Waldorf-Astoria Wedding

hellohkb · June 2015

Did anyone hear about the wedding at the Waldorf-Astoria where a gun went off 5 times and the reception had to be canceled? No one was killed though 5 people were injured. The couples spent $1.5 million on their wedding, not sure if they had insurance. If they did, it apparently didn't cover what happens if one of your guests walks in and his gun accidentally falls out of his pocket and injuries a few of your other guests.

http://itheedread.jezebel.com/couple-suing-the-waldorf-astoria-because-wedding-guests-1713030604?utm_campaign=socialflow_jezebel_facebook&utm_source=jezebel_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

PamBeesly524 · June 2015

Wait, they're suing the hotel?!

“We are planning to sue the Waldorf for the costs of the wedding and the emotional harm suffered by the bride and groom, whose dream wedding was destroyed for no reason whatsoever by Waldorf personnel.

Seriously, gag me. That is just terrible. Did they even care that 5 people were injured?

southernbelle0915 · June 2015

Jeeeeesus. Does anyone remember the multi-page thread on Snarky Brides about the girl who planned her wedding at a shooting range but wanted to tell people they couldn't bring guns. lol I'm picturing her being like "see?! SEE!?!?!"

mikenberger · June 2015

southernbelle0915 said:

Jeeeeesus. Does anyone remember the multi-page thread on Snarky Brides about the girl who planned her wedding at a shooting range but wanted to tell people they couldn't bring guns. lol I'm picturing her being like "see?! SEE!?!?!"

She was ridiculous.

redheadbride15 · June 2015

The moral of the story is if you want a perfect wedding don't marry into the Russian mob.

simcal18 · June 2015

redheadbride15 said:

The moral of the story is if you want a perfect wedding don't marry into the Russian mob.

Well jeez. How else are you supposed to pay for a $1.5 million wedding at the Waldorf Astoria?

hellohkb · June 2015

I wonder if the guests who were hurt were on their B-list so that's why they don't seem concerned.

sarahufl · June 2015

I saw this the other day and have to assume there is more to it.

banana468 · June 2015

OK, I know the whole thing is ridiculous but I can SORT OF see the couple's side that it wasn't their actions that caused the issue.

I also don't know enough about the Waldorf but unless they closed the entire venue (highly unlikely) I am wondering about the complete protocol for such an occurrence. As in - what do you do when your guest creates a problem?

We talk all the time that if a guest is drunk and makes a scene, causes a disturbance then you have the guest removed. I know that this is not the same as someone being drunk but without knowing all the details, I can sympathize if the couple didn't create the issue, they were hosting the event and the venue decided to cancel on no notice. KWIM??

STARMOON44 · June 2015

banana468 said:
OK, I know the whole thing is ridiculous but I can SORT OF see the couple's side that it wasn't their actions that caused the issue.

I also don't know enough about the Waldorf but unless they closed the entire venue (highly unlikely) I am wondering about the complete protocol for such an occurrence. As in - what do you do when your guest creates a problem?

We talk all the time that if a guest is drunk and makes a scene, causes a disturbance then you have the guest removed. I know that this is not the same as someone being drunk but without knowing all the details, I can sympathize if the couple didn't create the issue, they were hosting the event and the venue decided to cancel on no notice. KWIM??

I think when your guest causes a bunch of people to get shot, the protocol is your party gets cancelled on no notice because it's unsafe to the rest of the guests, the staff, and everyone else at the venue. Ultimately, they invited the guest.

But I also think it's pretty clear they're just suing the Waldorf in hopes of a quick settlement from their insurance carrier for a fraction of that amount.

hellohkb · June 2015

I am in agreement with sarahufl and banana. I feel there is more to the story and I also am wondering about a backup plan.

My dad was in the NYPD and is very familiar with the WA. He is shocked they canceled it. He says because of the amount of presidents who have stayed there over the years he assumed there would have been a protocol in case these things happen for any kind of event.

STARMOON44 · June 2015

hellohkb said:
I am in agreement with sarahufl and banana. I feel there is more to the story and I also am wondering about a backup plan.

My dad was in the NYPD and is very familiar with the WA. He is shocked they canceled it. He says because of the amount of presidents who have stayed there over the years he assumed there would have been a protocol in case these things happen for any kind of event.

I think it's pretty clear there was a protocol. Your event has an outbreak of gun violence, your event gets booted. It's a safety protocol for everyone who'd rather not be around when a bunch of people got shot and the gun is missing.

novella1186 · June 2015

STARMOON44 said:

I am in agreement with sarahufl and banana. I feel there is more to the story and I also am wondering about a backup plan. My dad was in the NYPD and is very familiar with the WA. He is shocked they canceled it. He says because of the amount of presidents who have stayed there over the years he assumed there would have been a protocol in case these things happen for any kind of event.
I think it's pretty clear there was a protocol. Your event has an outbreak of gun violence, your event gets booted. It's a safety protocol for everyone who'd rather not be around when a bunch of people got shot and the gun is missing.

If I remember correctly (it's been about a week I think since I've read about this) multiple staff members were shot, not just wedding guests. Or I think they were injured by bullet fragments, something like that.

If the hotel felt that their own staff was unsafe, then as a business they owe it to their employees to shut the event down for their protection, or at least I'd think so.

If my co-worker was shot at an event, and then I had to go into that event to work because it was not cancelled, and then somehow I was shot or injured at the same event... well think of those lawsuits.

ETA I remember something about when the police came, they couldn't find the gun, so they weren't sure if it was still on the premises or not, so they had no way to be sure that the shooter or another guest didn't still have the gun inside the event space.

Cookie Pusher · June 2015

I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.

STARMOON44 · June 2015

Cookie Pusher said:
I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.

Yeah but if they don't have money it's probably not worth suing them.

hellohkb · June 2015

Yikes, I didn't hear about staff members getting hurt too! That's horrible, come in to work and get hurt like that.

I would definitely be suing the guest (I believe it was the groom's uncle or something). Suing the WA, I don't know. It's terrible they lost $1.5m, though I would be more livid at the the guy with the gun.

banana468 · June 2015

Cookie Pusher said:

I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.

OK, so if the staff were shot I can understand it a bit better. Again, there has to be a lot to this story but I can understand being really upset at the venue for cancelling an event you're hosting when the hosts did not do anything to warrant the cancelling.

If the safety of the staff was in jeopardy I can see some of the reasoning.

And IMO it makes perfect sense to sue the venue and not the guest. If it was a million $ wedding, who do you think has money?

hellohkb · June 2015

banana468 said:

Cookie Pusher said:

I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.

OK, so if the staff were shot I can understand it a bit better. Again, there has to be a lot to this story but I can understand being really upset at the venue for cancelling an event you're hosting when the hosts did not do anything to warrant the cancelling.

If the safety of the staff was in jeopardy I can see some of the reasoning.

And IMO it makes perfect sense to sue the venue and not the guest. If it was a million $ wedding, who do you think has money?

I do agree. I would be upset, naturally (more at the goddamn guest, of course) but I can understand better why it was canceled since some of their staff got hurt as well.

Maggie0829 · June 2015

I guess IMO when multiple people get shot/injured due to a gun going off accidentally the event would need to stop/be shut down because multiple people are needing medical attention so you can't really have the first dance happening while paramedics rush in to attend to the individuals who are hurt. It would seem pretty callous and entitled to basically drag the injured out in the hall, mop up the floor real quick and go on like nothing happened. Then again this couple felt like their wedding got shut down for no real reason so I wouldn't put it pass them on stepping over the injured so that they could move on with their super special day.

But I wouldn't be suing the venue, but rather the person who felt it necessary to bring a loaded gun to a wedding. If he had the permit to carry a weapon okay, but then you also need to be vigilant and know how to handle that weapon without it going off.

And yeah, if the weapon could not be located that is a serious breach of security. The weapon needed to be found and the best way to do that is to shut down the event.

banana468 · June 2015

Maggie0829 said:

I guess IMO when multiple people get shot/injured due to a gun going off accidentally the event would need to stop/be shut down because multiple people are needing medical attention so you can't really have the first dance happening while paramedics rush in to attend to the individuals who are hurt. It would seem pretty callous and entitled to basically drag the injured out in the hall, mop up the floor real quick and go on like nothing happened. Then again this couple felt like their wedding got shut down for no real reason so I wouldn't put it pass them on stepping over the injured so that they could move on with their super special day.

But I wouldn't be suing the venue, but rather the person who felt it necessary to bring a loaded gun to a wedding. If he had the permit to carry a weapon okay, but then you also need to be vigilant and know how to handle that weapon without it going off.

And yeah, if the weapon could not be located that is a serious breach of security. The weapon needed to be found and the best way to do that is to shut down the event.

Pretend I'm a box.....

I think they CAN sue the person. But if I was planning a $1MM event, I am guessing that the person who created the problem isn't someone who has $1MM. And if he DOES, it's certainly not in BoA.

Maggie0829 · June 2015

banana468 said:

Maggie0829 said:

I guess IMO when multiple people get shot/injured due to a gun going off accidentally the event would need to stop/be shut down because multiple people are needing medical attention so you can't really have the first dance happening while paramedics rush in to attend to the individuals who are hurt. It would seem pretty callous and entitled to basically drag the injured out in the hall, mop up the floor real quick and go on like nothing happened. Then again this couple felt like their wedding got shut down for no real reason so I wouldn't put it pass them on stepping over the injured so that they could move on with their super special day.

But I wouldn't be suing the venue, but rather the person who felt it necessary to bring a loaded gun to a wedding. If he had the permit to carry a weapon okay, but then you also need to be vigilant and know how to handle that weapon without it going off.

And yeah, if the weapon could not be located that is a serious breach of security. The weapon needed to be found and the best way to do that is to shut down the event.

Pretend I'm a box.....

I think they CAN sue the person. But if I was planning a $1MM event, I am guessing that the person who created the problem isn't someone who has $1MM. And if he DOES, it's certainly not in BoA.

Oh definitely. The couple is just projecting their anger at the wrong entity. They should be pissed at their guest, not the venue. The venue has to think about the safety of all guests, not just about a wedding. So to be pissed at the venue who did what was right for everyone in the hotel is just silly. But then again this couple is more concerned that their wedding day got ruined then the fact that people got injured so that alone tells you of their priorities and why they are blaming the venue.

lyndausvi · June 2015

STARMOON44 said:

I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.
Yeah but if they don't have money it's probably not worth suing them.

Or if they are part of the Russian Mafia. Relative or not suing someone from the Russian Mafia doesn't seem like a good idea.

simcal18 · June 2015

lyndausvi said:

STARMOON44 said:

I would imagine the fact that they still hadn't recovered the gun prompted the WA to cancel the reception so the police could control the area better. And they're only CONTEMPLATING a suit against the guest who brought the gun? Dafuq? That's the first person I would sue because it's their dumb ass that caused the problem in the first place.
Yeah but if they don't have money it's probably not worth suing them.

Or if they are part of the Russian Mafia. Relative or not suing someone from the Russian Mafia doesn't seem like a good idea.

True story. I know someone who had dual US/Russia citizenship who sued someone in the Russian mafia in US federal court. The lawsuit ended with this person renouncing their Russian citizenship and never returning to Russia again. I have no idea why it ended like that but I didn't want to ask too many questions about it . . .

lyndausvi · June 2015

banana468 said:

OK, I know the whole thing is ridiculous but I can SORT OF see the couple's side that it wasn't their actions that caused the issue.

I also don't know enough about the Waldorf but unless they closed the entire venue (highly unlikely) I am wondering about the complete protocol for such an occurrence. As in - what do you do when your guest creates a problem?

We talk all the time that if a guest is drunk and makes a scene, causes a disturbance then you have the guest removed. I know that this is not the same as someone being drunk but without knowing all the details, I can sympathize if the couple didn't create the issue, they were hosting the event and the venue decided to cancel on no notice. KWIM??

There are distrubances and then there are disturbances.

Drunk guest throwing up isn't generally going to get an even shut down.

A guest punching another guest causing him to land on a table, breaking it and other guests getting hurt. Then staff getting hurt by trying to break up the fight, well that can get your event shut down.

Even one guest punching another guest doesn't necessarily mean it will be shut down. Once if effects the overall safety for EVERY guest and employee then an event will be shut down.

FIVE people were injured. FIVE. 2 of them employees. The gun was not located. Sorry, but WA has an obligation keep to ALL of their guests and employees safe.

And what employee is going to want to work after their co-worker was injured due to an irresponsible guest? Who by-the-way with help of other guests hid the gun? No way would I want to serve alcohol to any of those people.

pinkcow13 · June 2015

I believe I read somewhere that the individual who had the gun (He was cousin of the groom I think) had a business license for it. So he was only allowed to have it in his place of business, he did not have a permit to carry it around with him. In fact, I could be wrong about this so someone correct me if I am, but I thought that in NYC it's illegal to just walk around with a gun whether concealed or not. As a regular citizen.

I would be LIVID at this individual. I mean, I remember all the planning and money that went into our wedding. If a family member accidentally discharged his gun, and then my wedding was cancelled as a result I would not be happy. I would first and foremost be concerned with my guests, and I do understand why they had to cancel. But geez, when we think of worst case scenarios we think of a little rain, or maybe someone getting too drunk. Not someone accidentally shooting up the venue!

banana468 · June 2015

lyndausvi said:

banana468 said:

OK, I know the whole thing is ridiculous but I can SORT OF see the couple's side that it wasn't their actions that caused the issue.

I also don't know enough about the Waldorf but unless they closed the entire venue (highly unlikely) I am wondering about the complete protocol for such an occurrence. As in - what do you do when your guest creates a problem?

We talk all the time that if a guest is drunk and makes a scene, causes a disturbance then you have the guest removed. I know that this is not the same as someone being drunk but without knowing all the details, I can sympathize if the couple didn't create the issue, they were hosting the event and the venue decided to cancel on no notice. KWIM??

There are distrubances and then there are disturbances.

Drunk guest throwing up isn't generally going to get an even shut down.

A guest punching another guest causing him to land on a table, breaking it and other guests getting hurt. Then staff getting hurt by trying to break up the fight, well that can get your event shut down.

Even one guest punching another guest doesn't necessarily mean it will be shut down. Once if effects the overall safety for EVERY guest and employee then an event will be shut down.

FIVE people were injured. FIVE. 2 of them employees. The gun was not located. Sorry, but WA has an obligation keep to ALL of their guests and employees safe.

And what employee is going to want to work after their co-worker was injured due to an irresponsible guest? Who by-the-way with help of other guests hid the gun? No way would I want to serve alcohol to any of those people.

Yeah - I didn't realize that it was an issue of 5 people being injured. I remember reading that someone was shot but obviously I didn't read all that closely. Seeing all that info it makes sense to me now.

OliveOilsMom · June 2015

I recall some wording in my reception contract that if safety hazards existed, my venue had the right to shut down my reception. So I could see how this could fall under that type of contract wording. I can't imagine that a huge, luxury hotel like WA wouldn't have some type of provision like this in their contract. I can't imagine the B&G will get very far in a lawsuit.

In one of the stories I read about this, it was like playing pass the gun after it was fired. It was passed around to a few different guests to hide it from authorities. So the gun owner knew he shouldn't have had it there. I do wonder that if the gun was recovered quickly, would WA have allowed the reception to continue. But, overall, I see that as being more of the guest's fault than that of the venue.

lyndausvi · June 2015

OliveOilsMom said:

I recall some wording in my reception contract that if safety hazards existed, my venue had the right to shut down my reception. So I could see how this could fall under that type of contract wording. I can't imagine that a huge, luxury hotel like WA wouldn't have some type of provision like this in their contract. I can't imagine the B&G will get very far in a lawsuit.
In one of the stories I read about this, it was like playing pass the gun after it was fired. It was passed around to a few different guests to hide it from authorities. So the gun owner knew he shouldn't have had it there. I do wonder that if the gun was recovered quickly, would WA have allowed the reception to continue. But, overall, I see that as being more of the guest's fault than that of the venue.

I think if the guy fest up, provided the gun things would have turned out differently. Maybe, 2 employees were hurt, they can't ignore that.

By him and OTHER GUESTS working together to hid the gun from authorities what choice did they have? It's already gone off once, certain could have gone off again. It's not worth the risk.

MyNameIsNot · June 2015

OliveOilsMom said:

I recall some wording in my reception contract that if safety hazards existed, my venue had the right to shut down my reception. So I could see how this could fall under that type of contract wording. I can't imagine that a huge, luxury hotel like WA wouldn't have some type of provision like this in their contract. I can't imagine the B&G will get very far in a lawsuit.
In one of the stories I read about this, it was like playing pass the gun after it was fired. It was passed around to a few different guests to hide it from authorities. So the gun owner knew he shouldn't have had it there. I do wonder that if the gun was recovered quickly, would WA have allowed the reception to continue. But, overall, I see that as being more of the guest's fault than that of the venue.

Yup. The guy with the gun got arrested, but another one of the relatives was also arrested for obstruction or tampering with evidence related to hiding the gun.

I think the fact that the gun wasn't quickly located was the reason the event had to be cancelled. I don't see how WA could have gone on with the event with a gun floating around. I'm actually more surprised that it was up to WA.

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