Conflicted about writing poor vendor review

Cali_Chick · August 2010

Ok ladies, I have a vendor (wedding planner) I hired after reading a few referrals from ladies on here. She was horrible and I was throughly dissatisfied with her job performance. I guess the thing that also pissed me off is that she was so bad many of her short comings were things that guests ended up talking about. Basically I feel embarrassed and I feel like I was beat out of the money I paid her because she didn't do her job, nor did she seem interested in doing her job. She sent me a link to review her on Wedding Wire and I didn't do it because I knew the review wasn't going to be good. I also wanted to wait until time passed, just to make sure I wasn't writing out of anger. My wedding was 2 months ago and I still have not had a change of heart. I still feel she performed poorly and I feel like I was conned out of my money. I am also thinking about writing the review because not only don't I want another bride to experience what I experienced, but I also think it may be helpful to her. If she's asking me to review her, she obviously has no idea that she needs improvement in various areas. The only reason I am somewhat hesistant to review her is I can't help but wonder: Was I just expecting too much? That is the only thing I can think of when it comes to why her service was so poor.

In an effort to help me evaluate whether or not my expectations were over the top, can you tell me what you would expect of your wedding planner?

Or would it be easier for me to list what she did/didn't do and you can tell me whether or not I am being unreasonable?

theta_bombshell · August 2010

I think you need get it out of your system and write write write. dont bash her, but definately explain WHY you were dissatisfied. many brides will thank you.

As for what I expect. I expect that they will be on time. that they will have met with me at least once before the wedding to know what my vision is. to have the list and timeline i prepare on her at all times. do be the contact person for all my vendors that day. to be at the venue to make sure vendors are setting up right. to not come to me with "what should i do" and just take charge. to be polite to my guests and vendors. to not cause drama between guests. to keep everyone happy.

is that too much??

crnota · August 2010

I think you should be honest and write a review that will help other brides make a good decision. I relied REALLY heavily on project wedding, knottie, etc recs when choosing my vendors, and I would have really wanted to know if someone had a bad experience with someone, before booking.

I am in the process of writing my reviews now, and luckily I have only nice things to say. But if I had some criticisms, I would include them. It's only fair to the next bride.

I think that as long as you don't make it mean-spirited or "personal", that is totally fair game. Just telling what she did, no judgement like "she sucked" or something general, mean, and unhelpful. But more like, "she didn't put out our favors, when we asked her to" or whatever the issues were.

The fact that you said several people on this board referred her, makes it really important that you share your experience. Because someone may come on here, ask for recs, and get her name and hire her. And then be disappointed if they have an experience like you did.

I don't know what she did, obviously, but I think anyone should have high expectations from their planner! I absoluteley LOVED mine- she was truly a professional, did every thing we asked and then some, took care of a million things that came up that day without bothering me, did not forget a single detail, and kept the night on schedule to the minute. She was the best money we spent on the wedding, overall.

When people ask for recs on this board, they usually want someone cheap. My coordinator is not one of the discount ones. But she was worth every penny, and sometimes paying more makes a difference. I'm not speaking of your situation since I have no idea what you paid, but I've heard from other people who used a newer, discount planner and had similar issues.

You can always list what problems you had, and I can let you know if that's something my (excellent) coordinator covered, as a comparison?

jagore08 · August 2010

You can post a review as long as you're not bashing the vendor. Just write an honest review and I think you'll be ok.

Summer0fStars · August 2010

I'd write a review. If you honestly feel that she didn't do her job, chances are that she didn't. You'd be saving other brides from going through the same thing, and like you mentioned, maybe she honestly doesn't know that she didn't do a good job. Sorry you had to go through that!

xxquemirasxx · August 2010

I think if YOU FEEL her job wasn't what you expected then write away. I as well rely on other knottie reviews and projects weddings when it came to choosing our vendors it was very essential!

You can save another girl from making a terrible mistake. I think this vendor needs to know...either she has a talk to herself and says "i need to improve etc etc so this doesn't happen again" OR " she just plain doesn't care because no one said anything"

DONT'T BASH JUST SPEAK THE TRUTH!

TurtlesAllTheWayDown · August 2010

I'd be interested to know what you expected and what she did and didn't do.

I expect my coordinator to be at the reception site, set up the tables (guest book, CPs, cocktail decorations, cake table, card box, escort cards), and coordinate my vendors (make sure everyone is there on time and where they are supposed to be). That's pretty much the only reason I hired a coordinator.

I think if you lay out what you expected and/or what was in your contract and what you were disatisfied with, you'll be fine.

Alternatively, you could email her personally and tell her that this is how you are going to review her, or that these are things you had problems with.

Also, I'm going to send you a PM.

sicilianmarie · August 2010

Can you tell me through a private message who it is? I am using a lot of recommendations from here too and don't want to choose the wrong one

lexandfab · August 2010

I also would greatly appreciate a private message with the name.
That being said absolutely write a review. Just speak truthfuly (by your post and the amount of time you have waited I seriously doubt you would unfairly bash her) Just include a few sentences that describe what you expect from a planner versus what she did. New brides need these things!

[Deleted User] · August 2010

I'll be the bad guy right now and post here: I was totally disillusioned and annoyed with my wedding coordinator and posted a review about my wedding coordinator on my website but I didn't actually post it to her wedding website.

Cali_Chick · August 2010

In answer to the person who asked what I expected and what I got here we go:

Professionalism-
This topic alone I could go on and on about.
*She and her assistant wore a t-shirt (with the company name) sweat pants, and tennis shoes (her assistant didn't have on tennis shoes). Guests heard her saying she no longer dresses up due to all the running around she does.

*I had a dessert bar and when the lady dropped off the cupcakes "the planner" tells her she should allow her to sample the items for "product review" because she could start referring her to other brides. She then proceeds to eat cupcakes and my hostesses had to remind her they were for the guests.

*I felt like "the assistant" she brought was more like a friend for her to hang out with. They just standing around talking a lot of the night. At one point I saw them hanging out with the videographer sitting down watching footage from the night. I felt like she could have been putting away the empty candy jars so my husband I didn't have to, which we did since she left while we were still there and hanging out.

*She got to the ceremony venue late. Vendors were arriving and asking my hostesses and ushers questions about the set up and since they didn't know, the vendors set it up to the best of their ability. She arrvied and wanted to make guests wait longer while she made the corrections. She got word that some guests were headed to the site and she told everyone, "Oh well, the guests are just going to have to see us setting up!"

*The coordinator at the ceremony site told my hostesses that she had called my "planner" numerous times on the day and she was never able to reach her.

*My husband and I sat down at a table and were talking when she walked up and asked if we needed anything else because she was leaving. In the middle of this her "assistant is pulling her arm saying, "Come on. Let's go!" I was thinking WTF!

I could go on and on. She would be socializing with her "assistant" and I would ask her to do stuff and she would. She wasn't actively seeing what was going on and being proactive. I had to give her things to do, when they were things that a planner should have known to do. SHe was blabbing the whole night. My hostesses came through and just picked up her slack.

anna1974 · October 2010

omg! that's terrible! can you send me a private note with her name so i know to stay away?

Conflicted about writing poor vendor review

Re: Conflicted about writing poor vendor review

Choose Another Board

Search Boards