Time off from work for the wedding not accepted.

Something similar happened to me yesterday, unless I have been here for more than 3 years. Thankfully I talked to my director and we negotiated a couple of days working from home and leaving early and arriving late some days - it sucks but it's better than no you can't have your wedding and honeymoon days off.

My suggestion is going back to them, ask what about the negotiation that you did when they hired you. I know money is an important thing wedding-wise but at holidays you can always find something in retail stores. Worst comes, I would say quit, find a new temporary job for the days in between your cousin wedding and yours and then after the wedding start again in a new job where bosses appreciate happy employees with plenty of vacation days!

PS. As a PP said before, if you need to do a cake testing, I live in Florida too lol

Former retail manager here.

Our fiscal year started in October, and so we had to be careful when we asked off because of the new year, ordering, meetings, budget shit.

Also, taking off a week in October and 1-2 weeks in December and January - if your year begins in October (like mine did), then that's 3 weeks really close together, besides being in the holiday season.

If you're comfortable with stepping down, then go for it. If you're not, then forgo the tastings (I didn't have tastings and I don't feel as though I didn't get an "experience"), have your dress shipped here, mock centerpieces can wait, etc.

This is unfortunate, but it's not the end of the world.

Or can you just take fewer days off? Do you really need a week in October? Can you take 4 days? Or take 3 vacation days and then use your normal 2 days for a total of 5?

Really. Please don't quit your job for this. Can anyone that lives in Florida do tasting for you? You should probably have your dress shipped to you in case you need several fittings.

Let me get this straight, you want to take time off in October AND December, and you work Retail? Bawahahahahaha...Up here, if you work retail, you actually cannot request any days off between September 1 and December 31 if you work retail. You are lucky if you can call in sick between that period. I used to be an Assistant Manager and FH used to be a Manager in Retail. We wouldn't have been able to take any time off during that period.

You should have found out if your employer has a similar black-out period, that is one of the busiest shopping periods.

This is exactly why I asked for time off in august of next year already. Got that shit on lock.

Can you get ANY time off during that time? I'd call out sick around those days if you have the time. Technically there's nothing they can do. (My company has a "3 days sick in a row requires doc note" rule so for instance, I'd take monday off and thursday off and call out the days in between, you dig?

Can you work doubles or cover shifts in exchange for coverage? that really sucks. The company I work for deals with retail/customer service stuff and we have a black out as well but people are always able to work around it for exceptions. If I were still hourly and my boss told me I couldn't take off in January for my wedding, I'd go to HR. :/

I agree with PP, don't step down because of the time off situation. See if you can take a few days instead of a whole week. If not, I agree with Bailey that the majority of the time DW weddings don't have cake tastings. The dress alterations may be difficult - can you find a seamstress near you and have the dress shipped? or is someone in FL that can bring it back with them? I know its not ideal but I don't think losing a job would be worth it.

Limited Brands has a hotline you may be able to utilize for such issues.

I can't take off at all... period because of my current position. Regardless if I miss on the tastings/everything else I can't even attend the wedding I'm in because of my "status". Hell if I'll be able to attend my own at this point lol...

I cover for people constantly. I pull double, I give up my days off to be here because they "need" me. The only time I missed working was in December of 2013 was because of my father passing. I've never called in otherwise.

My pto in December wouldnt be until the 28th. I realize that's still peak time for retail.

I've been in retail for 6 years, I know the importance of holiday. I also know I'm not going to have another wedding every year for the rest of my life. Lord knows I'm not planning to work here forever either.

I'm going to sit down and talk to my manager again when he gets back from his vacation.

I'm going to have to see what he feels is best. If I have to go down for a few less days I will take that as a compromise, or stepping down is my other other option. I'm praying everything works out...

That company sucks. I worked at VS one year for the sale. I told them I had 20 hours of availability, they scheduled me for 40 and when I told them I couldn't work it because it was twice what I said I could, they told me it was my responsibility to get my shifts covered then.

My heart hurts that you have to choose between a job and wedding stuff. Honestly maybe this is a sign to move up and on to a new job. Easy to say and scary to think about as well, with a wedding coming up. Good luck with what ever decision you decide to make.

Unfortunately when you work in retail that's the problem. I had a major family emergency happen on Boxing Day and my boss wouldn't let me leave early because we had a store full of people and I was one of the few people who could deal with cash on a busy day. You have to find a work around if you are working in retail or find a job in another market.

Thank you guys, for all the advice thus far.

I truly appreciate it.

I hate that I don't have good news and I feel badly for you, but you do have to miss out on stuff when planning out of state weddings. My wedding is in northeastern PA and I'm in IN. It's about 12 hours of a drive. We took one weekend to fly and meet the officiant (which honestly I'm kinda bitter about since it was money we didn't need to spend IMO. Flying isn't cheap and skype is fine).

But, I am not tasting cake, we purchased cakes from Sam's to sample and talked about their ordering locally. Then we will go in the week before our wedding and order it when we get to PA. Part of the reason for this is it's much cheaper, but also, how am I supposed to find a baker online? You see so many mixed reviews online so I just wanted something I could trust to be consistent.

My dress is absolutely being altered in Indianapolis. I have had 2 fitting and I have one left. My mom will take the dress with her to PA. DJ I hired on Thumbtack. Catering is tough if you don't know anyone already. I am having my Aunt's BIL do our catering (he is charging normal, not a friendor). I have never tasted his food and I won't until my wedding but I hear it's great so here's to hoping!

Bottom line: If you are planning a wedding from out of state and you can't afford to visit there regularly because of not enough time off work or money to travel, then you will definitely be making sacrifices. That's how the cookie crumbles. I was in retail for 12 years, 6 years in management and I totally know how that sucks too with having to work around them for using your PTO. If it makes you feel better, I have less PTO in my new job than I did in retail, granted, they are more flexible about when I use it, I just have like 10 days less. : /

You need to get your dress shipped to you for alterations. One fitting isn't enough to get it all done.

I didn't have cake tastings, and never had two tasting with the caterer but I am still married and feel like I did get the whole experience. Cause I'm married now.

Sadly you are going to have to decide where the priorities are. Is it in a secure job? Is it getting the experience of "getting married"? Or is it getting married. Your FH can take a list of questions with him for tastings. You can miss the rehearsal for cousins wedding and just go for wedding day.

Now silly question. When you set your wedding date were you working retail? It sounds like you have been working that for years. Did the time off in the busiest season not factor in to setting the date?

Did you ever get it approved in writing that you could have the time off? I would bypass your boss and talk to the DM and explain the situation and that you accepted position on the condition that you could have this time off.

Also are you able to pull some favors and get people to cover shifts?

"October starts the Managers black out dates and well... I'm a part of management."

So what did you expect to happen? A request off is just that, a request. They're always allowed to say no. Unless they gave you written permission and are now taking it back that's just part of working retail. Did he specifically approve your request off or did he just acknowledge you submitted it? I've had jobs where you can submit a request whenever you want but they don't actually approve/disapprove until two weeks before the request off date.

My last job was in alcohol sales and we weren't allowed to request off mid-October to January 5th. Also not the week of Valentine's days or St Patrick's day. All summer vacations were on a first come first serve basis and if you wanted the same week as someone else in your store and they submitted it first you had to change your plans. People would try to get off work anyway and unless you could find people to cover every single one of your shifts you were just out of luck. Retail means working weird days and hours and holidays.

I took off the month of July two years ago to go to Australia and only had it approved when I changed it from July 1st being my first day off to July 7th, they wouldn't give me off for the 4th and the few days after because sales go up and they needed full staff. I was super glad I hadn't bought my tickets yet.

I have an idea. Your FH can go and do the tasting and retrieve your dress for you.

Win-Win!