I need suggestions/advice.
So my venue is brand new, to my knowledge not many people have been married there. This was nerve racking because I don’t know the fine details about if this is gonna go smooth or not, but the price was so worth it I went for it. Everything to start was great, but then gaps within communication started happening... then it was a new manager, which explained the gaps... but then another new manager and another and another. Flash forward to now and we are on our SEVENTH new manager. I constantly have to repeat myself with them for things they should know. For example I am not getting married on site, and I kid you not I have told each manager this, plus the current one asks me every time we talk. I however gave them the benefit of the doubt because it’s hard to come in and take over, and especially with covid now. Well about two weeks ago we talked on the phone about the masks, and precautions that the venue is taking... was I pleased... no... but is it something I can change... no. So no big deal she said that nothing else will change, I get my dance, I get my guest count, and my set up doesn’t change. Now a week later my fiancé and I talked with her about finalizing menu and payments and I mention to her how I hear dances are getting taken away and people can only have under 150 guests... and she casually slips in that I have to cut my ( already cut) guest list in half!! She said ‘didn’t I tell you that already’ UM NO? We have 350 people originally invited and now she wants us around 150 or less. The venue can hold over 400 people. She then tells me I also have to change entire set up, appetizers, and change our menu. I find it hard to believe that in one week this all changed. Then when asked about postponing she got really aggressive and told us we’d be making the biggest mistake of our lives... and still has yet to send us info on IF we decided to postpone. I am 2ish months from my wedding and am concerned each week something else will be taken away. When we asked if this is for legal reasons and safety she said no that it was a personal decision the company has made. They want to please potential new clients and they think this was the way to do it? Show more intimate weddings? I don’t understand. Why wasn’t I notified? She has texted me before about other things... but big changes are just casually thrown in when I ASK about them... I’m not sure if we would’ve know if I didn’t ask. Then when I got upset ( bawling on the phone) I asked if we can get out of our contract because asking for that many changes ( and we booked before covid) just isn’t working... she said that we would lose all of money we’ve spent, and get charged an extra $1500 for late cancelation, and then again told me this is the biggest mistake I’ll make because they can give me what I want.... but they can’t? They can give me a reception but not what I want/willing to compromise to. I’m so so so heartbroken.
Moving towards a plan B....
My wonderful FH parents offered to let us use their farm and do a tented outdoor reception- even tho they absolutely don’t want to- so we can still use the catering we already paid for. I am just sick of planning, and if I have to do this too I think I might explode! But it might be our only chance of a ‘normal’ reception. So my question is... do I go for it? Do I hire a planner? I want it to be done right... I don’t want it to look cheap... I’m very very critical ( some may call me extremely picky 😬). I also get concerned about weather... it should be a decent time of year for a tented wedding.... anybody else do a tented wedding? Any pictures? Advice?
I just want to be free of the constant worry about my venue, and more and more I think I should go for the tented reception... but are the risks higher?
