Watermill Issues - Need Advice

We booked our wedding at the Watermill last April. At the time we were told that they had three nearby hotels that each had free shuttles to and from. This played a big part in our decision because it meant that we didn't have to worry about limos.

Over the summer I called all three hotels to try to get block pricing and information on the shuttle, etc. only to find out that two of the three do NOT offer such a service. I tried contacting the Watermill's 'wedding planner' Samantha who never called me back... issue #1.

I let it go for a few months because I wasn't sure how many people would be staying at the hotel anyway. Now that it's getting closer I'm starting to stress about these little details and our budget. So I called the one hotel that had said they offered the shuttle (Holiday Inn Express) only to find out that they NO LONGER offer it! My fiance was able to get in touch with Samantha who said we were misinformed the first time when we were told all three offered shuttles and this hotel was the only one that ever did but they are choosing not to anymore.... issue #2.

I'm extremely disappointed that the Watermill is basically saying - your problem, not ours - when we were promised one thing and now finding out that just isn't the case. AND on top of that I'm frustrated that now I have to first worry about finding and PAYING for a limo service that I hadn't planned on...

So now I'm wondering what else they might have told us that isn't in fact true. I planned to have our dog as the ring bearer and was told he could stay in the bridal suite during the reception, but I never got it in writing - should I be worried?? Six months to go and I'm freaking out. Advice (and cheap limo recommendations) welcome please!!

try school bus companies for cheap limos.

that is really weird that holiday inn ronkonkoma stopped offering shuttles there? they go almost everywhere in an extended area...

i've heard you can negoatiate at final meetings as well. Also, try GOING there and expressing your concerns. You still have some money to pay, right? fight for what you want!

thats extremely unprofessional of them.

can you negotiate with the three hotels? perhaps see if they'll offer a shuttle with an 'unmentioned' cost to your guests? one of our hotels was willing to charge our guests an extra $10/night for a shuttle service. so instead of the hotel block rate being 129/night it was 139/night.

otherwise, perhaps check a few other nearby hotels and see if they'll offer the same deal. its not uncommon. especially if you may have a good deal of room reservations.

I'm not saying it was wrong that they told you misinformation, however I don't think it's real reason to be mad at the reception hall for that. They don't operate the hotels so can't speak for what services that hotel actually offers; they may have just been going off of what other people had told them. I don't think you can hold that mistake against them.
I would check asap about your dog and get anything else you're worried about put into your file so it's written down somewhere. I've heard that a lot of reception halls are NOT ok with dogs at the venue so I would call right now.

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Posted by kaw2be

I'm not saying it was wrong that they told you misinformation, however I don't think it's real reason to be mad at the reception hall for that. They don't operate the hotels so can't speak for what services that hotel actually offers; they may have just been going off of what other people had told them. I don't think you can hold that mistake against them.
I would check asap about your dog and get anything else you're worried about put into your file so it's written down somewhere. I've heard that a lot of reception halls are NOT ok with dogs at the venue so I would call right now.

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Ita!!

Definitely ddouble check about your dog bc that could be considered a health issue since he isn't a service dog. Everything needs to be in writing!!!

It's amazing what people will say to make a sale. It's too bad they don't consider the damage when word gets around about them. I think a lot of vendors still don't understand how easy it is for people to share experiences now and stuff like this comes back to cost them business in the end.
I agree the RH cannot be responsible for what hotels do, but they should make that clear in the beginning and offer to help find alternatives when problems arise.
I agree you better check about your dog ASAP and get it in writing!

So strange... I booked at the Watermill before you did and they told me that the Holiday Inn Express was the only place that had a free shuttle. They said they weren't sure about the others.

I really wouldn't place blame on the catering hall for the hotel misinformation; they aren't partnered. Having a shuttle is completely up to the bride/groom, and every wedding I've been to that provides that kind of transportation, paid for that transport privately. We were fully aware that if we wanted to provide transportation to/from the hotel, we had to pay for it.

A school bus is a great suggestion for a low-cost transport for lots of people. (First Student gave me a reasonable quote.) We are probably going with a 14-passenger van through our limo company. It was much less expensive than I thought, and will certainly be more comfortable.

As for your dog... THIS I would place blame on the catering hall if what they told you about him staying in the bridal suite turns out to be false. I would get it in writing about your pup. You can probably just email your banquet manager and print out his/her response; this should constitute 'in writing'.

Good luck! Feel free to PM me if you have any Watermill-specific questions... I'm getting married there 2 weeks after you!

I didnt find a hotel near watermill that offered a shuttle i liked. I booked a passenger van from my limo company hotel is 10min away and he'll be doing trips back only a couple hundred dollars. Im also using the limo that is dropping the b.p. off to the venue as a shuttle for guests at the hotel too the venue so that saved alot of money. I have a room block at the hyatt in hauppauge.


There is a hotel in islip on veterans highway that has a free shuttle to the watermill.

If this was such a big issue for you why didn't you check w the hotels first before booking?!

It's not the reception halls responsibility nor fault. They were going off of what they heard in the past. You can't hold them at fault for something they have no control over.