My letter to the bus line after my wedding:
Hello,
I wanted to report a truly frustrating experience I had with your bus line on my Wedding night. It was the only thing I consider to have gone wrong at my event.
I had spoken on the phone with Corey three times prior to the wedding, discussed the plan of action and confirmed the number of people who could be on the bus on each occasion. I was rather rudely informed the night of that Corey is not the owner and Corey was "not here right now."
We had discussed that the bus would arrive at 10 p.m. (because I, under no circumstances, wanted to be waiting on your account) but that people would not be boarding the bus until around 11:30 p.m. - I did not know when exactly, hence I asked that the bus arrived early. I was told the bus driver must be paid before anyone BOARDED the bus and I agreed to pay for 5 hours from 10 p.m. until 3 p.m.
Around 10:30 p.m. I was REMOVED from my reception, of 200+ people, to go speak to the bus driver because, and I quote from 2 different people "He is outside freaking out." And indeed, he was. He needed to be paid RIGHT then, didn't matter that we had committed and signed a contract to pay for the time he spent sitting there, he "couldn't just sit around." Direct quote. Honestly, to the contrary, that is what I ultimately was paying him to do. Weather he received the money while he waited or right before the group boarded - I am unsure why it was such a large issue for him. I would have paid in advance had I known, and I did ask Corey if that was preferred and was told not to worry about that or a deposit. The driver was extremely rude and absolutely unapologetic that I had left my reception to speak with him, actually yelling at me because he had "called me several times and left me a voice mail." If you don't understand why I did not answer my phone for his majesty, well, you've never been the bride at a wedding with 200 people in attendance.
After my wedding coordinator resolved the issue with this man, as I was getting absolutely nowhere and was nearly in tears from frustration, everyone boarded the bus around 11:30 - as planned. NOT as planned was an issue with the number of people. I was told by Corey THREE times that this bus sat 35 but could fit about 50, essentially that we could fit as many people as there was standing room. I was extra sure to CONFIRM this with you so many times because, we have no shortage of friends. I made a list of 50 people. The bus driver started telling people we were at capacity and shaking his head saying "no, it only sits 35" when the bus wasn't even full, and when I begged him that I had spoken with Corey about this, confirming, he informed me that "Well actually Corey is not the owner" and that we could call him but he wouldn't answer - and no answer we got. I nearly had to get on my knee's in my WEDDING DRESS to BEG this man to allow more people on the bus. He was not happy about it, and it was only after I said "please sir, this is my wedding" nearly FIVE times that he said "fine, but I could get in a lot of trouble for this." After begging and being made feel liable for something that I had CONFIRMED three times with your company - I was not happy. This man was not nice to anyone, he was not reasonable or understanding or apologetic and offered no explanations except for essentially that Corey either could not have advised me of that, that what Corey said was irrelevant or that no one told him that plan so I must be lying. I fell asleep on the bus and I did not look at the driver on my way out.
We had over $200 set aside for our drivers tip. I am not apologetic in saying that I am unsure how much he was tipped - I don't feel bad about it. Yes, I worked in the food service industry for 7 year prior to going into advertising and I am fully aware of the importance of tips. Unfortunately, unless your company could possibly offer me any explanation for this incident, I assure you you will lose far more than $200 worth of business in the future from myself and the 50+ people who were witnesses to this situation. It is a truly unfortunate circumstance as I am generally overzealous about blasting my good reviews of companies which I endorse. Corey was so fantastically accommodating on the phone, he truly made me feel as if everything would be great and I wouldn't have to worry. Of course, I do worry, which is why I confirmed three times. And of course, I should have worried, even though it did absolutely no good this time.
A very busy and frustrated newly wed, read more