Orchard House Bed & Breakfast Reviews

Oh Tanya, if you are going to tell a story you need to tell the whole story. Out of 46 weddings, you are only the second bride to be unhappy. I could let those numbers and previous reviews speak for themselves, and I almost did. However, some of the claims you are making are false and borderline defamation. Not to mention that you rated us poorly and spread this review on every social outlet you could. Almost as if you were trying cause damage to us in some way. So, some clarifications, story gap filling, and fact-stating – step-by-step.

Three weeks before your wedding, you notified me of an increase of over 20% in the number of guests. This pushed you into the next event pricing tier, which would have been an additional $2500 for the event. However, I offered to only charge the add-on-people fee that we use when calculating weddings over 150 guests, an additional fee of $800. You still were not satisfied with that, so I only charged you $250 for additional time and clean up. I ordered more tents, chairs, tables, and linens and gave them to you at cost. So, going into this, you were receiving a substantial discount.

On Wednesday the tents were to be delivered, it had been raining heavily for 4 days before, and the property was saturated. I texted a drawing of my recommended tent position based on the land. After 5 different sketches and 15 text messages, you stated that you wanted the dance floor covered. I advised you that the left side was “partially mud, wood chips and sparse grass”. You reiterated that you wanted the dance floor covered. I said that I would do the best I could to do that, and not have the guests sinking in mud. That was the end of the thread.

Forward to Friday. You and your family showed up late in the afternoon. There were a lot of complaints about the tent position and its placement over the wet area (by far not the wettest area, but not the driest either). I repeatedly apologized and said that it was my understanding of what you wanted per our texts. I was bombarded with insults to my intelligence, my business, and the same for the rental company, from several family members, as well as you and Sean. I was even threatened with a lawsuit. Yes, I did walk away on two instances, since your family was more interested in insults rather than solving the issues. Defending myself and being loud was not going to fix anything. I talked to the rental company twice to see if they would be able to move the tents or allow us to move the tents; neither were possible. I offered to cover the entire 40x60 area in wood chips, approximately 4 cubic yards. You and your family went to dinner to discuss your options, then texted me at 5:29pm saying you wanted the wood chips. The supplier closes at 5 on Fridays.

Clarifications: I was never out buying sugar shakers or at a garage sale. My wife was in Springfield Thursday and Friday helping with an estate sale for a family member that has passed away. She brought me home the shaker. Also, I have no idea what you are referring to about me sitting under a tree reading. That's either a misunderstanding of a situation or a fabrication. I'm not even sure when this was supposed to have happened.

I served breakfast early, at 7:30, on Saturday so I could go and get the wood chips asap. You and Sean talked to me at breakfast to let me know your final set-up plans. I left to buy wood chips. Your father chose to buy 20 some bags of pine shavings (animal bedding) in the meantime and without talking to me before-hand. Your family set-up the tables and chairs outside of the tent area. Incidentally in almost the exact spot that I had originally suggested in my first text on Wednesday. Setup is a one hour job for one person. I've done it many, many times. I'm sorry if your six family members were put out by all of the extra work since I was occupied. Your family helped spread the wood chips, I did not ask for the help from them. I thanked them explicitly. Your father then **** chose to cover the wood chips with the pine shavings. At this point you declined to have me get a second load of chips and to leave the tables on the lawn next to the tents. I helped the family to set-up the catering tables, bar area, and DJ area under half of the tent. It is not my responsibility to decorate tables, set-up the bar area (since you rented that on your own) or the plates, glasses, etc. (also your rentals), lights, DJ equipment, etc.

Yes, we did serve ourselves leftovers from the taco bar. Only after your entire wedding, both DJs, and bartenders had all eaten. If we over-stepped our bounds on this one, I apologize. Usually its common courtesy for the host to be offered food. I also took two cupcakes later in the evening when everyone was dancing. Neither I, nor my family, however, had a single drink from your bar. You can verify this with your bartenders.

The contract reads that the final payment is due on the event date after a joint walk through. You claim that you could not find me, but I was either in the tent area or in the kitchen in the B&B. Besides, you both have my cell number. I checked with my credit card processor to verify that your card on file was charged at 12:38 pm, approximately a half hour after you left my driveway. I itemized the final bill to you at that time and sent it in an email. You contacted me 9 days later to go over the bill and email.

You mention the broken antique, which was propped up in the corner, so someone knew it was broken. You fail to mention the other items that were in violation of your contract. Namely over 40 zip ties, and same amount of twist ties, that were discarded in the grass and pine shavings that needed to be collected; failure to clean up the flower decorations in the pines; 2 sleeves of compostable cups were provided to the bar area out of my stock (they ran out); and failure to clean up pine shavings spread in two areas in the pine chapel. Per your contract, the collection of these things could have very easily resulted in a $250 damage/clean up fee from me. I did not charge you this fee. I covered all of this in an email when you asked for a partial refund of your money.

I do recommend that my couples hire an event planner. It certainly helps with the communication aspects and reducing the work load on the families. You, having planned large events for your company, does not make you an expert. There will always be issues with a wedding, sometimes tiny, sometimes large. The vast majority of the time, everyone works together, and the event comes together in a cohesive package.

It is interesting that the only other bride that I have had a negative review from also made changes in the last weeks before the wedding, also claimed to have experience planning events, also could not delegate tasks or let things happen without their direct involvement, and also asked for a refund, finally leaving a bad review in several places as revenge for not getting one. I seriously doubt that a mere $250 would have changed anything in either case. If I think it would have, I probably would have paid the refunds. I always strive to act with integrity and as a professional, but in the end, bad behavior should not be rewarded and sometimes you take some lumps for standing your ground.