My fiance and I were scheduled to get married at Hoffman Haus on April 4, 2020. As I'm sure every woman can relate, this is one of the most important days of our lives, a day that ...we've looked forward to for a long time.
We were planning a wedding weekend - April 3rd Welcome Dinner catered by Saltlick with the Texas Unlimited Country Band and April 4th Wedding (romantic and ethereal). We reserved the entire property for the weekend – our guests had reserved all of the rooms at Hoffman.
Throughout the wedding planning process, Shonda and her Hoffman Haus team were so helpful - allowing us to visit the venue multiple times to ensure everything was organized perfectly. Shonda graciously offered solutions and ideas when we needed furniture, lighting, draping, chairs, or a tent that fit our specific wedding vision. As a type A personality myself, Shonda patiently answered all of our questions and was there to make sure we had what we needed to have our dream wedding.
When the Federal recommendations and State regulations restricted the size of in-person gatherings due to the COVID-19 epidemic, our April 3-4 wedding at Hoffman Haus was rendered infeasible. Flights were cancelled, gatherings of 10 or more people discouraged via CDC quarantine rules and subsequently banned by state and local laws. An unforeseen disaster for us, our guests, and our vendors. Aaron and I are unable to reschedule at this time as too many things are unknown at the moment - these regulations could remain in effect for a long time. Months and years, not weeks. We're left scrambling to deal with vendors who can no longer perform their services in addition dealing with the heightened anxiety of this pandemic and the emotional loss of having our wedding abruptly and forcibly cancelled beyond our control.
We immediately called HH. As a family owned business, they understood what we were going through and that this unfortunate situation was outside of our control. They released us from our obligation to rent all of the rooms, and converted our deposit into a giftcard for a future visit to their venue. They waived our event fee as well. I tear up just writing this, as their actions were conducted with such honor and benevolence.
Shonda told us - We are a family owned business and that is not how we conduct ourselves here (referring to requiring us to pay the full event fee and unreserved rooms).
Hoffman Haus and all B&B and hotel chains are going to suffer tremendously as a result of COVID-19. How businesses treat customers during this crisis will create a ripple effect for years to come.
Aaron and I will go to Hoffman Haus as soon as we are legally allowed for our future anniversaries and weekend getaways, and we will share this story with everyone we know.
Hoffman Haus is an amazing bed and breakfast run by people who conduct themselves with utmost integrity and honor, even under the most dire of circumstances - please support them.