It has taken me over 18 months to write this review because if I'm being honest, I was not emotionally able to. My husband, then boyfriend was diagnosed with cancer in May of 2018 and that took us on a roller coaster of a lifetime. September 2019, still going through chemo, he proposed as we had decided and agreed we were not going to let cancer write our future and dictate our life plans. We booked Ranch Austin for our dream wedding for June 13, 2020 sight unseen and paid in full- then COVID happened. This was a destination wedding for us and our guests and due to travel restrictions, and 100% of attendees having to arrive to Texas 2 weeks early for quarantining- We made the decision to cancel our Austin wedding because it was impossible for us and our guest to get there on said day and instead chose a small backyard ceremony at our home with 10 immediate family members to celebrate the day. We refused to allow Cancer to write our plans and did the same when it came to COVID. We moved forward and pressed on.
When I reached out to Ranch Austin to notify them in April of 2020, they were very slow at responding and did so without any empathy for our situation. They offered an extension allowing us to rebook for a date through the end of 2020, which most had already been spoken for. Again this was not an option for us because of our unique situation and I again explained why that would not be an option for us, why we were not willing to reschedule our plans with the uncertainty of not only my husbands life but COVID and requested 50% of our money back (venue was paid in full) as I knew this was also a circumstance out of their control.
Some weeks had passed and I finally got another response from the venue offering a year extension through June of 2021 suggesting a possible anniversary party or baby shower for the future. They argued that we were not owed a return of any kind because despite our circumstances, Ranch Austin would be open and operating on said day and shared no responsibility in the cancellation. By this time I had already cancelled and settled with all of my other venders receiving a partial refund for services also paid in full meaning in order to consider Ranch Austin's delayed offer- I would now have to rehire and pay in full new vendors on top of the loss I already took.
I again explained why that was not an option for us and tried to come to an agreement in which we could receive some of our money back and all communication stopped. I understand I signed a contract protecting them, not me from unforeseen circumstances such as COVID, but all of my other vendors, whom I signed similar contracts with ignored that legal garbage and did the right thing by compromising and returning some of our money under the unique circumstances so that our day wouldn't be a total loss. Ranch Austin did none of that. I am saddened that they feel comfortable keeping our payment in full and still booking other brides for dates we did not use/accept.
I am in a better place now and finally able to share my experience with Ranch Austin as we are happily married, celebrated our first wedding anniversary June 13, 2021 and my husband just celebrated a year in remission this month and will complete maintenance chemo in March of 2022. read more