Has anyone else reached out to your lawyer?

You can have your lawyer look over the contract and explain to you exactly what you are signing. Contracts can be hard to understand at times and a lawyer being paid by you will work to make sure you understand the ins and outs.

View Quoted Comment My contract was signed before the pandemic. It’s not a very big contract, but it came attached with the proposal and all of the offerings. I’m definitely going to bring it to my lawyer for him to read over, but I just feel like some of these venues are really trying to scam.
My contract states that I need to give them the number of people that will attend 10 days out from my wedding. At that point I can no longer eliminate people or food that has been purchased decor etc., I can only add to it… But if I do end up adding people after that 10 days it’s going to cost almost double. That contract has never changed and that is how it has been since before Covid. But yes there’s other things in the contract too That he will look over.

I think it would depend on what those items were. If there are specific items you are concerned the venue will not be able to deliver on because of covid restrictions, I would reach out to your venue regarding them. Have the venue provide clarification on what would happen if they were not able to deliver on those specific items. And make sure you get it in writing. An amendment to your contract would be best. But at the very least get it in an email. If you are paying extra for said items, you should definitely get a refund for those specific items if you are not able to have them because of Covid restrictions.

What items are you worried about not having that you would be paying for?

View Quoted Comment This was my exact Thought. Could you explaain more, DJ Tanner?

View Quoted Comment Pretty much everything from the cake cutting, , to hiring the second videographer just shoot etc. For example, I don’t want to spend extra money on this gorgeous cake that no one is allowed to say if it’s just going to be caught up by the shed in the back room. We also have a pasta dish that gets cooked right in front of the table in a big aged Parmesan wheel and lit on fire as seen in the picture. If they can’t do this, then I don’t want my guest to be served just a plate of pasta without the presentation. There’s certain things that I’m paying for that or more for the presentation presentation. I would rather save my money if my guest won’t even be able to see them

View Quoted Comment For example, my cake. I’m not going to get this big beautiful expensive cake, if no one will be allowed to see it and it will just be cut up by the chef in the back room. That’s ridiculous. Also a pasta dish that is prepared tableside and fire. Also things like my seating arrangement. They have my seating arrangements assigned not to Covida current standards right now, and I have a feeling that I’m going to need to end up spending a lot more on extra tables, And then I will end up having to Scramble to redo everyone’s seating arrangements and then order new table cards for everyone. It’s not like I can order things like the table place cards and all that jazz five days before my wedding if they tell me that I need to change at all. Just a lot of other things too, like why am I going to spend all of this money on decor for the dance floor area if they are going to block it off and only tell me that they’re going to block it off five days before my wedding. Also, why would I need to hire a second shooter videographer if there’s going to be no dancing and if everyone is just going to sit down as if it’s a formal dinner the entire time. Then I know I’m gonna end up paying for all of it because my second deposit is due March and my final deposit is due the month before my wedding. So they will have full total payment of all of these things and then tell me that I can’t have them when?

View Quoted Comment Unfortunately, the things you are listing aren’t likely things you will be reimbursed for. If you have a contract for a service, and your state is allowing weddings (even if it requires restrictions) you will likely be held to the requirements of the contract (ie, non-refundable deposit, cancellation fees, etc). This is just one of those unfortunate casualties of choosing to move forward with a wedding during a pandemic. If you look at previous attempted litigations involving pandemic weddings, nearly all of them conclude that as long as mandates allow weddings to happen and a service can be provided, even if in a modified way, then the vendor is justified in holding you to your contract. So in other words, you will be held to the cake contract if they are able to provide the cake, regardless of whether you get to display it like you prefer. You will be held to the catering contract if they can provide the food you asked for, even if it must be served in a different manner. If you signed a contract for a second shooter, you will be held to that contract (or whatever cancellation policies it outlines) since you are choosing not to have them. Although, if your local mandates say there can only be like 10 people total, then your photographer may be willing to work with you. I know this has frustrated a lot of couples and ruined their original wedding plans, but it’s just one of those unfortunate unforeseen things that leaves everyone a victim. Will your venue allow you to postpone your event to next year, so you can have all the things you want?

View Quoted Comment It will cost way too much money to post but my meant. And like you said “as long as they’re able to execute it in some manner “. What I’m saying is they are telling me that they can, and then charge me for it, but then won’t provide it at all.

View Quoted Comment Like as another small example, They have the pasta dish right now in my proposal and they’re charging me for the wheel carts to wheel it out on as well as my wheel cart for my cake. Why are they charging me for wheel carts when they know they can’t provide them to me. That just seems like a scam. Do you by any chance know of any litigation I can reference?

Some of the things you listed are probably not the responsibility of your venue so they won’t be liable for, like needing to order extra table place cards and whether or not you should add another videographer. Your venue would only be responsible for what you have contracted them to do. Either way you should be following the restrictions where you are closely and stay in contact with all your vendors should you need to make changes.

View Quoted Comment If they don’t provide a service or item at all, then you should certainly not be charged for it. So if the cake baker backs out and says they will not make your cake, then you should receive a full refund (which is typically in every contract). If the venue cannot hold your wedding or reception AT ALL and cancels it, then you should obviously be reimbursed for all monies you have paid. If the caterer says they cannot provide food for you at all in any manner, then they should return all money to you. Cancellation of services by a vendor should always automatically result in a full refund, and that should already be in all your contracts. From what you said earlier though, it doesn’t sound as though that’s what you’re concerned about. It sounds like your concerns are about them not providing services in exactly the manner you want them provided. Examples: you don’t want to pay for a cake if people don’t get to see it. You don’t want to pay for a food item unless guests get to see it prepared. You don’t want to pay a second shooter if certain events can’t happen. In none of those scenarios are vendors not providing the service or items, they are just doing so in a manner you do not find ideal. But unfortunately pandemic restrictions may require modifications to certain things that you will just have to live with.

View Quoted Comment Absolutely, if they are unable to wheel out the cake or pasta dishes then there would be no need to charge you for the carts. And I would assume the venue would reimburse you for those items if that should occur. I would just hold tight and see what the restrictions are closer to your wedding date. There’s really nothing you can do at this point because you have no idea what restrictions will be at that time. There’s a chance your vendors will be able to deliver everything! Have you reached out to your venue to discuss your concerns? That’s the best place to start. There’s really no need to consult a lawyer when no foul play has happened.

View Quoted Comment That’s fair. But I definitely think they are responsible for certain things that are on their menu that we agreed upon.
If you ordered a cone of ice cream, and they served it to you melted in a cup, would you be OK with it seeing as how it’s still ice cream, just not how you want it served even though the menu says it will come frozen on a cone

View Quoted Comment I completely get where you’re coming from. The difference is (legally) that the QUALITY of the product is the same. Your venue promised you a certain food item and can still provide that exact same item (just not the fanfare). Whereas in the example of the ice cream cone, the item provided is a lesser quality item. It would be like ordering an ice cream cone and receiving the ice cream cone you ordered, but you weren’t able to watch them swirl the ice cream into your cone.

View Quoted Comment That makes sense, but the fact that it’s on their menu explained in detail, is what doesn’t make any sense to me. Can I do that? Can I have a business advertising one thing and then come out with a plate of mac & cheese? If so, I plan on getting into the restaurant business haha

View Quoted Comment And I have to say if watching them swirl the ice cream in the cone And as advertised as the main feature, Then the quality is no longer up to the same par.

View Quoted Comment Haha I totally get where you’re coming from and your frustration. We had similar concerns watching so people’s weddings get turned upside down. We reached out to our venue with our specific concerns and they were incredibly understanding and gracious. They added an addendum to our contract addressing everything, so both parties would understand and be in agreement of the terms in the case of restrictions affecting aspects of our event. That’s why I asked if you had reached out to your venue about your concerns. I guarantee they are regularly fielding questions and concerns from other couples too.

View Quoted Comment Yes, I’ve spoken to my venue and wedding planner on multiple occasions, and they are going along as if everything is hunky-dory. I do have my final tasting this Saturday so this is when I am going to bring up all of these concerns to them. I did reach out to a lawyer though because if there’s any adjustments that need to be made with the contract, I want to make sure that I’m not going to be in for any surprises, it just seems crazy to me that I’m almost 3 months out. They mentioned the restrictions to me back in 2020, but then I haven’t heard anything since from them planning wise. My biggest frustration about the whole thing is that if they were just upfront and honest with me, this would put everything at ease. If they straight up told me no we can’t do this, I would be much more OK with it then then just leading me on. But thanks for the advice

View Quoted Comment I would probably just give them the benefit of the doubt. Your wedding isn’t for another 4 months, so a lot can change by then. And I think pretty much every venue is suggesting everyone keep planning as though everything will be OK, and then if it’s not adjustments will be made at that time. It’s very likely they already have contingency plans in place, but just aren’t speaking about them until it’s necessary. Most people assume that’s the least stressful option for brides. Some brides like yourself however like to know all the details of the “what ifs”. I would definitely bring up your concerns at your final tasting. It’s much harder for people to not address someone when they are standing in front of them LOL