Please help, seriously need some advice(updated)

lupyloo

OK where to start, I have booked my wedding at Lumley Castle for 5.00pm, at first the registar said it could not be done, Lumley Castle contacted them directly and amazingly it could be done but for another £100.00. This had to be paid cash when I paid for the venue. I have just finished making a formal statement in writing with the chief registarar, apparantley this is most definitley not allowed, the registar has been suspended and there is now an internal investigation ongoing.

The really big problem I have now is that I think the castle knew this was wrong and were happy to go along with it. It didnt seem like it was anything out of the ordinary and had happened before. The wedding planner has been there for a very long time and I find it very hard to beleive that she wouldnt know that a registrar should not be asking for cash in hand. If that is the case then I cannot think of anything worse than having my marriage there after that. Its dishonest deceiptful and down right infuriating that they can treat people like this.

I spoke to the person making the statement about my concerns and she agreed that it would be very unusual for the wedding planner to just accept such a request for cash. She had contacted Lumley Castle and spoken to the head of sales who obviously denied any knowledge of any wrong doing and said that the wedding planner had tried to act as a go between to keep the sale!!!!!!!!

I have not contacted Lumley about this yet and even though this has been out in the open for a week, they have not even bothered to contact me and explain their side of things.

I was already disheartened after going to sign my contract with the castle as the wedding planner seemed only interested in getting more money out of me and getting me out of the door. Now I am breaking my heart!!I am absolutely gutted, I really dont know what to do or who to contact in regards to my concern. Please can anyone help?

sammy_wheeler

oh wow this is terrible

i personally thought 4pm was the latest time you could get married in england-- i was told this when i booked my wedding last yr-- i am getting married at 4pm

i personally would NOT book the venue or sign a contract- if this is what has happened its completly out of order- and breaking the law really!? (isnt it?)


have you contacted a solictor?- thats all i would suggest really

feel really sorry for you as i know this venue is what you wanted



eddited- found this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12439232

laaljocky

Oh no lupyloo, I am so sorry to hear that and re-iterate what has been said by sammy_wheeler. Or possibly if worried about cost of solicitor then get in tocuh with citizens advice initially.

lupyloo

I have signed the contract already before this was discovered!! The thing is it was supposed to be a really special day because I lost my mam when I was 21 and this would have been on her birthday. I really am devastated. Tried contacting head of sales myself tonight, girl who answered the phone said she had just gone but would contact her on her mobile as she could tell I was upset. That was an hour ago and she hasnt phoned. How can I find out who owns the castle, I dont think they would be impressed at the treatment clients are receving.

sammy_wheeler

have you paid a deposit? how long away is the wedding? have you got wedding insurance?

Robinred

Firstly, it might have been an honest mistake, though I agree with you that it is unlikely that an experienced wedding planner would make such a mistake, and if they did then naturally you would worry that other mistakes might be made and you don't want that for your wedding! So either way it is a worry for you.

If it was dishonest then it is unlikely that the entire company that runs the castle was in on it. People do tend to close ranks and cover up wrong doing, but it is likely that someone higher up in the company would take what has happened very seriously. If the wedding had gone ahead at the proposed time and then turned out to not be valid then it would have been terrible publicity. So I would suggest asking for a meeting with a senior person and expressing your concerns and seeing what they have to say. What could they do to reassure you? A different wedding planner? A more detailed contract? Money off? Free champagne?!

It is not good that the castle have not contacted you, but don't write them off until you have spoken with them (including senior/s). I think that although you could ask help from solicitors and try to reclaim your deposit and have your wedding elsewhere, this will be expensive and you have already put a lot into your wedding, so it should come as a last resort. Hopefully you will be able to get some meaningful reassurances and you will feel happy having your wedding there still. Good luck!

lupyloo

Thanks sammy and laaljocky, yeah you can get married up until 6.00pm but it is at the discretion of the registrar. That is what the senior registrar said tonight. Citizens advice would be impossible due to thier working hours and my working hours. I have got wedding insurance but only purchased on the 9th of June, dont even know if I would be covered for this. Registrar has said I wil receive a full refund of the £100.00 but that is hardly going to make me feel any better about the castle staff.

sammy_wheeler

yeah i know that the £100 wont make you feel much better---- have you thought about what will?
i think it takes a lot to build confidence back up in a company!
whens the wedding?

lupyloo

24th August, and to be honesy, at the minute not much will make me feel better:(

lupyloo

Thanks robinred, I agree dont really want to rush into anything and i still love the venue x

ladymarmalade

sammy_wheeler wrote: »

oh wow this is terrible

i personally thought 4pm was the latest time you could get married in england-- i was told this when i booked my wedding last yr-- i am getting married at 4pm

i personally would NOT book the venue or sign a contract- if this is what has happened its completly out of order- and breaking the law really!? (isnt it?)


have you contacted a solictor?- thats all i would suggest really

feel really sorry for you as i know this venue is what you wanted



eddited- found this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12439232

It's 6pm, well it is in a church. Not sure about elsewhere!