Fernridge was our 2nd booking, we we're captivated by the scenic view of their place nun nag ocular kami so we booked it on the spot last January 2013, it was a huge risk because talahiban pa lang sya by then, we took the risk and just trusted that they will deliver well.
May 2013 (before Kim left for Germany) we went back to visit the place to check their progress and to our dismay halos walang pagbabago aside sa landscaping. From then super disappointed na kami, we had doubts pero we suppressed it and just hold on sa trust namin since I'm regularly in contact naman sa kanila, I always drop by sa booth nila sa wedding fairs which is almost every fair.
I received a message from a co-Fernridge bride from W@W (Sis Janice) na there's something wrong daw sa venue namin, nabalitaan nya from her coordinator, since once of her coor's bride is a Fernridge bride as well. On the same day another W@W friend, who is also a Fernridge bride (Sis Ronna) received a message from her emcee naman regarding the same issue. Since most info are just 2nd hand naisip ko baka misunderstanding lang, so I messaged my AE Vangie to ask. I called her pero di nya ako sinasagot. Luckily nagkausap sila ni Ronna and she confirmed na Mike De Veyra the president already resigned. Fernridge and the other "Ferns" have different owners. Pero all was designed by Mike. For Fernridge's case he is just responsible for the design and execution but all finances ay sagot ng mga Ledesma (owner of Buena Vista Nature Park and Country Club / Taal View Heights) same family with the host RJ Ledesma. According to Mike, the Ledesma dont have enough budget to finance the project, tipong they really use the fund lang from bookings. Ledesma's side, they are not aware of the promises that Mike did, like the chapel within the venue. Sobrang laki ng problema sa management nila na ang mga clients ang naiipit at nagsu-suffer.
I was able to have an idea on what to do from W@W, another W@W Sis (Sis Bonnie) raised the topic based on her friend's experience. It was a long, emotional and tiring week. Together with Sis Ren and her h2b Melo, we went to Tagaytay to book my church, scout for venue and visit Fernridge.
The confrontation was with Me, Rico Ledesma, his wife, her secretary Arlene and the AE Vangie. Basically they blame everything to Mike. But I told them I don't care if they don't know what Mike promised kasi Mike was the president that time and he represents their company, and as member of the board, he (Rico, the acting president) should know it. The progress of the grand conservatory that I saw is around 20% pa lang. So I said I'll stick with my email to them na Im canceling our reservation and asking full refund plus damage fees. The confrontation was smooth actually, they apologized and promised to do what they can to get me my refund. I call them everyday to follow up and give them until next week to give what they owe us. To cut it short, I already got our full refund, no damage fee though because wala nga daw yun sa contract, etc. Nakakainis na ganun na lang yun. Just to be clear we asked for the damage fee not because we wanted extra budget, its because sobrang dali naman sa side nila na magkamali na they just have to return the money and move on samantalang yun mga affected ni hindi malaman kung paano itutuloy yun kasal na pinlano nila ng matagal. And its to compensate for the additional expense that their shortcoming did to us..ulitan na naman sa paghanap ng suppliers (coz we got the all-in package) and pinakamasakit we will scrap the invitations na ginawa namin at need na naman gumawa. ng bago. Sobrang laking hassle!
When I get the refund they let me sign a quitclaim na I free them with any liability after that, I signed it pero I didn't sign it immediately, nagpahirapan muna kami, just so they know na walang peaceful breakup. If someone's planning to file a legal case against them, I very much willing to help..as witness maybe.
The confrontation was with Me, Rico Ledesma, his wife, her secretary Arlene and the AE Vangie. Basically they blame everything to Mike. But I told them I don't care if they don't know what Mike promised kasi Mike was the president that time and he represents their company, and as member of the board, he (Rico, the acting president) should know it. The progress of the grand conservatory that I saw is around 20% pa lang. So I said I'll stick with my email to them na Im canceling our reservation and asking full refund plus damage fees. The confrontation was smooth actually, they apologized and promised to do what they can to get me my refund. I call them everyday to follow up and give them until next week to give what they owe us. To cut it short, I already got our full refund, no damage fee though because wala nga daw yun sa contract, etc. Nakakainis na ganun na lang yun. Just to be clear we asked for the damage fee not because we wanted extra budget, its because sobrang dali naman sa side nila na magkamali na they just have to return the money and move on samantalang yun mga affected ni hindi malaman kung paano itutuloy yun kasal na pinlano nila ng matagal. And its to compensate for the additional expense that their shortcoming did to us..ulitan na naman sa paghanap ng suppliers (coz we got the all-in package) and pinakamasakit we will scrap the invitations na ginawa namin at need na naman gumawa. ng bago. Sobrang laking hassle!
When I get the refund they let me sign a quitclaim na I free them with any liability after that, I signed it pero I didn't sign it immediately, nagpahirapan muna kami, just so they know na walang peaceful breakup. If someone's planning to file a legal case against them, I very much willing to help..as witness maybe.
Anyway, we learned a lot sa experience na ito, specially regarding contracts. For our case even if non-refundable yun nakalagay sa contract I demanded it. Kasi hindi naman ako ang nagkulang, sila yun may problema. I realized din na contracts are made for the purpose of protecting the supplier but not the clients. So better if mas maging mabusisi tayo dito. Sa case namin sinasabi nila na wala naman daw sa contract yun sa Chapel (sabi kasi nila sa diocese ito aayusin once maapprove na yun memo nila), even if paulit ulit nila itong pinapromise sa mga clients. For special cases like mga under construction pa lang may renovation,etc..pa-update nyo yun contract on when they promise to finish it and yun exact plan nila (e.g. may tent ba, glass windows,etc) Di na enough yun verbal lang.. kasi tayong clients ang kawawa. Di enough na we based our trust dahil sikat sila. Honestly since they are part of the "Fern" mas madali makuha ang tiwala ng clients kasi they are one of the top wedding venues. So who would have thought this would happen. So let's protect ourself through the contract. Merong topic about the contract sa W@W Primer.
Hopefully no more brides would become victims of suppliers like this!
--- May :)
--- May :)
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