Wedding Peeve

OK, I realize that in the end this is my own fault, so I don't have any recourse, but still, I just have to say:

All but one of my wedding vendors has made a great effort to stay in contact with me, gently remind me if they need information or money from me, just check in with me. The food caterer reminded me when they need my final minimum guaranteed head count. Which I gave...and even though it was about 15 fewer people than they had originally quoted for, it was no problem.

My beverage caterer (which the Museum forces everyone to use, no matter who your food caterer is) had a different approach. They sent me the contract weeks and weeks ago. I paid a deposit, and I never heard from them again. So I realized on my own this week that I need to give the head count and pay the balance. I emailed them 4 days ahead of the wedding with the head count (again 15 fewer than I cited when getting the initial quote.)

The reply was swift: I was supposed to give that info one week ahead, so it was too late, I'd have to pay for 150. That's almost another $500 in their pocket and out of mine.

Now, again, I know it was my responsibility to get this info to them, but I'm still cranky about it. All we're serving is beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. And they made a big deal about how they service so many institutions and event venues in the area that we were benefiting from their scale. So I don't believe for one second that they acquired a bunch of stuff for our wedding that they won't be able to use by simply adjusting their order for the following week.

I just wonder how that works out for them never nudging their clients? I can't be the only person who, in the midst of the crush of details that is event planning, forgets to modify head count until less than a week before the event. I wonder if that is ever a little more drastic than my little adjustment?

I'm annoyed with myself, but I confess that given the proactive attitude of every other vendor I'm working with...food, DJ, florist, etc. etc...I'm annoyed with these beverage folks too.