Venue Vent; Not Sure What to Do

awolkenhauer

I'm 2 months out from my wedding; invites go out in 2 weeks and it seems I may not have a venue...

I have had the venue booked and paid in full since March 2012. Contract states that because I was booking more than 9 months out, I had to reserve 7 cabins and pay a deposit on them. At the time, this was no big deal. I was also given 5 days to notify guests in case they wanted the cabin, that way there wouldn't be mix ups of my card being used and having to get money from guests. I paid for one cabin for FI and I, I never heard anything else from my venue about how much I owed, so about 2 weeks later, I emailed asking how much I needed to pay and was told we "would talk later." Later never happened.

Fast forward a few months, FI lost his job, so wedding budget was cut... but we still had the money to pay what we needed and still I never received a response on how much I owed, even after multiple attempts. Around this time I also received a phone call stating that they could no longer hold the cabins and they would be released to be available to others. This was a major relief as we needed to dip into savings to get by. I had also found out that guests had been trying to reserve cabins, before they were released, and were being told there were none available

In January, my venue coordinator contacted me asking for payment for 6 cabins, so I called and explained that people were being denied cabins and, plus, they told me they couldn't be held anymore. She's told me that if they aren't paid for, I lose my reservation for the whole venue, but also said I'd have time to let guests know about their availability. So, I let them know, but only 3 people want them and none have actually paid. Our venue coordinator knows we cannot afford this expense on our own and has said we would work something out. She wants me to harass my guests to get on it about paying for the cabins. It is now 2 months until my wedding, I asked for an update and she said there needs to be payment or we lose the reservation. She conveniently waited until we are less than 90 days out to say something, because now, if we cancel, we do not get refunded for the venue.

So, I'm stuck with apparently no venue and out the money for it and have a wedding in 2 months that it seems I will be postponing. I understand that this is partially my fault, but I can't make my guests stay in cabins if they don't want to and why wouldn't she take my money when I told her I had it? Why would they tell me they're dropping the hold if they weren't?

This is mostly just a vent, but what do I do if we do have to postpone? I sent out STDs, so I assume I send something saying it won't be taking place as planned. And what about if people have given money to us? Do I repay them for what we've already used toward the wedding?

emeejeeayen

Get a lawyer.

awolkenhauer

I do not have the money anymore. And I am fully aware that is my fault, but when they told me they were canceled, I didn't think anything of it. Why would they still want me to pay if they say they aren't even held in my name anymore? So instead, I'd be paying the deposit for strangers?

As for people not wanting to book them; at one point they did. I had people calling and talking to my venue coordinator, trying to get cabins and she was telling them there weren't any available under my name. This was before the cunfusion with the hold. She also told me in January that if they didn't get reserved, it wouldn't be a big deal.

I asked in January if I needed to start looking elsewhere, as I didn't think the cabins would all get reserved and she told me not to worry about it. That's my fault too?

Edit: I also want to note that I was told the cabins were being released over the summer (6-7 months ago) and despite us talking regularly, I heard nothing about them until January when all of a sudden they're still available.

awolkenhauer

I did push. I emailed, I called her and others working there. Most of the responses back were "don't worry about it" and "I'll be back in the office on... We can talk then." I have tons of email documentation of this. What am I supposed to do if I keep getting "bean dipped" as you guys call it? She would literally answer every question, except the specifics of the cabins. In fact, most of our communication was via email because a) I live 5 hours from the site and b) my work schedule doesn't coincide with hers in order to make phone calls.

Like I said, I know I messed up and I'm trying to fix it and or figure what steps I take next; be it postponing or ???. It's not like I didn't try to pay when I did have the money, but when it comes to thinking I don't have to worry about that expense and needing food, I'm going to reasonably expect that money is able to be used for food. I also thought we'd have the money sooner than we thought; life happens. I fully understand I am out the money; money can be re-made.

Also, she hasn't even signed the contract yet; it isn't even complete. She only has a portion of it that was sent in the mail; I have the other part as it was a 2 part deal.

awolkenhauer

Probably doesn't matter, but I was given the reservation codes in January for the cabins and gave out all but one; that was enough interest to me to believe guests actually wanted cabins. I am not going to harass them to make them follow through on paying though.

emeejeeayen

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_venue-vent-not-sure-what-to-do?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:1c46dc1c-0119-4b4a-bc0f-67e71d26095aPost:f5e7d69b-8695-48dd-8a96-f133714ae63c">Re: Venue Vent; Not Sure What to Do</a>:
[QUOTE]I did push. I emailed, I called her and others working there. Most of the responses back were "don't worry about it" and "I'll be back in the office on... We can talk then." I have tons of email documentation of this. What am I supposed to do if I keep getting "bean dipped" as you guys call it? She would literally answer every question, except the specifics of the cabins. In fact, most of our communication was via email because a) I live 5 hours from the site and b) my work schedule doesn't coincide with hers in order to make phone calls. Like I said, I know I messed up and I'm trying to fix it and or figure what steps I take next; be it postponing or ???. It's not like I didn't try to pay when I did have the money, but when it comes to thinking I don't have to worry about that expense and needing food, I'm going to reasonably expect that money is able to be used for food. I also thought we'd have the money sooner than we thought; life happens. I fully understand I am out the money; money can be re-made. Also, she hasn't even signed the contract yet; it isn't even complete. She only has a portion of it that was sent in the mail; I have the other part as it was a 2 part deal.
Posted by awolkenhauer[/QUOTE]<div>
</div><div>I'm going to reiterate getting a lawyer if you're losing your deposit. There are some aspects of contracts that won't be upheld in court, but this all sort of depends on how much money we're talking about (not worth it if lawyer fees outweigh the deposit you need to get back). Yes, you need to learn from this in the future, but you also shouldn't just roll over in this situation as their requirements and ways of communicating said requirements sound utterly flawed. 

</div>

awolkenhauer

emee - I'm losing the whole cost of the actual venue, as that has been paid in full for almost a year. It's a little under a grand.

Stage - On my budget, that's really difficult less than a year out. I looked in 3 different counties and got nothing.

lyndausvi

Why haven't you shown all the emails to the GM or owner?   I also believe it's part your fault but a good company will look at the emails and understand their role in the misunderstanding.

That said, the way they run business it's not really a place I would want to have my wedding at anyway?

awolkenhauer

I really wasn't asking about a legal leg. I kind of assumed I am SOL in that department. Like I said in my OP, it was mostly just a vent and need ideas of what to do if I'm having to postpone or if anyone has some idea of how to handle this situation in general.

If I'm out the money, I'm out the money. I just feel like there's something wrong with this whole picuture. Why wait until I can no longer be refunded to really come down on me for the costs when I've been asking for a year? Stuff like that is really fishy to me; this whole situation is fishy to me but it is what it is and I accept that.

awolkenhauer

She's the one in charge. As far as I'm aware, there's no one with a higher authority.

The place was highly recommended and it was the only thing I found to fit the budget after FI lost his job. I've figured I'll be out a venue, so I can at least give negative reviews of the communication skills and go from there.

I didn't think about fire halls; this is all in a small area so a lot of places we found didn't have the space we needed. My family didn't come up with anything either, and they know the area better, but I can keep searching.

Angelface225

Did you try going in and meeting with her face to face? It sounds like a ton of miscommunication, maybe if you print out your emails and bring them with you, you can negotiate something? Could you do a payment plan on the amount? Have you double checked with the family members that were going to rent a cabin? Is there anything you can cut from the wedding budget? (gifts, favors, etc) Just some ideas.... They may be basic, but when I'm really stressed out I can't always see the whole picture and maybe you're the same. Good luck!

Lored

It does sound like a lot of miscommunication. Definitely a stressful situation to be in so close to your wedding. Sorry you are going through this. I don't know how many ppl you've invited. Maybe you can look into a restaurant with a private room? It may not end up the exact reception you had envisioned but a lovely dinner celebrating with your family and friends can be simple and sweet!

MrsGandthebeag

How much are we talking here for these cabins?  Not that I think you should go into debt over this but is it an amount you could put on a credit card and pay off in a month or two?

awolkenhauer

I doubt anyone is still watching this, but just a few answers.

Scheduling a face to face is difficult as I'm 5 hours away and cannot get time off work or afford to waste money on gas/food/lodging at this time.

I've eliminated so much from the wedding already. Basically, as is I'm down to a caterer and photographer for extras and very simple decorations. My catering option is the cheapest I could find at $10/person. We have approximately 100 guests that we sent STDs to, and planned to send invitations in the next couple weeks.

I've double checked with guests and let them know to contact the lady. I've probably spoke with the ones who were very interested 3 times on the matter and do not feel I should be pushing them.

As for credit, I have one card that has a $500 limit, which will not cover the expense. I've had the card forever and could probably ask for a limit increase but I prefer to keep it on the low end as I do not care to use my card for more than gas.