Venue issue - help!

recipesforme

Hi all,

We are now after discovering that part of the venue has been promised to another wedding party for early afternoon, at the same time as our wedding. I’m so upset as this was one of the only things that was really, really important to me.

We have already paid a deposit so I don’t want to lose that but I will if I have to. We haven’t signed a contract but surely if it states exclusive use on the website then that is what we can expect?

The venue have been great thus far but I’m just so dissapointed by this. It has really taken the shine off the wedding planning. (



I would appreciate any feedback at all on this. Am I overreacting? Should we try to work around the other wedding? I don’t know what to do!!

Senna

Think we might need a bit more details on what the venue layout is, what area the other wedding will use and what area your wedding will use (assuming management discussed this with you when you were informed of other wedding).

Also, you says website says exclusive, in what context is that wrote?

Pistachios & cream

I think you have a right to be annoyed. If the venue advertises as an exclusive venue then unless clearly stated you are right to expect to be getting an exclusive venue.

You say you have not signed a contract but have you any documentation from them? Even a brochure which states the packages available and that is is an exclusive venue should be enough.

Paying a deposit is defacto creating a contract so if the venue lead you to believe it is exclusive then you are in the right. The lack of contract can work for you or against you here if they have not spelled out what is or is not included but your interactions with them have been on the basis that it is an exclusive venue.

intheclouds

If you have booked out the entire venue for exclusive use then that is what you should expect.

Print out the detail on the website (or save the page as it currently states it).

How did you find out about this?

A bit more detail on the context would be good also - if it was just a couple using a landscaped garden for an hours worth of photographs for example then I would say to let them at it.

AoifeCork

Oh No. Is it that the other wedding will just be having a civil ceremony before you arrive and will the hopefully be gone by the time your drinks reception starts? Now that I would particularly not be a fan of. Haul out the contract and take screenshots of the website. If it does say exclusive use and if this was a reason why you booked then there should be some sort of argument on your side. When is the wedding booked for?

recipesforme

Thanks for all your replies - I feel like a bit of headless chicken.
Sorry about the vagueness of the details. I don't want to be too specific because I don't want to give the venue a bad reputation (if it's not warranted)

Their website states "complete exclusivity" which is why we were willing to pay extra. It was the number one requirement for us.

We had given our wedding time as being early afternoon and were in the process of requesting the venue for the night previous to the wedding for some family members when we discovered the other wedding.

Apparently they will also be having their ceremony there too, on the same day in the early afternoon.

Whether they will be in the same room as me or next door doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned. One of the reasons we booked it was the exclusive use. We have been told they will only be there for a short while but, at the risk of sounding like a bridezilla, I really don't want another wedding there at all.
We could have gone to a much cheaper hotel if it wasn't important to us.
In fairness the staff have been nothing but lovely up until now. I'm hoping this can get sorted. It just all feels a little underhand and I feel like I'm being put in the position where I have to be a b*tch for something I didn't even conceive of as being an issue

intheclouds

If you booked it for exclusive use you are entitled to exclusive use.

What are the venue saying about it?

Milly33

You really need to sit down with then.. So nasty of them to do this,but unfortunately that's weddings for you..

We came across lots of places like this, saying you would have exclusive use of the hotel for your wedding. Yet when you wanted to have the ceremony there it was extra, if you didn't pay for the bar extension then you could not use the residents bar although you have exclusive use of the venue??

Exclusive means very little unless you get it down on contract... Ye should not loose the deposit if ye haven't signed anything to say so?

Maybe arrange a meeting asap and talk through exactly what times this other wedding will be happening and what rooms etc

Wabbit Ears

According to the OP there is no time conflict. She wants the hotel exclusivly all day even before her reception starts. While her wedding is going on the other party will not be there.

Am I reading that right OP?

lazygal

Nope wouldn't be happy with this. We also choose a venue based on the fact it'd be ours for the day. If they promised exclusively that's what they should provide. It isn't bride zilla to expect to get what you're promised. It sounds like they're trying to squeeze an extra booking out of the venue or double booked by mistake and now are making out like it isn't an issue.

recipesforme

So it turns out, after a very civilised chat with the venue, they are going to give us the exclusive use! Apparently, they hadn't booked in the other wedding but thought that we might be open to the idea as it wasn't in the same reception area as ours.
I told them it would be an issue for me and they said they totally understood and would let the other wedding know.
Thanks for all your replies - I really appreciate them

Milly33

Alls well then..great delighted you worked it out

Gatica

Im glad it's resolved. However, I still find it odd that although they offer the venue for exclusive use that they still chance their arm in the odd chance you might not find out or care if there's another wedding going on there.
If it's exclusive, then it should be that, without you having to go around finding this out for yourself!
Anyway, hope you've a wonderful wedding there.