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Original poster

Wedding venue cancelling my menu choices with three weeks to go - devastated

248 replies

Ilikegherkins · 12/08/2022 16:59

I have just received an email from my wedding venue saying there has been a mid communication with my menu choices for my upcoming wedding. I have chosen a three course meal - with the help of the events planner at the venue, printed menus for 44 guests to choose and RSVP, spent hours with a spreadsheet to be able to get my pre order in - which was confirmed by the head chef in February (all choices with costings)

We have a three course set menu for 44 guests - we have also pro ordered lots of wine / beer and will be getting evening food for approx 60 people

I am in complete disbelief. The new set menu they have sent me bears no resemblance to my menu and is £20 per head more expensive

They have offered me a bottle of champagne to say sorry

Does anyone have any constructive advice - I'm a bit heartbroken

OP posts:
thojo · 14/08/2022 14:19

If you both agreed the deal by e-mail, then that is your legal contract, start from this point then to agree a sensible outcome

Rosscameasdoody · 14/08/2022 14:39

LoisLane66 · 14/08/2022 08:22

Food is scarcer and more expensive, chi ken beef and fish too. If you've not noticed that when doing your shopping then ...🙄

But the venue won’t be doing their shopping at Tesco will they ? And it doesn’t make a jot of difference - a contract is a contract and if the venue can’t supply the original menu then they should be offering an alternative at the same price, not jacking it up by £20 a head.

TrevorTalks · 14/08/2022 15:57

YOU have a wedding = YOUR UNMOVABLE OBJECT
They are using that against you. Now IF you have the email trail on the agreed Menu and Price then contact me to talk to them I advise the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), now part of CMA when they made their First prosecution of ABUSE OF A DOMINANT POSITION, Chapter II Offence the Competitions Act 1998. This is NOT that abuse, but I can help you shut down ALL their Bank Accounts legally. Contact them and tell them that IF they try to transfer ANY funds from their Business Account that will be a Criminal Offence since you are going to pursue them for a Criminal Act OR they can agree to stick to the original agreement. They will get stroppy YOU MUST RECORD the conversation then when they give their response tell them this is recorded and will be used in a Criminal Case against them unless they fulfil the agreed contract for the menu and cost. Offer them Criminal Conviction OR YOUR agreed Menu and costs. Black Belt Barrister may not agree but this is a Commercial Discussion. Tell them YOU WILL POST many comments in their favour after the wedding IF it all goes well. Their choice!

prh47bridge · 14/08/2022 16:18

TrevorTalks · 14/08/2022 15:57

YOU have a wedding = YOUR UNMOVABLE OBJECT
They are using that against you. Now IF you have the email trail on the agreed Menu and Price then contact me to talk to them I advise the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), now part of CMA when they made their First prosecution of ABUSE OF A DOMINANT POSITION, Chapter II Offence the Competitions Act 1998. This is NOT that abuse, but I can help you shut down ALL their Bank Accounts legally. Contact them and tell them that IF they try to transfer ANY funds from their Business Account that will be a Criminal Offence since you are going to pursue them for a Criminal Act OR they can agree to stick to the original agreement. They will get stroppy YOU MUST RECORD the conversation then when they give their response tell them this is recorded and will be used in a Criminal Case against them unless they fulfil the agreed contract for the menu and cost. Offer them Criminal Conviction OR YOUR agreed Menu and costs. Black Belt Barrister may not agree but this is a Commercial Discussion. Tell them YOU WILL POST many comments in their favour after the wedding IF it all goes well. Their choice!

Blackbelt Barrister won't agree because this is unmitigated bollocks. The venue has not committed a criminal offence. Transferring funds between their accounts is not a criminal offence. Being in breach of contract is not a criminal offence. What they are doing is not abuse of a dominant position as defined in the Competition Act for the obvious reason that this wedding venue does not have a dominant position in the wedding venue market in the UK.

wellhelloitsme · 14/08/2022 16:56

TrevorTalks · 14/08/2022 15:57

YOU have a wedding = YOUR UNMOVABLE OBJECT
They are using that against you. Now IF you have the email trail on the agreed Menu and Price then contact me to talk to them I advise the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), now part of CMA when they made their First prosecution of ABUSE OF A DOMINANT POSITION, Chapter II Offence the Competitions Act 1998. This is NOT that abuse, but I can help you shut down ALL their Bank Accounts legally. Contact them and tell them that IF they try to transfer ANY funds from their Business Account that will be a Criminal Offence since you are going to pursue them for a Criminal Act OR they can agree to stick to the original agreement. They will get stroppy YOU MUST RECORD the conversation then when they give their response tell them this is recorded and will be used in a Criminal Case against them unless they fulfil the agreed contract for the menu and cost. Offer them Criminal Conviction OR YOUR agreed Menu and costs. Black Belt Barrister may not agree but this is a Commercial Discussion. Tell them YOU WILL POST many comments in their favour after the wedding IF it all goes well. Their choice!

OP this is not an accurate assessment of the situation at all so please don't assume it is due to the confidence with which the poster has said it. Despite all the CAPITALS.

This isn't sound advice.

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 14/08/2022 17:45

I think all the capitals pretty much reassure us it’s rubbish, tbh!

kateandme · 14/08/2022 20:37

Cavagirl · 14/08/2022 09:22

Fully agree

Honestly OP, you will get much further with them having a conversation.

If you go for an officious MN route of "as per our agreement" etc you are a lot easier to be cast by them as a dickhead and it will become battle of who can create a more legal sounding email.

Call them. Tell them you're so disappointed such an important change was only emailed to you. Explain your sadness. Ask them what other solutions they have. Wait for them to propose something. This is all far better over the phone with a real human at the other end feeling massively awkward trying to appease a bride who they've let down.

You take copious note during the call and THEN you write an email with your notes so there is a written record of what was discussed - which hopefully you will never need because you will be able to resolve it amicably.

Good luck!

Show quote history

Deff get it as a conversation.things can be misinterpreted,mood changed,good or bad portrayal mixed up when it’s in text form. You don’t get tone or inflection or reason often via text. Half the time firmness just sounds pissed off and rude!
talking you can catch the tone off each other.you can bounce back and forth and you can also get further along the line to keep talking to a scenor routed person.you can also be lots more persuasive.

Gottoomuchgoingon · 14/08/2022 22:19

TrevorTalks · 14/08/2022 15:57

YOU have a wedding = YOUR UNMOVABLE OBJECT
They are using that against you. Now IF you have the email trail on the agreed Menu and Price then contact me to talk to them I advise the Office of Fair Trade (OFT), now part of CMA when they made their First prosecution of ABUSE OF A DOMINANT POSITION, Chapter II Offence the Competitions Act 1998. This is NOT that abuse, but I can help you shut down ALL their Bank Accounts legally. Contact them and tell them that IF they try to transfer ANY funds from their Business Account that will be a Criminal Offence since you are going to pursue them for a Criminal Act OR they can agree to stick to the original agreement. They will get stroppy YOU MUST RECORD the conversation then when they give their response tell them this is recorded and will be used in a Criminal Case against them unless they fulfil the agreed contract for the menu and cost. Offer them Criminal Conviction OR YOUR agreed Menu and costs. Black Belt Barrister may not agree but this is a Commercial Discussion. Tell them YOU WILL POST many comments in their favour after the wedding IF it all goes well. Their choice!

😂😂😂 ffs

LoisLane66 · 14/08/2022 23:34

...and the word is Immovable, not his silly version.

wellhelloitsme · 14/08/2022 23:59

Trevortalks(bollocks)

VillanellesCoat · 15/08/2022 00:06

wellhelloitsme · 14/08/2022 23:59

Trevortalks(bollocks)

🤣🤣🤣

LookItsMeAgain · 15/08/2022 08:09

Just wanted to come back and wish you all the best in getting this sorted @Ilikegherkins .

Original poster
Ilikegherkins · 15/08/2022 08:13

Just to update. I’ve emailed the manager expressing my dissatisfaction- including a time line of conversations/ agreements made between ourselves and the venue. I’ve asked them to phone me as a matter of urgency. Also phoned but manager not in til later today so will call him back then

OP posts:
Rogue1001MNer · 15/08/2022 09:49

Good luck Flowers

meadowbleu · 15/08/2022 10:54

I’d lead with the fact that they haven’t raised any issues in the months since you booked and only once you’d paid in full for the agreed menu, have they contacted you with a problem.

Original poster
Ilikegherkins · 15/08/2022 11:11

Great news everyone- I've just got off the phone and apparently my pre order had been mixed up with someone else's or my long email about entering a contract and food allergies etc worked they are now honouring everything on our pre order at the same price also crossed my mind that they found out MN was talking about them and they felt a little self conscious- - ,Thankyou to the pub if this is the case Thankyou to everyone who took the time to respond. You have all been fab xx

OP posts:
WeeM · 15/08/2022 11:13

Fabulous news!

Original poster
Ilikegherkins · 15/08/2022 11:14

WeeM · 15/08/2022 11:13

Fabulous news!

Thankyou - Such a relief

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 15/08/2022 11:16

That’s great news! Phew. I hope you have a lovely day. Smile

ClingyClingy · 15/08/2022 11:18

So pleased to read this. Now you can hopefully enjoy the rest of the build up to your wedding 👰‍♀️

Slightlystressedbride · 15/08/2022 11:19

Oh well done OP! Have a lovely day

Arbesque · 15/08/2022 11:23

That's great news. I couldn't believe their cheek in offering you one bottle of champagne to make up for the mess they'd made of things.
Hopefully they've learnt from this experience and won't be so unprofessional in the way they handle mistakes in future.

Arbesque · 15/08/2022 11:25

Also their grammar is appalling.

ApolloandDaphne · 15/08/2022 11:29

That is great news!

1NeedPampering · 15/08/2022 13:58

An email dialogue can be a contract. Look at the detail here and use to bullet points to argue your case. www.icaew.com/library/subject-gateways/law/legal-alert/2018-02/case-law-court-confirms-emails-can-create-legally-binding-contracts

If they argue the chef shouldn’t have agreed anything, your argument would be on the lines of the chef being a representative of the organisation.