Hi everyone 
I'm new here, just got engaged last week. Obviously very early on in the planning process. We haven't chosen a date, the venue we end up choosing will likely impact that but aiming for May to September 2021.
I found a venue on here that I fell in love with. The prices they had listed were on the high end of our budget but definitely doable. On their listing they state that "as a destination wedding venue, you'll enjoy exclusive access to this property from Friday to Sunday so you can spend time with your guests all weekend long" Maybe I'm naive, but I assumed the rental cost for peak season included the on site accommodations based on that and other parts of the description. It is not a hotel, but a private property with rooms for the bridal party and immediate family. This venue is in our home province- a far drive but not a typical DW. Whether the accommodations being included was misleading or not, my nightly quote was nearly double what is posted on their website (the total of 4 rooms per night on website=$1100, my quote=$2000) Additional rooms also available for a somewhat ridiculous amount. The ceremony fee is a few hundred more than they have posted. Their quote is pushing 30k, when I had calculated half that based on their posted info, even taking into account taxes and grats... so I'm not talking nickels and dimes here.
It originally stated outside alcohol allowed, but after speaking with them that is not the case because they are a "licensed property and do not allow outside staff on site or sale of outside alcohol". Fair enough, but that wasn't what I asked. I explained again that we want an open bar- there would be no "sale" and many venues charge a fee to bring in your own and then we pay their staff to serve it. That's absolutely fine if they don't allow it, but he keeps speaking to me like no venues offer this. When I politely asked if there was any wiggle room anywhere, especially if we changed our date from peak season, his ONLY suggestion was to have a cash bar and bridal party pays for their (outrageous) rooms. Lol, thanks guy. I'm aware passing the expenses onto my guests would save us money but I'm not interested in doing that.
The catering quote is way higher than previously stated, basically ALL the information they have posted publicly, my quote is double. I understand inflation and yearly increases, but come on.
Sorry for the long rant. This just left a bad taste in my mouth and feels like they are doing a bait and switch. And don't like being spoken to like an idiot. Hoping this is not the norm with venues. Obviously it won't be the right fit for us after all but wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences and if I should be prepared for this to happen again.
Cheers!
