Paging Celia~ 12 days out ready to be done with

SO sorry OP. I feel you on just wanting it to be over. I'm sure everything will work out and your wedding day will be beautiful...at least that's what I keep telling myself. Best wishes!!

I'd add a "paging Celia" to your subject to get her opinion on this one.

It really just blows, and I really hope you can get your money back and get a good officiant.

(REALLY not sure how they could double book without checking with you. I'm so sorry!)

I'm going to meet with another officiant before work and having another call me.

Wish me luck

Make arrangements for your wedding but don't give up on fighting for you money back! Write reviews and if you paid by credit card, see if they can do a charge back. If the contract says no refunds but also states that they will officiate the wedding and includes your date, they broke the contract so you are entitled to your money back.

If the only thing you need read/spoken in spanish is the names, that should be fairly easy. Sit with them and go over the pronunciation together until they have it.

For your jewelry, can you go the easy route and order several things from Nordstrom.com and pick what you want when it arrives? Then you don't have to drive around town from store to store to find something. Nordstrom has free shipping and free returns.

Bumping for Celia.

So sorry, op. I'd be beside myself, as well. I'm literally mad for you... some vendors...

Are they available later in the day? I'm very confused by this!

What exactly does your contract say? Is there a wedding date on your contract? If so I'd push back big time! I'd also scrutinize the "no refunds" section of the contract. You have not chosen to cancel on them, they are cancelling on *YOU*. They are unavailable to perform their contracted services as stated, so you should not be paying for those services.

Wow, this is a horrible position to be in! I definitely think you need a refund and I'm glad you've been able to connect with other officiants. This may also be a time when a friendor stepping in may be helpful. Depending on your state (if you're in the U.S.), becoming an officiant may be very easy, and you could have a friend waiting as a backup in case you are not able to find someone else. That way, they can legally marry you.

Wow, I am so sorry that you are going through this that is awful. I would definitely demand a refund or take them to court. Make sure you save all the texts between them and you.

Hm.....that's a lot to unpack, and don't take this the wrong way, but honestly, you're a little wrong and she's a lot wrong.

Most pro officiants don't book one event a day. Especially on a holiday weekend. If you gave her no indication of time when you went to contract, frankly, I wouldn't have booked it until you had at least a fuzzy time. When you sent her the email, BOTH of you should have confirmed it.

Because it is both of your responsibilities to confirm a time, and it should have been done before now.

But that horse is outta the barn.

Small claims court is probably not going to do you any good, so I'd get that off the table now. Maybe some of the lawyers here will weigh in on that one.

She is the pro, in theory. Should she have confirmed before this? Yes. Should you have called her when you got a concrete time? Yep. She sounds like a shitty business person but we are all humans.....

What do you do now?

Well, if it was me, after I got over being mortified and nauseous and beating myself up, I'd be calling my network of officiants to find someone suitable for you. Even I have two people open on your day, and it's a crazy weekend. You may find someone with a pocket to book that they don't even understand. Ask your venue, you other vendors and the issuing clerk for your license if they know someone. Do it now. Don't worry so much about the bi-lingual aspect since most intelligent humans can spell your family names phonetically and get them right. You'll go over them numerous times and they'll get them right or at least very close.

Get that under control first, because having a person to marry you is the most important thing. Then you attack with the money part.

My contract clearly states that if I can't replace one of us, I will give you a full refund. This has only happened a couple of times, both in the case of hurricanes....but still, I couldn't keep someone's money if I had a hand in the chaos. She should at least be refunding you half. She has time in the game too, and that should be paid for, but IMHO, she let you fall through the cracks, and that comes with a monetary penalty.

Where are you? I'll be back in a little while and catch up.

Following for updates! I wish you the best of luck!

I do feel somewhat at fault because I didn't confirm the time, but if I texted her because texted me first, I still feel she should have followed up.

I am in Los Angeles.

Here's the contract

OP - where is the part of the contract that has the date/time? Also, it doesn't appear that either of you initialed the cancellation/downgrades section. As others have stated, YOU are not cancelling, so according to your contract you are not in violation of cancellation. I would fight this tooth and nail!

IT looks like you didn't initial where the contract says no refunds. IDK I am so sorry that happened to you.

Since your final payment doesn't appear to be even due yet, they really don't have a claim to it....

Things I noticed. The contract does not state a date or time - how this omission is interpreted will depend on your state's laws regarding contract formation and interpretation. You obviously did not initial the section regarding refunds - again, the meaning of this will depend on your state's laws. Also, the section regarding refunds seems to state that there are no refunds if you, the couple, cancel the wedding; I don't see anything about the company canceling its services. But Celia is right. Your main concern right now should be finding a replacement for your officiant.

My contract states the couple may not change the date, time, or location without checking with me first because it may affect my availability. But, you told her your invitations say 1:30 -- that's pretty much chiseled in stone as far as I would read it.

Tell her she either needs to be there at 1:30, find and pay for another officiant to be there in her place, or give you at least a 50% refund. I'd push for 100% since she's the one cancelling on you.

I will go in person then to try and fight it.

I still feel since the contract doesn't state time I will have a chance in small claims ?

It's really about the principal

You would definitely have a chance in small claims. But first focus on getting a new officiant. Worry about small claims after the wedding.

The no refunds seems to be applicable only to if YOU cancel, not them. Definitely fight this.