How do I tell guests that our wedding had been postponed?

First, sorry you have to cancel.You need to call people individually and let them know immediately. Don't slack on this. Make a personal call especially to those out of town. How many people are on your guest list / invited?

You need to call people and tell them ASAP. Did your venue contract not cover something like this? They should be paying the difference to get you a new venue. I'd bet that your international guests have already made travel arrangements.

I'm so sorry this happened.

I'd be making the venue pay for the cost of covering a new place... Haven't most guests already booked travel and hotel?

Did you send std or invitations already?

Look into your contract ASAP because this close to your wedding there should be a clause about refunding your money! I'm so sorry you have to go through this!! Call all traveling friends and family as soon as you can because they need to adjust their plans immediately! Good luck with a search for a new venue!!

Definitely,check you contract! How come the other party got precidence over yours?

In the meantime, call people directly ASAP.

At this point with people traveling from outside the country will they even be able to change their flights?? Could you still have your wedding at a different venue???

I would be looking for a back up venue. Mines the same date. I would lose a ton of deposits to move the entire thing

There has to be something in your contract to cover this...you should not have to postpone your date. I would be absolutely raising hell with the venue, & I never complain in terms of customer service anything. You will be losing so much money & that's not right, not to mention so may international flights probably can't be changed/refunded.

Thank you guys for all of the advice! Yes, STDs and invitations have already been sent and people have already made travel arrangements. I don't know why the other couple got precedence over us, they may have been having a larger, more expensive wedding. We will be having a lawyer take a look at our contract to see if there is grounds to have the venue refund our money and/or pay for a new venue. Fortunately, the florist is related to us and we will not have to pay for flowers again, so there's one good thing!

Ummm....no f'ing way! Your venue is on the hook for this if they screwed up and signed a contract with another couple while simultaneously accepting your down payment and a signed contract. Are they on the hook for refunding your deposit? Hell, yes, In fact, they're probably on the hook for paying for your new venue -- and probably some damages as well. Get on the phone with your attorney first thing tomorrow. This is unconscionable -- you have other vendors with whom you may now have conflicts -- transportation, a photographer, a videographer, a florist, an officiant, a DJ, a baker...the list goes on. This is disgraceful -- a month out -- guests attending from Australia? No, they need to fix this.

In the meantime, tell the manager at the venue -- in writing -- that you are not only contacting your attorney, but you're also contacting a journalist in your local area (find the right journalist -- it will probably be someone covering "local" or "community events"). This kind of a story -- a couple who has a signed contract and has, in their possession, a cashed deposit check, but are now -- at the eleventh hour -- being cast aside in favor or whomever, is huge. Usually, the mere threat is enough for someone at the top to figure this out -- in your favor.

I'm angry for you...really. Please, keep up updated. This type of crap makes every wedding vendor look bad.

You need to call people now - those tickets are so expensive and they are for sure already booked.

Also ladies so many contracts will basically say 'we can cancel at any time for any reason and sorry, not sorry' i saw 2 venues with insane contracts and when I asked about it both said i dont know no one has ever read it that closely - but trust us its fine! Um nope. Nope nope let me off the bus

Keep us updated, please... I hope the venue takes care of you. They certainly should be on the hook.

And btw. ... how in the world did they let it get this close to the date before notifying you???! Surely they knew a while ago, and now they've chosen to drop you a month out, potentially costing you and your guests thousands. Glad you're talking to an attorney.

I, too, would look for a backup venue, if people have non-refundable airline tickets.

Is there any way the venue could do two events on the same day? One at brunch and one in the evening? Yes, it's a hassle for the venue, but they fucked up and they need to make good. That may mean they need will need to hire a butt load of people to make everything work, including decorating for two events, but that's just too bad.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this. This was my biggest fear. I would think at this point postponing would be more trouble than just finding a new venue due to travel plans and booked hotels. You need an attorney on this stat! I would be raising hell with the venue!

No way. I would put my foot down on this one and demand to know why my wedding is being bumped as opposed to the other couples. Who booked first? And of course, you need your money back asap.

Also, your out of town guests will have booked tickets and won't get a refund. Therefore I strongly suggest you try to find a back up venue. The current venue needs to help you with that and pay the costs. And, of course, let the guests know the situation immediately.

So sorry this is happening.

NO.NO.NO. Seriously. Get a lawyer ASAP. DO NOT let them walk all over you like this.

Don't postpone, especially if you have international guests who have already purchased flights. Can you do it the day before or after? Or find another venue - it IS possible - and insist that they pay. Do they have a facebook page? Blow it up. Contact the media. Do whatever you have to to make them fix this right now.

eta: Where are you located and what's the budget? We can help!

Yes to what JillR said. Where are you? Maybe we can suggest venues (or lawyers)

I would start calling around, some venues may have had a cancellation! I would also google your area, you may get places you never thought of to use! And if you are 100% sure on postponing, start calling everyone ASAP! So sorry you're having to deal with this.

Adding to Jill ...number of guests