HELP! (This is long)

Ok, I'm up at 2:30 in the morning even though I have a final exam in 8 hours because my Caterer is making me lose sleep.

I'm really worried. I'm working with Bill Kennedy at the Harrison House and he's been terrible about returning calls/e-mail/and faxes. We had a horrible time communicating about our tasting-he called on a Friday and asked me to call with my meal preferences by Sat. morning, I called Fri. night and left a message asking him to let me know which courses besides the main course we would be tasting-he didn't call back until Monday to leave a message that our tasting was cancelled (we'd scheduled it 2 months prior) with no explanation or apology.

I e-mailed him in response and said that was fine, could we reschedule, and said contacting me by e-mail would be best. He called that Wednesday to say he hadn't heard from me and sounded irritated (obviously hadn't read my e-mail). Then I asked if he could either correspond with me by e-mail or call my cell phone as I'm not home much-instead he called my home phone.

When we meet him we wait at least a half an hour with no explanation or apology (all 3 times we've met with him). We did have our tasting this weekend, and we had an appointment for 3pm. We came with my FH's parents and grandmother and waited until almost 4 for Bill to come in to talk to us. (The food was great though).

I'm so worried!!!! Plus, ...I just received an FM a day ago saying that a bride had her engagement party there and she's so bitter she can't even think about it. She said: If you're dealing with Bill Kennedy, watch out he will tell you lies and you have to have everything in writing.

I'm thinking about hiring a wedding coordinator to essentially do what he's supposed to do on that day and to go with me to go over the contract before the wedding. It makes me so angry that I may have to shell out more $$ than we have because I can't have faith in the Catering Director who is handling our wedding.

He also won't put in a contract that our guests will have access to any of amenities at the hotel. I know that the outdoor pool closes for cocktail hours and other events (I'm having mine out there), but the indoor pool/pub/raquetball courts etc. should be open. He just kept saying: Your guests will get a list of what hours everything will be available when they get here. Well-that does them no good if the list says everything that they want to do is closed!!

I'm not sure what to do...my weddings in less than 3 months....

I was very laid back in the beginning, but all this money later I'm not feeling very accomodating to this type of thing.

Should I hire someone? Does anyone know how much a wedding coordinator would charge for this type of thing and of someone reputable?

Thanks for reading this long post!

I am so sorry tjat you are being treated like this. It is truly not fair. Is there someone else there that you can speak with? Is it possible to switch contacts there?

I know that there was another bride I think Susans who got married there have you tried to contact her and see what she had to say?

Thank you!

Hope that your BM situation is better...

Susans said she had a wonderful affair, but she did have a different contact. Unfortunately Bill Kennedy is the Catering/Events Director, so asking to switch to someone on his staff I would have to go through him and explain why. I really don't want to sour my relationship with him since he's the Director.

We're thinking about just hiring a coordinator to help us with the last minute details and then take care of things on the day. I'm not sure how much contract negotiation and day-of coordination costs. Maybe this guy wouldn't ruin my wedding, but I don't want to take a chance. It's such an expensive place too-it ****s to have one more thing added on!

Thanks again for the sympathy

Oh that does stink that there is no one else to go to. I don't know if I would like that feeling. I can understand why you are thinking about the coordinator now!

Since I cannot offer you advice, I offer you and feel free to FM me if you need to vent!

Thanks, I may take you up on it. Same here...feel free to vent.

That is so unfair, can't believe you're being treated like this! An you're right, that's a very expensive place, and you're not getting the service that you paid for.
Maybe you should call him and tell him how you are feeling? Ask that he either steps up to the plate, or gives you another contact. And if it stays the same, and you have to hire a coordinator to do HIS job, then the cost should be taken off of the rception bill.

He sounds like a real idiot!

Demand, i repeat DEMAND he put this in writing for your guests not, demand the owner of HH (I hope this isn't him) is it?

Thanks everyone! We were also told that there would be no conferences on weekends they have weddings and now we're being told that we may have some things off limits because of conferences!

I'm hiring a wedding coordinator. I spoke with someone today who will take it over for $700, which includes 2 visits to meet with this guy plus presence at my wedding and taking over the scheduling of meetings, etc. If her references work out I'm going to go with her.

That way-I don't have to deal with the guy, and there's no animosity between him and I since I have to stay at the place all weekend

Thanks for all the support. If any of you have recommendations for a coordinator, please let me know. Oh, AND NEVER BOOK THE HARRISON HOUSE IF YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH BILL KENNEDY!!!!!