When the Venue Closes Before Your Wedding Date...Don't Panic!

Imagine getting a phone call saying that someone had heard that your reception venue was closing…and your wedding is nine weeks away! Last week, this happened to one of our brides.

She called to let us know what she had heard and that she was on her way to the venue with a copy of her contract. We sprang into action contacting venues in the same general area hoping they had her wedding date available.
The past few days, she has visited numerous venues trying to find a good replacement for her original venue that she considered ideal. Not only is there the challenge of finding a venue that is available on such short notice, but she wants to find a location that she loves…and is within her budget. Many brides might visit a handful of venues before making a decision about their wedding location. This organized and resourceful bride visited 40 venues before she decided on her perfect one…and that was seven months ago. And now she is doing it all over again…9 weeks before her wedding. True to her character, she has remained calm, practical and determined.

The good news is that even though her original venue site is no longer available, the catering company is still in business and they will give her a full refund if she is unable to use their services due to her replacement venue’s restrictions.

What are the lessons to be learned from all of this?
1. Try to remain calm. It is human nature that your first reaction will be to PANIC, but take a deep breath and that the dust will settle, and a solution will be found.

2. Some things are out of your control. This may difficult to accept, but it is reality.

3. Focus on the things that you DO have control over…

4. Rally the forces. If something happens to one of the wedding professionals that you have selected, contact your wedding planner or other wedding vendors and ask for their help. Due to their experience in the industry, they will be able to provide a list of possible replacements.

5. Do your homework. This advice is for newly engaged couples who are just beginning the wedding planning process. Thoroughly research vendors and check their references. If you have connected with a vendor and feel that you can trust their judgment, ask them to recommend reputable vendors. Ask other brides for vendor referrals. They can tell you their favorite vendors and which ones to stay away from. By doing your homework, you can minimize potential pitfalls, but also remember Rule #2.

6. Put things into perspective. You are in love, you have found the person that you want to share the rest of your life with…everything else is secondary.