Post # 1
Member
13 posts
Newbee
I got a call today that the venue I booked for my wedding accidently double booked another wedding for the same day. I booked this location a year ago! They were just getting started and then in January of this year booked another one. Now they are asking me to move my wedding back an hour from 3:30pm to 4:30pm and for me to move things around. They will also be asking the other couple to move theirs up an hour to have a 3 hour gap between the two. To be able to reset the venue and get my decorations up and my guest in. It just messes with everything I had planned for that day. We had planned for doing pictures before hand or the ones that could be done without him and I together so that we could get to the reception sooner. It cuts into the length of the reception which I paid good money for that hall too. I am trying to work with them so that they can make both weddings happen and that one of us don’t have to can. I don’t want to see another bride to be without a venue either but I am so frustrated by this whole situtation. I am trying to stay calm cool and collected about the whole thing when I am getting to the point of just wanting to scream. Has anyone had this kind of experience?
Post # 2
Member
9139 posts
Buzzing Beekeeper
- Wedding: November 2013 - St. Augustine Beach, FL
jeh_butterfly: If you love your venue you will probably just have to deal with it. If you can secure another venue you have a good argument to support breaking the contract with your current venue. If you plan on breaking your contract, speak to an attorney before doing so.
I don’t think you would be unreasonable in asking for a discount since it will be inconveniencing you but unless it’s written into your contract that you have exclusive use of the facility for the entire day, it’s going to be tough to get much from the venue. I would wait until after the wedding and make sure other brides knew about this practice though because I’m guessing this isn’t the first time they have “accidentally” double booked.
Post # 3
Member
46890 posts
Honey Beekeeper
If you want to use the same venue, I would definitely be negotiating a discount. It’s very kind of you to be considering the other couple’s needs.If you are going to do the venue a favor, they owe you something in return.
Post # 4
Member
2389 posts
Buzzing bee
Do you have a contract with specific times listed? If so, I’d hold them to that.
Post # 5
Member
13 posts
Newbee
Here is the thing like I said they were just getting started doing weddings. It is an old church that someone bought instead of it being torn down and made a resturant and brewery in the basement and restored the sactuary for weddings and entertainment to come in they offecially opened for business last June. When I booked they were still in the construction phase and at the time I was quoted and price and that I would have 6 hours and they wouldn’t book anything else that day and that I could decorate the night before the wedding. The have moved from a paper system to a computer system when they did so they found they had double booked. In this time they had also changed several people being in charge of the event planning. At the time I spoke with them last April they were working on writting up a contract and through out that time we have checked in to see if they had one yet it wasn’t until a couple of weeks ago that one was finally sent to me. Even then there is nothing specific in the contact about amounts times or anything. I spoke to the owner today he was not happy that his employees double booked and now he is trying to make it right and make it work so both couples can be happy. He admited they didn’t know what they were doing and was still working on getting the kinks out but they are improving.
Post # 6
Member
562 posts
Busy bee
jeh_butterfly: I don’t have any experience with this type of situation, but I think it’s good you’re staying calm. The venue will be more accommodating to you if you’re not a complete bridezilla in your interactions with them. 🙂
That being said, as long as you have a contract with them, they are obligated to uphold their end of it. Have your invitations been printed yet? Have they gone out? If it were me and the invitations had been printed and/or gone out, I’d tell the venue, “I’m sorry, but the invitations have gone out. It’s too late for me to change any times.”
If they are asking you to push your start-time back, they need to allow you to have the venue for an extra hour on the end. In other words, if you were supposed to have the venue from 3:30pm – 10:00pm, you should get it from 4:30pm – 11:00pm. They should understand this, don’t let them push back, because as you said, you’re paying good money for it.
I think it’s good that you’re trying to work with them, just don’t let them screw you over in the process. You booked the date first and frankly, it’s first come, first served. You don’t want to put the other bride out, but keep in mind that if that happens, it will not be your fault, it will be the fault of the venue for not having their sh*t together.
EDIT: I just read your last post and I would make sure the venue puts EVERYTHING in the contract: start time, end time, when setup can begin, prices (for everything they’re providing). I cannot stress that enough. If there is no document stating clearly what the expectations are, there’s a good chance something will get overlooked. If that happens and you don’t have it in writing, you have no recourse. It sounds like this venue is new and working out some (major) kinks, which is understandable to an extent, but you need to protect yourself.
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