Breaking up with our venue

mocha beans

So, I've heard almost no good reviews about the place we have rented for the wedding.  Lots of unpleasant things: neighbors calling the cops on a ceremony, septic system backing up, oven not working, jacuzzi tub not working.  Not stuff that I want to deal with, so we're pretty certain we're going to cancel.  We get our whole deposit back.

Would you mention any of the poor reviews and the reasons why you're cancelling, or just say you'd like your depost back and have a nice day?

shellydiane820

I'd let them know.

RachNRich

Well, first---the bad review may just be a small fraction of the number of people that have used the place. People are more likely to complain about something than they are to rave about it---perhaps it isn't that bad?

That being said, if you can get your deposit back---send them an email, and let them know why you changed your mind. It gives them a chance to correct some issues, and lets them know the have areas that need improvement to avoid losing future customers. 

beatlesgirl25

Mocha, I'm sorry you guys have to do this, but that's good that you get your whole deposit back. I wouldn't volunteer mentioning it, but they'll probably ask. I would lie and say you found a place that was better for your budget/needs/whatever, in order to avoid the awkwardness. If you do mention the reviews, the best that could happen is that they take it into consideration and try to make their venue better for the next couple. The worst would be them trying to defend the complaints, and re-sell you on their venue when you clearly don't want to be there anymore. So basically, I think you should chicken out, since you're getting all your money back and all.

RachNRich

Oh, and...if you ever decide (for whatever reason) that you are going to break up with your wedding shoes....umm, let me know!!

JessAndTrav

I'd just tell them that you'd like to cancel.

They're salespeople, and they'll try to convince that those "aren't problems anymore"

Don't risk it and ask for your money back.

But I feel the need to ask why it's important if the jacuzzi tub works at the venue for your wedding? Planning on having a group bubble bath a la The Real World?

Such as what's being seen here?

mags0607

I would just call them and tell them that you have found a venue better suited to your needs, and that you would like to withdraw your deposit for the venue and cancel your hold with them. That s very cool you get the deposit back, but just be polite and be firm. I wouldn't mention the bad reviews, as they mght try and "spin" the situation.

I just wouldn;t take the chance. Good luck!

beatlesgirl25

What jess said (much better than I did). I'm also curious about the jacuzzi. Are you guys staying there after it's over?

mocha beans

I've heard almost a dozen poor reviews, and the place has only been open for under a year.  If it were just a few on a long running venue, I'd totally keep it.  And, we kinda want to funnel more of the budget into paying for some of our friends to get there, so we're trying to cut some costs.

Part of me wants to think that they'd get things together by Sept, but the time for sending out STD's is upon us, so it's time to get things more stabilized.

mocha beans

It's an estate, we're renting it for a week for us and the WP to stay.

Somehow I see me and my shoes in a very long relationship, Rach! 

JessAndTrav

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_breaking-up-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bddc0a2-c3fb-48a9-b99c-c52d52204191Post:dcb2fb0e-9a15-4e59-844b-581a4135024f">Re: Breaking up with our venue</a>:
[QUOTE]It's an estate, we're renting it for a week for us and the WP to stay. Somehow I see me and my shoes in a very long relationship, Rach! 
Posted by mocha beans[/QUOTE]

Shucks. No <em>Real World</em> type of parties.

You're sooooo boring, Mocha!

mocha beans

Well, it's on a beach and you give people enough to drink who knows what would happen!  We've got a few rambunctious people in the wedding, that's for sure.

beatlesgirl25

Oh, that sounds like a nice place! It sounds like a stressful risk to take though. Would you consider bringing up the reviews in hopes that they'll guarantee some of these things to work for you? Like in a contract?

RachNRich

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_breaking-up-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bddc0a2-c3fb-48a9-b99c-c52d52204191Post:dcb2fb0e-9a15-4e59-844b-581a4135024f">Re: Breaking up with our venue</a>:
[QUOTE]Somehow I see me and my shoes in a very long relationship, Rach! 
Posted by mocha beans[/QUOTE]

<div>I figured as much. But you never know!! </div>

mocha beans

Yeah, ya never know.  I love em to death, but if we decide to do the beach route I don't know what I'm going to do with them.  Obviously they won't work in the sand.  But I can probably make them work in the grass with the heel stoppers thingies.

JessAndTrav

Your wedding is going to be BUCKWILD!!



Perhaps you could invite her?

mocha beans

She looks scary...

beatlesgirl25

Oh no you di'int, jess.

RachNRich

You are on a roll tonight, Jess. Becky Buckwild is such a .... a.... a.... great person?

JessAndTrav

GURL!!! SHE IS KLASSIE!!!

She can wear this to the beach:


Can she bring her date?

beatlesgirl25

Haha, that reminds me of the episode where she got cut from Flavor of Love (yes I watched it), and he was like "wait where did your accent go?" Ghetto-busted.

JessAndTrav

I watched that show too, and I'm not ashamed to say it.

But then again, I was like, 21.

cukimerrydoll

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_breaking-up-venue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:6bddc0a2-c3fb-48a9-b99c-c52d52204191Post:6ad6a642-f421-4fae-a00f-44c72dcb2e0a">Re: Breaking up with our venue</a>:
[QUOTE]Well, first---the bad review may just be a small fraction of the number of people that have used the place. People are more likely to complain about something than they are to rave about it---perhaps it isn't that bad? That being said, if you can get your deposit back---send them an email, and let them know why you changed your mind. It gives them a chance to correct some issues, and lets them know the have areas that need improvement to avoid losing future customers. 
Posted by RachNRich[/QUOTE]
I agree with this.  Are they able to provide any references for happy couples that have used their venue?

As for the septic system issue, that is extremely rare, and very unlikely to be an issue again (we've had our pump explode... NOT fun).  Is it an older building?  If they ask about the poor reviews, let them know what you've found so they can be sure it doesn't happen again.

I almost left my venue for completely different problems (management, not building), but when I went there and let them know what was going on, all of the issues I was having were fixed within about a week.