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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Wedding venue late license

47 replies

Philipsmummy1357 · 03/11/2021 20:39

Hi, hoping for some advice / opinions here. I am getting married in 10 days time, and when choosing a venue one of the most important things for myself and my partner was finding a venue that allowed for a late finish time - 2am.

We eventually found a venue that could accommodate this, and were assured when booking by the events management company linked to the venue that the 2am license wouldn’t be an issue as long as the council approved it (which they have). The venue is actually a functioning church (we are only having the reception there, our ceremony is taking place in our parish church), and they use it for events as a money making exercise I suppose.

We today received news that the priest of the reception venue church has now turned around and said that actually, as our wedding is on a Saturday he thinks it’s inappropriate for it to go until 2am as that will take it into Sunday (which is obviously a ‘holy’ day). The events company have been back and forth with him all day but he’s not budging.

We are obviously very upset about this - the entire schedule of the day is based around a 2am finish and we have spent a HUGE amount of money on this venue - which we wouldn’t have chosen were it not for the late license.

Am I being unreasonable to be considering legal action? We are essentially entirely at their mercy as this news has come too late for us to consider taking a refund and finding an alternative. For reference we have a signed contract which clearly states the finish time as 2am. Am I also being unreasonable to think that the opinion of the priest in this instance is sort of irrelevant - I understand and respect his views, but the fact remains that this venue was sold to us on the understanding that we could have it until 2am and we have a contract stating that.

OP posts:
AchyFlower · 03/11/2021 21:07

Is it 2am everyone must be out and the place cleared up? Or 2am the music etc must stop?

shouldistop · 03/11/2021 21:10

If you have a signed contract stating 2am then I'd play hard ball. Could you pay a solicitor to send a letter quickly about breach of contract?

Soupseason · 03/11/2021 21:15

Doesn't solve your problem but if it finishes at 12 your guests will be silently pleased. Noone likes hanging around for the last dying hours of q wedding reception. By 10 most will be thinking what time can I leave without looking rude

Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 03/11/2021 22:12

1.30am last orders, 1.45am music off 2am departure x

OP posts:
Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 03/11/2021 22:14

@Soupseason

Doesn't solve your problem but if it finishes at 12 your guests will be silently pleased. Noone likes hanging around for the last dying hours of q wedding reception. By 10 most will be thinking what time can I leave without looking rude
Hahaha yes - although we have a fair amount of ‘evening only’ guests arriving at 7.30pm (people who we would love to celebrate with but can’t have for dull reception due to seating limits). Also, we love a late party and as it is our day that’s why we went for this specifically - and I have been to so many weddings where I / others have been disappointed when it’s music off before midnight!
OP posts:
shouldistop · 04/11/2021 07:45

@Soupseason

Doesn't solve your problem but if it finishes at 12 your guests will be silently pleased. Noone likes hanging around for the last dying hours of q wedding reception. By 10 most will be thinking what time can I leave without looking rude
Really? A load of us were still going at 4am at my wedding reception. People only started leaving after 1am and that includes the guests who were in their 50s and 60s.

Although a wedding I went to in England people started leaving at 10pm. I couldn't believe it. Maybe it's regional.

RampantIvy · 04/11/2021 07:48

I wouldn't want to be at a wedding until 2 am, but that is just me.

Ihateeveryone56 · 04/11/2021 07:53

All of you saying that you wouldn’t want that for your wedding, good news it’s not your wedding Hmm

OP definitely raise the fact you’ve signed a contract stating it’s a 2am finish. Is there any chance of you being able to speak to the himself? I hope you get it all sorted 🤞🏼

PurBal · 04/11/2021 07:57

I’m not surprised that a church doesn’t want people revelling in the early hours on a Sunday. But you have a contract!! In ecclesiastical law (yup that’s a thing) the priest has ultimate control over what happens on the premises so I’d struggle to know what trumps what.

PurBal · 04/11/2021 07:58

I should say: I hope it works out. This is a shitty situation to find yourself in. But because it’s a church it may not be as clear cut as it ought to be.

maryberryslayers · 04/11/2021 08:00

Why would it matter what the priest thinks? Does he own the building, is your contract with him? If not, just carry on until 2am as you are legally allowed to do. If he makes a fuss refer him to whoever agreed to 2am.

We had a 1am licence and thought it was too early! I definitely could have gone another hour and so could the majority of our guests.

DemBonesDemBones · 04/11/2021 08:14

@maryberryslayers if the reception is in a building belonging to the church, of COURSE the Priest gets final say Confused
op I'm guessing that the huge amount of money has gone on decorations/food and alcohol/music etc rather than the hall itself. I'd phone round all the halls in your area and see if you can swap venue. If you signed an agreement with the 2am finish time the original hall they will need to refund you. I know it's a pain when the invites with the location have already gone out.

Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 04/11/2021 08:25

@PurBal

I’m not surprised that a church doesn’t want people revelling in the early hours on a Sunday. But you have a contract!! In ecclesiastical law (yup that’s a thing) the priest has ultimate control over what happens on the premises so I’d struggle to know what trumps what.
Yes! I understand the viewpoint but at the same time surely it can’t be agreed to and then changed so close to the date!
OP posts:
Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 04/11/2021 08:27

[quote DemBonesDemBones]@maryberryslayers if the reception is in a building belonging to the church, of COURSE the Priest gets final say Confused
op I'm guessing that the huge amount of money has gone on decorations/food and alcohol/music etc rather than the hall itself. I'd phone round all the halls in your area and see if you can swap venue. If you signed an agreement with the 2am finish time the original hall they will need to refund you. I know it's a pain when the invites with the location have already gone out. [/quote]
Yes exactly - although our caterers / bar are all tied to the venue so if we move elsewhere I’m not sure what happens with all of that 😩 it’s a total nightmare tbh. Am speaking to a lawyer this morning so hopefully will have an idea of what we can do then - I basically want to know if the contract is enforceable now, ie can we force the 2am finish OR do we have to go with the new time and then seek compensation after

OP posts:
Sunseed · 04/11/2021 08:29

Can you speak to the church wardens? The building is their responsibility.

Ponoka7 · 04/11/2021 08:30

"surely it can’t be agreed to and then changed so close to the date!"

You'd need a solicitor to answer that. Go and see one asap and take their advice if they say don't pursue it, regardless of what lay people say.

Blanketpolicy · 04/11/2021 08:31

and were assured when booking by the events management company linked to the venue

Of course the priest (or whoever owns the church) should and does get the final say. It will all come down to what has been contracted.

Are you paying the events management company for everything including the rental of the church? If you are paying the events company it was their responsibility to manage their contract for the church for a 2am finish.

If you are paying the church directly you needed a contract with them. The events company would only have been responsible for the license and staff etc until 2am, not their fault the hall wasn't available until that time.

girlmom21 · 04/11/2021 08:34

If you've got an events management company let them deal with all the shit, find a venue that can accommodate and sort the caterers.

JazzHandsYeah · 04/11/2021 08:39

Who is the contract with? Directly with the venue or with an events company?

As PP’s said, final decision will probably come down to the church, but, whomever you have a contract with, and if 2am is stipulated in, has effectively broken your contract and you should expect to have that fairly reflected in a percentage refund on the venue fee.

But, given the choice between keeping the venue and finishing earlier, or having to find another venue at such short notice, which would you prefer?

JazzHandsYeah · 04/11/2021 08:40

Sorry just seen it’s an events company. Totally up to them to sort this out for you.

Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 04/11/2021 08:41

@JazzHandsYeah

Who is the contract with? Directly with the venue or with an events company?

As PP’s said, final decision will probably come down to the church, but, whomever you have a contract with, and if 2am is stipulated in, has effectively broken your contract and you should expect to have that fairly reflected in a percentage refund on the venue fee.

But, given the choice between keeping the venue and finishing earlier, or having to find another venue at such short notice, which would you prefer?

Yep contract is issued by the events company on behalf of the venue - the company are the exclusive caterer / supplier for the venue if that makes sense xx
OP posts:
araiwa · 04/11/2021 08:42

Sounds like an issue for events management company to fix. That's what you're paying them for..

RampantIvy · 04/11/2021 08:46

In spite of my unhelpful comment earlier I hope you get it sorted. It must feel like a kick in the teeth being told this so late in the day.

If the company are responsible for the bar as well it would be in their interests to pursue this because of two hours loss of revenue from drinks sales.

Original poster
Philipsmummy1357 · 04/11/2021 08:47

@araiwa

Sounds like an issue for events management company to fix. That's what you're paying them for..
Yes and I’m beginning to wonder if it’s their cock up in the first place - maybe the priest hadn’t been told until now that it was a 2am finish?! Regardless they’ve basically said there’s nothing more than can do, he won’t change his mind and that’s that. Priest also refusing to speak to us directly.
OP posts:
AtillatheHun · 04/11/2021 08:51

You should send an email to the events company cc’d to whoever at their end deals with complaints (if they’ve given you a name)/ a director of the company. State blunt facts that you have been informed at the last minute that venue will close at X. Clause Y of the contract dated xxx clearly states a 2am finish. Quote any email correspondence before and especially after contract signing where you refer to need for 2am finish and they have acknowledged it - list the emails by date “email me to events lady dated 1.1.20 when I said / email events co to me dated 1.3.21 when end time was discussed / agreed” etc.
Then end with paragraph saying that you are relying on the terms of the agreement and trust that they will meet their obligations in providing a 2am finish. Final sentence “all our rights are formally reserved”.

(You are up to date on all stage payments aren’t you? Also in reality - how on earth do you calculate a loss in money terms? Going to be reasonably tricky as most of it comes down to you not booking it in the first place if it couldn’t do 2am and “distress” - what does the contract say on liability?)