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Furious w/ My reception hall

Original post by TheLadyJ

Over Memorial Day weekend, I booked my wedding for Oct 2009 @ the Swan Club. I knew they didn't take appointments for viewings, but I called ahead to make an appointment for booking.

The girl I spoke with on the phone sounded like she was taking down my information, including the number on the sheet I got my first time there with the price quotes. I told her who I saw, and she assured me he, or someone else, would be available to help me at 9am that Sunday.

When I got there that morning, my fiance and I, along with our parents, had to wait at least 20 minutes. I said I had called earlier in the week to confirm, and was met with 'well, I don't know who you spoke to but we don't make appointments.' Once again, I gave the lady at the front desk my original price quote sheet. When Jordana finally came in, she asked us if we had been there before. I told her yes, showed her the sheet, and she said she needed to go to the office and find the original. She came back 5 minutes later, said she couldn't find it, and wanted to xerox mine.

At this point, I should have left. I should have know this would be a disaster. Jordana was very nice and answered all of my questions. The questions she didn't have answers to (about extra things I wanted), she said she would call me the following Tuesday, and asked what time would be good for me. So, I was expecting her call that Tuesday with answers.

She then started to leave, and I said 'oh, I was hoping to book the place today.' She seemed rushed, because there were other people waiting, but she did print up all the forms we needed and we booked. Alot of things were not on the contract, such as the chocolate fountain during dessert, and other things, like flowers for the ceremony that I did not say I wanted (at $300 more ) were there. When I pointed this out, she said we could come in and ammed the contract at any time to include or remove the things we did or didn't want. I should have gone with my gut and demanded she print a new one, but I knew there were other people waiting and we had already taken up about 40 minutes.

Jordana has not called yet with answers to all my questions. But, starting that Wednesday, I started getting calls from vendors. ALOT of vendors. All of them said they received my information from the Swan Club. When the first 1 or 2 called, I was not too worried, but then I started getting 1 or 2 a day, all around 6pm.

The problem is, when I asked Jordana about recommended vendors, her response was 'If you look at our website, you can see a list of vendors we have a good reputation with.' She didn't make a single mention of the fact that the Swan Club would distribute my name to them.

I called the Swan Club on Wed June 4th to have them take me off whatever list they had distributed, WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, to their vendors. The girl at the front desk had no idea what I was talking about. I explained I had booked, gave her the event number, and I didn't want to be contacted by outside vendors. She must have asked me at least 4 times 'and you're sure you booked with us.' I said 'yes, I booked on May 25th, and since then I have been getting phone calls from photographers, DJ's, bands, florists, etc - all of whom claim they got my information from YOU.' Finally, I guess a lightbulb went off and she said 'Oh, Warren deals with that, I'll transfer you to him.'

Well, Warren didn't pick up the phone, so I left him a voicemail giving him all of my information, and the problem I was having, and I would appreciate a return phone call.

The following week, I continued to receive calls from more vendors, but no call from Warren. I called the Sawn Club on Monday June 9th again and asked to speak to Jordana. They said she was busy but they could transfer me to her voicemail. I asked to speak with someone about the calls from vendors directly, and didn't want to leave a message for anyone. She said 'OK, I will transfer you to Warren.' Well, guess what, I got Warren's voicemail.

This time, I was not nice about it. I told him in plain English that I did not appreciate the Swan Club distributing my personal information to other people. I also said that I expected to stop receiving phone calls from their vendors immediately, even if it meant he had to call them all personally and tell them to take me off the list. I then gave my phone number, again, and asked that he call me when he returned to the office.

No phone calls yet, except from 2 florists, who all said they got my info directly from the Swan Club.

I know my event is 15 1/2 months away. But I would think that since I am about to shell out about $20k at their facility, I could at least get a return phone call. I am a professional, and if I didn't return my client's phone calls promptly, you can bet they would take their business elsewhere. That is exactly what I would do if I wasn't sure I would lose the deposit.

The Swan Club is a beautiful place, and I have heard excellent things about them from other people, including brides who had their event there. But I am worried that if I can't even get a return phone call, how can I have a nice event?

has anyone else had a similar experience?
jerrys girl Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by CD516

Im sorry that your going through this. I had nothing but good experiences iwth the Swan CLub. I believe you should call and speak with Michael. I think he overlooks everything. Im sure he will get this cleared up. As for the phone calls , im pretty sure alot of places do this. Just tell them you are not interested. GOod luck with the SC.



i agree completely with the above poster. a lot of places give your phone number out. i had 4 phone calls from one of their vendors after visiting and told them i visited you already, get your records straight.
Firkx3 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

I have not received any calls or anything. Just alot of mail and email after i joined this website

jen919ifer Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by aliska21


Posted by TheLadyJ


Posted by aliska21

WELL THATS NICE...! i mean seriously...i would be really mad about the rush and waitting and not being proffesional!!!!!!!!!!

watch they will ask you to take this comments out...or delete this thread!



Can they even do that??

Well, that would at least be some sort of response from them, wouldn't it!




yep they can!
i posted a negative review about one of the vendors..and they asked me to do that!!!!!!

or liw just deletes this!




That is unbelievable that LIW will delete it. I don't know about everyone else, but I am here to get honest reviews of places. I think the good & bad should be seen, not just the good !!!
ace730 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

They have explained before that both LIW and the poster can be sued for libel and the vendor would definately win. That is why they ask you to delete it.

jen919ifer Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

Wow that is so crazy !!!! That is why there was never 1 bad thing said about any of the vendors I booked with hahaha. I was telling FH that I did so much research and there were only good reviews. Boy was I misled !

FuTuRe MrS MaZz Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

Well sice i am booked there, i can tell you that right after i booked, i received sooo many phone calls from vendors that got the info from SC and yeah, it was annoying BUT all i had to say was... 'im not ready to book yet, call me back in a couple months...' and ya know what, they left me alone.... even if you have to lie, do it that way.... some i even told that i already had florist/dj etc booked to get them off my back.... no biggie

i would also like to point out that you initally went in on a sunday morn of memorial day weekend... do you know how crazy things must have been at that time for them... cut em some slack... they are human too... i went there a few times on the weekday when they werent running around like chickens with their heads cut off and they were more than accommodating
jen919ifer Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

I hardly got any calls, and the ones I did get I just figured got my name from the cards I filled out at the expos? Maybe put your number on the do not call list so they can't contact you, then it will be against the law LOL

nicopico13 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

I think its all in the way you word it, but I agree it is a little rediculous that you can't fully speak your mind on a vendor. With that said I find the experience you are having with your RH completely unacceptable, you are about to spend a $#!+ load of money there and they should be doing everything in their power to make you happy. I would look at your contract and see what it says about cancellations, sometimes if enough notice is given they will refund the money because they have enough time to book the date. If you put it on a credit card I would call the credit card company and tell them the story and get the funds back. If you wrote a check see if they cashed it yet, if not stop payment! As for them giving out your number, I never heard of this and I don't agree with it either, seems very unprofessional and pushy. My RH gave us a list of recommended vendors and left it at that. We get stuff in the mail, thats about it. You have to go with your gut, if it doesn't feel right, nine times out of ten its not and you don't want any regrets this is your (and FH) day. Trust your feeling! GL

krislee316 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

there is a suffolk law that states if you cancel your RH 6 months before your wedding you get your deposit back. My RH even told us that when we booked. HTH

FuTuRe MrS MaZz Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by krislee316

there is a suffolk law that states if you cancel your RH 6 months before your wedding you get your deposit back. My RH even told us that when we booked. HTH



yeah, byt SC is in Nassau.... they make you put down 3 deposits none of which you can ever get back
krislee316 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by FuTuRe MrS MaZz

Well sice i am booked there, i can tell you that right after i booked, i received sooo many phone calls from vendors that got the info from SC and yeah, it was annoying BUT all i had to say was... 'im not ready to book yet, call me back in a couple months...' and ya know what, they left me alone.... even if you have to lie, do it that way.... some i even told that i already had florist/dj etc booked to get them off my back.... no biggie

i would also like to point out that you initally went in on a sunday morn of memorial day weekend... do you know how crazy things must have been at that time for them... cut em some slack... they are human too... i went there a few times on the weekday when they werent running around like chickens with their heads cut off and they were more than accommodating




I disagree if you leave your RH or BM a message a returned call should be expected regardless of the day or time!!!!!!!!!
ddnsp618 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by krislee316

there is a suffolk law that states if you cancel your RH 6 months before your wedding you get your deposit back. My RH even told us that when we booked. HTH




i actually think that the law states that as long as you cancel it 6 mo before and they book a party with a similar dollar amount then you get the deposit back...thats what my suffolk RH told me
krislee316 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by FuTuRe MrS MaZz


Posted by krislee316

there is a suffolk law that states if you cancel your RH 6 months before your wedding you get your deposit back. My RH even told us that when we booked. HTH



yeah, byt SC is in Nassau.... they make you put down 3 deposits none of which you can ever get back




there is also a Nassau law you need to contact the commisioner dept
FuTuRe MrS MaZz Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

You could also try emailing them... They have always responded to my emails within a day or 2...

TheLadyJ Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by FuTuRe MrS MaZz
i would also like to point out that you initally went in on a sunday morn of memorial day weekend... do you know how crazy things must have been at that time for them... cut em some slack... they are human too... i went there a few times on the weekday when they werent running around like chickens with their heads cut off and they were more than accommodating



I know I went during a crazy day (I could tell by all the people there), but I thought I had an appointment. And it's not so much the fact they were rushed, but it's everything combined, mainly the fact I cannot get a phone call returned.

The first time I went to look at the place, I was already convinced that I was going to have it at The Riviera, but after seeing it and meeting with that rep, I totally changed my mind. I was so convinced beceause of how beautiful it was that I wouldn't be able to afford it.

And as for the person who said all negative things are removed - that is EXACTLY what I was afriad of. I come to this site and I see only positive things and I think 'there must be someone out there who had a bad experience'.

I'm not about to cancel on the Swan Club. I still think they are reasonably priced and have beautiful grounds. People who have been guests at other events say the wait staff is excellent as is the food.

But I just have to be prepared for the fact that I may have to stay 'on their tail' a bit more about things. And because I do want alot of customized things, I fear I am going to walk into the reception hall on the day of my wedding and nothing will be right. I'm not a bridezilla, far from it. In fact, my friends call me the anti-bride because of how easy-going I am with everything so far. But, in general, I just hate the idea of being 'blown off'.

Celeste617 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

Wow, I'm surprised that they sound so incompetent! I've heard so many nice things about SC. I have to give it to you though, I guess I just must be a hot-head, I would have lost my cool with them that first meeting. You are giving them your business!!! No matter how many brides they have waiting, you should always feel like you are their #1 priority when they meet with you! With regards to the phone calls, yes I did receive a number of calls from vendors affiliated with Westbury Manor. Just ignoring them does no good - tell them you have their information and will contact them when you are ready to set up an appointment. Good luck - hope this is the last of the drama that you have to experience! This is supposed to be stressful, but not upsetting!

JC297 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

That stinks. They have been really great with me. Ive left messages and they have always called me back. Jordana has always been helpful. Maybe the best thing to do is to set an 'appointment' with them during the week and go in and talk about your concerns.

Sorry your having a tough time.

BTW, whenever a vendor calls me that I'm not interested in them, I tell them I called the wedding off and I'm really upset and that definitely stops them from calling.
fishy24 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by VickiR510

Well not sure when i booked at the Fox Hollow it was an amazing experience and no i did not have 8 thousand vendors calling me. They gave me a pamphlet of their house vendors with websites numbers etc. But they never contacted me. I did the contacting. As for the phone calls not being returned that would concern me greatly. Thats shows complete lack of proffesionalism. If i had these experiences with a facility i would try to void the contract and find another place ASAP! GOOD LUCK!



Really? You're lucky! I am getting married at Fox Hollow and they certainly gave my number out to everyone and their mother!! It did stop when I asked them to stop doing it, but it was so annoying.. particularly because i was on vacation right after i booked and kept getting phone calls. It does, unfortunately, sound like standard practice, but it is soooo annoying.

Espo22 Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall

more importantly than the vendors calling you and TRUST ME on this, you need to go in person ASAP to get your contract fixed. You said there were things on the contract you didnt discuss, well you need to go now to make sure you get that in writing bc guess what, they will turn around and say we never discussed that. The further away from your event the better it is to do this but don't wait. I also had a situation where we were told something can be taken off but guess what it was never taken off and many halls dont like to change a contract unless you add things.

They don't even remember you booking so im sure they won't even remember details you spoke about regarding your contract so they can turn around very easily and say no that wasnt discussed or no we didnt say that and that can't be changed

the phone calls arent as big of a deal bc like others said this happens to all of us, even i got calls and you always see others complain. But whats in your contract is very important
PreshusSmurf Posted:

Re: Furious w/ My reception hall


Posted by Espo22

more importantly than the vendors calling you and TRUST ME on this, you need to go in person ASAP to get your contract fixed. You said there were things on the contract you didnt discuss, well you need to go now to make sure you get that in writing bc guess what, they will turn around and say we never discussed that. The further away from your event the better it is to do this but don't wait. I also had a situation where we were told something can be taken off but guess what it was never taken off and many halls dont like to change a contract unless you add things.

They don't even remember you booking so im sure they won't even remember details you spoke about regarding your contract so they can turn around very easily and say no that wasnt discussed or no we didnt say that and that can't be changed

the phone calls arent as big of a deal bc like others said this happens to all of us, even i got calls and you always see others complain. But whats in your contract is very important




i could agree more with this!!!!!!!

the phone calls are just a nuisance, you can screen the calls ... tell the vendors you already booked someone, etc., they will eventually stop calling.

the details of your contract are the MOST important issue for you to get settled ASAP!!

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