Post # 1
Member
2106 posts
Buzzing bee
We’re attending a wedding in Florida in Jan and I was so excited. Semi destination, the reception is in a venue owned by the MOB. The reception venue is walking distance from 3 hotels, 2 hotel blocks at two of them.
In Oct I was chatting with the bride, telling her that neither of the hotel blocks are dog-friendly, but that the 3rd hotel is dog friendly and still cheap, if any of her friends need to bring their pups. She told me, “Don’t book the hotel yet! Our family reception venue might be sold by the landlord. Looking at a backup venue. Wait to do anything!” So we waited while we watched the hotel rates creep up $5 every fortnight. Finally, 3 weeks ago, bride texts me the reception venue is set in stone, locked down, book a hotel!
We go to book it and find out if we go with the non-refundable option, we can actually get the original rate, $30 cheaper per night than the current rate. Sweeeeet. Booked. Then we find a dog sitter nearby that can watch the dogs during the ceremony and reception.
We got the invitations earlier this week. Tonight I see a facebook update from the bride saying that they changed their reception location to downtown near no hotels and especially not anywhere near the ceremony, the blocked hotels, or our non-refundable hotel that we only booked after it was totally sure. The wedding is in 1 month.
I understand that plans can change and it was probably rough on the planning, but why tell me to go ahead??? And after the invitations are sent?? And letting us know via facebook??
Please don’t ever do this to your guests. Now we get to drive around all night and we will not be attending the after party that the MOB is hosting.
Post # 3
Member
5242 posts
Bee Keeper
@MrsBroccoli: That is so crappy that she did that! I’m sorry to hear that.
Post # 4
Member
252 posts
Helper bee
@MrsBroccoli: that’s straight up wrong. I would probably go to stay at the hotel and not go to the wedding. Why would someone do that??!
Post # 5
Member
1328 posts
Bumble bee
Uhg that’s rough. Did she at least give a good reason for changing so last minute? I’m sure you’re not the only out of town guest that this is causing problems for.
Post # 6
Member
1798 posts
Buzzing bee
Wow! Can you politely suggest that she provide guest transportation to/from the original hotels? It’s ridiculous that she gave you the all clear to book and then changed the venue and I doubt this is affecting just you.
Post # 7
Member
2638 posts
Sugar bee
Talk about getting taken for a ride. Sorry. 🙁 That’s pretty crappy.
Post # 8
Member
12954 posts
Honey Beekeeper
Wow, that’s terrible. Ugh!
Post # 9
Member
11752 posts
Sugar Beekeeper
@MrsBroccoli: how far away is the reception from the hotel?
It is what it is. I’m sure she had a good enough reason for changing and wasn’t trying to screw you over. I never get non-refundable anything though when traveling because you never know what could happen that could prevent you from traveling – illness, etc.
Post # 10
Member
2106 posts
Buzzing bee
UPDATE
The hotels are 18 minutes from the ceremony location and the reception is 10 minutes from the ceremony, 20 minutes from the reception.
They just announced that there will be shuttles running from hotel-> ceremony-> reception-> hotels, but there are two big problems with that: 1. The ceremony starts 1.5 hrs before the cocktail hour. So unless they are going to have one million readings (it’s outdoor, nondenominational so no mass), there will be a gap and the shuttle riders will be stuck outside waiting. 2. The shuttles from reception -> hotels will START at 10 pm. Now, I’m a partier. Our reception ended at 11 pm. However, when you tell your guests to arrive at 3 pm for the 3:30 ceremony… til 10… makes it a 7 hr event for guests. They have a hosted after party that’s supposed to go til midnight.. so 9 hrs.
We attended a wedding earlier this year that went from 3 pm on and we were some of the last people on the dance floor at 10 pm exhausted. Since it’s a destination wedding we’ll probably be even more exhausted.
So my husband will have 2 drinks and drive us back to the hotel. I found a dog sitter close to the new reception venue (13 mins), so that’s that.
