June brides are now juggling how and when they can get married in a time of COVID-19 and social distancing. There are many steps to take in obtaining the return of a wedding deposit. This is another contract excuse for performance where unforeseen events undermine a party’s purpose for entering the contract. As such, this may allow for the force majeure clause to be construed in your favor to allow you to cancel the wedding due to the coronavirus. Can I sue a wedding venue for my deposit since my event was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic? This is why it is important to get a lawyer to help you with your possible claim. Attorney Samuel Has Been Practicing in New York for the Past 20 Years, Some Cases against Employers begin with One Plaintiff but Most of the Time, Multiple Plaintiffs Will Come Forward. An attorney and wedding planner tell PEOPLE what it takes to get your money back. Gaurav Anand, the owner of GA Catering in Manhattan, is allowing couples to receive a credit from their deposit if they decide to cancel their wedding this year that they can apply toward catering a different event such as an anniversary party. My venue told us unless we cut our guest count to 50 we would have to postpone. A wedding is supposed to be the most beautiful day in a couple's life but for thousands of couples this year it's become a nightmare because they have to cancel and can't get … However, there are some tried-and-true legal methods you should take. This means that there is likely going to be a great deal of litigation over the coronavirus in the years to come which will map out the law. Many losing big deposits in the process. This is particularly true due to websites like WeddingWire or TheKnot which rate and review almost all vendors and venues. What Are Common Misconceptions about a Wage and Hour Case? Stone Tower says it is willing to give back 25 percent of the total $13,000 fee for the wedding rental of the venue. The center’s in-house caterer gave the couple the option to rebook, but it only offered them morning and midweek wedding dates before March 1, 2021 to choose from. Most say deposits are kept but refund the rest, which I understand, however I had 2 that kept everything even though no services were rendered. Many losing big deposits in the process. This sounds very basic, but far too many people immediately start the cogs of litigation before resorting to normal diplomacy. If the vendor is not receptive to a refund or overing you back only a partial refund without much incentive, you may need to start looking at the terms of your contract. For those wondering how to plan a wedding during COVID, we’ve got you covered. Now, because of coronavirus, their celebration isn’t going to happen as planned.. Kristina Finley's dream wedding was scheduled for May 30, until COVID-19 and the governor changed her plans. “But it’s sad we had to hire a lawyer.” On July 25, the couple had a small wedding ceremony in San Jose with their immediate family. This includes non-refundable deposits and advance payments. Some contracts with vendors and venues may provide full refunds for cancellations within a certain amount of months before the event. Even a few negative reviews and torpedo a venue or vendor for good. Take legal action. Between a $1500 deposit and additional payments of $4000 over the months leading up to the big day, the venue already had $5500 of their money. This should be a last resort, but it’s necessary in some cases. COVID-19 has cancelled her wedding plans twice and now she has $25,000 on the line for a 2021 event. Ask for a clear breakdown of costs. The painter obviously cannot paint your house anymore and the reason is due to an unforeseen result. Houston-area couple Roxanne and Randy Lewis took out a loan to help pay for their dream wedding, but they had to cancel it due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Although, in that instance you may be able to argue the doctrine of frustration of purpose also excuses performance and should warrant return of your wedding deposit. If your wedding vendor or venue contract has a force majeure clause, you may be entitled to a full refund or to have the wedding date at another time as agreed between you and the other party for the same value. Return of a Wedding Deposit Due to the Coronavirus: New York Lawyer Explains, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), SAMUEL & STEIN, our experienced New York contract lawyers, Business Conference Refund Due to the Coronavirus: New York City Lawyer Explains, Lack of Supervision in Nursing Homes Due to the Coronavirus: NYC Nursing Home Negligence Lawyer, Sporting Event Refunds for the Coronavirus: New York City Contract Lawyer Shares Information, Kirkland Coronavirus Nursing Home Violations Issues: A Warning for New York Nursing Homes, Can I Get a Coronavirus Refund from Travel Insurance? If possible, Ms. Cuneo encourages couples to request that a vendor provide an alternative service — a post-pandemic family photo session, for example — instead of a return of their deposit. You should check the website of the business or service you’re worried about or … Performance must truly be impossible. As a small-business owner, Sarah Kaplan, 31, and the founder of the jewelry company VUE by SEK based in Charlotte, N.C., empathized with her vendors when she and her fiancé, William Grantham, 32, an investment analyst in Charlotte, rescheduled their April wedding in Lancaster, S.C., to October. The CMA has established a COVID-19 taskforce to identify, monitor and respond to consumer problems arising from coronavirus and the measures taken to contain it. How to register for a COVID-19 vaccine in every Bay Area county ... 7 On Your Side helps couple get wedding venue deposit back. If You Are a Salaried Employee, Are You Entitled to Overtime Pay? Try to come to an agreement with the venue or supplier. You cancelled the wedding. “We offered to put down another $2,000 for May 29, 2021 and they said no,” said Mr. Ramirez, a product engineer for a home building company in San Luis Obispo. “Our lawyer helped us identify a gray area in our contract and gave us a leg to stand on, and we managed to get our deposit back,” Mr. Dariano, 33, said. And push back if the insurance company denies you,” she says, noting that most insurance companies are now exempting COVID-related delays and cancellations for new policies. Hire a lawyer. If you have a large wedding venue and the CDC or other government prohibits a wedding from occurring, then you may be able to invoke this doctrine to get return of a wedding deposit due to the coronavirus. However, it is important to note that impossibility is a tougher doctrine to use. Our New York lawyer explains the steps you should take to address this issue. These creative solutions can save businesses both negative reviews and money, while appeasing customers. Contact us today by dialing (212) 563-9884 or using our “Evaluate Now” box on our website. In response, the caterer refused to refund their money. Wedding Venues & Vendors, (who have not provided any service thus far), should offer refunds in addition to postponements for couples whose original wedding date was not able to happen due to COVID-19. Many are predicting that the coronavirus will heavily impact the wedding business, everyone from vendors and venues to dress companies, musicians, and limo services. Coronavirus Causes Wedding Cancellations and Refunds Are An Issue ... will they get their money back? These reviews include many brides and grooms sharing their experiences. “Provided [you] booked through an ABTA registered travel agent, you should get the cost of the fights and hotel back in full,” says Bernadette. Gabrielle Rivera and Javier Macario have been planning their wedding for a year-and-a-half. If we believe you are being aggrieved by an unreasonably vendor, venue, or other wedding industry business, we may represent you to protect your rights. We met one couple who not only face the loss of their income – but also prepaid for their wedding and can’t get any of their money back. 38 West 32nd Street An attorney and wedding planner tell PEOPLE what it takes to get your money back. NYC Contract Lawyer. Gabrielle Rivera and Javier Macario have been planning their wedding for a year-and-a-half. The caveat: A pandemic is “not necessarily a force majeure event of and by itself,” Ms. Becker said. 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