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outdoor wedding - no plan B! HELP!

emileebakeremileebaker
First Comment
in Texas-Dallas and Ft. Worth
Hey ladies!  we're getting married at the Japanese Garden in fort worth in October. I just now found out (today) that the garden does NOT supply any type of plan B in case of inclement weather (the contract seems to imply otherwise).  The lady said in 10 years, they've only had weddings rained out maybe 3 times. I'm not going to push my luck here, but what in the devil can I do now? I can't afford to reserve a different location, and I'm doing all of this myself (I have no planner) to help me out. Has anyone here dealt with this? Or dealt with the Japanese Garden? I'm about to move beyond panicking to a full-scale meltdown...
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Re: outdoor wedding - no plan B! HELP!

  • BalletBride620BalletBride620
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    What about renting a tent? You're in a Catch-22 because you could rent it now, decide you don't need it, then forfeit your deposit (or possibly everything)... or you could wait and find out the company you want has already rented them all for that weekend. I'm really sorry, I hope I didn't upset you, maybe some other girls will have better ideas!
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  • emileebakeremileebaker
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I can't rent a tent - the Gardens do not allow them. My F suggested that we move everything to the pavilion (where the reception is) because it is somewhat covered, but it isn't completely covered and then we're dealing with fitting the entire party, quartet, dj, and food in the spaces that do have a roof!!  I appreciate your suggestion!
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  • amber&richard05amber&richard05
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Really if a tent is not an option there is really nothing else besides buying umbrellas for every guest and providing towels so they can dry off under the pavilion. I would also ask them what the brides did when it happen to them, they hopefully will have some sort of an idea. Another option would be reserve a recreation room at a rec center, They can be inexpensive.
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  • callie_knotcallie_knot member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    wow I cannot imagine them not giving you a way to have a backup plan. October is sometimes rainy here. I cannot imagine they have only been rained out 3 times? Is it took late to look for a new venue? I don't know what it looks like but I know some people have ceremony and reception in the same place. Would the pavilion be somewhere you could do both?
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  • mandasue178mandasue178 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I've seen the pavilion many times (DH proposed in the garden so we go there alot). How big is your wedding? I can't see fitting everything under something and still having room for people under the roofs too. I'd call around the area and see what some alternatives are.
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  • emylianaemyliana member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    i'd def look for some alternatives just in case...my wedding got rained out...not just rained but stormed out!!!!! my venue did say i was the only bride that ever got rained out...we planned for an open lawn ceremony and plan b was a covered pavilion...we couldn't even use plan b bc it was storming so badly and raining sideways...i'd just check other options to be safe
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  • cleaclea member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Reserve a room or two inside the conservatory building.  Even if you don't need it, the peace-of-mind value is definitely worth the low price.3 rainy Saturdays in 10 years...right.
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  • TXsizeloveTXsizelove member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I agree, ask them what the other brides did or what the did for them in those situations. It may be expensive but cute matching umbrellas for all of your guest would be unique but some may still be uncomfortable being in the rain.
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  • SarahandAlex2010SarahandAlex2010 member
    Tenth Anniversary 500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I would try to get out of the contract and loose my deposit. I wouldn't want to risk it raining and ruining your wedding. You never can tell in TX.
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  • emileebakeremileebaker
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    the problem is i had to pay full price up front - and if i back out now, i only get 25% back. if it is rained out, then i'll get 75% back. I'm definitely going to look into the conservatory idea, and I want to see if plan B for the caterer is to go to the restaurant (we can get married there, if need be!). If the person in charge at the garden hadn't given me the idea that they have a plan B, I don't know that I would have booked the garden in the first place! Certainly not at this point! I'm going to keep trying to work it out - thank you all so much for your ideas so far - if any others come to mind, please keep posting so I have multiple avenues to work with!
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  • callie_knotcallie_knot member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    That kind of does not make sense to me. If it rains you get 75% back? What baout your wedding? That is over and done with. What about all the other money you spent for a wedding you couldn't enjoy or have?
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  • emileebakeremileebaker
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    I know that it's ridiculous - especially that I can't get a full refund. But they have set it up in such a way that they'll get my money (some of it, anyway) whether or not I get my wedding.  And if that weren't enough, I now have to figure out how we can move everything we've purchased/rented to a plan B location - since I know the employees won't do it!
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