Hippodrome Theater — Local services in Richmond

Our wedding at the Hippodrome was truly unforgettable, thanks to the professional staff, stunning venue lighting, and seamless execution that exceeded our expectations. The beauty and joy of our special day were significantly enhanced by such a splendid backdrop, leaving us and our guests deeply impressed.

However, we encountered challenges during the planning process, particularly with the bar service. The biggest notable concern was the miscommunication regarding the bar service options. Initially dissuaded from opting for an open bar, which we were led to believe would cost between $5,000 to $6,000, we chose a consumption bar based on the owner's advice where based on the duration of our event and the number of people, the subtotal shouldn’t be more than $3500 based off his experience. The owner did mention there was a caveat that it could be more with heavy drinkers but also heavy drinkers could make up for lesser drinkers, so we planned for it to potentially be somewhat higher. Maybe $1 or 2k over. However, the final amount seemed to be an extremely far cry from the estimate where, after speaking with guests, didn't seem to line up with how much was drank in reality to us. Unfortunately, the consumption bar led to an unexpected expense that more than tripled the estimated amount, and more than doubled the cost of an open bar amount due to some oversight and mistakes by the bartenders.

Though the owner was quick to address and correct these mistakes, offering a partial refund, which demonstrated responsiveness and a willingness to correct mistakes, this highlighted a need for clearer communication and transparency in service offerings. Had we known that the estimate could potentially be so far off from the final total (even the corrected final total and considering tax and gratuity), we would have opted for the open bar option without a thought. I personally can't imagine our group drank that much more than the average wedding based off the original estimate we were given especially after conversations with some of our guests, in particular the ones I know will drink heavily at a wedding. Also factoring in the kids, the non drinkers, the guests who left early, etc., if I'm being totally honest, it all still doesn't sit super right with me. But we are grateful the owner was kind enough to correct the mistakes on the original bill.

We recognize we are not free from blame. We blindly trusted and didn’t thoroughly read the final contract and notice that the selected bar option was marked as “unlimited” and that it did not have the limit we spoke about. Put that down to the stress and magnitude of the wedding, but we should have caught that. In a perfect world, the owner would've remembered our conversation and put the limit on the proposal without us having to follow up, but that just didn’t happen and we paid for it both literally and emotionally. It is what it is.

Another point of frustration was the planning of the hors d'oeuvres menu, which was difficult to navigate and gauge quantities for. Despite this, the owner managed our budget and preferences well, ensuring guest satisfaction with the culinary offerings.

Reflecting on our experience, we highly recommend future clients to closely review contractual details and advocate for clear, direct communication, preferably through calls to avoid misunderstandings, especially regarding costs. While we faced challenges, notably with the final cost of bar service, these did not overshadow the magnificence of our wedding celebration.

We encourage future couples to engage closely with the venue's team, utilize transparent planning tools, and ensure (cannot stress enough) mutual understanding of all service details. Despite the hurdles, the charm and professionalism of the staff and the unique allure of the Hippodrome make it a venue we still recommend. Stay proactive in communication and budget discussions, and if you're content with the final contract details, you'll have the...

If I could give these stars to just one person and not the place and staff I would. The place was very beautiful and we had our wedding there. The waiting staff were absolutely fantastic and the food was perfect as well!

My biggest complaint is Ron. If you are someone who doesn’t do conflict, and you end up communicating with Ron I would suggest someone who is willing to voice up.

I understand it was frustrating working with me as when he asked me what I envisioned had no clue as I wasn’t someone who had lots of inspo stuff and this venue isn’t traditional so I wasn’t sure on a lot and he definitely made me feel stupid. He did say he was an event coordinator and would be there all day making sure stuff would be going smooth. He said we could be there at 9 to set up on the day of and anyone who has gotten married knows it doesn’t always go as planned so unfortunately we didn’t get there till 11 and when I called him to ask to be let in he informed me he already left and that he said to be there at 9 and then told me he has a life. I told him I was so sorry I thought he’d be there all day and was confused as I thought we got the venue for the whole day. He said he’d come back he guess, it would be another half hour. So my family and I were waiting at the front door. At this point I felt completely defeated and now stressed on how he is going to treat me when he gets there to open the doors. He opened the door and was definitely unhappy and said I should have been there at said time and I once again felt the need to defend myself saying I misunderstood and if had known I would have sent someone here to meet you and not inconvenienced anyone. He then stated we had to be done at 1 and had to leave and then come back for the ceremony. I was once again confused as I thought we got the whole place for the day and thought we’d be able to get ready in the bridal suite and he rudely said that no that was not discussed and it continued to escalate at which point I felt so overwhelmed with now making sure my decorations were up before one and now having to figure a place for all of us to get ready. He then kept trying to talk to me at which point I had to ask him from here on out to talk with my husband as I had to much to do and was on the verge of tears, on my wedding day at a place we had paid money for. He had me on edge as every time he came in and would just whistle. My husband thankfully called him and got it figured and Ron made it a point to let me know how nice he was by letting us use the bridal suite which we paid extra for.

If you use a planner this place is good as they are experienced and know what questions to ask but if your someone who is trying to save money and don’t have a planner I would ask to work with Liz as she was kind and every time there was possibly a miscommunication she was polite, patient, professional and kind.

Also when we put in orders for the food, we paid for each plate and when paying for that we were informed we’d be able to take any extras home. There were a lot of guest who couldn’t make it and when we asked about it he stated we misunderstood as he cannot give the food out due to health standard. As stated in his last email, him and his staff had eaten all the leftover food. We were confused as it was food we paid for by us. $56 per plate. Naturally we questioned the legality of eating the food we paid for. He has not replied and it has been two weeks now

I think for smaller events and someone experienced with events making it so Ron wouldn’t have a lot of work to do, this place would be perfect but if he is inconvenienced at all he won’t hesitate to tell you and...

We hosted a professional, well-planned event at the Hippodrome, and the experience was deeply disappointing due to mismanagement, unprofessionalism, and blatant disregard for our production needs.

From the moment we arrived, the venue’s owner made unsettling comments that implied we might be “rowdy” or cause problems—despite the fact that our event was a formal, seated discussion with a live recording. His assumptions about our team, which consisted of young Black professionals, were not only unnecessary but completely out of touch with the Hippodrome’s historical role as a safe space for Black art and culture.

Things only got worse when he left, and we were assigned a new point of contact—who disappeared for large portions of the night. This was a major issue because the lighting system required staff control, yet no one could be found for 30-45 minutes at a time. I had to leave my own event multiple times to search the venue and even walk into the kitchen just to find someone to help.

But the final straw came at the end of the night. While our high-profile featured speaker, was still in the room, staff began stacking chairs in the middle of the event. Then, at exactly 9:00 PM, they cut on the house lights with no warning—completely ruining our live recording. When I finally found the missing point of contact, she was hiding in the kitchen, managing the lights from her phone and refused to turn them back off, citing a “policy” that was never communicated.

We paid thousands of dollars for this venue and an additional $2,700 for professional videography, which was compromised due to their lack of communication and professionalism. When we reached out to discuss a refund, we were flatly denied with zero acknowledgment of the issues.

If you’re looking for a reliable, professional venue that respects its paying clients—this is NOT the place. I cannot recommend The Hippodrome to anyone looking for a high-quality event experience. Highlighted by the owners complete lack of acknowledgment or regard for our concerns. This is not a safe place for organizers and...