Cancelling wedding venue after paying deposit

beltzar

Hi folks,
Need some serious advice and suggestions please.
My wonderful fiancé and I got engaged 15months ago. Since then we picked our wedding venue about 5 months ago and paid a €3,000 deposit.
In the last 15 months my father passed away,two uncles and one aunt, I have changed jobs and we have had to move house. Since we booked the venue and paid deposit, his father passed away, my company announced it's closing next yr, my aunt had a stroke and my health has gone haywire.
We are now looking to have a small intimate no fuss wedding and cancel the wedding venue and get our deposit back. We have no wedding insurance but can prove all the above.
Have we a case do you think, and are we entitled to our deposit back. We signed a very vague contract.??
Suggestions and advice greatly appreciated!!
Thanks so much

keyboardcook

Very sorry for your loss. What used to happen in such circumstance was that if the venue could fill the date, your deposit would be returned.

There is huge compassion when it comes to bereavement.

Your best bet is talk to the venue, as talking costs nothing. State your case.

If you feel that you are not being taken care of, then take the contract and seek legal advice. FLAC offer free legal advice to those in need.

What other deposits have you made? Band?

Are other suppliers showing compassion?

Take these things into account when you approach the venue.

beltzar

Thanks keyboardcook.

We've paid deposit for church music and photographer and I'm happy to still go ahead with them for the day as we're just hoping to have immediate family.
I've had a look at the contract and it cleary states NO REFUNDS for deposit under any circumstances. But you're right, we're meeting them soon anyway to have a chat and we'll see what happens.
If they wont refund the deposit I think I am still happy to cancel it and just have family at a restaurant somewhere.
I've lost all energy and enthusiasm tbh.

Thanks again
beltzar

D3PO

Deposit is 99.9% non refundable. You will probably have signed a contract to say that. Sorry for your tumultous 15 months but thats not the venues fault either.

goes back to the wedding insurance thread on here a while ago when I advised everybody they should take it out. the cost of taking it out for the peace of mind well worth it.

So the venue would be fully within their rights to tell you tough luck however some venues will try and sell your date if they manage to they will then return your deposit. Depends on the venue though they have no obligation to do this best thing you can do is go into meet your wedding co ordinator and see what they say.

jomc

I definitely agree that your first step should be to discuss whats happening with them. They might be agreeable to refunding part or all of your deposit.

If they point blank say no, then have you thought about having your intimate family wedding at this location? Maybe they have a private dining room that would be suitable for smaller numbers? If so then perhaps they would allow you to change the style of the wedding and refund the difference in what you have spent? Or if they won't refund the difference at least you will have you wedding meal/reception in the deposit?

The last suggestion i have for you is to advertise your date. I know one wedding venue we looked at had no dates of our choice available. A while later they rang to say one of the couples was considering changing their date, and the hotel was enquiring on their behalf if we would then like that date. You never know, in between you securing your dat and the time that has gone by there could have been people interested who may still like it. The hotel might have the numbers of interested people or someone might spot it online and only be too happy to take it from you.

I really hope it works out for you and things look up.

beltzar

Thanks folks for the emails and suggestions.

I am tired from a very stressful few months and am having trouble seeing the trees for the wood or whatever the weird expression is.
If we lose €1000 (the initial deposit) fair enough - our mistake for not getting insurance. But if they wish to keep the €3000 we will just go ahead with the venue and the min 100 guests. Its not for another 8 months anyway and who knows we may be more in the form for it then.

We will be in touch with the venue soon and fingers crossed it works out.

Have a nice weekend all.

keyboardcook

beltzar.

If it helps, I've had a chat with my bunch (wedding entertainment) and stated your case.

Given the circumstance, we'd be happy to help out any way we can in terms of discounting you.

We have a policy of doing charity work with annual goals. I am not saying you are charity, more that we are soft hearted.

Regards,

kc

beltzar

KC
How incredibly kind and thoughtful. I had to read your post a few times as I couldnt believe your generosity

However we have our budget put by and we are both working (for now).

Please keep that gig for someone else who will be mroe in need of it.

Many thanks all the same!:)
beltzar

keyboardcook

You're very welcome. Let me know how you get on with the hotel.
kc

lynner83

so sorry to hear your news, i was just thinking would the hotel allow you to use the €3000 deposit for a smaller room or the restaurant.

beltzar

Hi Lynner

Unfortunately the venue is a wedding venue only. It only opens for weddings.

We are still unsure whether to go big or intimate, or half way I guess.

Time will tell.

Thanks again

okiss

Hello Beltzar,
I would speak to the wedding venue as soon as possible and see if they will give you back your deposit or some of your deposit.
At this stage you have been have been through a lot. You should not be backed into a corner in taking an expensive wedding venue. Your circumstance have changed and it is not worth spending a fortune on you wedding day.
I have seen couples end up in debt paying for a wedding and the stress of money worries can brake up the strongest couple.
I went to small weddings where the couple invited family and close friends.
They got people they knew to do things for them ie a good baker in the family made a wedding cake and some one who knew about flowers did the church and wedding flowers. This is a book may help you with more ideas & help you save some money - How to Have a Champagne Wedding on a Buck's Fizz Budget By Sarah Traynor.
Have a great wedding.

LisaLee

Hi, not sure if this is applicable. But if there is a 'Force majeure' clause in the contract then it might be worth looking into. Am very sorry to hear you're having such a hard time of things.

beltzar

Hi Okiss and LisaLee,

Many thanks for your posts and advice.

After sitting down with himself and talking it through again we've agreed to go ahead with what we originally planned (as thats what we'd originally wanted) and try to keep to 100people.

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas-and the book suggestion-himself has ordered it.

I work 12hr day/night shifts and I think the nights had just caught up on me and got me when I was feeling blue. But back to normal again and with more gusto and energy. And again, the love of a good man.

Okiss, thankfully we've been saving and have the funds already saved so that is a HUGE load off our mind, plus we're skipping favours, using our own transport, few church flowers, no wedding cake, His sister is making my dress, free wine corkage negotiated, etc etc

Thanks all.

clickhere

beltzar ,delighted your going ahead with your big day. You will always have the wedding to remember, hope you have a super day.