Here is a website, don't know if you have seen it, some great looking places in Notts..Not checked Yorks..

http://www.hitched.co.uk/venues/venuehome.aspx

Some lovely old type places, spa places etc..

I don't know the area very well, so hopefully others can assist who live in the areas you are looking at.

> We have told them we are consulting with our insurance provider to see where we stand legally, we can't see anything in the contract signed about deposits & we've only ever been verbally told it is non-refundable.

Surely they have 'broken their contract' by the venue being unavailable in its original form and them changing it to a marquee? - this would mean the deposit would be refundable?

Sounds to me like it would be worth you finding a solicitor who deals with contract law and paying for a short consultation and possibly a letter ;)  It could be the deciding factor when the MD looks at your case ;)

Good luck with finding a venue - you may find one even better ;)

It depends as if it says that if a venue become unavailable but 'suitable' alternatives are found then they may well have a case to keep the deposit. Another thought would be to look at their website if they have one as they may well have some standard terms and conditions somewhere that may have this detail in it rather than a signed contract as paying a deposit I think may well be deemed as entering into a contract with them and so agreeing to the companies terms and conditions. Might be worth talking to trading standards as well.

> after all it's about making a commitment to my OH & shouldn't really matter where we do it

That was my eldest daughters thought when her wedding plans went wrong.

She was working in Mozambique at the time for GOAL as an aid worker. Her husband to be was working for VetAid, every time the local travelling vicar was due to come to Chokwe, Daan or she would be sent out to an outlying village. Eventually they did get married but not the service with family and friends they had tried to plan. They had travelled into South Africa for a day of shopping and R&R, when going round the supermarket, Nellspruits version of Tesco called Pick and Pay, Daan said to her, shall we just go to the town hall and see if we can get married today, otherwise it might never happen. So thats what they did, they took all their grocery shopping in Pick and Pay bags, (they are identical to Tescos except they have Pick and Pay on the them) and two people who were willing to be witnesses from the supermarket and got married. Her wedding outfit was a tatty teeshirt, jeans and working boots! His was a matching combo of collarless shirt, jeans and work boots. Instead of a bouquet she carried in her shopping!

Anyway I know how disappointed you must be though, as I used to work for a florist and saw many a wedding problem arise and often had to come up with ideas at short notice. Once bride told us as she was going into the church the family had miscalculated the number of people on the top table and asked us to rush to the reception to get a larger table organised and make the flowers spread along the table so it would not look odd. We got out of the venue with literally minutes to spare, having redone the flower arrangements, on the newly extended table.

I think in your shoes I'd be really very angry with the venue and the planner, these building works are not usually done with out a lot of warning, so somebody should have known and you should have been informed.

> shall we just go to the town hall and see if we can get married today, otherwise it might never happen.

Polly, i have to say that is something i know i'll probably end up doing, even though having the dress and the perfect location is something most girls dream of, i can see me ending up in jeans in a town hall..
You are so very right, it is all about who you are marrying and the vows you both take, not the venue, the dress, the guests etc.. The day should be about the loving couple who plan to spend the rest of their lives together in hopefully peace ane harmony.

> i can see me ending up in jeans in a town hall..

That is what I wanted this time, but in the event even though it is registry office we have got dress and suit and I will get hair done, and even though there are no official guests we have told people that if they want to gatecrash the ceremony then they can.

After the ceremony we are staying at a pub near the airport (they look after the car) and flying off on honeymoon in the morning, and staying there another night on our return.

It is in four weeks today.

We are both having a Stag/Hen night ther Friday before the wedding to celebrate/commiserate ;)

I can't even imagine planning a wedding more than a year in advance!

Congratulations Barbara :)

I haven't been on here for a while...what lovely news. I hope you have much happiness together xxx

> Congratulations Barbara :-)
>
> I haven't been on here for a while...what lovely news. I hope you have much happiness together xxx

your back! yay! hows the boyo?

i'm glad your getting some movement on them gembo.

how very upsetting for you, i would defo ask for a discount as you are not getting what you booked.
On a more posive note most marquee companys can make them look wonderful inside with clever lighting and great funiture so ask them to be involded in the decore of the inside.
You may be pleasently surprised what they can offer.
I hope it dosent ruin your day.
xxxx