CORNELIUS, N.C. — A lot of wedding couples expected refunds because of the pandemic and are frustrated they’re not getting money back.
Alexis Espino spent more than $7,000 on her venue, Sweet Magnolia Estate.
The contract said no refunds and the business is sticking with that. Espino thought the venue would make an exception. “I did just because of the circumstances that we’re in. Of course, this is not their fault. But it’s also not your clients’ fault,” she told Action 9′s Jason Stoogenke.
Sweet Magnolia Estate offered her other dates instead.
“It’s still unsafe to have any sort of, any amount of, guests at any venue or any event. And so we don’t feel comfortable doing that,” she said.
The venue told Stoogenke, “These are extremely difficult times right now and Sweet Magnolia Estate is doing our very best to work closely with every one of our clients. While remaining within our contractual agreements, we have successfully rescheduled 40-plus events due to COVID-19. As we move through these unprecedented times, we will continue to keep our clients’ best interest in mind along with preserving the future of our company.”
Espino got married elsewhere, in a small ceremony. “So we ended up just having it in my Grandma’s yard with just the close, immediate family and a couple of our bridesmaids and groomsmen,” she said. She still wants her $7,000 back.
Another bride, who asked Stoogenke not to use her name, and was dealing with another venue, and was so upset, she started a petition on Change.org, demanding venues give refunds. Literally, everyone we talk to we’re just shocked that we were not able to get a refund,” she said. “I felt like I had nothing else that I could do to kind of be heard.”
Stoogenke said the bottom line is a lot of these contracts say no refunds. And, unfortunately for the couples, the pandemic doesn’t necessarily change that. You may be thinking: doesn’t the contract have an Act of God – or force majeure – clause? It should. But it’s not clear if -- legally -- the pandemic is an Act of God. And, even if it is, the contract may still favor the venue.
“We are a victim too. We are not just people out here taking their money,” Byron Sackett, owner of Homestead Events in Gastonia, said. “We’ve got families to support also. We’ve got employees that work for us, that depends on us. A financial responsibility to make sure they have an income to put food on the table for their families.”
If you’re just starting to plan your wedding, read any contract carefully. See what it says about refunds and Acts of God. See if the venue will put something in about the pandemic. You can buy wedding insurance, but see what it covers. It may not cover a pandemic, especially while we’re in one, kind of like Stoogenke warns you about flood insurance.
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