good start to day.. just after I'd put all details of invites in post... venue called and they're having a complete new refurb and are cancelling all their bookings from 1 May.......... after much shouting and tears was given afternoon off to come search for venues (ok.. seemed stupid at the time as we were getting married on 10th August and that's just six months away).
Came home, cried into dog's fur, made tea.. had a fag (nasty habit but was necessary) and got in t'internet.
Called 2nd choice venue on off-chance - oh yes they had the date free :).. going for another look at lunchtime tomorrow (it's about 5 minutes walk from where I work).. bit more expensive (hence it was the 2nd choice not the first) but all is not lost eh
EDIT - TITLE HAS BEEN CHANGED TO MAKE CONTENT CLEARER - MODS
CommentAuthorSianyCaitlin
Oh no, someone else has had the same problem too & their wedding is August!
Had you already put a deposit down?
Good luck with the other ones! I'll keep my fingers crossed xx
Got together 06/07/2009
Got engaged 16/07/2012
I marry my best friend 08/06/2014
Can't wait to be Mrs Sharp x
CommentAuthormillz090
Aw honey thats gutting and really naughty of the venue i think.... why they refurbing in peak wedding season?
Im glad about the 2nd venue, it may be slightly more but sound more professional and thats what you need. forget about the first venue as not worth your tears.
P.S. Its 6 months yesterday to go as we share the same day !! xxx
Finally marrying the love of my life !!
10th August 2013 - 9 years to the day we met !
CommentAuthorSparklez
That's messed up!! Not right at all that, i'd be going nuts and wanting some serious compensation!!
Glad you have another venue though and hope they can give you a good deal xx
You don't marry someone you can live with -
You marry the person you cannot live without..
CommentAuthorJEm1905
I would think about asking how they are going to compensate you.. state all the invites are now ruined & now you have the added stress of getting another venue. Anything is worth a go.
I am glad you have another option though :) There is always a silver lining, I hope it goes okay for you x
Got together - 19th May 2009
Our Civil Partnership - 19th May 2012
Waiting to re-Marry my Princess Legally
I'm so sorry they've done this to you. Surely they shouldn't have taken on bookings if they knew they were going to do a refurb. I agree with JEm, ask for compensation especially to put towards costs of changing invites etc.
CommentAuthorMrsWright290912
Really glad you've managed to (hopefully!) sort an alternative out.
My boss' daughter is getting married 13 April and the hotel they are marrying at has gone into administration. The company who run i have applied for a licence to continue running it after 7 April but are unlikely to get it granted :o(
I really did marry my Mr Wright and we had a nice day for a
Wright wedding!
Mexico for our first anniversary
CommentAuthorLynD
thanks lovelies..
The 2nd venue is a hotel (which, ok... isn't brilliant BUT there are hotels and then there are hotels. THis one looks out over the River Cam (we live in Cambridge). You get a menu choice and it includes champagne (not sparkling wine - which the other one didn't that was extra at £60 per bottle). The ceremony, if it's nice, can be in your own private garden backing down to the river - if it's not nice then it's inside... after the ceremony you leave the hotel, go round the corner (you're shuttled there by a golf cart thing) and you board a decorated punt (which has a protective roof if it's raining) - you're then punted back to the hotel gardens to arrive in splendor. They are fine with you using your own DJ (which I've already booked as long as he's all tested and insured). The package includes a suite for the night for bride and groom, you can also have this room for the night before at a reduced rate. The rooms themselves are more expensive but, 10 minutes away, there is a Travellodge... they do do capped rooms (we'll see what they are tomorrow).
As for original venue - I did apologise to wedding planner lady - she said she didn't know until this morning either and she's been trying to find other venues for me on the same date - one was at the Newmarket Racecourse - looked nice to be honest but I've eaten there and their food was pants!).
Feel better now.. will be sorting out finances and compensation. They will definately be paying for us to serve notice again (she definately agreed to that). Invites - well I didn't pay for them really, only cost me a few drinks, but they don't need to know. The rest well it can all transfer over... but I deserve a bit of compensation for the stress...
phew..
CommentAuthorDonnalisa
I always believe that everything happens for a reason & the 2nd choice venue sounds beautiful! Do try to get the 1st people to at least pay for new invites though :o) xx
CommentAuthorMrsWright290912
It really does sound stunning the new venue.
I agree - get the previous venue to pay for your invites and postage x
I really did marry my Mr Wright and we had a nice day for a
Wright wedding!
Mexico for our first anniversary
CommentAuthorOfficially Mrs M
to be honest hun i think you've had a lucky escape there is something a bit fishy going on there, cancelling there weddings right in the middle of the season ................. mmm not right, weddings in the summer keep them going over the winter.
hope the new venue is able to give you a deal with you bookin with only 6 months to go and also play the poor we've been done over card and see what they can do for you
8th September 2012 I married my best friend
1st September 2014 our little family grew by one
Women are made to be loved, not understood. - Oscar Wilde
CommentAuthorVelcro
Awwww you never know it might actually work out better you should ask the compensation to cover at least the difference in price between venues!
I think il have to make suer my wedding insurance is sorted out this week....
Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
*Kelbel* is my wedding twinny!
CommentAuthorLynD
velcro - now that's a good idea.. will go for that - there's always room for negotiation eh
CommentAuthorGlitterfairy
Oh what a pain in the rear, get the original venue to pay repeat invites out of pure inconsideration on their half.
Our wedding day - 6 October 2012
CommentAuthorTori
Have you got wedding insurance they may pay the additional cost?
CommentAuthorLynD
no.. which was stupid of me.
but I will work on the original venue to pay the difference (plus returning my deposit of course).
CommentAuthorMrsC
So glad you have found somewhere else. A punt down the cam will be brilliant, everyone on the bridges will cheer!! May have to be in Cam on your day and wave at all passing punt brides :)
Proud to be a Wife and Mum
Married 4th May 2013
CommentAuthorRachaelC80
When you speak to the old venue go for the "sweetly, sweetly, you're gutted as you really wanted it there" approach??? You're more likely to get a better response than demanding you want compensation??
Good luck with you're negotiating :-)
CommentAuthorLynD
hehe.. I'll be the one in the river I reckons.. thanks Rachael - I've already apologized for shouting and she does seem genuinely sorry (maybe she's out of a job for a two years).
CommentAuthorMrsWright290912
Lyn, when our wedding co-ordinator made various mistakes including putting we had a musician rather than a cd, not sending us documents then claiming he had sent them, sending us other peoples documents, calling us to make final payment despite us having paid it the week before - I was calm, refused to speak further with him, spoke with the manager and managed to get them to waive the fee for my room the night before and a bottle of champers in our room free of charge. Just remain calm and try not to get angry - often being rational and calm helps better x
I really did marry my Mr Wright and we had a nice day for a
Wright wedding!
Mexico for our first anniversary
CommentAuthorLauraJo87
I agree - they are in the wrong and in breach of contract.
Definately go the calm and collected route, but be very firm. You are going to be out of pocket due to this ( I also think its an odd time of year for a refurb - January and February yes, but peak wedding season?!)
Good luck and I hope the new venue is workable
Xx
My Beating Heart Belongs To You
30 August 2013
The First Day Of My Happily Ever After
CommentAuthorKistHall
Definintely ask for something to cover the difference in costs. Can't believe they've cancelled. So outrageous. Glad things are working out for you though. Touch wood no-one else gets this - seems to be going around at the moment! Hope your day is still perfect for you!
CommentAuthorSamanthaG76
I cannot believe that they've done this!! Absolutely apalling!!!! Compensation is definately needed, i'm furious for you! Lol x
12th April 2014 - The day I marry my soulmate..x
Smile, be happy :-)
CommentAuthorLaura JaneW
I'd be taking it all the way! As u said ur invites didnt cost and they don't need to kno, ham it up a wee bit more lol. Xx
CommentAuthor*KelBel*
That's awful and so stressful so close to ur day.. They should decide on a refurb by not taking any new bookings and then doing it once all the weddings they've already committed to are over! They've been very crafty about it tho by leaving it til last min...meant they weren't turning anyone away so ppl stop thinking of there for the time being as a wedding venue
Velcro...my wedding day twinny! The Two Kel's!
Got engaged 14/10/12 in Central Park NYC!
Became Mrs Macdonald 13th September 2014
Mummy to 4 girlies and baby blue boy Due 10/05/2016
CommentAuthorLynD
oddly enough there's nothing on their website. am tempted to see if they'd accept another booking - for a party.. still all is good now - have gone with my 2nd choice (which was only the 2nd choice due to cost) - met with wedding coordinator this lunch and, so far she's knocked £700 off the price.
Friend of mine (who works in a place that also does weddings) talked to their coordinator - he said he'd look over my contract for me and see what he can do negotiation wise. It would be so useful if I could find out who any of the others they've cancelled on as that'd be more power to your elbow perhaps.
CommentAuthorTori
Try the softly softly approach first then threaten to name and shame. I certainly would want to book with a venue which could cancel at will. If they are refurbing then chances are they will be relying on future booking to help pay for it
CommentAuthorRosyF77
thats awful...i cant believe they would cancel like that. Glad your feeling better ect though xx
