C
CK
Guest
I'm attempting to rent out a manor for a wedding. In the list of policies that I read, signed, and initialed, it states that :
<begin Lockesly policy snippet>
1. Food. All food must be catered.
2. Tables and Chairs. Must be rented through Lockesly Manor.
3. Time Limit. The Rental Fee will govern the time period reserved. The Mansion will be opened exactly at your contracted time. Additional hours are available at $225.00 per hour. Extension of hours must be approved.
4. Vendors. Lockesly Manor must be provided with a list of Vendors with phone numbers by Renter no later than one month prior to the event date. Renter must supply all vendors with the vendor maps for unloading details. Please inform your Vendors of the time frame for delivering and decorating per your contract.
5. Floor Plan. An outline of table placement in side and outside must be submitted one month prior to the Event.
(other policies removed)
<end policies>
My fiancee and I would like to use a local caterer that will provide food and service in the realm of $10 - $15 a plate (vegetarian food with 1 chicken dish, not fancy). Lockesly manor will not accept this caterer for the event. They point to a paragraph in their list of vendors that was stapled to the contract, but was not initialled or signed. This paragarph is below.
<from Lockesly Vendor Listing>
CATERING
Lockesly is open to outside caterers listed below on the Preferred Caterers List and to other professional caterers upon house approval, for assurance of a successful event. Please inform your caterer that all tables and chairs are rented through Lockesly and set up and taken town by the caterer. The "Caterer's Policy" sheet is to be provided by the renter to your chosen and approved caterer. Renter is responsible for the compliance of their caterer with house policies. Outside caterers must be comparable in quality to the House Choice Caterer
<end snippet>
The people at Lockesly suggested that we contact the two "cheapest" people on their list, with the lowest estimate coming in at $40 a plate. They point to thier quality, their stance as a historic site, etc. for their reasons not to approve the caterer. My question is:
Do they have the right to not allow us to use the caterer we selected? Would this constitute a breach of contract that would allow us to break the contract with all down payments returned? We like the location, but would like to be able to use the vendors we have met with and selected to service our wedding. However, Lockesly seems to be unwilling to budge on this issue and we're worried that they will be difficult on other vendors as well. A complete copy of the contract can be scanned and linked if necessary for an opinion.
<begin Lockesly policy snippet>
1. Food. All food must be catered.
2. Tables and Chairs. Must be rented through Lockesly Manor.
3. Time Limit. The Rental Fee will govern the time period reserved. The Mansion will be opened exactly at your contracted time. Additional hours are available at $225.00 per hour. Extension of hours must be approved.
4. Vendors. Lockesly Manor must be provided with a list of Vendors with phone numbers by Renter no later than one month prior to the event date. Renter must supply all vendors with the vendor maps for unloading details. Please inform your Vendors of the time frame for delivering and decorating per your contract.
5. Floor Plan. An outline of table placement in side and outside must be submitted one month prior to the Event.
(other policies removed)
<end policies>
My fiancee and I would like to use a local caterer that will provide food and service in the realm of $10 - $15 a plate (vegetarian food with 1 chicken dish, not fancy). Lockesly manor will not accept this caterer for the event. They point to a paragraph in their list of vendors that was stapled to the contract, but was not initialled or signed. This paragarph is below.
<from Lockesly Vendor Listing>
CATERING
Lockesly is open to outside caterers listed below on the Preferred Caterers List and to other professional caterers upon house approval, for assurance of a successful event. Please inform your caterer that all tables and chairs are rented through Lockesly and set up and taken town by the caterer. The "Caterer's Policy" sheet is to be provided by the renter to your chosen and approved caterer. Renter is responsible for the compliance of their caterer with house policies. Outside caterers must be comparable in quality to the House Choice Caterer
<end snippet>
The people at Lockesly suggested that we contact the two "cheapest" people on their list, with the lowest estimate coming in at $40 a plate. They point to thier quality, their stance as a historic site, etc. for their reasons not to approve the caterer. My question is:
Do they have the right to not allow us to use the caterer we selected? Would this constitute a breach of contract that would allow us to break the contract with all down payments returned? We like the location, but would like to be able to use the vendors we have met with and selected to service our wedding. However, Lockesly seems to be unwilling to budge on this issue and we're worried that they will be difficult on other vendors as well. A complete copy of the contract can be scanned and linked if necessary for an opinion.