Wedding abroad

shelley3021

I am reaching out for some advice if possible please.

I was supposed to get married on the 19th July 2021 in Paphos, Cyprus. I was sent an email from TUI to state my flights were cancelled on the 8th July 2021.  I had to re arrange my wedding as numerous other airlines had cancelled on all our guest and there was no flights available flying from Manchester due to covid. It was not convenient to fly from another destination as I have 3 young children (one who is classed as disabled) , also we couldn’t expect our guest to do so too.  Not only this but myself and guest never received a refund from the original flight booking in time to rebook flights as they were cancelled so close to the departure date.

I have now re arranged for August 2022. Whilst doing this with the wedding travel company I was notified that I would incur cost, which I wasn’t informed about until I was discussing what my options were as my flight was cancelled. It was either loose all the money and pay a cancellation fee or re arrange the date.
I had to pay another deposit of £450 to change the date, and I now have another balance of around £2300 that needs clearing by April 2022. I have already lost so much money through paying for travel insurance, solicitor fees, legalisation document fees and children's wedding outfits which I haven’t been able to get back. 

It’s now Nearly January 2022 and with Covid STILL causing a lot of issues, I’m now worried I will pay the balance in April and go through the same scenario again. This causes a lot of anxiety as I worry my wedding will end up costing thousands more than anticipated. I have already lost my job due to covid so financial difficulty has already kicked in. 
I also worry as I have an important family member who is now terminally ill that won’t make another delayed date.
The unknown is causing to much stress for me let alone our wedding guest. I have contacted the wedding travel company who have advised I am not entitled to a refund.
I never took out wedding insurance because I booked the wedding just as the pandemic broke out. Quite soon after booking I tried to search for wedding insurance, to discover no where was offering this due to covid. I did make payments through a credit card. Is there anything I can do?

I would be very grateful if anyone could offer some advice. 

Brie

I'm curious to know what solicitor fees have to do with a wedding!  

Sorry but I'm not able to offer anything more constructive than to suggest you not hold the wedding so far from home - but perhaps some of the guests already live there or in other locations of course.  I doubt that you'll be able to reclaim much of anything from the credit card unless the businesses are no longer operating or similar.  Childrens' outfits might be sold via ebay or similar to enable you to regain something.  

I hope you are able to arrange some celebration of your big day at some point - even if it's not what you had originally expected.

[Deleted User]

At this point, your options are to pay the balance or cancel and be subject to any further cancellation terms. Your credit card won't override any supplier terms.

For £2,300, I'd be inclined to carry on and pay. But if finances are a concern, cancelling may be better. A wedding is just an expensive party and not essential. If marriage is the important factor, that can be done far cheaper.

eskbanker

Paying by credit card may offer protection in the event that a merchant breaches its contract with you, but this doesn't sound applicable to your situation, assuming you did eventually receive the refund from the cancelled flights.

You need to study carefully the terms of the contract you have with the travel company and see what the cancellation and refund provisions are - your circumstances are undoubtedly unfortunate but in themselves they're unlikely to release you from any obligations you signed up to.

kazwookie

Cancel and take the hit, book to get married locally, as cheaply as possible.

Then when all this is over, book a big family holiday and celebrate then

Good luck

cx6

Now is not the time for big weddings abroad

Just get married now and locally

Congratulations !