Wedding venue deposit

That's awful! I'm so sorry for your loss.

I would check over your contract and see what it says about cancellations. If it doesn't mention anything about owing for food if you cancel then you don't have to pay it. If it is in the contract that unfortunately you don't have many options. But maybe if you explain the situation they'd at least be willing to set up a payment plan type deal instead of having to pay all at once? I would hope they'd be understanding.

First, I am so sorry for your loss and my thoughts are with you and your family.

Second, what your venue is asking is absurd. What does your contract state? Does the contract you signed state that canceling at any time results in a $5000 catering cost? I can understand a catering minimum being due the week of a wedding if guest count is not high enough, but not sooner than that. The venue has plenty of time to re-book that wedding date and recover full revenue.

If the contract states that the catering minimum must be paid, even this far out (which I doubt it does) you should still fight it. A death in the family is certainly an understandable reason for canceling a wedding and the venue should show some sympathy.

If they somehow have your credit card information and can charge you the $5,000 without your permission, I would take them to small claims court. If they cannot, then do not pay them. Let them seek legal action if they want, I doubt they would win against you.

I am sorry you are dealing with this on top of everything else.

I'm so sorry It sounds like a lot depends on your contract. For our venue (which also provides catering), the contract states that if we cancel we lose anything we have already paid, but would not be charged any future payments. I really hope everything works out for you and that they are able to work with you.

First, I just want to say how sorry I am for the loss you have all suffered. I couldn't imagine and my heart just breaks for you.

My original venue did the same thing to me. I went behind their backs in contacting the owner and ended up being allowed out of the catering costs, only to lose my deposit, as long as someone else booked for the same date. Truthfully, if even the owners can't have compassion, your next best option is to complain to the Better Business Bureau. They'll hopefully let you out of it once that complaint is made public.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I can not imagine what you are going through and I am very sorry to hear that. I have encountered the same issue in the past with some venues and honestly it all just goes to what kind of person it is running the company because I get that it is a business and they need to make their money to buttt the least they could do is let you try to find a replacement so they wouldn't loose money and you wouldn't have to pay for it.