AIBU to change my wedding reception venue two weeks before the wedding?

[EcoCalc]

Went for the final meeting with the co-ordinator for our wedding reception last night and had a bit of a nightmare time. This is the fourth meeting and we ended up going over exactly the same things as in the previous three meetings. Including confirming our names and the names of best man etc. The menu still hadn’t been finalised because they didn’t send through the details. They suggested the vegetarians eat round the meat, and they mysteriously added £250 to the cost of linen and napkins. Despite having previously quoted for the cost for our 60 guests they have said that the costs have gone up for catering and they will have to send us through a breakdown when they get it worked out.

Apart for the logistics of the day still being up in the air the co-ordinator was also quite snippy and impatient.

We have paid a deposit of £300 but haven’t signed a contract or paid for the meals yet. Would it be outrageous to move the reception at this stage?

I’m not all that bothered about the wedding so long as people are fed and have drinks, but I have a really horrible feeling about things now. I don’t know if it is last minute nerves swaying my opinion, but I came home last night and felt pretty terrible about the whole thing.

Should I just get on with it and hope for the best?

Cancel if you can, you really don’t want to be sorting out there administrativecock ups on the day. For the bride and groom and guests it should run seamlessly and the staff working begins the scenes to ensure it does.

Oops ‘their’ lol but also can you hire a nice hall. Decorate it yourself, hire a caterer and entertainment.

What type of venue would
1- Be available at such short notice
2- Allow you to make a provisional booking for 2 weeks time?

😳 You poor thing ! Just what you don’t need. My DD got married last week and there were some misunderstandings and incorrect information that came to light at the 2 week prior meeting and on the day itself (replacement venue coordinator had old notes ) but not to the extent of not being sure of the menu ( eat around the meat - good grief ! ). There was a separately contracted caterer and there were final adjustments of the bill balance - confirmed numbers and us asking her to do some additional things and provide more evening staff but this tweaking was always anticipated.

Yours sounds disorganised and the snippiness is unprofessional- you are the paying customer and she should be soothing your nerves st this stage, not rattling them.

However, how practical is moving the venue? I am assuming it is only the reception and not the ceremony being held there, which might add another layer of complication. If so - proximity and ease of transport from the ceremony for you and your guests for a new venue ?

Do you know anyone else who has used the current venue - maybe not just for a wedding but for any other kind of function ? Or anyone been there as a guest who could reassure you ? We had recommendations as a wedding for the venue we used but as soon as I mentioned the place, people I knew had been to various other events there and had experienced, positively, the caterers we used.

We have phoned about the local area and have an appointment this morning to visit a new venue.

In terms of logistics the reception didn't have accommodation and the actual wedding ceremony is in a different place. The new place would be the same distance away from the church just on a different trajectory.

If it works out that we can move things to the new place without paying an arm and a leg I wouldn't care about our deposit. I'm not sure how it works with us being liable for anything else. We definitely haven't had a contract and the initial price we had agreed has not stayed fixed. I would feel bad if we have prevented them taking another booking if we pull out last minute but they haven't ordered food or anything so I don't see how they have incurred costs really.

I am not defending the venue but I got married at an extremely fancy venue and had exactly the same bullshit until a week before because, and I hadn’t realised this, venues are only really able to care about the wedding happening that week. They have so many weddings going on all the time that they can’t really focus on your wedding until
It’s next. So it may well get better.

Hope it goes well this morning

OP, check the t&C's on website and on anything you have in writing.