To ask you how to word this?! I've been trying for ages.

[StolenShortcake]

We get married in a few months. We picked our venue because it had a gorgeous big old wood-panelled great hall... I have no family but I could imagine coming down the big stairs by myself, walking up the little aisle and having our ceremony in front of the beautiful window.

We visited the venue randomly in November and they told us that it was being renovated and showed us some sketches. We were both quite taken back, but nodded and smiled.

Last week we went to see how things were going, and although renovations are ongoing, it's clear that we won't get the wedding we were sold. The staircase room now has a permanent bar in front of the window. The room next door is now the licensed room, which is also panelled but isn't half as nice. I can't imagine myself walking in that room, I can't see myself getting married there.

I want to email our coordinator with how we're feeling, and see what she suggests. Any suggestions on how to word it?

It's not clear what exactly you want?

Do you want to cancel the venue and get your money back?

I think that’s probably the problem... I think I’d happily take a refund now, but my fiancé thinks he’d be happy if they upgraded our package as a gesture.

I’d like to meet them and have them tell us what’s happening, when it’ll be finished and what we could do to make this more like we imagined. They haven’t really done anything... they’re even still charging us for staying the night before. It’s felt a bit poor. It’s not hugely expensive but we’re still paying £5k, so it’s not pocket change... we reallocated our budget to be able to afford that hall when we booked in October, and they gave no indication that there would be major renovations before we get married.

What is it that you want from them? Do you want to tell them that the work they've carried out doesn't match your expectations? I wouldn't imagine they'll be able to change anything for you.

Have you paid a deposit and want it returned?

Dear xxx,

Due to the recent work carried out at site xxx, we no longer wish to hold our wedding there on date xxx. As I'm sure you can understand, a wedding is a big day and I feel site xxx no longer fits our needs. I would like to cancel our booking.

Yours,

Name.

Add more details if needed but that covers the main parts I think?

The longer you leave it, the less likely you'll be able to change things.

You tell the coordinator that you booked the place for X reasons after seeing it.

You were NOT told about the renovations that completely changed the venue.

You are not happy.
You don't like the changes that have occurred with being flagged and you want a full refund.

Thinking about it won't make it happen.
You need to make your views and request for a refund known asap.

The look of the place is an implied term of the contract ! By changing it (fundamentally it sounds) you are no longer being provided what you agreed to pay for.
I like wording suggested above.
I would add in many of the reasons you loved it have now been changed and you had no idea of those changes when you booked. If you had known about the redesign you would not have booked it.

I personally would also say something like I’m am sorry they didn’t let me know.

Dear venue,

When we visited your venue in xxxx we chose it because of the relationship between the staircase and the bay window, being particularly attracted to the look of the room and the setting of the window for the service.

Since we made our booking you have, without telling us, undertaken significant remodelling, planning a bar in the window xxxx other alterations that don’t suit you xxxxx.

As the space is not now the space we saw when we booked, and not what we were sold we would like to relinquish our booking with a full refund of the deposit.

Thank you, xxx

QuestionableMouse: except the return of the deposit!

If you cancel completely will you be able to get somewhere else at such short notice?

I agree with your dh. Complain and perhaps get an upgrade but I don’t think cancelling entirely is a god plan.

Dear X

At the time of booking, we were given no indication that there would be significant renovations and changes to the venue before our wedding.

After visiting last week to view the venue again, it has become clear that we will not be getting the wedding we were originally sold.

Amongst other things, I specifically wanted the original licensed room, with our ceremony to be held in front of the beautiful window in that room. That room now has a permanent bar in front of the window and is no longer used as the licensed room.

I’d like a meeting ASAP, where we can discuss our concerns and you can advise us as to exactly what is happening, when the works will be finished, and what you will do to resolve these issues.

Regards

Thanks all, I’ll contact them now!

My ideal would be that they didn’t fit a permanent bar two months before our wedding day, but I appreciate that won’t happen.

But thank you all

The problem may well be if they simply say "no". There is an argument that you were induced to enter the contract by various things, not least the "ambiance". If they do say no then probably you will have to make a decision whether simply to go ahead and sue [later] for breach of contract. I doubt whether - if they do say no - there would be time to raise a claim in court and get it settled by the great day.

This would probably need advice from a solicitor and a county court hearing in due course. Small claims court would not be appropriate.

@StolenShortcake

Keep
All photos of how it looked before. ESP if those images are still online (they may be taken down or already have).

Have you read your contract in detail, for instance does it mention the room by name/description, that would be a starting point for claiming your deposit back?
I’d be upset too, sounds as though the whole style/ambiance of your wedding ceremony would be altered out of recognition.
Hope you can find an alternative venue you are happy with!

I would see first of all how they reply, if it is a definite no then ask if they can walk you through the venue again and be clear on what will be where by the time of your big day, see if there are different rooms where you want things or if there is anything else they can do for you to help you be happier having your wedding there