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June 2012 Weddings

Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT

I don't write on the boards often, but when I do lurk on this board, you girls always seem so nice and supportive. Today I just really need to vent. I received an email this morning informing me that the venue we booked for both ceremony and reception was "accidentally" double booked. Apparently a "small" art fair is occurring that same day. After some google searching this art fair sounds pretty big (attendance expectancy of 10,000). Our plan was to hold the ceremony in the large grassy area by the lake and the reception in the large outdoor white tent. Our plan was to use the tent as a rain contingency and the indoor banquet hall as the reception contingency. I was told in the email not to worry, because the art fair is only using the tent so we can still use the grassy area and the hall. I keep thinking of tons of problems we'll encounter: where to have the ceremony if it rains, where will everyone park if it's full from the art fair, will the art fair participants take all the hotel rooms (there's one hotel nearby), will we end up with wedding crashers, there's live music at the fair so that will interfere with the ceremony, will strangers be walking through all our pictures, etc. Considering there's only 4 months left till the wedding, we've already booked all the other vendors. We've also already paid all the down deposits for the ceremony/reception site. Ugh! I'm so frustrated, angry, and upset. I don't have any idea where to go from here. We're meeting with the venue manager and executive director next week, so hopefully something positive will come from that meeting.

Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT

  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_ceremonyreception-hall-double-booked-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:26c8df5a-61e2-410c-8ace-94a40a1f5492Post:3a1a67a6-df7e-4661-b8c4-7ff1f88d3cd6">Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT</a>:
    [QUOTE]I keep thinking of tons of problems we'll encounter: where to have the ceremony if it rains, where will everyone park if it's full from the art fair, will the art fair participants take all the hotel rooms (there's one hotel nearby), will we end up with wedding crashers, there's live music at the fair so that will interfere with the ceremony, will strangers be walking through all our pictures, etc. Considering there's only 4 months left till the wedding, we've already booked all the other vendors. We've also already paid all the down deposits for the ceremony/reception site. Ugh! I'm so frustrated, angry, and upset. I don't have any idea where to go from here. <strong>We're meeting with the venue manager and executive director next week, so hopefully something positive will come from that meeting.</strong>
    Posted by swtheart1685[/QUOTE]
    I am so sorry this has happened. I would bring up all your concerns with them and ask them what to do for plan B in case it rains. Hope the meeting is informative and helpful.
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  • Sorry to hear that too.  These are legitimate concerns you listed.  Agreed with Ash, sit down with the venue rep (so they can see how serious and concerned you are) and go over any and all possibilities and plan B (or C. or D).

    Good luck!
  • Ugh that is such a shame, did they JUST bring this up to you!!  That is really not cool but hopefully something good will come out of the meeting with the director.  Just go in with lots of questions and ask to do a walk through from the guests point of view and keep asking what and where the art stuff will be.

    Also, make sure you have plenty of sings so your attendees know where to go!  I would see if they are willing to bring in more staff so that they can kind of act as security between where the art show is and your reception.  They should def do this at their cost!!!

    I would also try and see if it is possible to have seperate bathrooms for your group away from the art party thing.  If you are putting baskets and stuff in the bathrooms and also because it will be kind of wierd if there becomes a line and people get to talking.

    Basically just see how you can stay out of eachothers hair as best as possible!

    Good Luck!  Let us know how it goes!!
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  • kaitlyn142kaitlyn142 member
    100 Comments
    edited February 2012
    Sounds like they realized they would get a lot more money out of an art fair than a wedding, and are now trying to bully you into accepting it. At the very minimum, I'd request they provide security!
  • Yes, they JUST let us know this this morning. Which seems a bit convenient since we paid the last deposit (which in the contract states is unrefundable if we cancel the event) on January 15th.

    Thanks for the ideas about signs, bathrooms, extra staff, etc. I've got a list of questions/concerns going and will definitely add them!
  • Kaitlyn - I think you're exactly right! Apparently it's an "annual" art fair, so it's a bit strange that they forgot to tell us this back in July 2011.
  • I would be looking for another venue & tell them you want your deposit back if you find one because they technically "broke" the contract when they double booked.
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  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_ceremonyreception-hall-double-booked-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:26c8df5a-61e2-410c-8ace-94a40a1f5492Post:d8003e06-3f33-48fd-bdb0-78826d8afb8b">Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT</a>:
    [QUOTE]I would be looking for another venue & tell them you want your deposit back if you find one because they technically "broke" the contract when they double booked.
    Posted by sweetcanadian1979[/QUOTE]

    yeah I'm with Bonnie... I wouldn't want my wedding at the same location as an art thats expecting 10,000 people!! that's nuts! Also, I can't believe they emailed you to tell you this!! That should have been a personal phone call!

    So sorry your dealing with this. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
  • I am so sorry this happened!!!!  I would just add, If parking is a concern insist they reserve parking spaces for guests or they provide valet parking for your guests. If the Art show has an outdoor stage, they agree not to have music at the time of your ceremony. Have you called the hotel and gotten them to block the rooms? You can email as many guests you can the hotel information and let them know another event is in the area so don't procrastinate on booking. Good Luck!
  • Thanks everyone!

    I should note that she initially emailed me asking to set up a meeting to talk in person to discuss "things that have come up" It took two emails and two voicemails from me asking for her to tell me specifically what she wanted to discuss (since I'd have to drive 2 hours to meet with her in person) before she finally sent the email about the "mix up".

    I have called the hotel, and they said that there are still plenty of rooms available, so if we decide to stay with this venue, I will definitely be calling guests to let them know to book now because of the art fair.

    I'm also in the process of contacting other venues to see if there is an option for switching. My concern is having to pick another weekend for the wedding and ultimately having to choose photographers, caterers, etc. all over again and losing the deposits we've already put down on our current vendors.

    Never thought this would happen. It's definitely a bride's worse nightmare. I just keep reminding myself that if in the end I am married to the man of my dreams, then nothing else really matters. Just frustrating to have spent a year planning a wedding and suddenly feeling like you have to start all over.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_ceremonyreception-hall-double-booked-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding Club BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:26c8df5a-61e2-410c-8ace-94a40a1f5492Post:359e76c4-dc4e-4d84-b94c-42994981f57f">Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT : yeah I'm with Bonnie... I wouldn't want my wedding at the same location as an art thats expecting 10,000 people!! that's nuts! Also, I can't believe they emailed you to tell you this!! That should have been a personal phone call! So sorry your dealing with this. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
    Posted by Kfudge0714[/QUOTE]

    This.  They should be willing to refund your money because that's kind of a big deal.  SAVE THE PAPERTRAIL!!!!!! In a way, it's almost better that it's in e-mail so you have that documentation.  Honestly, if they were this dishonest with you and have such a large event, they aren't going to give 2 sh*ts about your wedding and you won't be treated the way you should be on your wedding day.  I would try to find another venue and your vendors will definitely understand, but I would let them know now about what's going on and maybe they will have suggestions for you or can maybe work their magic somewhere.
  • In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-club-boards_june-2012-weddings_ceremonyreception-hall-double-booked-vent?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20Club%20BoardsForum:3ae4d68d-f10a-4dec-8810-da13c14a7b86Discussion:26c8df5a-61e2-410c-8ace-94a40a1f5492Post:359e76c4-dc4e-4d84-b94c-42994981f57f">Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT</a>:
    [QUOTE]In Response to Re: Ceremony/Reception Hall Double Booked -- VENT : yeah I'm with Bonnie... I wouldn't want my wedding at the same location as an art thats expecting 10,000 people!! that's nuts! Also, I can't believe they emailed you to tell you this!! That should have been a personal phone call! So sorry your dealing with this. Good luck and let us know how it goes!
    Posted by Kfudge0714[/QUOTE]

    I agree with all this.  I would definitely stick to emailing her so you have everything documented though.  If you stick with the location I would try to get some upgrades and/or security to keep everything separate.
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