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Matt
Just Said Yes August 2020

Venue covid Cancel

Matt, on August 5, 2020 at 2:16 PM Posted in Community Conversations 0 15

Hello,

We signed a contract BEOFRE COVID was a thing with a venue and paid half of the venue cost up front which is non refundable. I have family members that tested positive for covid and have been exposed so we now need to cancel. The venue is telling me that I owe her the full amount of the venue cost even though I am not having the wedding. Anyone else in this situation?

15 Comments

Latest activity by Kimberly, on August 8, 2020 at 1:44 PM
  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    That makes sense when you’re cancelling less than two months before your scheduled date. What does your contract say?
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  • Caytlyn
    Legend November 2019
    Caytlyn ·
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    Sorry, two weeks.
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  • Molly
    VIP September 2020
    Molly ·
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    I am so sorry you are going though this! I hope your family get well soon!

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  • Angel
    Expert August 2020
    Angel ·
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    Ugh, that's horrible. I'm so sorry to hear that, and hope your family gets better soon. Some venues are working with their couples, while others are being completely inconsiderate and cold. With our ceremony venue and reception venue, we put $500 down each. Both were non-refundable, however our ceremony immediately offered to give us a refund of our deposit once they realized covid would effect our wedding. However, the reception venue won't even respond to my texts/emails about a possible refund. Neither are telling us we need to pay the remainder. Depending on how much, you could get a lawyer involved - but also depends on what the contract says. Either way, I feel everyone should be very understanding right now since this pandemic is to no fault of yours or theirs.

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  • Margaret
    Master October 2020
    Margaret ·
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    Sadly it is as Caytlyn states. Normal business contracts charge full amount when you cancel less than 2 months. Some even 6 months.
    I’m so sorry! Can they reschedule you?
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  • MOB So Cal
    January 2019
    MOB So Cal ·
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    I agree with others that it is pretty standard for the venue to expect full payment this close to the date. (Unless you happened to have purchased wedding insurance, but I've heard most insurers aren't covering for anything Covid-related.) At daughter's venue we had to pay 30% to book; another 30% probably about 6 months out, and then once we hit 120 days, according to the contract, we owned the full amount two weeks before the wedding date no matter what happened or who showed up. If you haven't yet, I'd carefully review your contract, but the language likely requires full payment this close to the date. I'm so sorry. I hope you and all your affected family members are okay/recover fully. Smiley heart

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  • Matt
    Just Said Yes August 2020
    Matt ·
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    It's just purely bad luck for everyone. I never would have signed any contract if I knew there was going to be a deadly pandemic. It's just unfortunate.

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  • Alex
    Dedicated May 2021
    Alex ·
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    Unfortunately if you signed a contract with a non-refundable deposit, that’s it. There’s usually a fine line in there regarding how/if you’re required to pay the remaining funds regardless of canceling. Most couples are electing to reschedule instead of cancel so they don’t lose their deposits and stuff. Ask them about rescheduling & go from there.
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  • Sexypoodle
    Master October 2021
    Sexypoodle ·
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    That sounds totally normal. You are in too short of a window to cancel without penalty. Up until today, you were moving forward with your wedding within the pandemic. So, technically, it wasn’t the pandemic itself that stopped your wedding. It’s definitely unfortunate. So many of us have had to postpone. But I would’ve been stuck with the same bill from our venue if it had been two weeks prior.
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  • V
    Rockstar July 2019
    Veronica ·
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    Unfortunately, this is common when you decide to cancel an event so close to your wedding. Our venue had different percentages of what we would have to pay if we cancelled. For instance if we cancelled 29 days or less we would've had to pay 100% of the costs, 59-30 days before we would've had to pay 90%, and so forth.

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  • N
    VIP September 2020
    Neeva ·
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    Can you reschedule instead? Then you can use your deposit for a new date.

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  • Matt
    Just Said Yes August 2020
    Matt ·
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    We are not going to reschedule actually. We are just going to move forward with the wedding with maybe having 30 guests there total now.

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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    If you are planning to go forward with your wedding on a smaller scale why not just do it on a smaller scale at the venue you have? Cancelling within 2 weeks is always going to cost you. The venue turned away other events because they had a contract stating you were going to have your event. Cancelling now would be taking money away from the venue.
    I’d recommend just having your smaller scale wedding at the venue since you are paying for it anyway.
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  • Matt
    Just Said Yes August 2020
    Matt ·
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    That's exactly what I decided to do. Ceremony at the venue and then reservations at a restaurant afterwards. Much smaller scale. Sad some of my immediate family members wont be able to come because they tested positive for covid but just trying to do what we think is best in the moment.

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  • Kimberly
    Super March 2021
    Kimberly ·
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    That’s a great compromise. It is sad that some won’t be able to make it, but you and your fiancé should have your day. Good luck!
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