As some of you know over a week ago we cancelled our original venue. However, issues arose from the venues terms and conditions and they wrote to us last week saying that as well as losing the £1250 deposit, we were also liable for 100% of out total wedding costs of a further £4730 if the venue was not re-booked for our date.
Last July they sent us an invoice to hold the date and said that after we paid the deposit they would send us the contract to sign and send back. This is common practice and consumer law says they do not have to provide you straight away with a contract, it is up to you to request the contract to read BEFORE paying a deposit.
Luckily for us, due to our house being packed up awaiting a sale, the contract has been sat on various shelves and in drawers still awaiting to be signed we didnt see a hurry as we knew our deposit had held the date.. The very fact that we had not signed the contract to confirm booking was our only saving grace. For over a week we have been in constant talks with the venues director and at one stage it looked like it would only be settled in court. However after seeing our own solicitor and him going through everything, we were then armed with the knowledge we had never fully confirmed as we had not signed the contract.
Today finally, it has been resolved and the venue have decided that although we have lost the deposit no further monies will be sought by them. At the end of a day they are a business and they wanted the full 100%, however they too were aware had it of gone to court, we did have the unsigned contract in our favour. Well massive relief today!!! We really didnt want to plan our Wedding abroad with the possibility of having to pay £4730 hanging over our heads for a wedding we were not having.
Until today I havent been able to say much on this, in case it went to court but I wanted those of you looking at venues at present to please please request a copy of the full terms and conditions BEFORE paying a deposit. Also please be 100% sure that you have the right venue for you. So many venues now have the clause that in the event of cancellation you will be liable for 60 - 100% of the full wedding costs if the venue is not re-booked. We never in a million years thought we would cancel as we loved the venue. If I can prevent 1 bride from repeating our mistake this very long, post was worth it. xxx
I have a gorgeous husband!
2 brilliant wonderful boys, a wonderful life
in Cornwall. Happiest woman ever!
Now making our house a home. Blessing 2014.
CommentAuthorLuce21
oh my word, what a total disaster! I am so pleased that you have sorted it all out.
Thanks for the heads up on the venue hunting. I think its very good advise!
Thanks hun and i do hope everything goes well with your new plans.xx
CommentAuthorStevie_Dee
edited
One other thing - make sure 100% that everything you require and expect to be included is included and that you have a written letter with a full breakdown of whats included in the price. If you decide later that you want something such as pedestal flowers at the entrance, or a stalight dancefloor these will cost you extra if you havent noegotiated them into your original quote.... be as cheeky as possible before signing anyting or handing over deposits. Try and get as much included as possible in the original quote. xxx
I have a gorgeous husband!
2 brilliant wonderful boys, a wonderful life
in Cornwall. Happiest woman ever!
Now making our house a home. Blessing 2014.
CommentAuthorbarbie86
I've read and re-read our T&Cs and still need to get a couple of things ironed out before we sign, but basically, I've checked their cancellation policy, and because the venue (a hotel) operates on a minimumum spend, I want all our food and drink options written in at this year's prices, which they've done, so that all our food and drink choices are part of the contract, at today's prices; I refuse to sign anything otherwise as otherwise, all we have is a contract stating the minimum spend and bedroom prices (which they're fixing for us at a rate up on this year), and nothing else, so nearer the time, our £6k minimum spend might only get us half as much food and drink.
It is vital that everyone reads the T&Cs properly before putting pen to paper, and queries anything they're not happy with; it astonishes me how many people will sign a contract for something costing thousands without carefully reading everything (same goes for holiday T&Cs, insurance T&Cs, etc).
CommentAuthorRhiannonollie
my jaw dropped to the floor when I read this!! Thank god you got it sorted!!!!
It is pretty common practice and most of them have that in their T & C's. Its why you should always make sure if you are paying as you go that you will have enough money to pay for anything you book as most of them demand the money regardless of it you end up using them. There was a bride a few months back that fell into the trap of booking it all and then not having the money to pay for it all but couldn't cancel. Another point to remember is book a slightly lower number but a room with enough room capacity if you add more as if people decline and don't come you still have to pay for the minimum numbers you were contracted for but you can increase the numbers (as long as it doesn't go over the room capacity) at a later date.
