Coalesce Bookstore/Garden Wedding Chapel

I have owned the Garden Wedding Chapel since 1981. Our business practices are...

well-established, fair & clear. Our policies appear on our website & in all of our written material. In addition, we talk at length with each couple before they book their wedding & are very clear in stating that once deposits are made they are non-refundable. This is an established business practice with wedding venues to discourage the tendency that some couples have to reserve more than one venue until they make up their minds.
The couple filing this complaint booked their wedding with us on February 28th, 2015. There was no confusion regarding our policies or the fact that their deposit was non-returnable. We held their prime time end of summer Saturday date for just short of six months, honoring our commitment to them. We had several inquiries about their date, which we keep track of, but we sent interested brides and grooms on their way saying we were sorry but the time was already booked.
The couple filing this complaint contacted us by phone on August 17, 2015 to say that they had made other plans, were being married somewhere else and wanted their deposit back. When I stated that the deposit was non-refundable, the groom was angry, verbally abusive & threatening. He promptly wrote a negative review of the chapel on yelp and has filed this complaint with you.
The groom seems to feel that two month is plenty of time for us to fill their vacated wedding date. We have not done so thus far and I doubt that we will. Most couples planning to marry, like the couple in question, make their plans months, not weeks in advance.
This is an unfortunate situation. We have never in almost 35 years of business had a complaint lodged against us at the Garden Chapel.
Sincerely,
L[redacted]
Coaelesce Bookstore and Garden Wedding Chapel

Review: My fianc and I reserved a wedding and had a change of plans. We canceled 2 months before the wedding, which gave them an ample amount of time to fill that day and our down payment of 295.00 was kept. This was not explained to us when we chose this venue.Desired Settlement: We would like our down payment of $295.00 refunded.

Business

Response:

I have owned the Garden Wedding Chapel since 1981. Our business practices are well-established, fair & clear. Our policies appear on our website & in all of our written material. In addition, we talk at length with each couple before they book their wedding & are very clear in stating that once deposits are made they are non-refundable. This is an established business practice with wedding venues to discourage the tendency that some couples have to reserve more than one venue until they make up their minds.The couple filing this complaint booked their wedding with us on February 28th, 2015. There was no confusion regarding our policies or the fact that their deposit was non-returnable. We held their prime time end of summer Saturday date for just short of six months, honoring our commitment to them. We had several inquiries about their date, which we keep track of, but we sent interested brides and grooms on their way saying we were sorry but the time was already booked.The couple filing this complaint contacted us by phone on August 17, 2015 to say that they had made other plans, were being married somewhere else and wanted their deposit back. When I stated that the deposit was non-refundable, the groom was angry, verbally abusive & threatening. He promptly wrote a negative review of the chapel on yelp and has filed this complaint with you.The groom seems to feel that two month is plenty of time for us to fill their vacated wedding date. We have not done so thus far and I doubt that we will. Most couples planning to marry, like the couple in question, make their plans months, not weeks in advance.This is an unfortunate situation. We have never in almost 35 years of business had a complaint lodged against us at the Garden Chapel.Sincerely,L[redacted] Coaelesce Bookstore and Garden Wedding Chapel

Consumer

Response:

Review: 10783672

I am rejecting this response because: It was not clear that the fee was non-refundable. The business was given ample time to fill the vacancy.

Regards,

C[redacted]n