Riverside Reserve

,  additional contracts, and of course additional charges. I’ve never been treated so unprofessional by a so-called professional I was hung up on. I was doubted. I was questioned .I was discriminated against. In her words, Sometimes vendors have to sign contracts, sometimes not. It’s different every situation” The real reason for her not liking me was that we were never planning on using her coordinator services. In our first visit, i asked what were some of her favorite weddings we could go look at on social media. Her answer: “the ones I coordinate.”  We used a coordinator that has been in business longer than she has been alive. Did I pay her more? Yes- and i expected more from her. During planning stages, two of our vendors wanted to see the venue so they drove an hour and overheard Mariah telling another staff member, “ We aren’t coordinating that wedding, don’t answer any questions they have.” I called Mariah to see if we could meet at the venue on a Monday evening to have a vendor meeting and she flat out said NO. I said well maybe i could ask the owner if she could meet me there. She literally hung up in my face.  She calls back about 5 min later and I say “oh I'm sorry i think we got disconnected”. Which she says, “no i hung up to call the owner and NO we aren’t going to meet you. We don’t work that day because we work the weekend. “ This is my first wedding to plan, however; it is not my first event to plan, coordinate, pay for. And I am very certain this is not how things should be from any business, business owner or staff. What has happened to customer service? Isnt Natchitoches the most Hospitable City in the South?  Instead we are being nickeled and dimed every time I turn around.  And now to the damage deposit. $1000 that will not be returned an check has been cashed for:  $750 kitchen use fee. For my caterer to use the kitchen for a warming area.  With tax (the “use” of is not taxable) added and credit card fee (which was paid via check) this total is now $886  The remainder is being kept for a sticky floor (what event or wedding has never split a drink?), a scratch on a table tha had a rented linen on (which i never moved anything from the table- who knows what scratched it) and this is kicker- food being left in the kitchen sink. (This is from backflow in 3 compartment sink- you let one compartment drain and it comes up in the next- and drains out- totally normal)  I was charged $400 to bring in a margarita machine in that I rented. I was told their staff would not touch it nor could it be near their bar area and that i must hire a licensed bartender to operate for the night. Then she must show her ID bc they may not think Im honest.  Next item: cold sparks. Fits tvisit: We were told they didn’t know who rented them. We have our walk through several weeks out and were now told after renting them from Alexandria, that a licensed vendor must operate them. Never discussed before.  I questioned my contract, was told well our contract has changed since you signed it so we don’t honor that anymore.  Upon asking for clarification of keeping my $1000 deposit, I was told by the owner there have only been maybe 2 or 3 checks kept in her 3 years of operation. However, you must talk to Mariah about any questions you have.