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M
Beginner May 2019

My venue screwed up. What would you do?

Mel, on January 9, 2019 at 11:43 AM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 0 24
Ok. So this is kind of a long story. But my wedding venue was also the venue for an event we were having for work. A big one. It snowed the week before my work event. They said everything was fine and we could still have an event. They’d have everything cleared by then. I called them the day before and said “are we still good to go?” And they said yes. A few hours before the event, they told me we were indeed not good to go. My catererer had already made the food so I hF to find a last minute venue and switch it up versus just rescheduling. They made the food because the venue said everything was fine and all systems were go. Strike one. Strike 2: I went to their New Year’s Eve event and they oversold tickets and not everyone had a seat for the event. They didn’t announce that the caterer was ready to start serving food. They had one line for the food for an oversold event. Ran out of food. It was rough. Strike 3: they callled me yesterday and asked if I would move my ceremony location to a different spot on the farm because where I’m supposed to have it probably won’t look as nice by May since they have a pumpkin patch there and that area has been getting kind of screwed up from the pumpkin patch and they’re also trying to install a second spot for their breeeru so they can pour beer there if they have any issues with the original bar area. They suggest a pond area to me on the farm which I objected to because they have these hideous columns that are there for no reason. (I’m attaching a photo). When I said I wasn’t ok with that spot they back tracked and said “actually the meadow area is fine. You’re good to go and can have the ceremony there”. Um, no my confidence is already shaken. So I asked for my deposit back and hey said they’ve never given a deposit back. Would you fight it? What would you do?

My venue screwed up. What would you do? 1

24 Comments

Latest activity by Mel, on January 29, 2019 at 10:03 PM
  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    I meant had* to not hF to and brewery* not breeeru. Come on, auto correct.
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  • LB
    Champion November 2016
    LB ·
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    While I would also not be comfortable having my wedding there, I dunno if you have reason to get the deposit back. How much was the deposit?

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  • Kenisha
    Champion June 2019
    Kenisha ·
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    I’d definitely go with someone else. They’ve showed you time and time again that they are not reliable. Why would you want to deal with any added stress on your wedding day?
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  • M
    Super November 2019
    Melissa ·
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    So many red flags. Fight it. You dont want your wedding to end up like the other events.
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  • Kelly
    Champion October 2018
    Kelly ·
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    How much was the deposit? It would make me nervous about having my wedding there but it doesn’t sound like grounds for getting a deposit back.
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  • Pirate & 60s Bride
    Legend March 2017
    Pirate & 60s Bride ·
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    It depends on the deposit situation but honestly, I'd be willing to eat $1K to get out of that venue. They have continuously over-promised, under-delivered and flat-out lied about situations being resolved when they clearly weren't. You don't need that for your wedding day.

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  • Megan
    Super May 2019
    Megan ·
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    I would explain to them why you are asking for your deposit back and that your confidence in having them as your venue is lacking because of the past experiences you have had at the venue.

    PS I think you could work with the columns if you had to! you could drape material between each one and add greenery and/or flowers and make it look like a big long arbor/arch!

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  • Rachel
    Super July 2019
    Rachel ·
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    Tell them all the things they’ve done to make you change your mind. I hate it when people say things along the lines of “I’ve never had anyone complain about that before.” Definitely fight it.
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  • E
    Super October 2017
    Emily ·
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    You have the experience of a problem related to other events. I would use those experiences to argue that you want your deposit back. Maybe if you have any attorney friends they could give you some verbiage you can use that might put enough importance on what your saying.

    Are you able to find another venue in enough time where you live? By me I know it would be hard to get another venue in four months.

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  • HayMrsO
    Master October 2018
    HayMrsO ·
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    I completely agree. You can not have that kind of stress leading up to your wedding.

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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    It was $1000.
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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    That’s actually fantastic advice. I didn’t even think about asking an attorney. I do have one I can consult with so I’ll do that and see if I have a leg to stand on. Thanks so much for the suggestion!
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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    I thought about that but then I was like “man that’s so much extra cost to me for a problem that I feel like I shouldn’t have in the first place.” Ya know?
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  • M&M Bride
    Super September 2018
    M&M Bride ·
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    Do you have another venue secured for your wedding? I would first book another venue and then move forward with cancelling your current one. Having to find a venue the day of your work event and alerting guests of the change must have been extremely difficult. I would definitely cite that as a reason that you don't feel that you can move forward with your contract. If they push it, then I would push right back. Good luck!

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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    Thanks so much! I actually do have another venue secured so no worries there! I think I’ll still push the deposit refund with them. I just don’t think anyone could look at this situation and say my reasons for cancelling aren’t 100% on them.
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  • JEANIE
    Expert April 2021
    JEANIE ·
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    I agree with many of the other comments. I would not have my wedding there. Nope. You've experienced three bad situations with them. There's no way I can trust you with one of the most important days of my life.
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  • Stacey
    Super October 2018
    Stacey ·
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    I had some not so good feelings about my venue, and I wish I had listened to that little voice telling me to move the wedding. I was very unhappy with them the weekend of our wedding, our guests were well cared for and didn't notice anything amiss (thank goodness) but we knew, and we weren't treated as well as our guests were. We were thiiiiiissss close to moving it, we even had an appointment to see another venue, but canceled it and stayed with our venue. They have an amazing reputation, but to this day (3 months later) I can't get past our negative experience with them. If it is possible to move your wedding I would, if it is not possible because of the lost deposit I would start being very firm and clear with them about what you want and expect. And save all emails/communication.

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  • Jalynna
    Beginner May 2019
    Jalynna ·
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    If this is sinkland farms, this is why! Pumpkin patches and the brewery are their focuses. Ran into the same issue.
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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    Oh my gosh it is! You called it. I thought they were bigger on weddings but I was definitely wrong.
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  • M
    Beginner May 2019
    Mel ·
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    Wait, did you book your wedding there and have to cancel?
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