To cancel a wedding abroad that 40 guests have paid to attend?

[Justwondering82]

We are due to get married abroad in March next year. So far we have only paid the deposit for the venue, remaining balance not due until January. However our 40 guests have paid for their package holidays to attend, some have only paid deposits and some have paid full balances.

The only reason I want to cancel is because I don't think it's going to happen. With covid, the possibility of a second wave and social distancing etc I just do not realistically see how it will go ahead. We were having the wedding next year and buying a house the year after, but we've got enough sat in our savings for either a house deposit or the wedding. A house has come up that we love, it's in the perfect location and is just everything we want. We can't get the house and not cancel/postpone the wedding as we wouldn't have enough left in savings to cover both if the wedding was to go ahead. We would ideally want to postpone the wedding, but god knows the long term impact this will have on travel especially for a large group of us. We don't want to be impacted by social distancing either. I'd rather cancel and just see how the next few years pan out?

What do I do?

I cannot understand the attitude of certain people with regard to this. Of course you can cancel BUT you must refund all those guests who have paid or part paid. Your wedding is not until next March which is 9 months away so any arranged holiday can be amended. Hop all goes well x

I haven’t rtft but want to put my 2 cents in. I am currently a guest in a very similar situation. The bride and groom have cancelled due to uncertainty and now pregnancy (💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽!). I have no issue with them whatsoever for doing so. We will still go as we had booked as a group of friends and are still looking forward to a holiday together, although feeling slightly selfish in doing so as the bride and groom won’t be able to join us. None of us are vulnerable or shielding and we have lol opted to drive to the location rather than fly. At 40 guests I would suggest that you have only invited your nearest and dearest who would hopefully be understanding and supportive of you.

Health and happiness for the future x

Fuck me people, RTFT so you can stop wasting your time writing unneeded essays!

Thanks to those wishing well, I've got everything crossed!

I highly doubt it would be cancelled due to Covid. I have a holiday in 2 weeks time which I’m not entitled to a refund for as the flights and hotel are still operational.

If you cancel your wedding after everyone has booked to go, I can guarantee you, those 40 guests will not be attending your future wedding. You'll end up having to get married with no guests because to be honest, most of them are going to be mad. Blame covid if you like... But people arnt stupid. It's not until March. It's one thing losing out because a country and government change the plans which a refund is possible but not just because you think so

Well if it does get cancelled then you’ll all get your money back.
It’s about the house isn’t it?
Really horrible thing to do.

You should report this thread, OP.

You updated over 24 hours so to say you weren't cancelling the wedding.

Yet here we are.

Just another thought, house prices may drop massively by next year if unemployment increases, so another good reason to wait until next year for the house. I agree, sometimes the dream house isn't the wonderful deal it looks at the time and a better one comes along.

@Justwondering82

Fuck me people, RTFT so you can stop wasting your time writing unneeded essays!

Thanks to those wishing well, I've got everything crossed!

Can we just keep posting this until people get the point?!

At the very least, read the OP posts before you have a go at her!!!

You’re being really selfish - if it was just COVID I might be more sympathetic but it’s quite clearly because you’ve seen a house you want. Pay every single person back and then maybe it would be ok.

Op realised she was unreasonable on page 2
.........

Your guests won’t get their money back if you cancel because of Covid. Flights are going there, and will still be next year, the venue, hotel etc. will all be there and accepting people. There won’t be another lockdown.

So if you cancel, your guests won’t get their money back.

For the love of baby Jebus RTFT.

I would be pissed off big style.

Cancel the cheque, OP.

People keep replying because 1. No one has time to read the whole thing

1. Its totally outrageous that someone would even consider this in the the first place.

Hey OP, many people here have called you out for being unreasonable to think COVID will effect your March 2021 wedding. You’re not. The Australian govt has announced there will be no international travel (Aussie’s out or tourists in), until mid 2021 earliest, they said the ban could easily last two years. I know Australia is not your destination but everyone who laughed at you and said this will all be over by March next year are living in their own very UK centric world. You are not wrong to be concerned.

@DrManhattan

People keep replying because 1. No one has time to read the whole thing

1. Its totally outrageous that someone would even consider this in the the first place.

@DrManhattan

There’s a function where you only read the OP’s posts. There’s no excuse to stick the boot in.

@Haenow

I didn't see that.
I'm not sticking the boot in. The op has asked for opinions and has got them.
Personally I would have stopped replying if I was the op and would have got it taken down. Maybe they still want to read the replies with the differing points of view?

2 Things:

1: The pandemic won't begin to calm down until the end of the year in which it reaches the stage in the calming period where everything is either at its final stage or just about getting into it, whilst ready to be cautious of a second impact ( as you mentioned) fingers crossed, everything should return to normal before winter ends next year.

2: You are correct about social distancing etc, should you decide to move, although if you are very close its now plausable for people to hang around in larger groups. I don't know if you meant to momentarily house the people for the wedding however,

The solution: regardless of if you want the house or the wedding, consider your budget and what's most viable. I understand it could be a trouble to have the 40 people refund and I think your idea to cancel everything and wait is a safe and viable move. The only thing I'm considering is 40 people. If you are happy to proceed with your dream wedding and wait to buy the house until next year then that also could be a good idea. FYI travel abroad will be aloud during the summer and within two months should be allowed worldwide apparently, or by the end of the year.

[quote DrManhattan]@Haenow

I didn't see that.
I'm not sticking the boot in. The op has asked for opinions and has got them.
Personally I would have stopped replying if I was the op and would have got it taken down. Maybe they still want to read the replies with the differing points of view?[/quote]
@DrManhattan

I appreciate you weren’t but some other people were being a tad unpleasant.

I hear ya @JustWondering82 - trying to give you a bit of peace of mind, hopefully by then even if covid IS still around, which I'm sure it will be sadly, hopefully people will be alot more used to restrictions, masks, social distancing etc.

Sadly, nothing is guaranteed and you're going to have a pretty anxious wait between now and then and I know, you'll lose your dream home for nothing if the wedding got cancelled due to covid anyway - but, what will be will be. Try and relax and look forward to your wedding. X

Thinking about this now would you be able to postpone the wedding until March 2022 but keep the bookings in place?

you need to go ahead with you’re wedding as planned - period