Beautiful but with some issues
The venue is beautiful. It was exactly what we wanted in a great location for an acceptable price. The owners have spent a lot of time and effort into making it a beautiful space for your event.
However, communication was less than stellar. In the months and weeks leading up to the wedding we were waiting between 7-10 days to get a response for questions about heating/water/essentials to planning. We also had technical difficulties. The audio system was not working in the days leading up to the wedding, something the owners were aware of. I found out later that the only reason we had a working microphone was because a guest brought an extra patch cable for the outdoor audio setup. If we didn't have that cable, we would have been shouting all our speeches.
I'd also advise any couples looking at Happy Life to steer clear of the rental service they recommend. It's run by the father of one of the venue owners and is located next door so it is very convenient for setting up, but look elsewhere. When our rentals were delivered the day before the wedding (so too late to change anything) we noticed stains on several of the tablecloths (thankfully the dim lighting and centerpieces helped cover some) and water spots/stains on the cutlery. We had to go around polishing every piece to make sure they looked clean. He also wouldn't discuss payment ahead of time (I emailed asking for clarification at least twice) and then demanded cash on the spot.
He also ended up being one of our bartenders for the night. I can't speak to his bartending but he did decide to start collecting plates and crashing them together during the speech portion of the evening, so that was interesting (infuriating).
Finally, the package is for 5 days. Thursday - Monday. We were asked about 2 weeks in advance if we would be willing to pack up early on Sunday (so, the morning after our wedding) so their church group could use the venue. We agreed to be amenable. The venue owners also allowed us to come by on the Wednesday to drop off items. But, when we got there to pack up on Sunday, we found out that Jerry (the bartender and rental service owner) was there too, and had the nerve to suggest to our friends and family that we leave behind some of our beverages and food for their group. After we all, yknow, got up bright and early to clear out almost two days early than originally planned. I'm still a little salty about that. We contacted the venue owners to let them know about his behaviour, and ask if there was the possibility of a partial refund considering we didn't get our full dates, but we never heard back.
All in all, it was a beautiful wedding. The venue was everything we wanted, and I do believe the owners are good people working hard to make something great. There are still some kinks to be worked out but if you get an outside rental service and double-check everything works, you'll have a beautiful day too.
