I really need to complain about my caterer. I could use a fresh perspective on if I'm being irrational, or if this really is a terrible experience.
My FMIL found this company. A friend of hers used to work with them. We met with the lady, and the pricing was AMAZING. It's a buffet set up for $59.99/head. We were told the price included linens, china, silverware, 2 types of glasses, passed finger foods during cocktail hour, and a 2 tiered buttercream wedding cake. When we were making our decision, she told us that their pricing was going to go up by $5/head within that week. So we jumped on the good deal and booked her. This is long running company (20+ years) and the food we sampled was absolutely wonderful.
We had a very unfortunate circumstance and a week or so after invites went out, we had to change the wedding venue. The new wedding venue is not convenient. It's an hour further away from the caterer. It's a 3rd and 4th floor walkup, instead of the original outdoor venue. When I contacted her to discuss the change, she was very kind and accommodating. She told me I would have to pay more for travel/set-up (which I completely understood). She then told me it would be too inconvenient and difficult for her staff to carry china due to the stairs (the kitchen is on the 4th floor, the ceremony/reception is on the 3rd). She told me that it would be better for her servers if we used plastic plates instead of china. She then told me the plates were nice, and looked similar to china. I asked if I could see one, and she told me she gets them from Costco, so I could go check them out if I wanted to before making a decision. I didn't think much of it, and figured I would check them out on my next visit.
Lo and behold, a few days later, I get a revised invoice where I'm being charged $90 for 60 plastic dinner plates and 60 plastic dessert plates. I sent an email asking why in the world I was being charged for plastic plates when my package included the use of china. Further, the idea of using plastic for my wedding isn't the exciting for me. I was only considering the option to be kind to the servers who would be carrying the plates up and down stairs.
Out of curiosity, I went to Costco and looked at the prices. Costco sells sets of 25 dinner and 25 dessert plates for $17. Which means she would only be spending $51 on these plastic plates for her own staff's convenience, but then charging me $90.
When I brought this up to her, she was very condescending telling me it wasn't for her staff's convenience and that I needed to watch my attitude. She even indicated that she would have preferred to cancel the contract rather than work in my selected venue. Mind you, my exact wording my email to her was: "I don't understand why I'm paying extra for plastic plates, when my package includes the use of china. I would prefer the china, but I was considering the plastic plates because you indicated it would be more convenient for the staff."
Instead of going to war with her, I just told her I'd provide the plastic plates myself. I also told her I wasn't trying to be rude, I was just shocked that I was being upcharged on plastic plates. I'm still a bit shocked that all this drama happened over $51 considering I'm paying her $5k for the entire event.
Fast forward to yesterday. I called asking about when I could pick up the linens. She told me to email her the number of tables I would need linens for. In my email, I asked her if my package included linens for 3 cocktail tables and 2 black linens for the bar/dj. She responded saying they would be extra, and did I want her to order them. I responded within two hours saying no. If they weren't included, I didn't really need them.
Well... Today I get an email saying she placed the order for the extra linens and that it was too late for her to cancel the order. So I'm being charged close to $125 for linens that I did not need.
Am I being a bridezilla? I was so grateful she was willing to change venues, but it's just been one thing after another with her. I was fine with additional charges for the stairs/travel time. But I'm so confused at what what I feel is a lack of professionalism.