Went to hear our banns read on Sunday. 1st time of asking
Got to the church and it is covered in scaffolding. The entire roof looks like a sheet of metal, there are portaloos, bits of scaffolding and signs in the corderned off car park (at the front) signs on the gates into the church advertising the scaffolding company etc.
When we were booking the church they said there was no work due to be done. Now it is the roof. We were told a week ago that they were starting some work on the church and it will be still up for our wedding but it was only on the sides of the church - they didn't mention about across the whole roof. They put the scaffolding up on friday.
The church phoned my h2b today and apologised saying 'it looks worse than we expected'. Another couple had their banns read on sunday and they are apparently now looking for an alternative church - it looks that awful
Sad thing is I think with 5 weeks to go it is too late to do anything about it. Our venue is near the church, all invites done etc - we can't change it now.
I know it is just the outside of the building but I am quite annoyed about it. Why wait for wedding season and then put it up? Also if they had told us six months ago that this work was scheduled we could have done something about it. I am sure our photographer can get rid of the scaffolding from photos but it still doesn't change that it looks bloody awful in real life (and I will remember that when looking at the photos)
Am I right to be peeved?
CommentAuthorAtaraxia
Yes! The church must have booked the work to be done and could have done the considerate thing, telling you when they booked it!
Got married 27th June and blessed on July 5th 2012
Finally Mrs M :3
Love, love... Here we are.
CommentAuthorMrsDadson :0)
YES!!! I would also be very annoyed, they must have had an idea of what was being done and how much scaffolding would be used!
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
Have you asked the builders when they will be done and if there is anyway that at least one side of the building can be left without scaffold for photos? I know they need to get up to the roof but they don't always have to have it going all the way around and the more they have on site the more it costs them per week so it is in their interests to get the job done asap.
CommentAuthorsarsibob1
it will be up for the next 8 weeks so definately up for the wedding.
The front and back doors are free of scaffolding at least so close up pics ok.
Won't be able to take any distance shots at all.
Thing is I know it is there and my guests will think it looks horrible even if it isn't in the photos.
You could always go back when the scaffold is down and have some couple shots taken together. Its such a shame. I can understand that the work needs to be done but you would think that they would know when it is being done so you can decide before you book. To spring it on you last minute is not right at all.
CommentAuthorsarsibob1
They have probably waited till not so we can't go elsewhere.
Will take a pic later and try and upload it. Maybe you guys can tell me if it is as bad as I think it is. I might be being a bit sensitive over it
CommentAuthormcewan07
Their is a slim chance you could get somewhere else, i know my church only does a few weddings a year, so would have space if anyone needed a last minute booking, and as for invites - tell as many as you can about the change, and then on the morning have a bucket on the old church with pieces of paper telling any who you couldn't reach or forgot about the change of date (remember seeing this on one of the bride shows i watched and the invited had been printed wrong - and they only realized a few days before the wedding)
CommentAuthorMrsd
I think it is bad they didnt tell you, but with my first wedding i only got 1 picture of me going in the church doorway, the rest were all taken at the local park well it was a abbey with a garden of flowers, can you not sort out to do something the same? the pictures were lovely. x
CommentAuthorLittle Kettle
I'd be hopping mad, personally. I'm really upset for you! There's prob nothing you can do about the roof scafolding, but what about the stuff down the sides of the building - is there anyway you could wrap something like ivy round the poles so's to disguise it a bit? I'm just remembering that episode from Friends with Ross and Emily's wedding and the church being in pieces and them all pulling together to make it beautiful...
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CommentAuthorStave
Suppose first thing I would want to know is, was it an emergency or planned works and if it was planned. Its a bit difficult coz if it was any other venue than "House of God" I would be flipping out and demanding compensation and money off etc.
I am so sorry for you, would like to think that it wasnt a planned thing as it might be easier to swallow if they sprung a leak or something. Hope it gets sorted x
CommentAuthorXLittleMissMe!X
Also depending on how bad it is you may be able to photoshop some of it out so you can't tell it is there in the photos.
CommentAuthormelliecake
They probably didn't tell you because they didn't want to lose out on the money your going to pay them. You might as well ask around to make sure you can't get any other church, I am sure your guests will be ok with the change considering the circumstances. I went to one last year where the reception venue changed a week before because of all the snow. But if you can't change it, at least you can get pictures at the front which is the most beautiful part. I'm sure it will all work out for you :) x
CommentAuthorJane
I know how you are feelin hun, my lovely old registry office had scaffolding over the front and I was really upset about it, especially as there is only a front to the building really for photos. It was there for months and months and I was starting to despair that it would ever come down. But it did and the work is all finished. The only sad thing is that they builders had to remove the beautiful wisteria that was climbing all over the front of the building and now it looks a little bare, the wisteria was beautiful last year and the place was covered in blue flowers. I'm not sure what I would do in your situation..... I suppose just be selective with the photos and where they are taken and send a cross letter to the church people demanding a discount (worth a try!)
CommentAuthorMagicFairies
Our vicar let us know that there might be some work going on well in advance, she even gave us the option of having it in one of her other churches (she has 3 or 4) i know its quite soon before the wedding but could your vicar pull a favour from another church and use one nearby? Good luck xxx
