Venue double booked wedding date and curious how i should handle this

I would factor in that it is a holiday weekend (being a negative). A lot of people have set plans for Memorial Day Weekend and would prefer a different date. But this is a know your crowd, do you think you would lose a lot of attendees? If so, I would move to another weekend to make it more convenient.

Hi Amelia,

Not really as my family nor his usually go out of town for Memorial Weekend. We do things on Memorial Day but that's about it. So I don't think the guests list would be altered by many really. And it isn't going to be a huge wedding anyway, maybe about 100 to 120 people.

I agree that I'd be hesitant to change to a holiday weekend, and I'd also be pissed. I'd probably ask for a discount to the price you were expecting to pay for the mix-up, and also might try to feel out whether the other person booked on that day would be willing to move. I'm really not much for confrontation, so I'd realistically be willing to cave pretty easily, but I think asking for more since it's completely their fault that you're not getting the correct date sounds fair to me.

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I have asked for a discount to that weekend. I have no idea who the other couple is so I can't ask that to be moved. I'm not much for confrontation either and I tend to cave somewhat but this has just been a tad stressful. Why would I want her to coordinate my wedding if she can't get her dates right first of all. Part of me understands but the other part of me thinks she should do what she can to compensate us so I don't leave a negative review!

She isn't really offering you anything. She said oh I am not going to charge you the holiday charge. Uh thanks? Where's my discount on what I am already paying?? You need to ask for a discount for the inconvenience. Offering to coordinate when you already have that handled also doesn't count. The original venue coordinator fudged up and booked another wedding on ours when we booked first. She came to us and offered to discount I believe the ceremony fee which was $2,000-$2,500. We didn't take the offer because we booked first. I am sure she had to make amends and offer a discount to the other couple. But that is the right thing to do! I would say "I would like a discounted compensation for the trouble, miscommunication, and the fact that now my wedding has to be on a holiday weekend. If that doesn't work I am taking my business elsewhere."

Oh my gosh she is not offering anything!!!
She needs to knock off the pricing due to their mistake! It only makes sense for her to reduce the pricing for the venue fee or something because it doesn't make sense that she's knocking off the upcharge and that's it

You signed a contract, she needs to honor the contract or compensate you for the expenses to change the date, you should ask her to reduce the price to change the date or cancel and find a better venue

I'd tell her to discount it for the inconvenience.

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That is basically what I told her and she is sticking to the discount for the holiday weekend. So now, we either just accept it or I start looking again at other venues.

View Quoted Comment I would just get your deposit back and find a new venue. It doesn’t sound like she’s going to budge and it isn’t worth working with a venue that doesn’t take legitimate responsibility for their mistakes.

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I know! That's what I told her. The holiday weekend is the only date she has closest to the date we picked (mind you we already lost our June 6 date and has to settle on the 30th) so that should be a given that they don't charge the holiday fee. She isn't compensating us for anything! I can't use her help in coordinating as I've already done all of that. So what's she offering? It's like a slap in our faces, "Oh sorry, we made a mistake and to help you we won't charge you a holiday upcharge"! Plus I didn't mention this before, we had a band secured that we wanted for the June 6 date. It was the band he and I met because of. So we decided to forgo the band and go with her. So that's another thing!

If you're okay with a holiday weekend, and it sounds like you are, take the discounted rate due to their error. Also ask for any further reimbursement for having to change details with vendors as many charge a fee for doing so. Just let them know that you would be more comfortable handling vendors yourself. And be sure to get EVERYTHING in writing!

I'd consider going with a different venue, actually! Are there other places nearby that will also handle the decorations for you?

I'd tell her you will need a few days to consider this change and look for other venues during that time! If you can't find something for your original date, and are okay with the new date, I would just stay with your current venue. Less headache in my opinion, but it just depends on what is available in your area!

Plus, depending on the type of venue she might be physically unable to offer a discount, especially since the date is a year out and another couple might book for full price plus the holiday upcharge. I used to work at a place that was used for weddings sometimes, and we had ZERO flexibility on pricing, it was the company rules :/

Well this is the owner of the venue and her husband. They think they are doing us a huge favor by not charging the holiday upcharge. I ended up telling her to give me my money back! Thanks everyone for all your advice 😊