A Week To Go & Venue Changes Plans - WWYD???

Completly understand your frustration but as it is only half an hour can you shave 15 minutes off both parts to allow for this. What are your timings exactly from start to finish - I am sure we can help you sort it. Always best to find a compromise before you go looking for comp.

It wouldn't matter if anything earlier were cut because at this point the band is slated to start at 20:00 and their booking agency won't change their start time this far in. I know that sounds nuts, especially if we're talking about 15 or 30 minutes, but I understand their reasoning that this is the policy they stick to, because at a certain point the band has made travel and other life arrangements (child care, etc.). It's just frustrating because even a month ago I could have made such adjustments.

I don't know if this is the same situation, but our venue's last orders were at 11.30pm however the band finished playing at midnight.

So everyone had half an hour to finish their drinks and have a few more dances.

The venue has told us that the band has to stop at 11:30 and everyone has to be cleared of the hall by 11:45.

I don't know much about licensing, but I would have thought that was venue choice rather than a legality? Happy to be shot down by someone who knows more!

I can see them not being able to serve after 11.30pm but I think you should be pushing on the actual finish time personally.

I agree with Kharv, if they originally signed a contract with you stating that your reception finish time was midnight then they should stick to it. If they have to stop serving alcohol at 11.30 then they should, but they shouldn't be kicking everyone out earlier if they've already agreed a finish time of midnight.

Do you have a contracts with the original timings on? If so then I would go back to them and ask that they either apply for an extension to the license for half an hour or that they refund you for half an hour of venue hire.

Yep I was thinking this as well. Legally they may have to finish serving at 11:30, but it doesn't mean the party has to finish then.

I know what you mean, its only 30 minutes and no one ever leaves when told. i went to a wedding few wks ago and the bar closed at 11.30 and i never left the venue till about 12.30.

I have to admit that this sounds a little unfair - but it's not a problem that we will be facing at our wedding because the venue has a late licence and if everyone is having a good time and buying drinks then the bar stays open - even if it's 3 o'clock in the morning. But by the same token if it gets to 11.30pm and no-one has bought a drink for 45 minutes then the bar will shut.

I feel in your case that you should be due a refund or recompense of some description because as you say you are tied into contracts - if the venue is adamant that they will close the bar at a set time then I would be pushing for free extra wine for the tables with your wedding breakfast or whatever. It seems to me - to be a way for the venue to avoid paying their staff a premium rate of pay after a certain hour and even if this was not the case why have they told you with a week to go?

Swampy