Hall issue

shanding4787 · September 2012

So the hall that my fiancé and I are renting holds 600 people..to rent the whole place it costs $2300. To only rent half, which holds 320ish, it’s half that. I spoke with the lady who works there last weekend and told her we no longer wished to rent the whole space, we just wanted to do half. We’ve been cutting down our guest list and I can’t see spending an extra $1100-1200 on inviting 30 more people. So she sent me a new contract in the mail and I got it last Wed. I’ve been super busy with work and hadn’t gotten a chance to sign it and send it back, I was going to do it today. Well in thinking this weekend, FI and I realized there would be no place to put the photobooth. So I emailed her this morning and told her we wanted to go ahead and rent the half PLUS one of the quarter sections (which we can do). She emailed me back and told me that we can’t do that because she already rented out the other half this weekend. Now this annoys me a little bit because I haven’t even sent in the new signed contract yet and she already booked it out? What if we changed our minds? (like we did!) The only contract they have on file for me is renting the whole place. Is this a little out of line or am I being silly?

Benny618 · September 2012

I don't know about the legalities of it, but you told her you only want half and requested a new contract. Why would she assume you would change your mind? Also, I'm surprised you even had the option to only take half after already signing a contract for the whole space. Sounds like you got lucky more than anything.

shanding4787 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:e727a87e-7d0c-4263-a6d4-568199152a8f">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know about the legalities of it, but you told her you only want half and requested a new contract. Why would she assume you would change your mind? Also, I'm surprised you even had the option to only take half after already signing a contract for the whole space. Sounds like you got lucky more than anything.
Posted by Benny618[/QUOTE]

She was actually the one who originally put the idea in my head to only rent half. She didnt realize we'd be having under 350 for the final count so she said it would be silly for me to rent the whole thing and spend the extra $$.

Benny618 · September 2012

Well if you are having under 350 guests it sounds like she gave you good advice, and you agreed with it. Maybe she knew the other couple was interested in half the space for that date and perhaps she encouraged you(?) but either way, you agreed to it and asked for an updated contract. Why would she expect you to change your mind again? I'd either find a spot for the photo booth in the space you requested and now have, or nix the photo booth. I just wouldn't dwell on this.

GoodLuckBear14 · September 2012

She has an email from you stating your intent to rescind your existing contract and replace it with one for half of the room. She acted in good faith on this.

shanding4787 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:0a4d9d76-4855-424c-9f6e-953bdc5818f9">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]She has an email from you stating your intent to rescind your existing contract and replace it with one for half of the room. She acted in good faith on this.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

The email I sent wasn't for the recission, I spoke with her on the phone for that. The email I sent this morning was saying we wanted to rent another quarter. My thoughts are just, aren't verbal contracts/confirmations a big NO NO in wedding planning. Yea. we said we didnt want to rent it, but I didnt think they could rent out the other half until they physically had my new signed contract/

kmmssg · September 2012

I don't think she did anything wrong since she had email from you requesting the new contract. They are running a business and you cut your contract in half. Someone walked in at the right place and time and was able to contract the other half, which is good for business. She shouldn't have to wait for you to waffle back and forth on your decision.

zantster · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:0a4d9d76-4855-424c-9f6e-953bdc5818f9">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]She has an email from you stating your intent to rescind your existing contract and replace it with one for half of the room. She acted in good faith on this.
Posted by GoodLuckBear14[/QUOTE]

I'm no lawyer but I think there might be some wiggle room GLBear. Because the original request to change the contract was verbal, over the phone. The second request, to rent 1/2 plus 1/4, which would be 3/4 or 75% of the room, was by email. But the reply to the second request was denied so she wouldn't be on the hook for that email.

So if there is no newly signed contract between the venue and the OP and her FI, and no email of the first request, I believe the original contract would still stand and take precedence over any subsequent attempt by the venue to sign a new contract with a new couple. Because the conversation on the phone was just that, a conversation. The contract that was mailed was never signed and returned so the venue has no right to rent out the other half since it still is officially reserved by the OP and her FI.

And there is probably something in the contract that states that any changes would have to be in writing via an addendum to the contract, which has not been done. I did something like this when I changed the terms of my DJ contract and added videography for a lower bundled price. They sent me a revised contract. I signed it and sent it back. They sent me a copy of the new version that I have in my records. That is what I believe would need to be done to finalize things. Otherwise, the OP might have a court case.

As always let me reiterate that I am not a lawyer and would advise the OP to consult one who specializes in contract law. But in the meantime, it wouldn't hurt for the OP to read their contract thoroughly. Highlight any clause that may refer to changes having to be done in writing and agreed to by the venue. If that is there then remind them that no change has been done in writing so you believe that legally the original contract stands. Hopefully, they back off or negotiate with you. If not, you've got some choices on how far you want to pursue it or let sleeping dogs lie.

mabrown5 · September 2012

Depending on the state, verbal contracts are as legitiment as a signed contract. Since the OP stated that she did call and inform the venue that they wanted to change from the full space to half the space, if they decided to go to court (not that she said they would), the court may rule that the venue had the right to rent the other half of the venue to a new customer. The venue did have a good reason to believe that you were planning on signing the new contract via your verbal agreement. I wouldn't dwell on this, cut the photobooth or look at ways of having one in the half of the venue you rented. You can always look at your existing contract (the one you signed) and see what it said about changes to the contract.

zantster · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:87018efb-88a7-46be-98f9-c32ad5b92d89">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]Depending on the state, verbal contracts are as legitiment as a signed contract. Since the OP stated that she did call and inform the venue that they wanted to change from the full space to half the space, if they decided to go to court (not that she said they would), the court may rule that the venue had the right to rent the other half of the venue to a new customer. The venue did have a good reason to believe that you were planning on signing the new contract via your verbal agreement. I wouldn't dwell on this, cut the photobooth or look at ways of having one in the half of the venue you rented. You can always look at your existing contract (the one you signed) and see what it said about changes to the contract.
Posted by mabrown5[/QUOTE]
I was thinking of that too...except by virtue of the venue sending out a revised contract, that would tell me that a verbal contract would not stand alone with them otherwise why send it? Of course state law would take precedence. But like we both said, I believe it would come down to what the terms of the original contract are regarding changes. And of course at the end of the day how important is this issue to the OP in the big scheme of things.

shanding4787 · September 2012

Well yea, I'm definitely not thinking of suing them. If we only have half the hall to use then so be it, I just thought it was really odd that she didnt wait for me to send in the new signed contract before she booked the other half.

LincolnElizabethH · September 2012

A photobooth doesn't take up much space. I've seen them in a 8'x6' cube at wedding shows, and some of them are smaller than that. Would your venue allow you to use the foyer for the photobooth if you don't want it close to your guests?

MairePoppy · September 2012

@zanster - by that reasoning, wouldn't the OP be held to the original contract also? She would be responsible for rental of the entire hall, right? And if the hall provides catering services, they would be losing revenue from the other wedding. That probably isn't going to make them want to do any extra little favors for the OP, if they are forced to cancel the other event.

shanding4787 · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:f2cb0f63-2d09-4778-813e-7ff591961acd">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]Considering you've dragged your feet for nearly a week, I see nothing wrong with her actions. Verbal or not, you expressed intent to not use your original contract and requested a new one. At that point, you are really not that different from a brand new bride who is signing a contract for the first time. It's a first come, first serve world. I don't really think you have any reason to be irritated/upset/whateve over this.
Posted by StageManager14[/QUOTE]

Well I didnt drag my feet, it just didnt dawn on me until this weekend when I got an email from our photobooth company.

zantster · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:ee4dcc32-4c26-463c-bcb5-5c34f704ad74">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]@zanster - by that reasoning, wouldn't the OP be held to the original contract also? She would be responsible for rental of the entire hall, right? And if the hall provides catering services, they would be losing revenue from the other wedding. That probably isn't going to make them want to do any extra little favors for the OP, if they are forced to cancel the other event.
Posted by MairePoppy[/QUOTE]

Yup. You're absolutely right about that. It's six of one or half dozen of the other basically. Maybe that's why the OP figured it's best to stay mum, stick with half and make it work. I think that's the best thing to do as well. Plus you don't want to burn bridges even if it ended up being legally permissible to force the issue. Because you never know when you may want to hold an event there in the future.

MyNameIsNot · September 2012

If the contract was written in such a way that you could modify it to rent only half the room, the hall would have the right to do the same. Why would they give you the option to back out of half but not leave themselves the same right?

I agree that if she relied on your statement that you wished to rent only half when she contracted someone else, she is acting in good faith. If she did it without talking to you, you'd be in the right to be annoyed, but you told her you only wanted half. To be upset at her for not reading your future mind and assuming that you didn't mean what you said is just ridiculous.

ljsquintz · September 2012

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_hall-issue?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:14Discussion:ca162ef6-3cd6-411d-b8e7-135825ef680bPost:e727a87e-7d0c-4263-a6d4-568199152a8f">Re: Hall issue</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't know about the legalities of it, but you told her you only want half and requested a new contract. Why would she assume you would change your mind? <strong>Also, I'm surprised you even had the option to only take half after already signing a contract for the whole space. Sounds like you got lucky more than anything.</strong>
Posted by Benny618[/QUOTE]
This. It's very nice of the venue to let you reduce from the full rental. I'm sure you can find a place to squeeze in the photo booth!

Hall issue

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