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Savvy November 2020

Need help navigating conversations surrounding canceling a venue contract!

Ashley, on October 6, 2019 at 2:32 PM Posted in Planning 0 4

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My fiancé and I booked a venue on Sept 20, 2019 (just a few weeks ago) for an August 22, 2020 wedding. We paid $500 as an initial non refundable deposit and from here on, $1500 is due on the 20th of every month until about a week before the wedding when the remainder is due.

Due to some potential visa challenges, we realized it might be safer to get married in the country my fiancé is from so we are thinking about cancelling the wedding in the USA.

My venue contract states the following:

”In the event of cancellation of this contract, the caterer has the right to rebook this date, and if the event is less than the amount of the cancelled date, patron is responsible for the cost of the difference between the cancelled date and the newly rebooked date.”

I am a little worried because our total booking amounted to about $35,000, which a rebooking may not surpass so we may still be liable for the difference.

Anyone have any any advice on how to navigate this conversation with the venue? We are not trying to get our $500 deposit back, but we do not want to be liable for the difference cost since we are giving over 10 months notice and the venue is a popular one and will surely get rebooked, if at a lower cost.

Other than asking for the credit to be applied to a future party we conduct at the venue, any other advice on how to navigate this? All suggestions are appreciated - thank you in advance!

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4 Comments

Latest activity by MOB So Cal, on October 8, 2019 at 10:07 PM

Super February 2020
Jeanie · on October 6, 2019 at 8:55 PM
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That’s tough. You may not be able to get out of that. And if they only rebook for something that’s $10,000, you could be stuck still paying $25,000. I would speak with them ASAP to discuss your options. It’s not like you’ve been booked that long or that the date is that close, but your contract can make it complicated. If you can’t legally marry here, maybe you can marry in his country and still have a reception here if you can’t get out of this with just the loss of the deposit.
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Expert September 2021
Chelsea · on October 7, 2019 at 12:37 AM
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Unfortunately if you signed a contract with that clause in it there’s nothing you can do to get out of it on a legal level. I would talk to the vendor ASAP and see if they can find someone with a similar budget for that date, otherwise you are legally on the hook for that money assuming it’s a valid contract. Sorry!
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WeddingWire Administrator January 2025
Sinéad · on October 8, 2019 at 8:55 AM
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Welcome to the WeddingWire community Ashley!
As the pp’s have already mentioned, I would also recommend talking to your venue about this as soon as possible.
Unless you are able to work something out with your venues, it sounds like you may be liable for additional costs after you cancel your booking.
Failing being able to cancel your booking, would you consider having your legal marriage ceremony where your FH is from and having your American celebration at this venue?
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January 2019
MOB So Cal · on October 8, 2019 at 10:07 PM
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Clearly, I don't know anything about your specific situation, but if ultimately you hope for your FH to get a fiance visa, I would definitely talk through all your options with an attorney. I have a colleague who is going through this (he's a US citizen, his fiance is Canadian) and so far their immigration stuff has gone on for 17 months and they aren't done yet. In addition, their attorney told them that either getting married in Canada or having even a symbolic ceremony/celebration here in the US, before his fiance's visa is granted, would likely cause significant problems/delays with the process. So, hopefully, none of that applies to you, but just FYI if you're still figuring out your situation. Good luck!
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