Wedding nightmare!

DSJohnson

Hello all,

My partner and I were due to be married August 7th this year. We asked our venue back in the middle of May if they had any new information regarding the day, they said no and asked us to wait until their meeting June 1st for more info (fair enough). June 2nd we get in touch again, turns out the meeting didn't go ahead and they have no new information, we are asked to wait a couple of weeks where we will then be contacted. Two weeks pass, no contact. I get in touch, only to be told to extend our patience once more till July 7th, a mere 4 weeks before the date to receive a yes or no answer to the question, "is the wedding on?"

I expressed my concern about this and they said that a 4 week time lag was both fair and reasonable. I asked who advised this, they said Cheshire East council. I contact Cheshire East council, they have no knowledge of this 4 week time lag. I inform the venue and they tell me it is in fact THEIR decision as a venue. Very misleading.

We had suppliers (florist, caterers, DJ etc) waiting on a yes or no from us or we risk losing them entirely as 4 weeks wasn't an appropriate frame of time for them. We tell the venue we are activating the Force Majeure clause in our contact which states:

 “If by reason force majeure, (i.e. any matter beyond our [the venue's] control, or unavailability of the Premises, power, equipment or labour) We are (or expect to be) prevented or substantially hindered from fulfilling the substance of our obligations under these terms then we shall, as soon as practicable, make you aware of the occurrence of any such event and both parties shall be entitled at any time thereafter to withdraw from this contract by notice in writing to the other."

They completely ignore anything I say regarding the contract and have no answers to any of my questions around it. They're even refusing to provide a breakdown of their reasonable costs which I'm entitled to. Now we are stuck waiting until the 7th July for a yes or no, but even if it is a yes our 150 persons wedding will be 30 at most with no reception. We've paid £7,500 for this venue (including +£1,200 to have it on a Friday in August) but there is no way they can provide anything close to what we first agreed upon. Alternate dates weren't suitable either as we would have to wait until August 2022.

Any reply I do get to my enquiries is always "we will make a decision on July 7th" but we shouldn't have to wait until then, they're implementing this 4 week time lag into their contract out of the blue by forcing us to wait despite us activating the Force Majeure a couple of weeks ago.

Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance for any suggestions.

welshbabe88

Don't have any real advice for you - but maybe post this on the Wedding board as others will have bene in the same situation I'm sure.
I can understand why the venue cannot give info, as they don't know themselves I suppose.
That does seem an awful lot to be paying for what will be, in essence, less than half what you planned for.  If you are not having a reception do you need caterers and a DJ anyway?
I've no idea how the force majeure works.

Waxy666

You refer to "activating the force majeure" but you can't, read the wording - it is very clear that "we [the venue] shall, as soon as practicable, make you aware of the occurrence of any such event"... sounds like 7th July is the earliest they feel they will be in a position to notify you.  After that you may have the right to withdraw (the bit you've quoted doesn't mention who gets to keep your deposit in this scenario so I'd check that before rushing to withdraw).

Read your T&C in full - it's a legal contract and what is written there binds both parties.  If the venue has stated (in writing) they can't fulfil the terms of the contract you agreed then they are in breach - but it doesn't sound like they've done that.  You can cancel the contract - but under the legal terms you will almost certainly forfeit any monies paid to date.

You refer to having separate caterer, florist, DJ etc - so I'm guessing the venue is just a space you are hiring.  Whether only 30 people or 150 you are still booking out the entire venue for the entire day, the number of people present doesn't change the service the venue is providing (and it's unlikely they could rehire a part day / part location at this point if you gave it up) - so I can't see a reason why they would negotiate down on the price.  If it was a full package (venue providing the catering, drinks etc) then I'd expect them to agree a deduction based on reduced headcount, but that would be a matter for negotiation.

gwynlas

You cannot reasonably put the responsibility on them when it is a government decision that they are waiting on 
Given what as been said to date not a lot is going to change over the next six weeks.
I know it is very stressful  but you are in exactly the same position as every other couple who planned to wed in lockdown and have had more notice than many.
If you want to go ahead and marry on that date at that venue go ahead but numbers are likely to be extemely restricted and with current guidamce you cannot hold a reception.
You have to decide if it is worth it. Did you take out insurance?
All wedding related services will have taken a hit at this time,