I'm getting married in Dec. and just last week my hotel reception venue pulled out on me, stating they had construction planned. Wouldn't they have known this months ago? Now, I have 3 options:
1. Get my money back. Great. Then, where do I have my wedding reception? It's less than 2 mths away and I have no venue!
2. Go with their 1st option: a huge, empty convention center where they hold college graduations. My reception will be 100 people max and I do not have the budget to properly decorate a convention center!
3. Go with their 2nd option: a beautiful EXPENSIVE hotel terrace in downtown with all the bells and whistles. They are transferring my deposit and my blocked rooms, but that's it! The menu is $12 more per person, parking is NOT free, and the DJ equipment is not included. Thus, I end up paying a minimum of $1,500 more than I budgeted!
Not to mention the invitations have already gone out w/the original hotel info! They have yet to talk compesation for that! I am so mad!
2007-11-07 07:43:17 · 25 answers · asked by _Studio 2 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
Yes -
1. I did sign a contract with them and maybe that's why they're trying to get me over to the other expensive place (because they've been made aware that the convention center is not what I want to look at when I look back at my reception photos!)
2. I do have a wedding planner who was negotiating all this stuff for the ritzy hotel, but she just left TODAY ON VACATION for a week! I am mad at her too b/c I need answers now.
3. The old hotel is paying $1500 towards the new hotel, but that only covers getting me the terrace. I still have the food, parking, invitations, etc. to deal with. Plus, I didn't want to deal with them at all b/c of this situation they put me in.
Lastly, venues are slim-pickings right now. Between the time of year, the location, my budget, and the last minute notice I just cannot find a good place!
2007-11-07 09:37:11 · update #1
Threaten them with legal action and a report to the BBB.
Demand that all of your out of pocket expenses ($1500) be covered by their hotel, to include new invites.
Is the hotel a Chain hotel? Try talking to their corporate office. Do not bother with the middle man. You have a very strong legal case and the hotel is at fault. Timing and inability to reschedule with such short notice and the inability of the hotel to offer you a suitable and comparable replacement puts you ahead of the game. Call corporate and mention the word "attorney" often. Do not go to the convention place since is not a suitable replacement. Tell them that you will take the other hotel and that they should absorve the additional expenses as compensation for your trouble and not abiding by a legal contract.
Good luck
2007-11-07 08:00:46 · answer #1 · answered by Blunt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hi. OMG!!
Like the others say....read your contract. Yes, they should have known about construction expectations and not booked a wedding many, many months ago!
I would DEMAND:
a. OK with the convention center....but THEY will hire a decorator and pay for it to be decorated.
b. OK with the hotel option, but THEY will pick up the extra costs.
I don't know what else you can do. Really, call around, people do CANCEL their weddings all the time. My sister was able to get a beautiful golf course setting for her wedding because someone cancelled. Call around and see what is out there.
Also...the invites....you will have to send an addendum to everyone with the new location. See if THEY will pay for that as well!
Good luck.
2007-11-07 09:27:42 · answer #2 · answered by iloveweddings 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Either way you are going to need to hold you wedding reception else where. Start looking and asap, send out cards or emails letting people know there is a change in venue. As for the hotel you need to see what your contract says. You should be able to get your money back. I doubt you will get any other compensation then what you paid for the the venue. If hotel doesn't want to help you can try their corporate office.
2007-11-07 07:49:27 · answer #3 · answered by Berrrrrrrie 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I feel for you. It is very probable that the hotel staff didn't know about the construction. These things are usually handled at higher levels that you deal as a customer and is usually not spoken of to those directly involved untill all of the details are ironed which causes you to have this happen to you.
I think that with you having such a short timeframe before the ceremony you should contact a wedding planner. You don't have to have them take over everything you can only use them to help you locate venors and venues etc.
You should also pursue getting compensation for any added costs you will incur from this mishap including rush printing of amended invites.
2007-11-07 07:49:34 · answer #4 · answered by dizzygrltoo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My brother's venue was destroyed a week befroehand in a tornado! Things happen. I'd take the money back and find another venue. Surely, there is another place available. Then you send out a small change of venue notice to your guests. This is just a bump in the road. Keep clam! It will work out!
It isn't going to do you any good to complain about the move--they aren't going to change construction plans for you--if they would, they'd not have booked the construction for a time they had an engagement booked in the first place.
2007-11-07 07:48:56 · answer #5 · answered by melouofs 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A lot if this depends on your contract with the hotel; personally I would ask for your deposit back plus all costs to mail new information. You might be able to find another venue, like a nice restaurant.
As far as construction plans, an inspector may have found a health or safety issue that needed to be fixed immediately, so the hotel may not have known.
2007-11-07 07:49:18 · answer #6 · answered by Tiger by the Tail 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
If you can't find somewhere new that you can afford, I would go with option number 2. Get creative, make a large dance floor, put extra space between tables, maybe you could make the room smaller or see if they are willing to move some of the decor from the room that is being renovated to the convention center. I don't know that I've heard anyone worried about too much room before.
Wait, is this convention center in the same hotel?
2007-11-07 07:49:26 · answer #7 · answered by Mrs S 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
If you signed anything with them, read it carefully.
Personally, I would go in with your fiance, and both sets of parents (possibly even an attorney) do this in person, bring a copy of the invitation,
and then negotiate compensation
-threaten to blackball their name to everyone you know
-send a mass email
-file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau if they fail to negotiate. You can always post a rating and your story online. Most hotels have some sort of listing. Do your best to make them squirm!!!
Good luck to you, and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.
2007-11-07 08:06:40 · answer #8 · answered by Sparxfly 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would talk to the highest person you can get ahold of and tell them you have an appointment with an attorney tomorrow and you will sue for pain and suffering for yourself and your guests, not to mention the difference you will have to pay to have your venue moved especially during the holiday season! Be very firm and tell them unless they pay for the difference there WILL be a lawsuit. I would also have your fiance call and make sure you guys talk to the top person, whoever that is, you probably need to call the coorporate office.
2007-11-07 07:58:27 · answer #9 · answered by tink 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I'd be so mad too!! Wow, I guess if I were you I'd go get a lawyer and ask him if there's anything you can do to get back the damage they've caused to your day.
If there's anything that can be done, I'd pay the costs to go to the other hotel and as people RSVP just give them a call and let them know the venue has changed.
2007-11-07 07:49:37 · answer #10 · answered by chaychayolei 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋