Kathleen Wilson
Charleston,#2REBUTTAL Owner of company
Sun, December 15, 2013
Lauren Brown Fry contacted me for her wedding on fairly short notice, only several weeks away from her wedding date.
Unfortunately, she never actually read the contract that I sent or apparently subsequent communications. i have a returned and signed contract that contains an incorrect date that she never corrected and never addressed. This is legally binding document that will stand up in court.
i have kept all email and sent this bride a very clear email, date stamped and referring to her Saturday wedding and I will see her then. True to form, she never responded with either a call, text message or email correcting the error.
i have been a professional harpist for over 30 years and this is the first incident of this type I have even had. I am one of the most respected musicians in the industry locally. I don't get rattled when dealing with weddings because I understand the business so well. I also understand the stress which is why I issue contracts and follow up before wedding dates.
Brides are responsible for giving their vendors accurate information and following up with them. They are responsible for reading legal documents and ensuring accuracy. I have performed close to 6000 wedding ceremonies and receptions over these years. I am extremely diligent about confirming uocoming events and did so in this case. I cannot and will not be held responsible for a bride who chooses to be careless and irresponsible in providing basic accurate information about a major event.
I feel very badly about what happened, I did my best to apologize and was rebuffed.
This bride absolutely did not pay anything. Her check was accidentally deposited and that same amount refunded instantly. I have a cancelled check demonstrating this, again, along with the intial contract with incorrect information as to her wedding date that she never bothered to read and immediately correct, and our final email prior to the wedding, confirming the incorrect date that she never addressed.
Brides bear responsibility and unfortunately, this one chose to be careless and has attempted to slander a long standing outstanding musician.
if it becomes necessary, I may may choose to post her contract or emails at some point however they contain her personal information and I have more decency than to post names, addresses and phone numbers on the internet.
it is my hope that she as well as other brides actually read documents sent to them so that sad incidents like this do not occur again. I'm an outstanding harpist but my mind-reading skills are not sharp. I trust that my clients are giving me the information that I need.