Really??

LBM7189

So, my venue called me yesterday to ask me a favor.  I chose the "weekend" package at my venue which gives me exclusive use of the property Friday noon- Sunday at noon.  They wanted to allow another group to come in Friday evening after my rehearsal while I am at dinner to use the facility for a party!  I had to say no.  We are going to be setting things up Friday afternoon and I didnt' want to risk something getting broken, moved, stolen, etc.  I didnt' want to be pressed for time setting stuff up Saturday morning before the wedding, hence choosing the weekend package and paying the extra money!

When I said I would prefer that not be done, the venue manager guilt tripped me and said that it was a church group and everything would be fine, but she would tell them I said no.  WTF?  I paid alot of money for the use of this property and they are trying to piggyback and make extra money.  I hate to be guilt tripped, but I am sticking with No on this one.  The last thing I want is someone to mess up my stuff!

What would you girls have done?

NcsuPsych

Don't feel guilty! Thats crazy and unprofessional. You paid for the time, so you get the time, not someone else.

If they wanted to get more than one group in on Friday, they should have offered you the package at a lower rate.

But, dont worry about it. . it'll work out and everything will be fine!

Butter Cookie

Are they offering you a refund for part of your money? Because exclusive rights sounds expensive, and if they want to let someone have a party there on Friday night (by the way, manager, church groups steal too...) they should at least give you some financial retribution.

Don't feel guilty. That's rude. I mean, I'd probably let it happen if it were me, but they'd have to make it financially worth my while.

momofayden

I would have done the same. You paid for that time and have every right to say no. Don't let them make you feel bad.  You have no idea if it's really a church group and even if it were how does that exempt them from having some not so great people in the mix who could take or damage your things.

sundrop24

I agree with pp. You did the right thing! And they should have at least offerred you a discount rate when they asked. That is unprofessional. 

brokenhallelujah

Go you for sticking up for yourself. Unless they offered me a huge huge discount on my price would I even consider it, but the peace of mind that your wedding spot and decorations will be just as you left them on Friday would probably still be more than worth it saying 'no' even if it was a large discount.

Don't feel guilty. You got there first, paid for it, and these other people are just too late. It happens all the time when planning get-togethers and the manager shouldn't have even asked you.

midnite007x

unless you are getting a credit out of it then i would have said no as well.

katherineUTC

That is incredibly nervy AND unprofessional on the part of the manager. They are the ones that offer the exclusivity package for the weekend, so it's THEIR problem if that means they can't book another party during that time when someone else has it. Why even offer reservations if this is how they want to run their business?? The part about a church group wanting to use it may have even been false to try to get you to say yes. That would have made me really mad when he said "I'll tell them YOU said no," I probably would have given him a piece of my mind. lol. Dont feel bad at all, you did the right thing. This is YOUR wedding, the last thing you need is something to get taken or damaged, then you have to stress about it, no thank you.

cdrierson

That was very unprofessional.  I would have said no as well and stuck with it.  I would make sure when you write a vendor review to include this incident for other brides to see. 

andrea01012009

i would have never started this thread.  i said something about my venue on another forum before the wedding day and it got back to the venue.  very uncomfortable situation.

Beth0882

I completely agree with pp.  Did they even bother to offer a credit if you gave up the exclusivity? If not, that is awful that they would even ask!  Makes me wonder if they double booked and were trying to weasel out of the problem by guilt tripping you, but I am sometimes cynical by nature so probably not!  But I wouldn't feel guilty at all.  And if they were to be unfriendly from here on out, make sure they remember you signed THEIR contract with THEIR terms (assuming thats true)!

wlfpkbride

I think you did the right thing.

And Andrea is right, vendors do get on here and read posts. It's pretty crappy IMO but they definitely do it.

kgaliger

Absolutely would not allow someone in the space after I had everything set up and done.  It's not worth the stress to be worrying about something broken or stolen and the venue should NEVER have asked you to do that.

katherineUTC

Yes... im sure that there are vendors out there who will want revenge... but if a vendor sees a complaint from you about them on a board, why would it make sense for them to go out of their way to then sabotage your event, and make things even worse, so that you tell even MORE people about how bad the experience was? I would think they would want to exceed your expectations so you go back and tell everyone that they turned things around. I posted a complaint about my hair/makeup person before the wedding, she had mentioned to me that if you have someone who drops out of getting their H/M done, she charges you 50% as a penalty... i was kind of peeved about that, it wasnt clearly stated in the contract. But on the day OF my wedding, when she was at my house, she said to me, 'how many people do you have coming, I want to make sure I dont charge you for anyone who doesnt show.'  Maybe she read what I said. Anyway, I definitely kept that in mind when I gave her a stellar review (not to mention she did an amazing job on our H/M).

shigaites

"why would it make sense for them to go out of their way to then sabotage your event, and make things even worse"

Because people are crazy?  lol