Rescheduling in nj

It’s been my understanding that as long as the venue is able to host your event while adhering to local pandemic rules, regulations, mandates, etc. then you will simply be held to what is in your contract. So if the contract states you can reschedule without penalty, you can do that. But if your contract states that you will be charged a fee or have to put down a new deposit or something of that nature, then you will probably be required to do that. Of course that’s not to say the venue can’t choose to extend a courtesy reschedule to you if they want to. What does your contract state about rescheduling your event?

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Our contract is from 2018 and so far we have rescheduled multiples times despite the contract saying we can't (obviously nothing was ever discussed about a possible pandemic 2 years before it happened). First time it got canceled by the venue bc it was the first week of April and the height of the pandemic. We then rescheduled to August and rescheduled our August wedding even tho the current restrictions allowed 60 guests. We didn't want to uninvite 1/2 our guest list so they let us reschedule. Now, our venue says we can have 120 people (even tho executive orders say otherwise) but we won't even come close to our guarantee with everyone who is saying they do not feel safe coming. Still no call back from the venue. Hoping they will let us reschedule.

If they try to say that they can host 150 people and it goes against local mandates, I would definitely have that information handy when you speak with them so you can accurately quote what your local government is saying. If they know that you are aware what they are saying is going against government rules, they will probably be more apt to cooperate with you. Hopefully they will call you back and allow you to reschedule again! If they do, I would definitely push your wedding out to 2022 in order to hopefully prevent going through this situation again.

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120. They say they can operate under indoor dining guidelines. That is beside the point tho. I want to reschedule being that my guests are still not comfortable going during the pandemic. It is just 6 weeks away.

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Unfortunately, most wedding venues have suffered such a huge financial blow due to this pandemic, they are no longer very sympathetic as to why people want to reschedule their events. If they CAN host them, most places are trying to force the couples into staying with their current dates, or charging high fees to change the date. I have attached information directly from the New Jersey government webpage. It clearly states that what they are telling you is not following current government mandates in New Jersey. So if they try to say they can host 120 people for your event, I would cite this information. Hopefully it will be a bargaining tool for you to get them to allow you to reschedule again!

https://covid19.nj.gov/faqs/nj-information/reopening-guidance-and-restrictions/can-i-still-get-married-are-wedding-venues-open

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Yes but there is a giant loophole here....

3. The number of individuals at indoor gatherings that are religious services or celebrations, political activities, wedding ceremonies, funerals, or memorial services shall be limited to 35 percent of the capacity of the room in which it takes place, but regardless of the capacity of the room, such limit shall never be larger than 150 persons or smaller than 10 persons. For purposes of this Paragraph, any private residence or residential unit shall be treated as a single “room.” Paragraph 1 of Executive Order No. 196 (2020) is hereby rescinded to the extent that it conflicts with the provisions of this Order.

My venue says a wedding is a religious celebration and, therefore, allowed 35% percent capacity. I don't know. Wish there was a number to call for clarification.

Yes, that is for the ceremony only. If you read below that, receptions do not follow the same rules, as they are not considered a religious celebration, The only religious portion of the wedding is the actual ceremony. So while they can host a CEREMONY at 35% capacity, they must limit a RECEPTION to 10 people. Make sure you make the venue aware of this if they try to fight you on it!
Also, the website states you can dial 211 on your cell phone for further information about these regulations. You may want to try calling and explaining your situation to get clarification.

My wedding is in July and I am not rescheduling but I would make sure these guests are actually afraid of going and it isn't just an excuse for not coming. I doubt it is, but I have many friends tell me they are afraid of covid just so they don't have to go to a wedding. Just make sure it is truly want you want to do and not just because some of your guests can't go ❤️Wishing you the best!

View Quoted Comment I lnow u are referring to a blurb from that website but this is the actual executive order. It does not state anything about receptions. A religious celebration IS a wedding.

View Quoted Comment We had 98 rsvp in April when our original wedding was to take place. Now, only 52 of those 98 still want to come. The rest have now declined to attend. I’m devastated. My venue (despite the fact that they aren’t legally allowed to have a reception over 10) told me I could move it to a Thursday in December or cancel. I am so upset.

View Quoted Comment Wow I am so sorry girl 😭 are they people you couldn’t imagine going on without?

To be honest, the venue is in their right to not reschedule again. Events are allowed to happen right now and as much as it does suck that your guest list is still not comfortable, providing you with a fourth date will probably not be in their best interest considering plenty of people are going forward with their weddings with a reduced guest list. Not trying to be rude at all but I would consider having the wedding this April. Its not worth running into a problem with your venue where they say forget it and cancel and also no guarantees Covid will be gone any time soon even in 2022

View Quoted Comment Well, since posting this, I was able to contact the governors office and I was told they ARE in violation and are NOT allowed to host a reception over 10 people. So technically, they are requiring me to break the law.

View Quoted Comment You are in NJ? Which number did you use to contact the governors office? I’ve tried a few times over the past year for several different reasons and wasnt able to. But yeah you’re right that’s what the law is saying, your options are really to either have a 25 person event with them or show them what the law is. But that could definitely get messy because not all these venue owners are being ethical right now. I wouldnt expect them to just say okay move your date even if thats what the law is

View Quoted Comment All my aunts and uncles and their kids aren’t coming if they aren’t coming so now my cousins won’t come either.

View Quoted Comment I called 211 to confirm they were in violation.

View Quoted Comment Did you get to speak to a live person to report them? Or they just gave you information?

View Quoted Comment I spoke to a live person to clarify the order. I did not report them.

View Quoted Comment So glad you were able to get clarification

We have had to reschedule to this year and also signed the contract back in 2018. With things somewhat still up in the air, we are considering rescheduling again. Our venue luckily has been great and will honor our deposits. The only “penalty” we would incur is a 10% price increase.


Good luck!