Any future couples considering the
Victorian barn in Blandford as their
wedding venue in Dorset; please don't
hesitate to contact me if you would like
further information. I have evidence to
prove all statements in this review. I
encourage you to view the other
wedding review on Trip Advisor and the owners responses to reviews as an indication of what they are like to deal with.
My fiancé and I got engaged on August
2017 and visited the Victorian Barn in
Dorset as a potential venue for our
wedding on Sunday 10th February
2018. We booked the venue for the 6th
July 2019 based upon the verbal
agreement of our vision. Further details
of this are outlined in a initial complaint made on the Thursday August 30th 2018 via email and the morning of Thursday 7th 2019 before the Victorian Barn wedding venue cancelled.
My fiancé and I had a strict budget for
venue and catering, and a vision of a
fun filled weekend with family and
friends. Family from America, Tel Aviv,
Spain and more would travel for the
wedding so our wishes were for family
to all be together on one site for a
weekend if not more.
Over the 18 months of organising the
wedding at the Victorian Barn, I had
spoken to 4 different representatives,
all of which gave differing information
(2 of which are no longer there). Prices
of accommodation, catering costs,
terms and conditions changed more
than once, information was missing
from initial bookings...I could go on. The biggest worry was that it was apparent we weren't given all information or a full set of terms and conditions before we entered into a contract with the Victorian Barn wedding venue in Dorset
and paid the deposit. The whole
operation was unprofessional.
We booked a decorator, ice cream van,
Ceilidh and catering. Over 28 emails
were exchanged, two in person
meetings between myself and the VB, 1 in person meeting between my parents and the VB and 1 phone call, all of which were my attempts at gathering information. Evidence we have collected demonstrates our
exasperation at attempting to organise
the wedding with VB. I imagined wedding planning to be stressful, but assumed that the VB had experience and professionals, maybe even a wedding planner, that could help me plan my special day. I imagined the VB to fully transparent, supportive and professional always, especially considering the cost. This could not be further from the truth.
On the morning of Thursday 7th of
February 2019 | received the response
from VB (after a detailed email detailing our disappointments with hopes to mediate) saying:
"After careful consideration, and with
the expectations from your email we
have decided that the best way forward
would be for you to find another venue
who can offer everything you require.
We will refund your two payments
which you paid towards your day and
also any room bookings taken to your
guests.
We are sorry it has come to this but you have left us no other choice."
This was less than 5 months to the
wedding, with 4 suppliers booked and
deposits paid, flights booked,
alternative accommodation booked
near to the VB. I was understandably
distraught. That statement to us, was a
cancellation. Since then the VB then
retracted, saying that wasn't a
cancellation and refused to give our
deposit of £2500 back until WE
cancelled. The email correspondence
that ensued was horrendous,
unprofessional and borderline
harassment, for us and my entire family; we had to seek legal advice and a letter before action with the purpose of entering county court claim to recover our money.
Upon receiving that letter they sent the
money that morning. They have failed
to give our catering deposit back of
£350. (You have to book their caterers
in order to book the wedding). They
have since threatened legal action
should I wish to leave a review.
I would urge all couples to consider a
wedding with absolute caution at the Victorian Barn wedding venue in Dorset.