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Quality of service
2 out of 5 rating
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Response time
2 out of 5 rating
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Professionalism
2 out of 5 rating
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Value
1 out of 5 rating
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Flexibility
1 out of 5 rating
Disappointing Experience with Eganridge on What Should Have Been Our Perfect Day
We held our wedding at Eganridge in July 2025, and while there were some wonderful moments, the overall experience was not what we expected — especially given the premium “Platinum Package” we purchased, and the venue’s reputation for being high-end and ‘luxurious’.
Let’s start with the positives:
• The ceremony setup was absolutely beautiful.
• Cocktail hour was well-executed with great food and pleasant, attentive staff.
• Our signature drinks were exactly as requested and enjoyed by many.
• The late-night snacks were a hit with our guests.
• Bar staff, particularly Carly and Tara, were excellent.
• The golf cart limo made it easy for older guests to move around.
• Allison, our day-of coordinator, was outstanding. She was kind, calm, and handled everything in her control seamlessly.
However, these bright spots were overshadowed by several serious issues that impacted the comfort and enjoyment of our guests — and left us disappointed and frustrated on a day that should have been joyful and stress-free.
The Ballroom Was Unbearably Hot
The indoor ballroom was 27°C (81°F) all night. It felt hotter inside than outside, and multiple guests commented on how uncomfortable the space was. People were using paper fans at nearly every table and stepping outside just to cool down. We chose this venue specifically for the ballroom as a backup for summer heat, trusting that it would offer comfort and climate control. We later learned from staff that the air conditioning had been broken for weeks — this was never communicated to us in advance.
My husband is an electrician and works in HVAC, and we had four other HVAC professionals in attendance. Every one of them confirmed this was not a result of guest volume (we had under 103 guests — far below the stated capacity of 150), but a system failure. For a venue of this caliber to continue hosting events without functioning air conditioning — and not disclose it — is unacceptable.
Food and Menu Delivery Fell Flat
Food was the number one reason we selected Eganridge, so it was incredibly disappointing that dinner fell far short of expectations. Some key issues:
• The beef entrée was served without the herb butter and trio of sauces we paid extra for — and when sauces were served, they came on shared plates, inconsistently, and two of them tasted nearly identical. Servers didn’t seem to know what they were or how to explain them.
• The chicken dish was completely unrecognizable from our tasting — no cherry sauce, no microgreens, no garnish, just a brown slab. Even if the taste had been off, at least a visually appealing dish would have been something.
• Not a single guest complimented the meal — except for the salad. As a lifelong foodie, this was incredibly disheartening.
• The vegetarian entrée was the wrong dish altogether. We had confirmed Wild Mushroom Strudel (and it was printed on the menus), but guests were served tofu wrapped in eggplant. One of our bridesmaids couldn’t eat it due to a severe dietary restriction – which is why we selected the dish initially. Others said they left the meal still hungry — there was no starch or substantial component to the plate.
Wine, Water & Table Service Lacked Basic Hospitality
• Wine was meant to be served throughout dinner as part of our package — but most tables only saw wine once. At our head table, no wine or water was offered at all.
• Guests began going to the bar to get their own drinks.
• We had specifically requested self-serve water stations be placed in the ballroom or foyer — especially important in the heat — but none were set up.
• Tables were left cluttered with empty glasses, making the dining environment feel messy and poorly managed.
• Some guests even stepped-up and cleared their own tables of glassware – honestly, we feel embarrassed for our guests to even consider doing this.
• Because it was so hot – more than 70% of our guests were back in their rooms or on route home by 11pm. We paid for full top-rail open bar service until 1:00am – honestly, it feels like we were scammed – the venue made money off of our guest’s discomfort.
Guest Accommodations Were Also Sub-Par
We received complaints from guests staying in the rooms and cottages:
• Earwigs and bugs were found in all the cottages, including in the bed in our honeymoon suite when we returned after the wedding.
• The Dunsford House upper rooms were excessively hot — with temperatures reaching 28°C inside, making it nearly impossible to sleep.
Communication & Follow-Up
Throughout planning, Jason was our primary contact. On the Friday afternoon (a few hours before our rehearsal), he let us know he would not be on site all weekend). We were surprised — and frankly disappointed — that we received no follow-up or acknowledgment after the wedding. No message, no check-in — nothing. After spending nearly $40,000 on this wedding (not including the non-refundable paid-in-full cottages and rooms – which we had fully booked for the weekend (excluding one singular Terrace room), we expected at least a courteous “thank you” or inquiry about how things went.
It was left to us to initiate this feedback, which only added to our sense of being let down. We had truly hoped to feel supported by the team behind the scenes, but this wasn’t the case. His response email made it clear that although he takes some responsibility for the events shortfalls, he also fundamentally misunderstands what it means to work in hospitality.
Other than offering us to come back on our 1-year anniversary, another milestone we would not trust this venue to deliver on; Jason accused us of “blackmail” for suggesting we may leave a review, implied that our honest feedback could threaten the livelihood of hospitality workers, and repeatedly stated that “no amount of money can fix it”, so there’s “no point” in discussing any form of resolution.
He even advised us not to contact Windsor Arms (who owns the venue), claiming it could be “unfavourable to us”, would be a waste of our time and only frustrate us further — an incredibly dismissive response, especially after a $40,000+ event.
This kind of attitude is not only unprofessional, it's hostile. If Jason feels that customer service, accountability, and basic hospitality standards are negotiable, he is in the wrong career. It is not “blackmail” to leave a truthful review after being contractually let-down and dismissed — it’s what reviews are for.
Final Thoughts
This wasn’t just a small birthday party or casual gathering — this was our wedding day, and we invested a great deal of time, trust, and money into the promise that Eganridge could deliver an exceptional experience. In many ways, they did not.
Some of these issues — on their own — might have been forgivable. But taken together, and worsened by the stifling ballroom heat, they became impossible to overlook. Our expectations were not unrealistic — they were based on the platinum-tier service we were sold.
We are hopeful that Eganridge will take accountability and reflect on how to improve moving forward. But unfortunately, we cannot recommend this venue to others without some very serious caveats.
If you’re still wanting to check out Eganridge – head over to their outdoor patio, Stables, for dinner & drinks, or the spa for a pedicure – the ladies are awesome! Other than that – save yourself some money and disappointment, especially on a once-in-a-lifetime event like your wedding.
Mel & Keegan
Eganridge Resort, Country Club & Spa's reply:
Dear Melanie & Keegan,
First and foremost, we are deeply regretful that you came away from your wedding with such negative feelings. We pride ourselves on being far & away the best Wedding Venue in the Kawarthas; and obviously, there were a number of issues that caused your experience to not be at that level.
Without addressing each and every point you’ve raised in the review (as we obviously had lengthy discussions & correspondence prior to you posting the review); these shortcomings come from 3 underlying issues.
First, there were factors outside of our control – namely the heat. This past summer we suffered through a heat wave unlike anything that had ever been contemplated when the building was designed. While the ballroom is typically able to manage this even reasonably when it’s at capacity, one of the two units that cools the ballroom seemingly stopped functioning at some point in the evening, despite receiving its seasonal maintenance and inspection roughly 1 month earlier. The fact that you accuse us in your review of “knowingly running events without functioning air conditioning” is a ridiculous notion. As I mentioned to you, we only discovered that it stopped functioning at some point during your wedding a couple of days after when we had our technician in.
Second, is paying attention to your BEO / Banquet Event Order. Throughout the wedding planning process, there are dozens of conversation points, emails, phone calls, etc. that go into the planning of your wedding. We have developed an extensive BEO document that is designed to encompass all of the details of your wedding, from meal selections, a complete list of dietary restrictions, etc. It is extremely important, that in the weeks leading up to a wedding, that the couple reviews this document in great detail, to ensure everything they believe is happening, is going to happen. When there is no vegetarian selection specified on the BEO, and there is no indication amongst your guest list dietary restrictions that the vegetarian guest is allergic to Tofu, we are going to serve what we feel is the most culinarily appropriate dish.
Finally, yes, there were things we could have, and should have done better, that were fully within our control. The requested water stations, were a straight up miss on our end and we are very sorry for that. Recognizing the extreme heat outside, we should have preconditioned the ballroom earlier in the day to start a lower temperature, considered rationalizing the number of candles being lit (or at least, the timing of them), and paid much closer attention to when guests started opening up the exterior doors. While the gentle breeze off the lake may have felt cooler to those sitting near the windows, having exterior air that is hotter and more humid coming from outside is going to prevent the air conditioning from doing its job.
All that being said, the one thing we are not going to stand for, is blackmail. Coming out of the wedding, you sent me a note with these shortcomings, and I of course acknowledged and addressed each one individually. ‘
You then made a demand that we give you $7000. I indicated to you at that time that there is no amount of money which can “fix” this; we obviously cannot “undo” what happened. What we could do, was look forward, and focus on trying to resolution that allows us to (re)build a positive relationship going forward.
You then wrote, to quote “I work in marketing and social media — and I understand firsthand the impact that online reviews and public feedback can have, especially in the hospitality and wedding sectors. That’s why it’s always in everyone’s best interest to resolve complaints professionally and offline when possible”.
It is at that point, where you crossed the line into blackmail. One thing we are never going to stand for, is rewarding couples who resort to threats to get their way. It is a behaviour that I personally find deplorable, especially when you consider who you ultimately hurt by doing so. We’re not Rogers or Bell. We’re a small business, and one of the largest employers in the small community that you share with us.
As you’ve noted, you work in marketing, and perhaps you are used to saying that as a way to bully others into giving you whatever you want. It’s simply not something we are going to participate in or reward.
