggs), dust piles not swept up beforehand by the stairs and no towels in bathroom. We felt like a nuisance requesting a fan in the venue to be turned on, asking for paper towels in bathroom, or even asking any other normal question was just shot down immediately. Barn doors weren’t open like she said they would be as we talked about that RIGHT before the ceremony. It takes a lot for me to get upset because I try to keep the peace, but when I’m trying to communicate FOR the bride and she’s being rude to me for no reason, I remember. Another thing that blew my mind was her going outside to interrupt father and bride photos directly after the ceremony to discuss security guard payment… could that not have been dealt with any other time from 10am when we got there to about 6pm when the photos were being taken?

In a business where your entire success is based on hospitality and providing the best for one of the most memorable times in a couple’s life, you need to be prepared to be kind, respectful, and just overall pleasant. It seems like she’s been a manager for a while and I don’t understand why. Every bad review is calling her out for the same issues. So please take this as a warning, don’t think “oh it can’t be that bad every time.” Just consider your...