Wedding So disappointed

[WishfulThinking]

I just had the most disappointing day. I called the state park to make a reservation for our wedding site, and they told me they don't do reservations. They told me they DID do them when I visited there to scope stuff out. The man was incredibly rude to me on the phone and laughed about how if I didn't say it was a wedding they might have let me have it there. Well I said it was a wedding because I thought that unlike some vendors, the STATE PARK [paid for by my tax dollars...] wouldn't jack up the price on us. We since found out that they actually wouldn't let us reserve it even for an event that is not a wedding, like a picnic, but let it suffice to say he was very unpleasant and unprofessional.

I got off the phone wanting to cry. Almost as upsetting as not having the park as a venue for our wedding is that he was so sarcastic and condescending to me. That can't at all beat the disappointment of having this ceremony site which means SO MUCH to us fall through. There is virtually no other place that has this sort of personal significance.

But, alas, we trudge on. We spent hours brainstorming, and found out that another state park nearby does do reservations and is open to weddings, etc. This is good news. I am trying to smile, really I am! The man on the phone was very professional and nice. It was greatly appreciated to speak to someone who wasn't rude, so they get +points for that.

They apparently have a pavillion which they rent for day groups, and I think they might have other picnic areas as well. I am going to call back tomorrow to speak to head honcho reservation guy.

Wish me luck, ladies [and gents.] We are both so disappointed, but trying to make the best out of what we have left, which seems like it, too, could be a great option. Thanks for listening to me vent and whine a little.

 

[Independent Gal]

Phooey! I hope this new place works out for you!

 

[choro72]

That blows...I know how excited you were about this place, and it sounded so nice to get married at a place with such significance to you. It''s so bizarre that he laughed at you. Like he''s never heard of a wedding at a park?? I hope the next place works out for you!

 

[Sabine]

That really stinks, and I''m sorry you had to deal with his bad attitude! Do you happen to remember the name of the person you met with who told you they did do reservations? Any luck you could specifically talk to them again? If not, good luck with the new park!

 

[SarahLovesJS]

Aww Wishful I am so sorry! ((Hugs)) This is really upsetting. It''s especially upsetting since the fellow was so rude. I don''t like rude people at all!!

I hope the new place works out for you. Are there any other options? Maybe we could help you look?

 

[WishfulThinking]

Thanks, Indy. Your "phooey" response made me smile and dragged me momentarily out of the depths of my depression. /dramaqueen

choro- I know! It really is disappointing. He was a very bizarre man. I''m almost relieved that I don''t have to deal with him anymore. He didn''t seem very competent, and I know for a fact that other people have had weddings there. Unfortunately it sounds like their policy is that I theoretically could have the wedding there because it is so small, but that we can''t guarantee that the place we want will be available, and there is only one place that would be large enough for all of us. I am definitely NOT going to plan all of this out and show up only to have it already taken, although it definitely crossed my mind. I wish we could get there early in the morning, but we can''t get because of a really important event that is a long-standing tradition for the senior class at the college and that FI and I are both really excited about. I suppose I am giving up one great thing to have another great thing, and looking at it that way makes me feel better.

Thanks Sabine. I wish I could go over his head and talk to someone else, but the person who gave me the misinformation was a summer student intern.

I don''t blame her one bit, actually, since it is common knowledge that people get married there, and it logically follows that one could reserve space. He is also the director of the entire park, which is just bum luck altogether.

Sarah- Thanks, sweetie. I, too, HATE rude people.

I wish PSers could help me look, but because we have all these odd restrictions about where we can have it and logistical issues, that makes it really hard. We have to be able to get there in approx. 15 minutes from my college which is in the middle of nowhere, and it has to be under $100 for 4 hours.

You are so nice to offer, though.


I am getting excited about this other venue, though! It is also a state park, and it is also atop a beautiful mountain, which is helpful and similar. The pavillion that they usually give day passes to reserve is really cool and looks like it would be easy enough to dress up and make wedding-ready! It is also larger, would provide much better shelter were there to be bad weather the day of, and more tables so we are positive everyone would fit correctly. I worry it is actually too big for the small number of people, but we could have a guestbook and other cool things like pictures of us and our families that we wouldn''t have had room for at our other location. This makes me happy! I am so hopeful, and I get to call them tomorrow to find out more about it. We are also going to visit it on Saturday. Thanks for all the encouragement!

 

[bee*]

Sorry to hear about that first guy-what a d*ck! I hate rude people. I''m keeping everything crossed that this new place works out for you!

 

[applequeen]

Something similar happened to a friend of mine... she wanted to get married in a state park and was told that it was not allowed (due to the whole no reservations thing). So... she and her fiance and their family and friends all showed up at the park for a "visit'' and held the wedding anyway. No one said anything to them (after all it was open to the public).

 

[miraclesrule]

Crap. That bites! I''m sorry for you Wishful. I know how excited you were.

Maybe it is a blessing in disguise. I would hate to think you''d have to put up with a numbnard the whole time you are planning your wedding.

I''ll keep my fingers crossed for you.

 

[Amandine]

Here I was going to ask if you remembered his name, to see if you could speak to his superior about his attitude...and then you said he the park director! How unfortunate! I hope that the other park is gorgeous and that it works out for you.

 

[WishfulThinking]

Thanks for the sweet and encouraging words, bee*, applequeen, miracles, and Amandine!

I thought long and hard about doing it at the first park without the reservation, but I think it''s too big of a risk to take with all of the planning. Even if it is just an off-chance, if we had everything ready and then showed up to find out it had already been taken I would be...

<-- that!

I am glad I don''t have to talk to that guy ever again, though. I really do want to think that this is happening for a reason and the new place will be even better!

We are going to visit tomorrow- I can''t wait!
I talked to the director there today, who was very nice [!!], and they don''t start reserving for 2009 until the first of the year, but I will be calling up ON the first to reserve, and he said that should be no problem. Yay!

 

[choro72]

Wow, you have to wait 4 months to reserve this place?? The suspense is killing me already!
Come back with your verdict on the place tomorrow

 

[WishfulThinking]

I know! It''s killing me too, but we''re going to send out STDs and get the invites printed, start planning, etc before it is officially booked anyways. It''s just close family who will understand if something happened, and I plan on being the FIRST person to call them on the first of the year to solidify that date!

I will definitely let everyone know how it goes tomorrow, hopefully with the visual aid of some great pictures.