Refund from venue

What does your contract say?

You signed a contract. If you choose to break that contract, as unfortunate as it is, you're not typically entitled to a refund.

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It said deposit is nonrefundable. However, it is all because of COVID-19.

Then do I have to lose $1500?

Yes, if you signed a contract and your deposit is non-refundable, then that's exactly what it means. Non-refundable doesn't mean you'll get a refund under certain circumstances, it means you don't get a refund, period.

Unless there is specifically language in your contract that exempts this policy from pandemics, you're out the $1500 if you choose to cancel.

Yep. Welcome to the world of Covid brides. If you're lucky, they'll let you postpone to a different date. I could write a dissertation on how absurd the whole situation is, especially in places like the South where we just keep climbing, but if you cancel on them you will most likely lose your money. Check your contract. Hopefully you haven't made any more payments.

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Yes, I understand.

However, I got the refunded from airline. I bought the non-refundable airline tickets but they refunded all full amount. Why venue can not refund it although airline refund non-refundable tickets? ((( I am so sad.

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Airlines are huge corporations trying to retain customers and who received big government bailouts. Refunding you your ticket makes it more likely you will fly with them in the future, plus taxpayers are paying for your refund.

Your venue is likely a small business that relies on a few revenue streams and the wedding market is generally a one-and-done deal. If they refund you now, you aren't going to come back and spend money in the future. They just lose the money, period. Also, your deposit likely was already reinvested in their operating expenses and isn't likely just sitting somewhere in a bank account ready to be handed back.

If you postpone you won’t lose it. But if you cancel you will. Good luck

If we cancel, we won’t get anything back. But if the state forces a lockdown again, then we can either postpone or get our money back.
Our venue’s contract was really clear about that.

I would check your contract and see what they say in there.

As far as saving your money goes, you probably have to postpone. As much as it seems like we should just be allowed to cancel under these circumstances, we can’t. Unless you can find a way to make them cancel on you, you wont get your money back and even then it’s iffy with these stupid contracts

Similar situation...our venue stated that we can use the deposit towards a new date if we reschedule, which is nice of them because there was no reschedule policy outlined in our contract. However if we cancel, we would forfeit the deposit. She explained that there is preliminary work on their part working with us to coordinate and consult about our day, getting information to us, signing contracts, paying taxes, and ultimately holding the date for us and turning away other potential business.

It is completely understandable why they would be unable to refund a deposit, and most vendors in the industry operate this way.

I’m not sure if there is wording in your contract for a force majeure clause (act of god). That would be very helpful but not commonly found. I’m in a similar situation where we signed the contract in 2018 with no clause and we had to postpone once already (May 22, 2020) with no option for a refund. Our postponed date is supposed to be October 16, 2020. Currently trying to figure out other ways to attempt to get the money back. I’ve started discussion with the venue and am waiting to hear back. I’ve seen examples where they’ve fought with something called the doctrine of impossibility which you can read about online. I’ve also read you could attempt to report the venue to the better business bureau and have them intervene, or seek legal counsel. I stand to lose about $7000 at this point so I’m more inclined to seek legal counsel if it comes to it. Hope some of that helps.