Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

I wonder if we can file separately being as we both signed the contrat. Perhaps our fiance's can file for 2500 and we can file for 2500?

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

this is ridiculous... 8 months is still a long time.
was anyone notified by TC directly about the situation at hand?


guess what I got that letter 2 days after the 8 month mark from my wedding date... such bs.

So now im going to have to goto court to get my $4k deposits back?! unacceptable.

I have the envelope showing the postmark date of when they mailed it out.

place is a joke.

anyone who cancelled their event after or prior to the 8 months deadline please contact me. I would love more information from other parties going through this.

thanks

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

We received a letter from them only after having spoken to the owner as well. The Suffolk county law which supersedes our contracts (at least as my attorney says) says its 6 months to get out. Here's a link to the law:

http://ecode360.com/SU0867

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

After hearing about this news and now reading these forums, I'm becoming even more concerned and panicked about the situation. I feel lost considering that my wedding is 2/28/2015! I've just emailed Maureen to schedule a meeting to discuss my options and such, but my fiancé and I are still thinking about canceling our reception. I really hate this uncertainty. :(

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Hi girls,
My wedding is going to be at TC this summer. Like you, I was very concerned about the recent filing. However, I have several friends who have been involved with the reorganization of businesses through chapter 11, and they told me that this is a common practice and most of the time does not mean the closing of a business. One friend actually helped Macy's out of chapter 11, so is very knowledgable on the subject. There are several Long Island venues that have gone through this and come out fine on the other side. However, my family and I did schedule a meeting with Ralph, the owner, in order to voice our concerns. We were all thoroughly reassured. He was incredibly honest about his finances and layed everything out on the table for us. He does not owe anyone money. Much of his financial issues are the result of an unfortunate error in insurance filing, made by the insurance company itself, which the courts have recognized, as well as delayed FEMA funds. Instead of canceling on X amount of brides right after Irene and Sandy, he took out loans in order to repair damages without waiting for FEMA money. As I'm sure many of you know, there are hundreds of individuals and business STILL waiting for FEMA money to come in. That's just the unfortunate nature of the situation. That being said, he believes he will see the end of this much sooner than later, and only filed for chapter 11 to give the business some breathing room while it waited for these funds. We were very satisfied with our conversation with him, and ended it by talking about plans for our after party. Obviously, you all need to do what you are most comfortable with, but I have a gut feeling that TC will come out if this unscathed, as will my wedding. Just hoping to reassure some of you out there :)

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

@Kaggs - I mean this in the nicest way possible...you have enough time...run. After all the numerous things I've heard from good friends who've been to weddings there recently, I wouldn't have my wedding there for free. So glad we re-booked. @sanjolis- sounds like you may be Ralph's daughter lol

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

---

Posted by masmith37

@Kaggs - I mean this in the nicest way possible...you have enough time...run. After all the numerous things I've heard from good friends who've been to weddings there recently, I wouldn't have my wedding there for free. So glad we re-booked. @sanjolis- sounds like you may be Ralph's daughter lol

---

My wedding was there in October, and it was nothing short of amazing - we are still getting compliments about it (service, food, venue, EVERYTHING). I understand people being leery of keeping their arrangements with a venue that filed, but I have friends in the banking business and they said it is common practice. Many places file for Chapter 11 and remain open. I completely understand people being unsure (especially when you have so much time until your wedding), but the TC bashing on this site has become RIDICULOUS! I mean, give me a break, I find it kind of hard to believe that all these 'TC brides' are all of a sudden coming out of the woodwork. I also find it funny that so many of them ONLY have posts regarding TC.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

---

Posted by masmith37

@Kaggs - I mean this in the nicest way possible...you have enough time...run. After all the numerous things I've heard from good friends who've been to weddings there recently, I wouldn't have my wedding there for free. So glad we re-booked. @sanjolis- sounds like you may be Ralph's daughter lol

---

I also know people who have been to TC recently and know the owner personally and they had a very good experience there. I am genuinely glad that you're happy with your decision to re-book elsewhere so you wouldn't have to stress about it and it was certainly your prerogative to do so, but it isn't really right to make others feel foolish for choosing to stay with them or assuming that anybody who speaks highly of them must work for or be related to Ralph.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

---

Posted by Lori0413

---

Posted by masmith37

@Kaggs - I mean this in the nicest way possible...you have enough time...run. After all the numerous things I've heard from good friends who've been to weddings there recently, I wouldn't have my wedding there for free. So glad we re-booked. @sanjolis- sounds like you may be Ralph's daughter lol

---

I also know people who have been to TC recently and know the owner personally and they had a very good experience there. I am genuinely glad that you're happy with your decision to re-book elsewhere so you wouldn't have to stress about it and it was certainly your prerogative to do so, but it isn't really right to make others feel foolish for choosing to stay with them or assuming that anybody who speaks highly of them must work for or be related to Ralph.

---

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

I think it's fair to say that everyone has different opinions on the subject as some of us have chosen to stay and see TC through this hardship and others of us have made the decision to move on. Bashing publicly on the forum itself is not fair to the brides who have decided to stay. However, as one of the brides that has moved on I understand the need to vent. It's not an easy pill to swallow. That being said I have found solace in talking to some of the other brides and grooms through FM. We all have differing opinions and while this is a public forum, those opinions can and will hurt someone else. I say leave it to the private messages to vent frustrations. Anyone who would like to talk, please feel free to FM me. I have been going through this since January 7th and would be happy to share my experiences.

To the TC brides that are staying put...nothing but well wishes to all if you. Thatched is absolutely stunning and I hope that each of your days is filled with nothing but happiness, laughter, and love!!

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

I personally do not use LIWeddings very much because we've been engaged for almost 2 years and everything has been booked/taken care of for a while and I knew what vendors I wanted to use going into our engagement. So yeah, most of my posts were regarding TC because I can't imagine a couple more in love with TC than my fiance and I were..I'd ask him to drive by on a random night (and we live 1/2 hour away), we did our -1 anniversary toast at sunset in front of the gazebo, and I was anxiety ridden and literally sick to my stomach for a week about what to do when we got the letter. It's a gorgeous, enchanting, fairy tale setting. It breaks our heart to feel like we had no choice but to book elsewhere for a piece of mind. Right after hurricane Sandy, I called and spoke to Maureen. She assured me there was basically no damage and not to worry...and now we hear they're in trouble because of all their damage. I wish everyone well who chooses to stay at TC, we just couldn't stomach the wondering for 8 months.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

sorry everyone but i have to agree with @masmith37 telling @kaggs to run... not anything to do with the quality of food or servies at TC because it is an amazing place to get married, but i'd have to agree based on the fact that @kaggs has like two years to go... I do think that is a little risky!

I am sure TC can bounce back, but venues are sososo expensive and i would just be afraid to risk losing that much money with that far left to go until the wedding

regardless, every venue choice is a risk, but i'd feel more comfortable either waiting to book until closer to the wedding date, or booking somewhere that is definitely in good economic standing right now

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Nope, not Ralph's daughter, although his daughter IS getting married there in June. Just a soon-to-be-bride trying to be optimistic about a situation I have little control over. Being only four months out, we're going to put our confidence in the glowing recommendations we have gotten from past brides and guests, and Ralph's reassurances (after all, he has owned the business for over 20 years, has a successful restaurant, and went to the media before he even filed, in an attempt to head off negative press- a consideration I've heard many other well-known venues on LI didn't give their brides in similar situations). All I'll say to anyone on the fence is to at least schedule a meeting with Ralph and hear him out. He isn't going to try to schmooze or sell you. If you fell in love with the venue to begin with, it certainly should be worth a conversation. However, most important is for everyone to do what they feel most confident in, with regards to their monetary and emotional investment.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

For those who rescheduled/plan to reschedule their weddings, I understand the anxiety of not 'knowing'... however, I'm so sorry that you won't be experiencing your wedding at TC. I know that people say it a lot on this site, but we had THE most perfect wedding day. TC was amazingly good to us and almost 9 months after our wedding, guests are still raving about the food, the service and the atmosphere. They are good people and I know they will take care of their future bride & grooms as well as they did us.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

We have been contemplating since we found out. Because our wedding is so far out, we've been really worried about it closing. BUT since we are so far out, we still have time. We have decided to stay with TC for now and play everything by ear. As soon as I walked through the door, I fell in love. I really cannot imagine getting married anywhere else. If and when the time comes, we will look for another place. But for now, we're staying put. ??

Thatched Cottage Brides

After a lot of thought and speaking to the lawyer for TC my fiancé and I decided to start looking into another venue. We have appointments tomorrow and they are willing to work with us under these circumstances because losing that $5000 deposit is a big hit. I love TC but when their lawyer told me to be worried I don't think I should take the chance. My wedding is in 5 months.
For all the TC brides I hope everything works out I know I'm stressed and upset.

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

Since I've last posted we also decided to move on, and canceled with Thatched. Thankfully, we've had the same experience and venues were willing to work with us bc of the lack of time before our date, and understanding of our situation. We're now rebooked elsewhere

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings

I can't imagine having to deal with that. What a shame.

Re: Thatched Cottage Brides

---

Posted by Karin

I can't imagine having to deal with that. What a shame.

---

This! I hope all works out for everyone!

Thatched Cottage Brides | Page 4 - Long Island Weddings