A major renovation to one of Iowa’s oldest hotels is disrupting summer wedding plans for several couples in Dubuque. Officials with the Julien Inn have told the couples they have less than six months to find a new reception hall. Bride-to-be Katie Costello says it’s a big hassle.
"I’d planned everything ahead and it was really going good, but now there’s a big glitch in it," Costello said. Owners of the hotel say unexpected problems with the renovation are forcing them to push back the banquet room completion date. That leaves people like Costello in a bind.
"I’m terrified," Costello admits, "I mean we’ve been waiting for five years to get married." Costello was just about ready to mail "save the date" cards. The cards say that the reception will be held at the Julien Inn, where the couple has also blocked rooms.
The hotel owners say they’re working to find affected couples a new reception hall. Costello says, when July 19th arrives, she’s getting married. She just doesn’t know where they’ll go afterward. "It probably won’t quite match, but they are going to try and find us a place," Costello said. The Julien Inn renovations are expected to cost nearly $25 million dollars.