Loyola University Chicago Conference Services

I’ve been putting off writing this review mostly because I haven’t wanted to relive the stress and anger that I will remember forever on my wedding day. To make things easier, I will simply copy and paste the emails shared between Loyola and I.
From: Angie G
Sent: Tuesday, September 03, 2013 11:32 AM
To: Adams, Dana; Palazzolo, Brian
Subject: 8÷31÷13
Despite having most of the wedding plans and passed along completed months ago, numerous issues occurred on the most important day of my life that I feel is important to share with you.
–Prior to the ceremony, Michael found the outside ceremony chairs facing the wrong direction, even though the floor plans were created months and months ago.
–The sound system did not function outside. I paid the music and microphone fee and it was known that I was having my ceremony and cocktail hour outside. The dj had to blast the music inside to its maximum so the outside guests could hear what we were saying. The same continued when we had our cocktail hour. Very embarrassing.
–The servers at Aramark were serving my guests inside, when it was planned the entire time as an outside cocktail hour. Additionally, they continued serving the same items to the same groups of guests.
This meant that 5 people received the same item over and over again and nothing was evenly distributed. ¾ my guests, myself and the groom never even saw the dates or steak crostinis.
–I visited the venue three times prior to 8÷31÷13 and never saw or was informed of solar panels covering the ceiling. This caused such frustration when I first walked in before my ceremony and was surprised with this. I couldn’t even enjoy my dinner because the panels closed again and I was told it was impossible to reopen. It took me having to repeatedly nag the Aramark person and barely eat for her to call the engineer to get this resolved.
–There were floor boards by the exit doors to the patio that were risen. This could just be poor hardwood floor conditions or due to the effects of weather, but his caused many small children at my wedding to trip over as the floor was uneven.
–I paid $ 5 for champagne per person (as I learned a month before 8÷31÷13 it was not included in my package) and was told by Brian that this meant guests could have unlimited champagne. I do not understand why my guests were denied champagne after the toast. They had to ask for a manager and then were given what they wanted. I know I paid all amounts due in full so there is probably little Loyola and Aramark can do to compensate me for the stress I incurred on such an important day. I guess the fact that I had my wedding plans passed through so many hands may have caused these mishaps to occur but I find it inexcusable and am so very disappointed. I am very active on Unilocal,Wedding Wire and other review websites and plan to share my experience.
Angie
On 9÷3÷13, Adams, Dana wrote:
Angie,
I am very disssppointed to learn of the issues that you had expereinced with your recent reception, I will speak to Brian and discuss these and repsond to you with any appropiate actions or compensation that we will be applying to your account within the next day or two.
Regards,
Dana
From: Angie G
Sent: Friday, September 13, 2013 11:44 AM
To: Adams, Dana
Cc: Palazzolo, Brian
Subject: Re: 8÷31÷13
Hi Dana and Brian,
I received a refund of $ 100 and wanted to know how this amount was calculated.
The restricted champagne in which I paid $ 5 per person was $ 160, the sound system that did not function outside (even though it was established 6 months prior that I was having an outdoor ceremony and cocktail hour) was $ 200. The servers did not adequately do their job in serving food equally and any time that I asked the Aramark staff person to fix an issue (e.g., the solar panels, the passing of appetizers), she stated it was not possible. I almost walked out of my own wedding dinner to look for an engineer on campus since she was so hesistant to do so at first. Does this add up to $ 100?
I truly feel like I was treated like a second-​class citizen even though I tried to make my wedding as simple as possible to execute since the plans were set months prior. For example, Brian had asked me two days before the wedding how I wanted my ceremony seating. Really?
I had this arranged with Heather months prior. I do not comprehend how this nightmare of an experience equates to $ 100 refund.
—–
Basically Loyola wiped their butts with my complaints and basically called me a liar with every point I made. I continue to hear complaints from guests that my own family and friends couldn’t hear my vows from the messed up sound system outside, that the photographers almost didnt get fed because the wait staff was questioning who they were (after i made a seating chart with their names and titles) and that the food was either scorching hot or ice cold. I know that things don’t always go as planned but this is just uncalled for. I wish I knew what I was getting into.