Wedding cancellation - arguing contract

Pippin94

My partner and I were due to be married in August though in the current circumstance it is not likely to go ahead as planned.  We should have been due 50% of agreed cost to our venue (as agreed in our contract) back at the start of March but were never invoiced for it and found out via a third party fb group that the wedding planned had been furloughed.  We have since emailed the venue and asked what our options are for postponement and cancellation and were told that we would be liable for 50% of over all cost as agreed in our contract.  We want to know whether we have any leg to stand on in arguing this as what was laid out in our contract obviously would not be going ahead in August.  Is there a way we can cut our losses and just lose the deposit?  Or are we legally obliged to pay 50% for a date they could not have resold anyway given the lockdown?

Aylesbury_Duck

If you pay the full balance and the venue cancels, you'd be entitled to a full refund.  If you cancel yourselves, you'll be liable to whatever your contract says you're liable for, but those costs must be reasonable. 

I don't think it is obvious it won't go ahead.  Unlikely, yes but obvious? No.

davidmcn

As above, nobody currently knows for certain what's going to happen in August - so the safer option is to proceed as planned and see what happens.

Ectophile

It's game of chicken time.  If you cancel, you are liable for 50%.  If they cancel, you don't have to pay anything.  Whoever cancels first loses.

dacouch

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/holiday-wedding-childcare-refunds-complaints-competition-investigation-a9491486.html

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/wedding-and-event-venue-providers-letter-from-the-cma-on-contract-terms