Wedding Venue disappointment....

[claireabelle]

Hi guys,

I posted here a while back that I thought I''d found our reception venue... Elandra Resort Mission Beach, Queensland.

After viewing the website and being impressed with the information package that they sent to us, we decided to make a special trip all the way back up North (where we''re from - a 2.5 hour plane flight away).The resort itself is then a further three hour drive from my hometown so needless to say, it was quite a mission to get there.

I have to say the resort is phenomenal - just breathtaking. As soon as we walked in we looked at each other with a "this is it! We''re getting married here!" smile... the poolside area was just perfect as we really want an open air outdoor wedding...

And then she dropped the bombshell "You can hire the pool area - however we don''t have an amplifying license because it''s a residential area and the council won''t approve a permit" So basically, NO SPEECHES and no MUSIC!!! WHAT?????!!!!??????

Why would they advertise the pool area as a function space if this was the case? They never said anything about it when I called up and it doesn''t mention anything in the info package! Basically, the pool was out.... but it wasn''t a total catastrophe (YET!) because I remembered from the website and brochure that they had a gorgeous function room overlooking the bay.... so we asked to see the space.... but it was TINY! On the website and in the brochure it says the function room seats 100 people but on the day they told us it only seats 60-70 comfortably.... Our guest list is approx 100!

So basically both options at the same venue were out!!! I was fuming! We made a special trip - why did they not tell us on the phone....and why on earth make false statements in he information packages? We were not impressed at all!

I am so disappointed because I really do love the venue. It''s just so perfect in every way... I have even called the local council to ask if we can apply for a special permit but it''s a no go!! So frustrating....

anyway thanks for letting me vent. I thought I''d post a few pictures of the venue anyway so you can understand why I''m so down about the whole thing....

 

[claireabelle]

A blissfully happy picture us by the pool while we waited for the functions coordinator (ie - before the bombshell!)

 

[claireabelle]

as you walk into the lobby... love the chandelier

 

[claireabelle]

looking back to lobby/reception from the other side of the pool

 

[claireabelle]

looking out over the pool to the beach from the lobby area

 

[ladyciel]

Awwww, that sucks!! I can''t believe (ok, so I can....) that they would play those kinds of games with you. My experience has been that most places inflate their seating capacities a bit. After hearing "well, it''s best with i]> people" multiple times, I learned to ask before visiting.

Ask if they''ll reimburse you for some of your travel expenses, given their false advertising is what led to you making the trip in the first place.

 

[Deelight]

thats a real bummer Claire, I would be disappointed (and upset at the false misrepresentation) as well the venue looks amazing.

The venue (well the website of the venue) I have fallen in love with closes this year due to being sold for wedding possibly permanently but they can''t confirm at this stage, I feel your pain atm nothing around here matches up.

 

[claireabelle]

the tiny (but gorgeous) function room... I had to laugh at this pic because my mum (in the black and white cardigan) and I have such unimpressed expressions on... though you might not be able to tell because I''ve scaled down the image

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 8:56:52 AM
Author: ladyciel
Awwww, that sucks!! I can''t believe (ok, so I can....) that they would play those kinds of games with you. My experience has been that most places inflate their seating capacities a bit. After hearing ''well, it''s best with i]> people'' multiple times, I learned to ask before visiting.


Ask if they''ll reimburse you for some of your travel expenses, given their false advertising is what led to you making the trip in the first place.

hmmm... I didn''t realize that (about the inflated capacity fibbs!) ... I guess you live and you learn... I will be interrogating the next venue coordinator before a physical visit, that''s for sure!

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:02:59 AM
Author: Deelight

thats a real bummer Claire, I would be disappointed (and upset at the false misrepresentation) as well the venue looks amazing.


The venue (well the website of the venue) I have fallen in love with closes this year due to being sold for wedding possibly permanently but they can''t confirm at this stage, I feel your pain atm nothing around here matches up.

It''s so disappointing, isn''t it? I think it''s things like this that lead to the term ''bridezilla'' when really it''s just disappointment from being fibbed to or let down!

anyway I guess there''s no point getting too upset about it... soldier on - next venue, please!

 

[Deelight]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:11:43 AM
Author: claireabelle

Date: 7/23/2008 9:02:59 AM

Author: Deelight

thats a real bummer Claire, I would be disappointed (and upset at the false misrepresentation) as well the venue looks amazing.



The venue (well the website of the venue) I have fallen in love with closes this year due to being sold for wedding possibly permanently but they can't confirm at this stage, I feel your pain atm nothing around here matches up.

It's so disappointing, isn't it? I think it's things like this that lead to the term 'bridezilla' when really it's just disappointment from being fibbed to or let down!


anyway I guess there's no point getting too upset about it... soldier on - next venue, please!

Most likely

I don't know about Sydney but there is a severe lack of beautiful venues around here, (well what I would consider beautiful) and they are all quite expensive. I looked at menu's for a couple of places and the prices were fairly high especially for kids, most kids menu's consist of chips, nuggets and a soft serve ice-cream and it is like $50 a head

, I told FF I will buy any kids at the wedding McDonalds, I can't fathom spending that much for crappy processed food.

If you plan on getting married this year this is the venue I was talking about, I think it is beautiful Avica

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:16:48 AM
Author: Deelight

Most likely


I don''t know about Sydney but there is a severe lack of beautiful venues around here, (well what I would consider beautiful) and they are all quite expensive. I looked at menu''s for a couple of places and the prices were fairly high especially for kids, most kids menu''s consist of chips, nuggets and a soft serve ice-cream and it is like $50 a head

, I told FF I will buy any kids at the wedding McDonalds, I can''t fathom spending that much for crappy processed food.


If you plan on getting married this year this is the venue I was talking about, I think it is beautiful Avica

Oh that''s just gorgeous - that would be so perfect also.... Are you in Brisbane? I''m not sure I understood what you meant about it closing? Is it being purchased privately and not being offered as a hire venue anymore?

We live in Sydney and there are loads of beautiful venues around here... but because we are from Townsville, we are getting married up there... and there''s really not much at all which is annoying...

YIKES to the $50 chicken nuggets!!! What thieves! That''s just not right...

 

[Deelight]

Yup I am a brissie girl

I know it is stunning, I saw pictures from another Aussie bridal forum and OMG beautiful they even do marquee''s which is like my dream wedding reception

.

It says on this on their about page:

Unfortunately due to our closure on 31st December 2008 we will no longer being offering new club memberships. Please note current membership card holders are still entitled to the above benefits.

The place has been sold, I called up and spoke to a staff member and they cannot confirm whether the resort will be offered after this date for weddings at this stage, I don''t know why it wouldn''t the resort was purpose built for weddings I almost cried.

 

[claireabelle]

I just went and had a second look at Avica... it''s beautiful... what a shame! Can you get married sooner?

.... I did see a gorgeous gold coast venue in a wedding mag a couple of weeks ago... I will hunt it down for you and post here tomorrow...

 

[Deelight]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:41:36 AM
Author: claireabelle
I just went and had a second look at Avica... it's beautiful... what a shame! Can you get married sooner?

.... I did see a gorgeous gold coast venue in a wedding mag a couple of weeks ago... I will hunt it down for you and post here tomorrow...

Hrmmm I don't want to get married in my braces LOL and I doubt I could plan a wedding in 2mths LOL, the venue your thinking of isn't this The Villa? My friend got married there recently very nice magnificent food, great service something that is worth considering .

 

[claireabelle]

okay I just found it.... but it''s so ridiculously lavish - it would be so insanely expensive - I''m guessing about $120 for nuggets and soft serve

I''m sure you know of this THE VILLA ... gorgeous though... sigh. If only...

 

[claireabelle]

haha snap!

 

[Bia]

Infuriating! I would be LIVID!!! The picture of the pool is what they show first...they should have mentioned that "tiny" detail.

Sorry it didn''t work out. I hate when everything seems perfect and then it just turns to dust before your eyes. No worries though, you''ll find an equally impressive venue for your wedding, I am sure of it!

 

[Deelight]

It is beautiful definitely worth a look, the food was DIVINE omg, Fantastic cocktail hour and unlike most venues they offer a 3 alternate menu drop as opposed to 2 menu and to me this was fantastic it offered a depth to the menu and you can please more people that way, the deserts were scruumy as well.

I don''t know about the kids menu but I think the adults menu is anywhere between $120-150 a head which around here is fairly decent.

If your after a princess wedding this is the place for it .

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:56:13 AM
Author: Deelight
It is beautiful definitely worth a look, the food was DIVINE omg, Fantastic cocktail hour and unlike most venues they offer a 3 alternate menu drop as opposed to 2 menu and to me this was fantastic it offered a depth to the menu and you can please more people that way, the deserts were scruumy as well.


I don''t know about the kids menu but I think the adults menu is anywhere between $120-150 a head which around here is fairly decent.


If your after a princess wedding this is the place for it .

I would have expected more than that! reasonable considering the variety.... and for such a statement venue! Not really much of a princess though.... I''m more of a comfy yet elegant cushion

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 9:53:34 AM
Author: Bia
Infuriating! I would be LIVID!!! The picture of the pool is what they show first...they should have mentioned that ''tiny'' detail.


Sorry it didn''t work out. I hate when everything seems perfect and then it just turns to dust before your eyes. No worries though, you''ll find an equally impressive venue for your wedding, I am sure of it!

yeah.... I guess these things happen for a reason. Not meant to be.... my venue is still waiting out there somewhere....in good old Townsville (Lord help me!)

 

[Deelight]

hehehehe Elegant and comfy cushion I like that . You can have your ceremony over out by this huge lake as well it was really nice . If my friend didn't get married there I would consider it for myself, I know that sounds weird but to me it is not done.


ETA: You will find the perfect venue

 

[ladyciel]

You know what, I just remembered that my cousin is currently living in Townsville with his FI! They''re from outside Toronto, but she''s studying abroad for a year and he decided to go with her. Have you met any Canadian couples recently?

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 10:02:38 AM
Author: Deelight
hehehehe Elegant and comfy cushion I like that . You can have your ceremony over out by this huge lake as well it was really nice . If my friend didn''t get married there I would consider it for myself, I know that sounds weird but to me it is not done.



ETA: You will find the perfect venue

yeah it wouldn''t feel very personal I guess... unless it was years apart. Do they do a marquee on the lawns? that would make it different (and its your dream)

when are you getting married? I guess there''s no date until there''s a venue... do you have a rough idea of the month? next year?

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 10:06:38 AM
Author: ladyciel
You know what, I just remembered that my cousin is currently living in Townsville with his FI! They''re from outside Toronto, but she''s studying abroad for a year and he decided to go with her. Have you met any Canadian couples recently?

I''m originally from Townsville but currently living in Sydney... so I haven''t run into them... hehe

Is she studying marine biology? All the internationals go to Townsville for that degree because it''s meant to be one of the best in the world...

 

[Deelight]

LOL I am still waiting on the engagement

which should happen on our round the world trip later this year , however we have tentatively decided winter 2010 I could not imagine getting married in the summer heat ick

. We may still do a destination wedding in Europe as well thats the other option I am torn between, 30k would make for one freaking amazing holiday.

I have about a year or so to make up my mind

 

[claireabelle]

You have a diamond though, right? I remember seeing your threads a while back... do you know if it''s been set yet?

How exciting.... how long are you going away for? I say go for destination wedding! How fab!!

 

[Deelight]

I don''t know if this is an option but if you can''t find anything in Townsville but my FF''s cousin got married here a few years ago and it was lovely, service excellent and the venue beautiful . It is on South Stradbroke Island, the only thing is if you plan on getting married on the beach the day she did it was windy and was hard to hear but a loudspeaker would fix that .

Couran Cove

 

[Deelight]

Date: 7/23/2008 10:15:27 AM
Author: claireabelle
You have a diamond though, right? I remember seeing your threads a while back... do you know if it's been set yet?


How exciting.... how long are you going away for? I say go for destination wedding! How fab!!

She arrived at Leon's today all of about 2hrs ago I can't wait for FF to finish work and call

We are going for 6wks, to HK, USA, and Europe (contiki tour as well) so should be fun. All my extended family live in Europe so if our families here are willing it might be nice to have everyone in the same place/country for the first in like 30yrs . FF is all for the D.W he thinks it is an amazing idea and tying the knot in some grand old cathedral is romantic, I figure as long as I have a long white dress should be good.

I am still torn though.


ETA: if we do a D.W we would just have a really huge BBQ when we got back so we could celebrate with others

 

[claireabelle]

Date: 7/23/2008 10:17:21 AM
Author: Deelight
I don't know if this is an option but if you can't find anything in Townsville but my FF's cousin got married here a few years ago and it was lovely, service excellent and the venue beautiful . It is on South Stradbroke Island, the only thing is if you plan on getting married on the beach the day she did it was windy and was hard to hear but a loudspeaker would fix that .


Couran Cove

Beautiful! The marquee looks fab... might be a bit of a logistical nightmare though...

::edit:: ...and I wonder if a loudspeaker is permitted? haha back to square one...