Venue "Mistake"

What! Really I've heard nothing but good things about the inn. That's crazy they can just change the contract like that. U should talk to a lawyer if u have a contract u have a contract. U need ur bridal suite. Even if it is only for half the wedding.

Check your original contract and what it says about changes and push back. Consult an attorney if you have to

We did review the contract. It doesn't specify anything about what they can change. The original contract (the only one signed) says we have our bridal suite until 6:30 P.M. that is when our reception ends. Our venue representative called us to tell us he made a "typo/mistake" and it was supposed to be 2:30 or 3:30 (almost positive he said 3:30) but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he said 2:30. He then sends me an updated "contract via e-mail that says we have it until 2:30. My fiance called him to speak about the matter and he said it is because they need to clean it before the evening wedding. None of this was mentioned during any of our meetings. All we were told (and was reflected by the original contract time: 6:30) was that we had access to the suite for the whole time. He told my fiance on the phone that they will move our belongings to a secured office. Whatever that means. We don't know what to do. We're trying not to be pains and make our wedding an easy target for them, but at the same time, I want access to that room for my own bathroom, and more importantly to keep my things safe. A contract's a contract.

It doesn't matter if it was a typo once you sign a contract it is a legal document

Definently take them to court it's an easy win. They can't change the contract once signed

Eta: skipped letters

Just for clarification - you haven't signed the new contract, right?

Don't let them change the contract and don't sign anything new until you have an attorney read it. If they didn't have time to clean it then they shouldn't have booked another wedding afterwards. The reason they are probably trying to change it is not for cleaning but most likely because the bride for the next wedding wants to use it.

We have not signed the new contract. I am trying to press the matter. My finace is concerned that if we get an attorney involved they will make our wedding day a living hell. And we do not have time to pick a new venue (the date elsewhere will definitely not be available). So we are trying to play it safe, keeping the same amount of time we were told on the contract for our bridal suite, and making sure we will still have a good day.

Regardless of the contract, has anyone ever heard of a bride not having the bridal suite for the reception? I didn't know if this was the truth. It is an afternoon wedding. In that case, at some point to some venues move belongings elsewhere? Or does this sound crazy?

I don't want to be a pain, but this is common practice for many of our venues and their afternoon weddings. The bridal suite is used for the morning and getting ready, then after you're in the thick of the wedding, they will move all your stuff to a secure area, since you really don't need the suite any more. Yes, they probably do want to clean it, but typically, the evening wedding would have access to it several hours before their wedding.

Again, not trying to be a pain, but once you're at your wedding, you don't really need the bridal suite any more, as long as all your stuff is packed and secured. I could understand having it for a bit of time after the ceremony to freshen up, but after that, you're part of the wedding party.

Still, I wouldn't roll over dead; find out when their evening wedding is, add two hours to that to come in, a half hour or so to clean (since they can absolutely clean it while your ceremony is happening) and see if you can come up with a compromise that lets you use it after the ceremony fort a little while.

Our venue just has an hour or so of buffer time between morning and evening slots for the whole venue, bridal suite included. I feel like they ought to have plenty of time from when your wedding ends until the next one to clean, and the bridal suite shouldn't take more than 20 minutes to clean, really. I would say, no, we signed that contract including that time for a reason, and that's what we want. Personally, I wouldn't want anyone touching or moving my things without me there. ... what if they lost or broke something? I'm sure they wouldn't claim liability for your things. If they still insist on doing that, I'd probably talk to a lawyer.

I have a friend who got married at a venue where strangers got into her bridal suite and stole phones, money, and other stuff from the bridal party's belongings. The bridal suite thing is a big deal, I wouldn't want anyone messing with my stuff.

@Kayla, contracts can be amended (I had to do it for a living for years) so the "they can't change the contract once signed" isn't accurate. Of course OP doesn't have to accept the new contract or can use this to negotiate a little before signing something new.

@OP, there are brides who have managed without a bridal suite. I wouldn't let this issue break your relationship with the vendor (they generally do throw great weddings) but I would recommend they show you in person their backup plan location (the office) and have the exact location of this backup plan added to your contract ammendment. Eta: I won't have a bridal suite for my reception (modern barn) and don't recall any friend/bride that's needed the suite after the reception started.

In the end if you signed a contract it is legally binding and if they were to me your wedding he'll there is more legal recourse and an attorney with a few words would ensure they know that before moving foward. I would have someone help you out. Playing nice is one thing being walked all over is another.

You don't want to go into a relationship like this by calling in lawyers. It sounds like a logical thing to do, but it puts everyone on the defensive when it's usually not necessary.

And it'll cost ya.

I agree with @Celia. This isn't a big enough issue that requires bringing in lawyers or court.

I don't want to make it a huge issue or sound as high maintenance but this isn't the first thing he has promised that is not happening for us, I think that is where most of the frustration comes from. One of the main reasons we chose this place was bc of the bridal suite. It truly is amazing. In addition, I had the safe with all of my belongings protected and my own bathroom. Now, not having access to the bathroom requires me to share one with guests (in a tight room) and allows people to move my personal items. My fiancé used to work at a catering hall on Long Island and he flat out have seen people, guests, and employees stealing brides and grooms things. So another reason we wanted it the whole time, piece of mind. When they make promises then follow through with them in a contact it's a little unnerving when things change. Shouldn't be the way it goes.

I would tell them that you were really counting on a private bath and see what compromise you can come up with. Don't make things hostile with a attorney.

Not to mention if they changed this so easily and there was a contract, what else could they change?