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Expert April 2018

Anyone else change venues and forfeit security deposit?

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JessieJackson, on January 23, 2017 at 6:24 PM

Posted in Planning 29

I need someone to tell me if I'm being crazy. Basically, I've already booked a venue at a barn that recently opened. I thought it was a great deal, as I will get the whole place for 3 days for just $3500. However, it's a very blank canvas with very few rules. In my excited newly engaged state, my DIY-self was super excited about all the possibilities. Now that the excitement has faded, rational me has major venue regret. Not only is it a lot of work trying to figure everything out, but the venue is also an hour away from both us and the only respectable hotels, and in a town with no ubers, so we feel obligated to bus all of our ~200 guests there and back. There's no kitchen for the caterers to use. There's only 2 toilets, so we'd have to rent bathrooms. It's basically a logistical nightmare. Cont in comments...

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29 Comments

VIP May 2017
Veep · on January 23, 2017 at 9:01 PM
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It's a $1750 convenience fee, it's worth it.
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Expert April 2018
JessieJackson · on January 23, 2017 at 9:04 PM
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Wow @Karen I'm sorry to hear of that big loss! That must have been so hard to do at the time. But glad it all worked out even better in the end for you!
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Devoted October 2017
Karen · on January 23, 2017 at 9:20 PM
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It definitely was a big hit, but I'm honestly so much happier with our decision. And going from 150 guests to 85 has also save so much stress. Good luck!
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Celia Milton · on January 23, 2017 at 9:28 PM
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Cut the number of guests to a number you can realistically handle in the new venue and don't look back.
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Expert April 2018
JessieJackson · on January 23, 2017 at 9:32 PM
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I wish I could cut the guest list more than it already is, it's mostly FH's friends (now our mutual friends) and we've been in several fights about me trying to cut some of them. At the end of the day he'd rather work lots of overtime to afford all his friends to be there, so I guess we will make it work.
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VIP April 2017
Mariah · on January 23, 2017 at 9:47 PM
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I had to do the same thing. However, it was because we decided to get married earlier but we knew we wouldn't be able to save as much. So we switched venues and cut our guest list down and went for it! We lost $500, but honestly it was so worth it and I haven't looked back even though I originally thought it was the "perfect" place and didn't want it any other way. If you can afford to lose it, then definitely switch.
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Expert April 2018
JessieJackson · on January 23, 2017 at 9:58 PM
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Thanks for the advice, glad to hear I'm not the only one this has happened to
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Expert October 2017
futuremrsbacon · on January 23, 2017 at 10:18 PM
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One of my bridesmaids actually just forfeited her deposit to her venue and booked the same venue I am using. The security deposit was $600.
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VIP October 2017
Meagen · on January 23, 2017 at 10:22 PM
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If you can afford to cut your losses, I would. You're going to be paying a ton to bus guests an hour each way, and the bathroom situation is going to be terrible for your guests.
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