Canceling a wedding venue - Need help

Oh yikes. Yeah, part 2 does state that the venue has the right to keep all the money you have paid them thus far. So if you have paid them $10k, they have the right to keep that money. I would hope, being over a year out, they would refund that money to you (since they have more than enough time to book that date); but it seems businesses are becoming more and more greedy these days.

The wording between those two clauses creates a contradiction. They cannot keep all money that has been paid while also giving a refund of money. A refund can only be given from money that has been paid. If the wording you have provided is accurate, you are due at least 75% of $8000 (if they keep the commission fee -- or you get $7500 less the $2000). A contradiction in the contract could result in you either getting all your money back if this went to court or at least the 75%. If you still are canceling the contract, you could perhaps say this is a demand for $8000 back. You could have a lawyer write a letter without yet saying this could go to court. (For court, you would probably do a small claims where you would show evidence that you sent a cancelation demand for the money paid which, with the 25% excluded, would be $7500. They will likely confirm your request with an email or text -- and better if sent also to a friend's phone or email.) Small claims i think is done without a lawyer representing you.

Also, I would probably not cash a partial check if they specify they are paying back money IN FULL. It often could be reasonable to take a decent percent refund if they will send you one.

This is just my research that might help you start your own research. It is what I would think as possible action if I encountered this situation. It is not legal advice.

View Quoted Comment You make a very good point – how can a refund check be given if the venue has the right to retain all monies? It doesn’t make any sense. OP, I would reach out to the venue and clarify. I would do it in writing so you have a paper trail (unfortunately, you cannot count on word-of-mouth anymore). I would not even bring up the second point. I would simply state that to due to financial issues, you may have to cancel your event. And verify that would mean you would receive a refund of $8,000 ($10k minus the $2,000 administrative fee).

I should have said the $8000 is to start the negotiation. Really, the contradictions in the contract wording could mean they would pay back the full $10,000 or a judge might apply the 25% reduction of the refund which would mean you would get $5500 or $5600 back, depending how things are calculated.