We are extremely disappointed
We are extremely disappointed by the lack of service and professionalism that occurred with BytheHourBartending and Ryan (the owner). The following occurred at our wedding:
Cocktail Hour:
- A bartender was away from the bar shotgunning a beer during the beginning of cocktail hour when there was a very long line and no one was being served.
- The cocktail hour bar was closed before the Bride and Groom showed up. It was open for less than 45 minutes minutes out of the approximately 1 1/2 hour cocktail hour. The coordinator and groom explicitly stated to open the bar and we were told they were unable to because all 3 needed to set up the inside bar (it was already set up by me and the coordinator personally the morning of). We intentionally hired more bartenders, as discussed on the phone when booking Ryan so that the bar would not need to close and there would not be long lines.
- When myself and the bride went up to get our first drink when we came out, we were told multiple times that the bar was closed to our face. I told them again that we at least need a drink. The father of the groom and the maid of honor were denied at the same time and never received drinks. My wife gave her drink to my father and we shared our one other cocktail.
- As we discussed on our last call with Ryan, we wanted beers to be poured into cups. I did not see one beer poured into a cup, which left us with hundreds of expensive cups left over that we bought specifically to be used so they would be in photos.
Servers:
- During the ceremony, one server was walking in the wedding aisle seconds before the bride was to walk down. The coordinator had to walk out and tell them to not cross during the ceremony.
- Myself, the wedding coordinator, and anyone else I talked to did not see the servers for the majority of the night. At one point the servers were found sitting down drinking our drinks that were supposed to be for our guests.
- After we discussed in our calls with Ryan and was explicitly told to the servers by the coordinator, the servers did not rinse the plates as we hired them to do. The coordinator told the servers multiple times which was blatantly ignored. Approximately 5 minutes before the end of the time we hired them for, one server picked up a few dishes, stated "it was too heavy", and left the venue. My wife and I were personally responsible for washing all the plates the morning after our wedding, which is what I wanted to avoid and why I hired the servers.
- I saw many water pitchers empty on the table. The servers were instructed to refill a single pitcher on each table if it was low. Not only did they not watch when the pitchers were getting low, when the coordinator who asked if they could refill some, they would complain. Our coordinator was refilling the pitchers for them.
Reception:
- I asked the bartenders for a beer to give out before the reception started, at which point one said, "You need to ask the bride permission". I ensured her again that I was the groom and paid for the services, at which point she would not give me one until I went to get my wife and she gave the approval. My wife was disappointed.
- The bartenders gave out shots during the reception when we told both Ryan on our calls and the bartenders in person that no shots were to be given out at any point.
Hundreds of dollars worth of cups, mixers, alcohol, and serving tools were not used, not because of the wedding crowd but because the bartenders refused to do instructions that were clearly and reasonably given to them. I am very disappointed how poorly the bartenders and servers performed after our calls and communication with Ryan the owner. Many issues I specifically asked Ryan about occurred, even after providing all the necessary equipment and paying for additional hours and bartenders/servers. To top it all off, Ryan the owner repeatedly ignored our calls, texts, and emails attempting to address the issue after the wedding concluded. There is much more that occurred, but I am limited by the word count.
18 juillet 2026
Avis spontané
