Anthem STORIES — Restaurant in Waco

I’ll start off by saying the building itself is absolutely beautiful and the pictures my photographer took look amazing. Unfortunately, the overall experience with Anthem Stories was extremely stressful and more disappointing than I’d like to admit. I understand we hired a new venue that had their fair share of growing pains over the past year so I will leave out everything we experienced before the wedding day. The current staff tried their best to make up for the issues we encountered pre-wedding day, but they were not prepared to handle a wedding this size. We paid for a buffet for 350 people. Roughly 300 people showed up and roughly 40 didn’t get to eat (that I know of). The guests that didn’t get to eat also waited in line for 30 minutes before they were informed there was no more food. There was staff standing behind the food, but they were not serving or monitoring how much was being taken. Later in the evening extra food was put out to help compensate, but unfortunately the guests who did not get to eat at dinner had already left. 10 people in our wedding party were stuck in the elevator after taking pictures on the rooftop and the fire department had to be called. Honestly, I thought it was funny at the time even though it set us back 45 minutes. Where the issue came in for me was that the elevator was no longer operable for the rest of the evening. My mother, my husband’s grandparents and several other guests were not able to attend the dance in the basement due to the inoperable elevator. The bartenders also had to lug their coolers full of ice, boxes of alcohol and mixers up and down the stairs. I was told the venue staff would cut our cakes. I had to find staff to take the cake to the back 20 minutes after we cut it. I then realized an additional 30 minutes later that the groom’s cake was still sitting on the cake table untouched. In addition, the cake slices were set out without any utensils. My sister saw a guest eating cake with her hands and went to ask for forks. We, as the renters, were required to make sure all trash was put away at the end of the night. There were zero trash cans for the guests to use throughout the day. My family had to find trash cans at the end of the night to help clean every single bottle/cup/napkin that was used during a 6 hour period even though I was told I did not need to hire a cleaning crew, they would take care of it. I felt like I, as the bride, was running around trying to find someone to talk to. The bartenders also mentioned they had a hard time finding someone to ask questions as they had several guests coming to them to ask questions about the food and venue. I understand we were a big group, and with that comes a lot of work. Unfortunately for us, the venue and staff fell short of making this a smooth event for me, my husband, wedding party and guests. Once again, the venue was physically beautiful and the current staff tried very hard to make up for all of the issues I had throughout the process. They just weren’t staffed for a...

Anthem Stories is truly a gem! From start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. The venue itself is absolutely stunning, offering a perfect blend of elegance and charm that creates an unforgettable atmosphere.

What truly sets Anthem Stories apart, though, is the legendary level of service provided by their team. Planning a wedding comes with countless moving parts, and our schedule seemed to change every time we blinked. Yet, the team at Anthem Stories handled every adjustment with grace, flexibility, and unwavering professionalism. Their ability to adapt while keeping everything seamless made all the difference.

Every detail was attended to with care, and they went above and beyond to ensure our day was perfect. Their outstanding communication and genuine dedication made us feel so valued and supported.

If you're searching for a venue that combines breathtaking beauty with world-class service, look no further than Anthem Stories. They turned our wedding dreams into a reality, and we will forever be grateful! Highly recommended!

My wife and I would like to extend a personal thank you to Lauren Lund & Lexi Sharp for putting up with our barrage of questions and changes.

P.S. " I refer to everyone as chef because it's a sign of respect " Thank...

We couldn't have asked for a more perfect venue or a more incredible team to help bring our wedding day to life! From the very beginning, Lauren and Lexi went above and beyond—guiding us through everything from food selection to the smallest of details that made the day feel so personal and special. Their attention to detail, organization, and genuine care made the entire planning process smooth and stress-free. The venue itself was absolutely stunning and created the perfect backdrop for memories we'll cherish forever. Thank you for making our day truly...