Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

My fiance and I also cancelled our 9/26 wedding there (JUST before our 8 month mark-we better get our 5k back) and we re-booked at Milleridge Cottage! So relieved.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

Hi Everyone. We're also one of the booked weddings (summer), and very conflicted on our next move. How many of you are (who are still booked) are considering leaving?

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

Also, is anyone planning on going to the court hearing on February 7th?

Thatched Cottage Brides

I am getting married August 3,2014 and after a lot of consideration and talking to the owner and Maureen and our family we have decided to stay with TC. I do get worried, I am not paying anymore than the deposit until 2 days before the wedding. I am not able to attend the hearing on February 7th bc of work but I will call Ralph directly afterwards. He did give his cell phone number to directly talk to him with any concerns. I fell in love with TC after looking at many halls. I would be disappointed not having my wedding there.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

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Posted by rcotter90

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Posted by LGibson

Hi,
This is Lance, I am new to LI Weddings but my fiancé Richard and I are getting married on September 6th and our reception is at Thatched Cottage. I too was concerned I called and spoke to the owner and I am confident that all will go as planned. Seems like this is a strategic business move and has little to do with daily operations and quality. As a matter of fact the bankruptcy court is sending me a letter securing my money and date.
They have been there a very long time and I feel a great sense of comfort and trust. We are not going to lose sleep. Call and speak to the owner, you will feel better.

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THIS! Thatched Cottage was a customer of mine when I worked at a bank and this is NOT the first time they've filed for chapter eleven. It's more than likely a strategic business move. I was planning to look into TC this summer when I start my venue search. The owner tends to be a bit shady but is very business savy and knows what he's doing. He also owns jellyfish which is doing supremely well so I wouldn't worry too much ladies. Of course that's easy for me to say when I haven't given them thousands of my dollars. Just try to stay positive and keep in touch with them to the point of annoyance!

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did you work at Bethpage? I was going to say the same thing about TC

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

I'm glad to see that people are sticking it out. My gut tells me to do the same, that the bankruptcy issue will clear itself up. My biggest concern is the $630,000 in unpaid sales tax...

Has anyone canceled within eight months? Did TC threaten to come after you for the contract (owe the minimum guaranteed services)?

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

My good friends are having there wedding there in July-I am hoping for them it is still open. We are all very concerned. Since it is 8 months out they could lose their deposit. As of now, they are planning to stay there.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

hi everyone, i just wanted to update you on my recent meeting with ralph (i have a wedding at TC july 12). i posted earlier about sticking it out with TC, and i am continuing with that and have no plan to cancel. i love the place, and the food is great, and after meeting ralph in person, i can really tell TC is genuinely is life and that the chapter 11 was to give the business breathing room before FEMA money came in (which it is, just not sure when- it could be next week or 4 months from now - hence the reason for filing chapter 11 - but the loan was approved). also, i asked him about the $630,000 in unpaid sales tax, and he said that was a misquote in the paper. apparently, that figure comes from a 10-year audit they did and doesnt reflect the actual amount he owes, which is much less (forgot the exact number, but its like $150,000 or something)

as i'm sure many of you in the same situation with 2014 weddings booked at TC are in and how uncertain u feel, i just wanted to let you know that after the in-person meeting, i feel a lot more reassured with my initial gut decision of going with TC. we now don't have to pay for everything until 3 days before the wedding. also, ralph's daughter is getting married at TC on june 1, 2014 - so i'm pretty confident the place will be standing then! i asked him about 'plan b' options - like whether in the event TC closed between june 1 and july 12, we could have the wedding at Jellyfish, or even catered offsite at my parents' house by his people. he told me not even to consider those options and that he would be operating like usual. they have enough money held in escrow to cover all the booked events for the year.

anyway, i hope this information helped anyone who is in a similar situation. i really, really like TC, and i know it will all work out in the end!

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

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Posted by emilyj

hi everyone, i just wanted to update you on my recent meeting with ralph (i have a wedding at TC july 12). i posted earlier about sticking it out with TC, and i am continuing with that and have no plan to cancel. i love the place, and the food is great, and after meeting ralph in person, i can really tell TC is genuinely is life and that the chapter 11 was to give the business breathing room before FEMA money came in (which it is, just not sure when- it could be next week or 4 months from now - hence the reason for filing chapter 11 - but the loan was approved). also, i asked him about the $630,000 in unpaid sales tax, and he said that was a misquote in the paper. apparently, that figure comes from a 10-year audit they did and doesnt reflect the actual amount he owes, which is much less (forgot the exact number, but its like $150,000 or something)

as i'm sure many of you in the same situation with 2014 weddings booked at TC are in and how uncertain u feel, i just wanted to let you know that after the in-person meeting, i feel a lot more reassured with my initial gut decision of going with TC. we now don't have to pay for everything until 3 days before the wedding. also, ralph's daughter is getting married at TC on june 1, 2014 - so i'm pretty confident the place will be standing then! i asked him about 'plan b' options - like whether in the event TC closed between june 1 and july 12, we could have the wedding at Jellyfish, or even catered offsite at my parents' house by his people. he told me not even to consider those options and that he would be operating like usual. they have enough money held in escrow to cover all the booked events for the year.

anyway, i hope this information helped anyone who is in a similar situation. i really, really like TC, and i know it will all work out in the end!

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Thank you for the update

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

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Posted by JaimeLin

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Posted by rcotter90

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Posted by LGibson

Hi,
This is Lance, I am new to LI Weddings but my fiancé Richard and I are getting married on September 6th and our reception is at Thatched Cottage. I too was concerned I called and spoke to the owner and I am confident that all will go as planned. Seems like this is a strategic business move and has little to do with daily operations and quality. As a matter of fact the bankruptcy court is sending me a letter securing my money and date.
They have been there a very long time and I feel a great sense of comfort and trust. We are not going to lose sleep. Call and speak to the owner, you will feel better.

---

THIS! Thatched Cottage was a customer of mine when I worked at a bank and this is NOT the first time they've filed for chapter eleven. It's more than likely a strategic business move. I was planning to look into TC this summer when I start my venue search. The owner tends to be a bit shady but is very business savy and knows what he's doing. He also owns jellyfish which is doing supremely well so I wouldn't worry too much ladies. Of course that's easy for me to say when I haven't given them thousands of my dollars. Just try to stay positive and keep in touch with them to the point of annoyance!

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did you work at Bethpage? I was going to say the same thing about TC

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No, TD. They switched when the Northport branch opened. I spoke with one of the supervisors, a former coworker and friend of mine this weekend about this whole thing since FH and I were VERY interested in looking into TC and he said not to worry but also be cautious about booking in the future. Don't put down too big of a deposit, negotiate any contract so that you can get out of it in the event of anything like this again, etc. A lot of people like to pay off over time, just so you don't have a large payment right before the wedding, but if the venue allows it, pay as minimal as possible so you can avoid losing your money god forbid something happens. If you're worried about having the money down the line, simply open a seperate account as a forced savings so you have the cash in the end.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

Thanks so much for the update. I'm really surprised he didn't market the fact that his daughter had her wedding scheduled at the event in the initial press releases... that would have gone a long way to ease nerves. Also, good thing to hear about the sales tax.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

My wedding is in August as well. I wish I knew what to do. My fiance and I were assured by the owner but if they close there then I wont get my money back. What will he tell me then. I, like you, have no clue what to do. Unlike others on here, I did not get a letter in the mail about the thatched cottage issues. Since I am always proactive in keeping tabs on my money, I kept checking into them, that's how I found out. How long does bankruptcy usually take when its chapter 11?

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

I am getting married in August as well. After speaking to many people about chapter 11, companies can stay in chapter 11 for a long time. Most companies file chapter 11 and people don't even know. I was very worried but I'm feeling much better lately. It's a hard decision.

Thatched Cottage Brides - Long Island Weddings

I had my wedding booked there for 8.31.14 and canceled. Too risky. Had to hire an attorney for this. Thankfully we found another catering hall

Thatched Cottage Brides - Long Island Weddings

I had my wedding booked there for 8.31.14 and canceled. Too risky. Had to hire an attorney for this. Thankfully we found another catering hall

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 2 - Long Island Weddings

Ladies there is a Suffolk county law stating you have SIX months to cancel. You all need to seek legal advice. TC is not in a good place. The contract you signed is not right. I thought the same thing. And my attorney guided me.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Unfortunately the Suffolk law as well as our contract are superseded by the bankruptcy laws. Basically, because we cancelled we now fall in line with other creditors and are on the bottom of the list to get our money back. It's truly disturbing to think that this is how the law works and that TC can keep taking in new money before giving back the money that is legally owed out.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Yeah, my lawyer told us too that we are at the bottom of the creditors but I rather be on the bottom then not be included at all. I received a packet with the forms to fill out and a letter from their lawyer a few days ago. I just sent it off to my lawyer to fill out.
Good luck .. if anyone needs a good lawyer, let me know.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 3 - Long Island Weddings

In the right conditions chapter 11 can limp on for a long time, it's not uncommon for these things to last more than a year. It all comes down to the creditors willingness to work with the debtor, and the cash flow situation of the debtor. Sorry that's not more reassuring, but anything can happen.

Also, a friend just made us aware that there is a Suffolk County local law that says you can cancel up to 6 months prior to your date with minimal obligation.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Can2Cam - That's partially correct. If you file the Proof of Claim documents you can expedite the first 2,600 of your deposit as an Admin Claim. The remainder of your deposit is in fact at the bottom of the line of creditors. If they do in fact go chapter 7 its unlikely that any of us would get much of anything back.