We told Amy our RSVP count was 63 people and to put us down for the minimum catering count of 75. We paid the invoice for 75 and continued with a list of details. We asked for no soft drinks to be served at the wedding. Amy told us that wine would be $10 a bottle and that it would be poured conservatively. She told us that she would be there to set up the day of the wedding and that there would be a cake cutter. She said there would only be enough extra food for about 10 people. The original invoice was paid in full that week and Amy told us that all that we had to pay for after the wedding was the wine.
The day of the wedding, the staff was rude and unwilling to help. Amy went on vacation and did not leave any notes. I asked for more chairs because there weren't enough. Instead of setting them up for me, she showed me where they were stacked so I could set them up myself. She sat there and watched as I set them up. I asked her to turn on the air conditioning and she left it on for 5 minutes. After the wedding, the owner, Don, came up to us and told us that the head count was 116 people. He said they can make the food stretch and if they run out, they will come to us for the go ahead to go get more food. We said to wait and see because we still have to take pictures and some people might leave. Many people didn't realize there was going to be dinner so they left.
The mother of the bride had to cut and serve cake because there was nobody from the winery to do this. The employee at the bar was pouring wine very generously into very large wine glasses. These were being filled to the brim. Many noticed on several occasions that when somebody would get up to dance or talk to a friend, the staff would grab their wine glass and pour it out. When they got back they would have to go get a new one, and we would get charged for it. We left in the limo at 9:30pm under the impression that our guests would be able to stay and dance until 11:30pm like we agreed. When we left, the staff came in and turned on the work lights. They began taking down decorations and told our parents that they needed to leave.
After the wedding, we were told that there were 59 bottles consumed. He also told me that it had already been charged to the credit card the day after the wedding. I found this odd considering we hadn't seen a bill or even authorized a final charge yet. The credit card statement online was charged for over $2,000. 59 bottles of wine should have been $590.
Don called me about the charges. I was told that 113 people had dinner. Only 63 people RSVP'd, 80 signed the guest-book, and at least 25 people left after the ceremony. We never gave him the go ahead to serve more food. So where did these charges come from? Don told me that they had people upstairs counting guests. After asking the guests, they all stated that they never saw anyone at the food line at all, let alone counting heads. Don also said that they counted silverware rolls. This can't be accurate when people are just grabbing extras. Don said that people were eating outside eating because it was so crowded. Then why were there empty tables upstairs? Again, we never authorized more food. Don denied that the whole conversation about food ever happened with a chuckle like it was a joke. He insisted there were people counting. I tried to reason with him for quite a while. I also brought up how rude the staff was to him the whole night. Don told me that he would consult his relatives who were attorneysù and call him back.
He later told me he stands firm on the amount that had already been charged without permission. Don thought that he would be protected under his own harmless & indemnity agreement. What he didn't know is that none of the staff ever made either of us sign the agreement. I told Don that he should try and work this out. He also told Don that it would be easier to just come to an agreement on a lower price. Don stated, "I wish I could." Don is the owner. Of course he can work this out. He told me to get the invoice from the mail and maybe he would drop the service charges.
The invoice came in the mail. Service charges were added to the food as well. Then Don got caught in a lie. I asked Don why there was a charge for 50 soft drinks at $1 a piece. He stated that this was from the count of cans. I then asked him if the soft drink count was as accurate as the catering count. Don assured me that it was. I reminded Don that there were no soft drinks served at the wedding. This is what had originally been discussed with Amy. How can the accuracy of the wine and food be right when random numbers are placed on the invoice for items we didn't have?
The invoice had a written statement from Don. stating that everything on the invoice was stated in the contract. But there was no contract. He also apologized for the staff's rudeness. Admitting in writing that there WERE problems. Don't ever consider this place. read more