Should I back out of my reception site?

ErinS2014

Hi everyone,

I'm supposed to get married at Steele Hill Resorts in New Hampshire in August 2014. Everything was going really well, I book the venue last fall, and then it got weird. I live in the Midwest so I wanted to visit the resort last December. The wedding coordinator never got back to my emails or calls so finally I called, left a message, and told him the date and time I was coming, causing him to freak out and find someone to meet with me, but he wasn't available. It was all really weird.

I met the manager who he set the meeting up with, who was really nice, and informed me that the wedding coordinator was retiring in a few days. I was shocked. They hired someone else, I was in touch with her, and then all of a sudden one day I email her and get a bounce back, discovering she's gone. I email the new wedding coordinator and she is awesome. And then a few days ago, I emailed her, and got a bounceback email telling me SHE was gone and the email of the new person. 

So within 5 months we are on wedding coordinator #4.

I don't know what's going on, but I am concerned about having my wedding at Steele Hill now. Unfortunately I put down $1000 deposit, but even if I have to give it up I might leave. 

Any advice? Any current Steele Hill brides who can update me on this?

ErinS2014

In Response to Re: Should I back out of my reception site?:
[QUOTE]Do you have a contract with them?  If so, I'd contact the new person and confirm everything in the contract.  I wouldn't do this by email - I'd communicate on the phone. After that, I'd calm down and leave them alone for a while.  Your wedding is 15 months away.
Posted by tawillers[/QUOTE]

Yeah, but should I be worried that they've had such a huge staff turnover so shortly? If I should leave I'd rather leave now than get close to my wedding and have problems...

Wzz

it's weird that they are having trouble passing their information from one coordinator to another. the turnover shouldn't be a problem - your information should be secure in their system, so it should only be a matter of who you are speaking to and how long it takes tolocate your file.

if this is too much trouble for them, keep calling and making noise about it. they need to know that they're having a communication issue with their clients.

last, your wedding isn't until August 2014, so it is probably not a priority (only because there's not much they need to do other than block your date in their calendar and keep track of your payments), but it shouldn't be a problem for them to find your contract and know when your wedding is. until it gets closer, or at least untl it's 2014, there's not much for them to do for you except take your calls, really. are you stil trying to plan a visit to their resort?

gmcr78

Is it possible that they have been using temps and just haven't found a permanent replacement yet?  Maybe different people have been covering on a limited basis.  Is there someone else at the venue you can speak to so that you can voice your concerns?

ErinS2014

Thanks everyone! I spoke to the general manager of the resort, I think I'll just keep in touch with him until someone is really staying in the position. He seems to really be on top of things consistently! He is the one who met with me in December. 

Mostly, I want to know what the timeline is, because my wedding is in another state and I will only be there a two or three times before the wedding. I won't be able to meet with them at all during the last few months before the wedding. (I'm a grad student!)

Wzz

what does your contract say, does it give you a timeline for payments you need to make and whn you need to finalize a menu? what kind of timeline are you looking for exactly? did they say when they need your final headcount? these are usually things you talk about when you sign the contract, so you know how to budget your time and money.

again, your wedding is not until 2014. that is more than one year away. most details don't need to be finalized until you're within one month of your wedding date. they can't order menu items anyway until things like a headcount and menu are completed.

tawillers

I agree with wz.

If you mean "timeline" as in payments, headcouts, etc, then it should be in your contract and you are fine.  You are worrying for no reason.  You've been reassured by the fact that the manager you spoke to knows what he's doing.

If you mean "timeline" as in day-of-wedding, I wouldn't blame them if they laughed at you when you ask 15 months in advance.  If you have a ceremony start time and a reception start time, what would you really need to know right now?

So basically, everything wz said.

I get it.  I'm a "planner" type person as well, but you just have to chill out for a while.  If you are stressed this far in advance, the next year is going to be miserable for you.  Choosing an out-of-state wedding means you HAVE to let go and trust the people you are paying to do their job.