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Just Said Yes October 2021

Need advice on dealing with difficult venue

Amanda, on September 29, 2021 at 5:58 AM Posted in Planning 0 9
We have been having a bad experience with our venue, and in particular, the on-site event manager. As a little background, the venue was purchased by new management in 2020. They renovated from top to bottom and it’s beautiful. The on-site event manager runs her own wedding planning business; however, couples are not obligated to hire her for their wedding if they don’t want to. We didn’t hire her, but she is still the primary point of contact at the venue. I think this has contributed to our poor experience with her.


Since booking the venue in late 2020, the communication with the venue has been sub par at best. A few examples:
1. We were told in January 2021 that we could bring in our rentals and store them Friday the day before the wedding. Yesterday, one month out, the event manager emailed to say nothing could be brought in until the morning of. This will end up costing us a lot more for weekend delivery.2. We’ve been asking for a bar menu since February. The venue keeps saying they don’t have a menu yet, but the bar and restaurant have been fully operational this summer and they’ve hosted other weddings. Why can’t they tell me what a Tito’s and soda will cost?3. We were told that we could bring breakfast in for our guests the morning after. I booked the catering and then when I confirmed ruth the venue in July, she acted Ike she never told us we could bring it in. She said the inn would be offering breakfast now and third party catering isn’t allowed. Now as of yesterday, she’s saying no breakfast will be served, but they will give guests a breakfast voucher to a coffee shop in town. Again, another complete change from what was originally communicated. 4. We plan to have the ceremony on the front lawn and we’re told that would be no problem. Over the summer, the venue erected the most hideous fire red colored awning over the lawn to cover the eating area. This was a big shock, but we figured we’d make do it work around it. Keep in mind we were originally told it would be a white tent and that if we didn’t want to use it, they would take it down before the wedding since outdoor dining will be closed by then. Now not only have they installed something completely different, they’re also saying they don’t want to take it down. 5. Lastly, in March the event manager suggested we bring in a stage for the band. Yesterday when I emailed to confirm we were, she said she was concerned with the rentals being brought in because set up can’t happen until day of, which as I mentioned, was also a new surprise to us a month out.
There are many other examples of them saying one thing and then doing another or being poor communicators overall. The event manager seems to be clueless as to what’s actually going on and generally has an attitude towards us. We’ve been super flexible and easy going throughout the process, but now that we’re down to the wire, we’re getting really sick of her crap, to be frank. I understand plans change and new venue ownership is tough to navigate, but if you tell wedding clients something, you should follow through and not rescind it a month before the wedding. I’m inclined to have our day of coordinator handle all communication going forward. If I don’t, I’m afraid I’ll snap. My fiancé thinks we should start being more demanding and stern with the event manager.
What do people think is the best course of action? I don’t want to do anything that would jeopardize the wedding, but I also don’t want to sit idly by and let the venue get away with essentially lying to us multiple times and ignoring our requests for basic information.

9 Comments

Latest activity by I_Do_Too, on September 29, 2021 at 11:08 AM
  • Clarissa
    Super October 2021
    Clarissa ·
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    Wow I’m sorry you’re going through this. I wonder if she’s acting this way because you didn’t use her wedding planning services. Because this is just outrageous. Do you have anything in your contract or emails stating any of this? If so would definitely refer to this because this seems very unprofessional. Also be very stern because they’re just saying and doing anything.
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  • A
    Just Said Yes October 2021
    Amanda ·
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    I have a bunch of emails. While our contract says we have exclusive use from 8 am to 11 pm day of, we bought out all the rooms for the weekend and her emails explicitly said we could set up stuff in our reception room the day before. Now she’s going back on that. I also have emails about the breakfast catering and the option to use or not use the front lawn tent/awning, two other things she offered then took back as of yesterday. I just really need someone to check me and tell me if I’m being unreasonable or not. Appreciate your input.
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  • M
    Master October 2021
    Mrs.a ·
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    Nope! You’re not being unreasonable at all! I would go back to her and forward the email (s) where she stated you could set up the day prior, etc. and if that doesn’t help I would contact the general manager, etc.
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  • Cece
    Master October 2023
    Cece ·
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    If you have these promises in writing, she should be standing by them! These are huge things that have a major impact on your event and your ability to successfully execute it. I would speak to the wedding planner you hired. Typically wedding planners are the ones who communicate with your vendors anyway. See if she has dealt with something like this before and how you should proceed with the venue. Someone needs to be stern with these people, and point out the fact that you have in writing all these promises they have made to you, and are legally obligated to follow through on them. I fear that you guys have been so lenient with her that she feels she can get away with anything. Either you or your wedding coordinator need to communicate to her that you expect them to honor their word and allow you to bring in your stuff to store on Friday. Also, at this point, there is no reason you cannot bring in outside catering for breakfast. I would point out the fact you were already told you could do that, and that you were accommodating when she went back on her word and demanded you use their inn for breakfast. Now she wants to give your guests vouchers to a coffee shop?? If the inn is no longer providing breakfast, there is no reason you cannot bring in your own catering, as originally promised. Make it very clear that you will not be amenable to any more changes from this point on.
    And if a resolution cannot be reached, then you will need to speak to her supervisor to help facilitate a solution.
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  • A
    Just Said Yes October 2021
    Amanda ·
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    Thanks for your insight. My initial plan was to have our coordinator just take over all communication going forward. I’ll provide her details of how we want everything, then let her work with the venue to execute. I don’t think this event manager should be allowed to get away with her actions, but I don’t want to “sour” the relationship so close to the wedding. I fear she’ll purposely make things harder.
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  • Cece
    Master October 2023
    Cece ·
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    If your coordinator is comfortable with it, I would definitely turn over all communications to her. Especially if she has dealt with difficult vendors before (which she probably has if she’s been doing this for any significant amount of time). The venue coordinator may become a lot more receptive and cooperative once she realizes she is dealing with another professional in the business. Especially because the wedding community tends to know each other and talk. She doesn’t want to be blackballed in the industry.
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  • A
    Just Said Yes October 2021
    Amanda ·
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    Our coordinators been in the business for 30 years so I’m comfortable turning this to her if she’ll take it on. The venue manager us definitely mad that we didn’t hire her, but I’m so glad we didn’t now that her true colors are out.
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  • Nicolle
    Dedicated October 2022
    Nicolle ·
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    I would for sure use your own coordinator to help navigate but I would also contact the owner/manager of the venue and let them know that this is unacceptable.... UNREAL. I would be furious.

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  • I_Do_Too
    Devoted September 2020
    I_Do_Too ·
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    Is there a hotel manager or does she have a boss that you can defer to?
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