I have had my wedding reception venue booked for months now and deposit is paid. I'm due to discuss everything with them in September.
I am really concerned about the place now as somebody I know attended a wedding there a few weeks ago, apparently there were two wedding parties going on at the same time, one upstairs and one downstairs, the food apparently was really dry, they didn't open the bar upstairs with the function room so guests had to keep going downstairs when they wanted a drink and because of the other wedding party it was always busy.
The reviews I have read online for the past two months are awful, saying food is dry, service is slow, toilets are always disgusting and the staff are rude.
I really don't know what to do :(
CommentAuthorkittyh
I would print out some of the negative reviews and take them with you to the meeting and say that you are concerned. hopefully it will shame them into pulling their socks up a bit. Then get them to put in writing everything that you agree on at the meeting ie. they will make sure the other bar is open if there is another wedding party, they will make sure they have adequate staff etc and get it signed so at least you have something to fall back on.
CommentAuthorkjl87
That's a good idea. It's not until next May so if seeing them in September it should give them to action on some of their bad points, if they action on them.
It's just adding to the list of things to worry over, I thought it was more or less sorted. With my menu I get to give three menu choices for each course. I'm going to do trio of desserts so at least that'll be the same but now am going to be careful with other choices - don't think I could trust them to cook lamb, beef or fish properly - which narrows down the choices a lot.
CommentAuthorMrsLowe
I did this with mine, there was lots of things going wrong with the reception since I had booked so I complained to the manager and presented all my concerns to him, my wedding day they couldn't have done more and you really could tell they were trying their upmost to make me happy and added a few extras in :)
Xx
CommentAuthor*KelBel*
I think the printing off sounds good, but I would guess they will have already seen them! Definitely air your concerns though x
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
The printing off is defo a good idea as it's kinda proof on how the place is being run and they can't fob you off saying it one off issue . Apart from the manager is there a wedding coordinator there that deals with the running of weddings ?
Somehow always connected , finally became friends .
Friends became soul mates :)
Engaged 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorkjl87
The woman who I have been dealing with is the general manager but she is the one that deals with the weddings too. When I went to discuss it she was the only one who knew what she was talking about.
CommentAuthorWelshBrideBethan2015
I know in the original post you said you were due to meet in Sept can you arrange to meet anytime before ?
Somehow always connected , finally became friends .
Friends became soul mates :)
Engaged 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorTeresa
Definitely meet up with them as soon as possible, i would bring it to their attention as soon as you can, so they have more time to realise that their reputation is on the line, and if you so much as get a sniff of anymore bad reviews after the meeting, that you are entitled to cancel and get your money back, no bride should have to worry about their wedding like this and they should pull their socks up as fast as they can to make sure they can keep people happy and gain more business.
CommentAuthorTheFutureMrsK
That's rubbish :( the print out sounds like a good idea. Would you lose a lot if you change venues now? Might be worth looking into other options if you can afford it as no bride should have that kind of added stress xxx
“Love, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage.”
-Ambrose Bierce
CommentAuthorkjl87
We have paid £500 for the deposit so it would be too much to lose. I'm going to email them to try and arrange it for the end of August/beginning September. Got a few bits planned for this month plus work so haven't got much time to arrange anything else for before.
I have already paid the deposit for the car, cake & photographer, I might have to though :(
CommentAuthorWelshBrideBethan2015
When you say you saw stuff online was it via the book ? Only because people tend to put fresher reviews and issues there more than somewhere like trip advisor etc So maybe keep eye on there too :)
Somehow always connected , finally became friends .
Friends became soul mates :)
Engaged 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorkjl87
It was on trip advisor that had the most recent reviews. The book haven't had any since the beginning of the year, there are only a few on their too.
But it's the woman who I know that went that has put me off slightly because of the other wedding at the same time and the food not being great, she wasn't overly enthusiastic about the whole thing.
CommentAuthorWelshBrideBethan2015
Is there anything in confirmation or contract about exclusive rights to venue ?
Somehow always connected , finally became friends .
Friends became soul mates :)
Engaged 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorkjl87
No but there is only one function suite where they advertise it for, apparently the other party was downstairs in the main restaurant. But it could always have been a case of a double booking or being peak season. I'm getting married in May so there is most prob less demand.
CommentAuthorWelshBrideBethan2015
Could be :) Hopefully everything will get sorted x
Somehow always connected , finally became friends .
Friends became soul mates :)
Engaged 6th July 2013
CommentAuthorkjl87
Thanks - fingers crossed x
CommentAuthoralmost a year wife!!
I hope it works out fine for you but did u not research before you booked? X
Ill marry my hero
CommentAuthorTeresa
In the email I would voice your concerns now and then ask to meet when suits you, then they have time to sort themselves out by the time you visit and have your meeting,you never know it could all have been a bad time for them,just make it clear you will not have your wedding there if you hear anymore bad reviews,it's only words at the moment action can be taken later but sometimes the threat of their reputation can get their bum into gear x
CommentAuthorJaneH61
I would make sure you can have a meeting with some of the higher management and tell them your concerns, displaying the information that you have got. Ask what the situation regarding your deposit is. As they may have to may it back as they may be in breach of their contract by not supplying what they say they can offer?
CommentAuthorTeresa
have you any news on this hun? whats happened, have they reassured you?
CommentAuthorlala "mod" bunni
unless you pay for exclusive use of a venue you run the risk of having another wedding in the venue unfortunately BUT you do have the right to ask that both bars be open so that all guests can get a drink in a reasonable time .
I'm meeting them on September 13th. I did research them, I booked them in April but there have been quite a few negative reviews since then. The thing is with reviews as that people are often more likely to leave a negative than a positive. It was the fact that somebody I knew had been and wasn't exactly raving about it. But I'll speak with her and discuss my concerns, just need to do it in a way that doesn't put their backs up.
CommentAuthorTeresa
good luck, ill be thinking of you xx
CommentAuthorFlossie
Good luck for the meeting. Hope they can put your mind at rest.
It's true about people being more likely to leave a comment if they've had a negative experience.. and then there's the people who just can't be pleased and love a good moan!
Happily married
18th June 2016
xx
CommentAuthorAmandaK74
i agree with the others, just voice your concerns and im sure they will aim to please
met 11th December 2010
engaged 2nd August 2013
getting married to the love of my life 11th july 2015
CommentAuthorsALLY
I wish i had got everything we discussed in our meeting in writing as we were told guests could have 2 bacon butties in the evening for £11 per head we put the deposit down and they have now said 1 bacon butty for £11 per person my h2b is furious but they are not willing to negotiate they said we would have to pay more money if we want 2 bacon buttied each.........i know its a wedding but £11 for a bacon butty!!
CommentAuthorTeresa
thats a ridiculous price for a bacon butty, omg! i bet your angry i dont blame you, how much deposit did you have to pay? (if thats not too rude?)
CommentAuthorsALLY
£500 Deposit x
CommentAuthorTeresa
thats alot to just chuck down the drain then :( after the way they have treated you, i would be tempted to tell them where to go, who pays that much for a bacon butty! some venues take the michael xx
CommentAuthorkjl87
How can they even justify that price? It's ridiculous!
CommentAuthorkjl87
Went and saw my reception venue. Was a bit of confusion at first as she didn't have my name booked in and the reason I was there, then she seemed a bit rushed, but it turned out she had other meetings and a wedding that afternoon. But after our discussion and my questions I feel a lot more at ease. She showed me the room made up for the wedding later that day to get a rough idea of how it would all be set out. The grounds of the park looked lovely in the sun (fingers crossed for a dry day on my day in May). Asked her about the 2 weddings and she said if there is another one in the downstairs of the restaurant it'll be finished by 5pm. Feeling much more positive now. Just need to move the church an hour early to 1pm otherwise she said the day would run too late.
CommentAuthorsALLY
I feel like the wedding co ordinator for the venue is just not helping i know she probably feels like ive got ages as its not till august but shes not reading my emails properly and giving me any answers. when she does finally email she opologises and says shes been busy with weddings which i full understand but then fails to answer my questions
