Hotel Drama

Eek. My bridezilla’s showing. Just a little.

My first hotel choice was the Hilton Americas. Across the street from the venue, gorgeous and plush. However, they were fully booked with a stupid convention. So, we arranged a group rate at the Four Seasons for all of our out-of-towners. Decent rate, not too far from the venue. About 80% of people attending the wedding need a hotel room.  That’s somewhere in the ballpark of 25-35 rooms, for two nights where you know people will be eating and drinking and whatnot there. And I really, really want everything to be easy and convenient for all of those lovely people shelling out cash to see us look all cute and get hitched.

So, I shot the coordinator there a few questions that I thought would be fairly easy after signing.

1) Do you have an airport shuttle?

1) Do you have a downtown shuttle that can help us get our guests to the venue? (2 blocks, y’all. I just didn’t want people to feel they had to walk that in their pretty party ensams.)

3) We’d like to take bridal photos in Quatro and on the roof where the pool is. Will that be an issue?

Answers to all three questions were a big fat no.

They dont provide an airport shuttle, but private car was available for about $120 round trip. Sorry, we don’t shit money. WTF. Let’s do that math for the 20-30 people flying in.

They have a 4 passenger car that we could use if it were available. For one the “IF” annoyed me. I’m bringing you at minimum $9k worth of business (probably more like $15k) on a weekend and you give me an “if”. Also, transporting 60-80 people in a Lincoln Towncar would be awesome. I know that the Hilton, Hyatt Regency and Inn at the Ballpark all have a downtown shuttle. But the Four Seasons is too good for that.

They don’t allow photography in any part of the hotel to protect the privacy of their snooty-ass guests. Oh, get over yourself. This Four Seasons Houston isn’t the posh palace that most are. It’s not to say it isn’t a nice hotel, it’s just an older property that could use some TLC. P-Diddy and the Beib aren’t coming stay here, ya’ll. Why do you think they gave us room rates starting at $145? Also, it’s not like I want some random hotel guest in my photos. As if.

So, I cancelled them. If anyone has booked rooms there, you can cancel them now too.

My next choice was The Alden.

A boutique hotel on the north side of downtown. Quite a ways from the venue, but they promised to help us negotiate a good rate with their transportation vendor for a bus and promised us the use of their car. There’s only 97 rooms at that property, so we’d make up about a third of he guest. It’s pretty posh and unique and I liked that a lot. I just didn’t love the location. But – hey, nice place. Great rates. I can take photos anywhere. Score.

I signed the paperwork and toured it. I was very happy with my choice!

Until.

Yes, until.

Courtesy of Expedia

I saw that the Embassy Suites they’d been building for umpteen years across the street from our wedding venue was NOW OPEN. All suites. Hot breakfast. Tons of amenities. A DOWNTOWN SHUTTLE (not that we need it since it’s all across the street). And all brand, spankin’ new. HOLLER.

So I broke up with Catherine from The Alden, who was very nice and understanding and I felt bad but then I got over it. I’m just waiting on the group code from Embassy Suites and then I’ll be updating the hotel info page and everyone can start booking.

I just want everyone to be comfortable and enjoy their trip. And if this is the extent of the drama I have to deal with then we are totally rockin’ this wedding the right way.

Save-the-dates should be going out in the next week via email. Be lookin’ for them!