I havent been on here for a while, but i really need your help. I am getting married in February and there is a problem with our venue. It was our dream venue, a dream come true. But there are structural issues with the building and while we can have the wedding there, there is scaffolding up in the room. The scaffolding is covered so you cant see it, but it really doesnt look great and has taken away the wow factor to the room. The worst bit for me is that a mezzanine area that was going to be my aisle, is now blocked off so it can't be used. I had imagined the moment of walking down it so many times since we booked and it is heartbreaking to know we cant have it.
If we stayed there we would want to have lighting/drapes up to conceal it, but that will come at a big cost and the venue have not offered us any compensation.
We are not sure if we should go for another venue or not. We may lose our deposit, but at least we could start from scratch and build a new dream.
I know the most important thing is that I will be marrying the man I love, and nothing will stop that. But I have a practical issue here and dont know what to do.
Any advice would be much appreciated ladies
Xxxxx
CommentAuthorStephanieM71
Have you asked outright if the venue will pay for draping? Maybe if you say that you will change the venue because of the look of the scaffolding they will cough up
I would be feeling the same as you - you picked the venue because of how it looked - and if it had looked as it does now you wouldn't have done. I know they can't help having structural issues and it needs fixing, but the least they should do is make sure that it looks as good as possible for you.
Did you have any other venues you liked originally? Maybe the money you may save for last minute booking would offset the deposit loss?
CommentAuthorInDreamland
Check your contract for anything to do with cancellation if they cannot provide what you actually signed up to. Do you have wedding insurance?
My main concern would be the stability of the building and it falling in on you and your family and friends xxx
Married the love of my life on Saturday 11th May 2013 xxx
Had our dream perfect honeymoon in Hawaii!
CommentAuthorLauraM9144
errr catagorically they arein the wrong in the very least they must provide you with a refund! any booking contract would be on what you have seen and this issue has clearly arisen after you viewed it therefore they should atleast pay to make it functional. but ultimately how do you feel about it? would you till be happy to get married there?if not explain they need to return any deposit as they cannot provide what you initially signed up to and find somewhere that makes you happy !
One BIG day will lead to lots of little happy days !!
CommentAuthorsarah
Wow, I'd be worried about having the guests in that building. :( Do you have wedding insurance?
I agree with above, what you booked is now not avalible/ up to Standard that you wanted, so they should refund! Did they not know that this was scheduled to take place?
Met June 2009 on my Birthday,Met again July 2009 and got
together, May 2010 Moved in,Jan 2011 got pregnant,
August 2011 Got our own place, 2011 Had our Baby Girl,
Dec 2011 Got engaged, July 2015 Getting married! Yay!
CommentAuthorHappyBunny
U most definitely should get a refund and if they structural issues have they even given you any proof that the building is still safe xx
CommentAuthorElinor Claire
I would imagine that they should refund the deposit if they can't supply what you paid for, or pay for the costs of making it lol better. I would certainly have a look round and see if you can get another venue that you like within budget and on the right date, but don't pull out of your current one until you know that you have an alternative.
30th August 2014 was the best birthday ever.
It was the day that I became Mrs. Dixon.
CommentAuthorVelcro
Agree with all of the above, you are no longer getting what you paid for - get a refund! Give them merry hell if they even think about refusing it give your deposit back
Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey
*Kelbel* is my wedding twinny!
CommentAuthorFernP61
Draping is very expensive however they are in the wrong and should compensate some how? You need to be 100% happy they should give you the deposit back should you wish to go else where. All the work sounds dangerous xx
CommentAuthorBecky1608
You definitely shouldn't lose your deposit. As the others have said, definitely check over your contract! If they can't fulfil what they have promised then you shouldn't be penalised for changing your mind! Xxx
29/09/2008 - The Day we met
12/11/2008 - When we decided to be more than friends
04/11/2012 - A proposal in Central Park NYC
08/11/2014 - The day we say I do!
CommentAuthorOfficially Mrs M
if you are worried about it now then possibly change venue and explain to the current venue why it is bothering you so much.
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
CommentAuthorkatielea100
I would check your contract to see if it says you won't be refunded if work is being carried out on the grounds/venue I would also threaten to move venue say you've found one very similar and it's available if they don't want to pay for drapes to conceal the scaffolding, they'll lose more money if you move venue and they probs won't have many bookings at the moment with what's going on so I hope they cough up for you xx
CommentAuthorbarbie86
First, it isn't always the case that you are entitled to a refund should the venue change; I looked into this when booking ours, as the reason we booked was for the sumptuous decor, so if it got taken over and they changed the decor, we would want to change venue. Essentially what I discovered is that unless it is in your contract with them that they won't make changes, then unless you get a solicitor to draw up a contract, and they agree to it, they are able to do so without having to refund or compensate you.
However, yours is a different situation due to the safety aspect; I would be concerned, for example, about small children getting under the covers and climbing on it. I would also be concerned about how secure and structurally sound the building is, and whether they should still be holding events on what effectively could be seen as a building site.
My advice would be to first look at other venues, and try to find an alternative. Even if you decide to stick with your current venue, at least this gives you more bargaining power ie you can tell them, truthfully, that you have found another similar venue at a similar price (also, because your wedding is fairly soon, and off-season, you may have increased bartering power with alternative venues, and may be able to secure a great deal; so bear that in mind too). Try to do this asap.
Then, decide what you want to do: cancel and book elsewhere, or stick with your current venue. If you decide you want to cancel, I would tell them that you are extremely unhappy with both the appearance of the venue, and with the safety aspects, and that you expect a refund of your deposit due to the situation. If you want to stick with the venue, then I would approach it by saying that you have found another venue at a similar price, and that unless they offer compensation or agree to provide drapes etc, then you will be cancelling and booking elsewhere.
