I had the HIGHEST hopes for Dunham Farms to be the location of my wedding next year. My partner and I have wished for a Savannah wedding for years, and now that it was time to plan, we had our hearts set on this seemingly "gem" of a place that had captured us through photographs and online descriptions. From California, we knew we would have some challenges planning a "destination wedding" but it did not deter us from making the call.
After getting transferred to a "Wedding and Catering" line every day for a week without anyone returning our call, I contacted the "Lodging" extension hoping I could get a live person. The call was transferred to the cell phone of the daughter who runs this mom/daughter B&B. Though it was hard to hear her -- she was on her cell phone speakerphone while driving-- she did apologize for the broken "wedding and catering" line and asked about my wedding inquiry.
When I told her that I was in California and looking to do a destination wedding, she said that they are not comfortable taking a deposit to secure a wedding date without the couple seeing their property first. It seemed odd, as I know many people cannot afford to fly to their destination locations just to secure the date. I asked her if there was any way we could work around that, and told her that we would understand this being a non-refundable deposit. She agreed that she would speak to her mother and would get back to me with pricing through email.
She asked me to email her details, so I emailed her right away with all of the information she requested. I waited a week, but no reply. I then emailed her a second time, asking if she had a minute to respond with pricing. After another several days and no response, I decided to call.
I pressed the extension for the "Lodging" and the same woman picked up the phone. When I said hello and told her who I was, she immediately said she had to go because she was busy but that she "hadn't forgotten me" and would write an email back to me as soon as her internet service came back up. She talked solidly and hurriedly for a few seconds, and then flowed right into "...thanks for calling, goodbye." And then immediately hung up the phone.
I was stunned. I had not said a word after initially telling her my name at the start of the call. She spoke, said a quick goodbye, and hung up the line. Honestly, I thought it HAD to be a recording. Who would just talk on and on, and then say goodbye and hang up quickly without letting the person who called say a word?
I immediately called back. I couldn't believe she just hung up. My call went immediately to voice mail and I left her a nice but concerned message. I was starting to really lose faith in Dunham Farms at this point.
ANOTHER WEEK went by since that call and voice mail, and still nothing from Dunham Farms. Or specifically, that woman. So, I called again for the last time. At this point, I had been trying to reach Dunham Farms for wedding pricing for 3 1/2 weeks. I used to work for an event company and found that to be really unprofessional, but I thought I would try her once more.
This time, I selected the extension for "If you are currently a guest and in immediate need of attention" --- I thought for sure this would get me the opportunity to speak to someone.
That familiar voicemail picked up.
I wasn't about to leave another voicemail; I just ended the call.
Only seconds after I hung up the line, I receive a text message --- you read that right --- saying, (Quote): "Can't talk now. Call me later?"
I am speechless. This is a place of business??
At this point, having a wedding at Dunham Farms is the last thing I want. We had our hearts set on this location that looked like the perfect image of what we have dreamed of for our special day, so this is hard to come to terms with. We are sorely saddened and disappointed.
I am not the person out there writing negative reviews. I know how hard businesses (usually) work to have success and likeability. But this is the WORST customer service I have ever had. I would be doing a disservice to others by not sharing this experience. There may be some lucky couples who had a beautiful wedding at Dunham Farms, but it won't be us. I'm not sure why we didn't receive the same respect it seems others have had, based on reviews we came upon.
Whatever the case, it's back to the drawing board as we try to plan our special day. read more
