HELP - DOUBLE BOOKED WEDDING

Hi,

I am absolutely devastated. After months of trawling venues, we opting on our dream venue back in 2008. One of our main criteria was that we didnt want to share our wedding day with another group. We were promised by our venue that this would not happen, so we proceeded to book the day/venue. Since then the wedding co-ordinator has changed at the venue, and they have never once proactively contacted me.

After a minor issue with my florist last week, I decided to ask another florist in my area if they had availablity for my wedding day. She said that she was actually booked that day, however, she just so happened to be booked by a party who were having their wedding reception at our venue...! I thought there must be some mistake. I asked when the party were arriving, and she said the service was at 1pm at a nearby church, the same as us!!! They were also having their reception in the same building!

I am furious, and immediately booked an app with the venue, where they have tried to reassure me there will not be a clash in arrival times, yet they have only suggested 15 minutes gap between arrivals and I do not think this is ample time, what if one party gets delayed and what about photos outside the main building??

I am hugely disappointed yet only have 7 weeks til my wedding. I am more angry that I found out through a third party and at no point did the venue staff make me aware of his situation, if they had earlier I may have been able to change my ceremony time, but now my invites have already been printed and sent out.

Also now i feel the venue are dictated MY day by telling me when I have to arrive, and how long I can stay at the entrance so not to cause an inconvenience to this other party. I will also add that I am paying double to amount that the other party as I have double the number of guests during the day.

ANY ADVICE? Am I within my rights to ask the venue that I wish for this other party to be moved to another venue, I completely feel mis-sold to, given that our main criteria was that we wanted to be the only wedding on that day.

x

Hi,

I am absolutely devastated. After months of trawling venues, we opting on our dream venue back in 2008. One of our main criteria was that we didnt want to share our wedding day with another group. We were promised by our venue that this would not happen, so we proceeded to book the day/venue. Since then the wedding co-ordinator has changed at the venue, and they have never once proactively contacted me.

After a minor issue with my florist last week, I decided to ask another florist in my area if they had availablity for my wedding day. She said that she was actually booked that day, however, she just so happened to be booked by a party who were having their wedding reception at our venue...! I thought there must be some mistake. I asked when the party were arriving, and she said the service was at 1pm at a nearby church, the same as us!!! They were also having their reception in the same building!

I am furious, and immediately booked an app with the venue, where they have tried to reassure me there will not be a clash in arrival times, yet they have only suggested 15 minutes gap between arrivals and I do not think this is ample time, what if one party gets delayed and what about photos outside the main building??

I am hugely disappointed yet only have 7 weeks til my wedding. I am more angry that I found out through a third party and at no point did the venue staff make me aware of his situation, if they had earlier I may have been able to change my ceremony time, but now my invites have already been printed and sent out.

Also now i feel the venue are dictated MY day by telling me when I have to arrive, and how long I can stay at the entrance so not to cause an inconvenience to this other party. I will also add that I am paying double to amount that the other party as I have double the number of guests during the day.

ANY ADVICE? Am I within my rights to ask the venue that I wish for this other party to be moved to another venue, I completely feel mis-sold to, given that our main criteria was that we wanted to be the only wedding on that day.

x

hi

so sorry to hear all this, did you get a contract from them or anything in writing saying that you will have exclusive use of the venue, if so then they must honour it.

if not seek advice from your wedding insurance company (if you have taken one out - they maybe able to advise on legal representation for you). otherwise try contacting the Citizen Advice Bureau.

I would suggest making an appointment with the Manager - by-pass this new guy and go straight to the top.

Try to reason with them first - demonstrate that you are willing to try to work with them to sort something out to both yours and theirs benifit before putting demands on them and getting their back up.

If you even have a diary or original notes written by the hotel saying exclusive use or if its on an old leaflet or check out their website - they may not have updated it yet if it says exclusive use take a copy of the web-page either print it out or, press print screen, open word then paste - you will get the webpage come up on your word document.

If they wont budge and you do not have anything in writing nor have a contract stating exclusive use then they are not legally in the wrong as far as I am aware but I am not able to legally advise as I am not legally trained.

If this is the case then put the ball back in their court - say you will be arriving at ...... time, that you were told and re-assured you had exclusive use and therefore you expect exclusive use - explain you are seeking legal representation and expect them to find the other wedding party to move.

It will be horrible for the other party too, its not their fault and just imagine how the bride and groom will feel with regards to their wedding plans being in turmoil also.

I would hate this situation to happen to anyone - someones worse nightmare and something I am totally insisiting on when we choose a venue, this will be something I will get in writing before I book the venue.

Good luck, and remember get the legal facts right first, check out your insurance and try to demonstrate fair-play your end first before you get their backs up and start making demands. Also most importantly ensure that any correspondence is in writing, I prefer e-mail because then you can do received receipt and read receipt so you can see when its being actioned hopefully and you will have a proper copy. don't forget to keep any electronic replies just in case you need to take legal action.

good luck

xxx

I am a legally trained! Even if you don't have anything in writing, an oral contract is legally binding. If they TOLD you something which you RELIED on then its legally binding. The difficult bit is proving that they said it.
The old staff member was acting on behalf of the company, and your agreement was ultimately with the hotel/venue.
You are within your rights to ask the hotel to move this other wedding as you wanted exclusive use. What about bumping into the other bride in the toilets? About their guests eating your buffet if the other party is rubbish? Checking the arrival time isn't going to change the WHOLE DAY!
I would tell the hotel you expect exclusive use and want the other couple move (which the hotel will obviously say no to) so you say you want yours moved (to a better hotel and money paid to you to cover your costs in changing the venue and "for your trouble")
They will say no to this too so you say you want substantial compensation for their breach of contract. What you agree is "enough" is up to you.

I have email confirmation from the older member of staff saying there will not be another wedding on the same day, I have also met with the manager yest morning who was v apologetic.

Fully understand your views tobcarter, but feel I have to be selfish as I am spending >15k on a day I thought would be exclusive to myself. I can not think about the other bride to be honest. Call me selfish!

They were apologetic, and said they would have to speak to the other party. I just wanted peoples opinions/views/advise. Fact of matter is I do not want them there so am I within my right to tell the venue to move the other party to a different venue and give them a better wedding somewhere else. In my eyes the venue has screwed up, not me (or the other bride).

awww noooo!

sorry

Let us all know the outcome!

xxxx

Let us know how it goes - but I agree with you, you need to think about you on this. £1000 compensation isn't enough - I'd want a marquee/extra space, free bar for all my guests, free accomodation and a refund on 50% of the food.

i would tell them everything you have told us and let them know how upset you are. if thy told you in writing you're wedding was the only one then i'd kick up a huge fuss! Gx

So I did as you suggested today and emailed them saying thanks for meeting on saturday and with careful thought I think that we are well within our rights to ask for the other party to be moved to a different building on the venue site, or to another of the chains venue.

She rang back immediately saying that she will contact the other wedding tomorrow to offer them the opportunity to move to a different building on site.

Lets see what they say! x

Hope it gets sorted hun. Good Luck x

Glad to hear there is some progress, implying that the venue know full-well they are in the wrong.

You should definitely push very hard for this - I'd be absolutely outraged if my venue did this to me! Especially if I was paying £15k for exclusivity!!! What if the other couple decide they don't want to take the 'opportunity' to be moved to another building?

Also, the venue is going to be making a massive profit from having both weddings on the same day at the cost of your personal 'wedding vision'. You should demand a huge discount or rebate from them.

Maybe start thinking about what you want in return - 50% of dining charges, refund for the 'exclusive fee' (which should be automatic now) etc. Did they say what they were going to do if the other couple didn't want to move/change?

I havent technically paid for exclusivity. The 15k was for my wedding itself. However, I was told there would not be another wedding at the venue on same day. They have not given me a back up plan. Originally we were arriving at same time at same building! Their first offer was to stagger the arrival times by 15 mins!!!!!!! NO WAY.. What if they got delayed??? Hopeless, utterly.

Hi chopperbride,

have you had any news yet??

No news as yet, it is agonising as I only have 67 days til the big day. I have told my parents, who are contributing and they have said they are willing to step in at any point, as they are also not very happy with the situation.

I know the plan was for the venue to contact this other party today and get back to me either tomorrow or Thurs at latest when the manager is back in.

I just cant see how this can really get resolved if they say they wont move, as no amount of money off is really going to change the fact that these other people will be sharing my day. I even found out on Saturday that the other couple will be staying directly opposite the corridor as us! How awful!

awww chopperbride, I hope you hear back soon. I had to change my venue with 7 weeks to go after the hotel booked a coach party into all the rooms and left none for our guests! This was after 2 and a half years notice. Try not to panic, I managed to find another venue which actually worked out nicer for us but that is a last resort. The hotel wouldn't cancel the coach party and told us to book a bed n breakfast up the road - it was a 128 room hotel!!! . They lost a lot of money.
Just want to give you a hug and lots of good luck x