Sunday, September 21, 2008

"You have a new venue every time I talk to you" (venue search part 3)



I recently called one of my bridesmaids to chat about the wedding along with all the other excitement in Montana. When I told her that we were yet again on the venue hunt she laughed and told me "You have a new venue every time I talk to you!" as much as I hate to admit it, it's the Gods honest truth. So far you all have heard the stories about Crawford's barn and the Lockeford Inn. I had been holding out the story of how we found "The Place" until very last. However, it turns out "the place" really isn't "the place" anymore.



When we pulled up to the Old Sugar Mill I was in awe! It was grand and lovely looking. As we walked up the steps I felt sure that it was the place for the wedding. So as soon as we got home I started calling I Donna, the event coordinator, within a few days were setting up tours and sending out contracts. That is where the good news ends. The contract sent was $1,000 over the quoted priced, Donna forgot that our wedding was in the off season and therefore also had a an off season price tag. The next bit of the adventure was when my poor MIL (mother-in-law) and SIL (sister-in-law) went for tour and found out that the walk to where the outdoor ceremony would have been was dirty and involoved walking past ladders and huge piles of brick. All in all it sounded pretty darn gross to be honest.



We could have lived with all those things though, right? A new contract could be sent out, the halls could be swept sort of, and if all else failed we could have the ceremony inside the mill. That's when we got the biggest bomb of all. Donna the event coordinator had been fired and Conrad had since taken over her position. Of course, no one called to fill us in on this newest piece of information and we only found out when my mother called to confirm her tour of the venue. I called Conrad and felt sick to my stomach after I hung up. I felt awful about the change and wanted answers; I sent Conrad numerous e-mails asking about catering and vendor changes to which the lovely Conrad never once replied.

So to say the least, I can picture Casey and I getting married in a backyard before I picture us stepping foot anywhere near the Old Sugar Mill again.

There is a happy ending to this story though, I promise.