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Cynthia
Dedicated May 2021

Am i exaggerating??

Cynthia, on March 12, 2021 at 3:48 PM Posted in Planning 0 25
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Hey Ladies!

We are 8 weeks away from wedding day. On Feb 2nd I had told our caterer we cut our guest list back to 10. We had made a deposit of $2,500 for our original wedding of 200 back in 2019. But due to covid and such we decided to just do a mini wedding. Well here we are in March and have not heard a word from them! They are still open. Their Facebook page is active replying to comments. We posted a question on their page, no response. I've emailed them 5 times trying to get a new invoice for our mini wedding and obviously a refund of our original deposit. We call no answer.
We live out of state so going there is an option but I don't know how to feel. Is it reasonable to just show up? Am I exaggerating? Btw. Before we cut back I would email and get a response within 3 days. So over a month is unusual. My fiance even left voicemails and no call back. Please help! I'm frustrated!!

25 Comments

Latest activity by Zara, on March 27, 2021 at 9:23 PM
  • Katie
    VIP August 2020
    Katie ·
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    Hi Cynthia, I don’t think you are overreacting at all. If possible, I would show up in person or if you have a local family member to go to the place of business in person on your behalf.
    I showed up to my venue unannounced due to lack of communication to only find out there was no place for my ceremony. It ended up working out in the end, but thinking about it still makes me angry. I wouldn’t wish last minute issues on any bride. Good luck!! ❤️
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  • Yasmine
    Master October 2020
    Yasmine ·
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    I would most definitely just pop up at their shop especially with the wedding being only 8 weeks away. Have you finalized your menu already? That is weird that they aren't responding in over a month.

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  • Lisa
    Rockstar July 2022
    Lisa ·
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    I don't think you are overreacting at all! Over a month with no communication from them is unacceptable, especially since your wedding is coming up so soon. Is there a way for you to call them from a number other than the one they have on file for you? Or have a friend reach out to them on social media to setup a phone call with them (and then you be on the phone call with your friend to try to get some answers from them)? Does your current contract say that the deposit is refundable, or did the caterer say that they'd refund it? If so, maybe tell them you're considering legal action if they don't reply? If possible, I would just show up at their location.
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    I'm sorry that happened! You get my frustration, it adds more to the stress of planning! Ahh! Thank you, so unprofessional to just ignore tho!
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    Thank you! We have not finalized anything. I was waiting for him to send a new invoice of the proposed menu for our party of 10 and nothing. I've been stressed about it all week. And it's Friday we've called everyday of the week.
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    Thank you Lisa for validating my feelings. I don't want to be a bridezilla but also it's uncool to be ignored. For weeks too!! My husband has a work phone that we called from and they don't have that number on file. I didn't think to leave a voicemail with that number. Probably our next step. And yes our contract says it's refundable. And he even ackntowledge that we would get majority of our refund back in one of the emails.
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    Finance called from HIS work phone. THEY FINALLY ANSWERED!!!!!
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  • Lisa
    Rockstar July 2022
    Lisa ·
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    Yay!! Glad you were able to get in contact with them. Hopefully you'll be able to get everything resolved!
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  • M.
    Dedicated July 2021
    M. ·
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    I don't think you're overreacting at all! I would be very much not pleased too. Idk how far away you are from the caterers business, but I would probably start posting on their FB page's wall / whatever public space you can find (google reviews?) and just make it really public that hey, both my FH and I have been trying to reach you and nobody has responded to multiple contact attempts over the past month... Idk what else 😅


    It's kinda risky because they may get miffed, but honestly they need to respond to you, like you've hired them to provide a service at an important event and they can't just ignore you. And if they do reach out finally you can always update or remove a review 🤷🏼‍♀️

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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    Does your original contract say you can cut back so far and still get your money back? If they think you are not holding to contract terms, they may well not give you any changes, or offer to do a dozen for the original price of 50, 25% of the original contract, unless it says you have rights. Get out the paperwork!
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  • D
    June 2021
    Dj Tanner ·
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    I would drive/fly there! You wedding is on 8 weeks dude! These venues suck. They should at least return your call
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    Hi Judith. I've read the contract and it doesn't say anything as such. It only states we must cancel or finalize headcount 15 days prior in order to receive full refund. And after 15 days it's 50%.
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  • J
    Master 0000
    Judith ·
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    You may need to have something sent to them, signature required, to document just how far you are from the event, trying to let them know with ni success. It could be an innocent thing, one or mire sick people, people taking care of kids due to no school, and so many cancellations they are only working part time. But they could be trying to run down the clock and not respond, hoping that as restrictions ease up, you will increase size again. You do need something to get an acknowledgement of your contract and new numbers. It is unusual to have a place that seats 200 that does not put a minimum of at least 125, no matter how many attend. But if no minimum is in your contract, they need to deal with you. Good Luck!
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  • Cynthia
    Dedicated May 2021
    Cynthia ·
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    Yes I agree, this place is a restaurant that does catering on the side, so all those could very much be a possibility. Wedding is in AZ so I need to see what their restrictions are. We called off of my fiance's phone this afternoon and they finally answered. They said they will draw up new invoice and contract this weekend. Hoping they keep their word. Or we will be visiting them! Thank you, I was very stressed all week.
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  • K
    Beginner July 2022
    Kelly ·
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    Girl, you are not overreacting. I think you're an angel for not going all bridezilla on them already. I am so glad they got back to you.

    Just for your security, make sure you document for your purposes every communication/contact attempt with them, related to changes made due to COVID-19. Just have a running Word/Google Doc in case.

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  • Katie
    VIP August 2020
    Katie ·
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    Thank you! Yes, we were shocked that they were more concerned about just telling us the truth and had they just told us we would’ve had a few weeks rather than 10 days. I couldn’t imagine doing that to a client, but it sadly happens. I’m so glad they picked up and hopefully will send info this weekend!! ❤️❤️❤️
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  • Kari
    Master May 2020
    Kari ·
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    I think you are totally within reason to want and expect a response and better communication.

    However, have you checked your contract for cancelation, rescheduling, or refund policies? Its possible your caterer will not refund your deposit because you chose to downsize your wedding (even if it is because of Covid). If you kept the same date and the wedding is in 8 weeks I would absolutely do everything I could to get some sort of response from them, but don't be surprised if a refund of your $2,500 deposit is not part of the conversation. You should be asking for clarity and confirmation that they know the wedding has been downsized. Leave out anything about refunds when you reach out to them. You may have better luck if you take the approach "we just want to be sure you know we are having this # of people on this date at this location" vs "we want our money back."

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  • Michelle
    Rockstar December 2022
    Michelle ·
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    The lack of communication is completely unprofessional and unacceptable. If after that many attempts there is no response, eat the deposit and go elsewhere asap.

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  • M
    Beginner March 2021
    Marissa ·
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    I had to actually stalk the owner of my catering company to call his personal cell phone just to receive a response after calling and emailing for three months, just to hear back from them a month before the wedding. Now my DJ isn’t responding and I have not seen a finally invoice and my wedding is 6 days away. I completely understand your frustration - it feels really unprofessional and adds so much stress to our plate! Do you have a coordinator? Mine through the venue was able to help a little since I am also out of state and she’s on site to reach them.
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  • Bird
    Super June 2021
    Bird ·
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    My venue did not respond to me for months and so we just showed up. It did the trick.
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