My very first VENDOR COMPLAINT!

My wedding is pretty much an out of state event bc of FH's guest list. We have people from NJ, CA, MD, AZ, mexico, France...you name it. So I decided instead of just blocking rooms at one hotel, i'd block 2. I chose the Courtyard Marriot in Ronkonkoma (gina is awesome!) and yesterday I went to the Happauge Sheraton and met with Amanda. OOOOOOOMMMMMMGGG! This rant is 100000% about the Sheraton ONLY!
I met with her and she at first only wanted to block 10 rooms. Totally not enough. I wanted 20 blocked, so she 'negotiated' with 15. Then it comes time for me to sign the contract. I asked about printed cards to put in the envelope with my STD's. She'd only give me 25. I had to BEG like a child for 50. She said I would have to PHOTO COPY the rest. Now....this is a very formal wedding. I'll be damned if i photocopy anything and put it in an envelope for my guests. I already tried and it just really didn't look nice at all. On top of that, i refuse to have these cards PRINTED professionally bc then it's even more $$ i have to lay out. I tried to call back today and pretty much haven't gotten anywhere. I don't like their customer service and on top of that, the room she showed me was OK...there was some rust stains around the shower drain (it happens i guess) and it sort of smelled strange like bad rug cleaner or something in the hallway. Does anyone have any other suggestions for hotels (that are nice!) in the port jeff area??? I heard danfords rooms were a little old. I only booked the courtyard marriot bc it is brand new and immaculate and my sister stayed there on business and raved about it.

OMG, that ***** when the vendor doesnt turn out like you imagined it, and then you spend all that time and effort visiting them, Im so sorry you went through all that

If they don't give you more direction cards, and you are forced to make more yourself,. I would recommend going to Staples, and buying some really pretty, textured resume-thick paper...it comes a few colors like white, ivory, rose, gold...., and it may be much cheaper then buying card stock. About 150 sheets will run you 8 to 12 bucks.

Secondly, I've never been inside the actual hotel rooms of Danfords, so I don't know if it looks run down inside the room at all, but I can tell you, for an April wedding.....the ambiance of the water, the neighborhood, the restaurant....you cant beat it....I think your guests would appreciate that!!

We were very pleased with Holiday Inn Express Stony Brook, on Rt. 347 just east of Nicolls Rd.

They also wanted to limit the # of rooms, but we negotiated for them to give us more until a cut-off date 6 mos. b4 the wedding. And by then we had already booked about 25 rooms, so they kept adding rooms to the block.

Ask for Mary Ann.

I totally agree with you about the customer service @ the Sheraton. I am staying there the night before my wedding with my BM's. I also reserved a room for the night of my wedding, but I wanted a different room with a king size bed rather than two double beds. They said no problem until I told them I needed late checkout the day of my wedding. They said I could request it, but there is no guarantee. I explained to them that I was techinically not checking out. There only solution is for me to keep the double bed room. They can't do anything for me, but my guests are booked there. Ugghhh I was so mad because with a few months to my wedding and guests already booked I am going to have to deal with the ignorance.

most hotels will only give you like 25 cards. that is fairly normal---i checked out about 6 hotels before booking mine and they all told me around that number

photocopying them is no big deal, no one will notice or care. i copied them on beige paper and they looked fine.

I had the exact same problems. Not being local myself, I contacted the LI Visitors Bureau.
Isabelle Gonzalez
Long Island CVB & Sports Commission
Email: [email protected]

We ended up with 3 .(Just did tours since our wedding hasn't come yet). We did blocks at the Holiday Inn in Ronkonkama by the airport. It was pretty good, not thrilled with the sales lady but she really did nothing wrong. Rooms seemed fine and the bar will stay open as long as people are there (we have a noon wedding so that was important).

We also booked the Hampton Inn in Farmingville, again they were good, the rooms were very nice and there is a free breakfast.

And just added the Marriott you mentioned as they had a block cancellation. I wish it was sooner because I want to stay there, but bridal party already booked at Holiday.

And all 50 cards to start, and send more cards upon request :)

I bocked rooms at the Hampton in Islandia. It is right off of the LIE. The girl there (forgot her name) sent me 50 cards but also emailed me the template so I can print them up myself. I took the template to Staples & had htem print them on cardstock. There were 4 on a page & then they cut them for me. It was very inexpensive & looked very professional.

I also booked rooms at the Hilton Garden Inn in Ronkonkoma on Vets Highway. I only got 25 cards from them. So I changed the template from the Hampton Inn, with all of the info from the HIlton & changed the logo & them went back to staples & did the same as I did with the Hampton Template. It came out very nice & looked just like the ones the hotels gave us.

I can send you my templates if you FM your email address to me.

HTH!

---

Posted by Dani731

I bocked rooms at the Hampton in Islandia. It is right off of the LIE. The girl there (forgot her name) sent me 50 cards but also emailed me the template so I can print them up myself. I took the template to Staples & had htem print them on cardstock. There were 4 on a page & then they cut them for me. It was very inexpensive & looked very professional.



HTH!

---

Kelly Ann from the Hampton Inn in Islandia is a doll.

I printed my own address and hotel cards. Almost no one's going to give you anything much nicer than a photocopy. I just printed it on cardstock. It was cheap and easy.

Sorry the customer service was so bad -- but the direction card issue sounds pretty standard. I had to make my own b/c the ones my hotel gave were awful, though they sent me as many as I wanted.

ETA and I'm sorry I don't know any hotels in that area. I'm sure you'll find one with much nicer people.

you have FM! LaQuinta in Bohemia, all the way. brand new hotel, all rooms have flat screen TV's, microwaves and fridge's. They let me block 20 w/ no problem. Melissa @ LaQuinta has never been arguementative, she ROCKS! Good Luck

---

Posted by 040508Bride

My wedding is pretty much an out of state event bc of FH's guest list. We have people from NJ, CA, MD, AZ, mexico, France...you name it. So I decided instead of just blocking rooms at one hotel, i'd block 2. I chose the Courtyard Marriot in Ronkonkoma (gina is awesome!) and yesterday I went to the Happauge Sheraton and met with Amanda. OOOOOOOMMMMMMGGG! This rant is 100000% about the Sheraton ONLY!
I met with her and she at first only wanted to block 10 rooms. Totally not enough. I wanted 20 blocked, so she 'negotiated' with 15. Then it comes time for me to sign the contract. I asked about printed cards to put in the envelope with my STD's. She'd only give me 25. I had to BEG like a child for 50. She said I would have to PHOTO COPY the rest. Now....this is a very formal wedding. I'll be damned if i photocopy anything and put it in an envelope for my guests. I already tried and it just really didn't look nice at all. On top of that, i refuse to have these cards PRINTED professionally bc then it's even more $$ i have to lay out. I tried to call back today and pretty much haven't gotten anywhere. I don't like their customer service and on top of that, the room she showed me was OK...there was some rust stains around the shower drain (it happens i guess) and it sort of smelled strange like bad rug cleaner or something in the hallway. Does anyone have any other suggestions for hotels (that are nice!) in the port jeff area??? I heard danfords rooms were a little old. I only booked the courtyard marriot bc it is brand new and immaculate and my sister stayed there on business and raved about it.

---

I swicthed from the Mariott to the Sheraton... i LOVE THE SHERATON but yeeah, they only give you 25 cards. They ended up sending me an additional 30 by accident but Im a dips**** and lost them. (Only to find them AFTER I sent out my invitations)

HOWEVER, i scanned them & printed them on good paper and they came out great... I have tons of left overs if you want them. But seriously, Im sure people arent going to pay any mind to whether or not the hotel info are cards or copies.

Amanda has been nothing but great to me.. sorry you're having issues..

The Hyatt Wind Watch is a very nice *formal* hotel... I think their rate is 121 a night

oh and... I understand your frustration that they only block 10 rooms... From what I was told when those fill up, they block 10 more.

the hotel is huge. I have stressed about it b/c we need at LEAST 30. She has reassured me time & time again, that there will be enough rooms. So far there have been no complaints but we did have some decrepencies about peopel calling the 800 number & being told there were no more double bed rooms.

Apparently it happens in most hotels. My sister had the Hyatt Wind Watch and there were problems with the rate quote.