Anyone due to get married April 2021?

[Sandyfeet101]

If so, what are your venue saying?

We were originally meant to get married April 2020 and postponed to April 2021. The closer that gets, the less likely it seems (to have reception with more than 30 people).

Our venue are very non-committal about it, they have just shut due to going into Tier 3 and seem just want us to 'wait and see' what happens but I don't want to leave it much longer, I'd rather make the decision to postpone again now!

Anyone else in a similar position?

I’m end of March & not feeling too optimistic.

We're beginning of March and have pretty much accepted it'll be 15 people, likely only a ceremony. Already postponed once and have booked a big party for March 2022 so going ahead with it!

@bravotango

We're beginning of March and have pretty much accepted it'll be 15 people, likely only a ceremony. Already postponed once and have booked a big party for March 2022 so going ahead with it!

Fair play to you!

Will your venue refund the difference due to you only having 15 guests?

So we are having the party in 2022 at the same venue, so they just shifted the date! It was one price for the ceremony and one for the reception so we're having the same package so the speak, just with a year in between each bit instead of an hour haha. Honestly can't believe our luck really

@bravotango

So we are having the party in 2022 at the same venue, so they just shifted the date! It was one price for the ceremony and one for the reception so we're having the same package so the speak, just with a year in between each bit instead of an hour haha. Honestly can't believe our luck really

That's such a good solution! Good for you!

@Sandyfeet101 what have you decided? All up in the air again now isn't it. What a nightmare!

Us as well.

The venue have said they are happy to go ahead if weddings are allowed on our date, we have booked a very small ceremony with only a handful of guests.

We’ve paid in full, its a venue we often go to on a night out, day drinks, food etc, so if it is cancelled we can have the money we have paid as credit if we want. Its less than £1,000, so we may do that and use it for a get together at another time.

Our date is important, but we don’t want to wait another year to get married, so even if we are still in tier 4 we’re going to say our vows at home and that will be the date we celebrate for our anniversary, no matter when the legal bit is.

We're due to get married on 30.4.21. Third date we've booked so whatever happens we are getting married but no idea

It's all booked and sorted just need to finalise numbers 4 weeks before and pay the venue.

Not sure if we should just cut the numbers now and have a much smaller wedding or hang on and see what happens nearer the time.

If I'm honest I feel like I can't get excited about it as it's all beyond our control.

[quote bravotango]@Sandyfeet101 what have you decided? All up in the air again now isn't it. What a nightmare![/quote]

We are going to ask for a refund. We haven't been at all impressed with how they've handled things since the start to be honest. I'm been reading the CMA guidance and it seems we are within our rights to ask for a refund but I have a feeling they will fight it.

Good luck to everyone, I hope you all get the weddings you want

Hi @Sandyfeet101 how did you get on asking for a refund? Our wedding is also April 21 postponed from april 20 and our venue have said if we cancel now we lose the money or we can review it in April. We don't feel this is reasonable to then give us potentially two weeks to plan a wedding! Like you we are really unhappy with how they have handled things and would like a refund x

@GarlicMushroom

Hi *@Sandyfeet101* how did you get on asking for a refund? Our wedding is also April 21 postponed from april 20 and our venue have said if we cancel now we lose the money or we can review it in April. We don't feel this is reasonable to then give us potentially two weeks to plan a wedding! Like you we are really unhappy with how they have handled things and would like a refund x

Hi @GarlicMushroom

I sent the email on Saturday and haven't had a response yet!
I think what your venue have told you is wrong. According to the CMA guidance, if they cannot provide the wedding agreed in the terms of your contract (eg number of guests) then the contract becomes "frustrated" and you are entitled to a refund. I guess they are trying to suggest that all might be back up to normal by April (highly unlikely) so you can't cancel until you know for sure - but like you said you can't plan in a couple of weeks due to having to give notice for one thing!

Was your original date in the first lockdown? Because if so you should have been explicitly offered a refund and given this as an equally available option to postponing according to the CMA - we were not!

I think your venue will have to reconsider when it gets closer to the time and it's clear that wedding won't be going ahead unrestricted.

Good luck x

That's really interesting thank you @Sandyfeet101
Our first date was 4th april 2020 so right in the first strict lockdown. We were not offered a refund but told we needed to "work with them" because otherwise it could be interpreted as us cancelling the wedding at no point were we offered a refund. I hope you get on better than we are with getting yours! Its so frustrating when you read the CMA guidance as I feel that it definitely applies to our situation but they have said today that when we agreed a new date we have effectively taken out a new contract and now are bound by those terms and because at the moment there is nothing to say our wedding will be impacted (17th April) then we either go ahead (or plan as if we are) or say that we are cancelling and lose the money. 😭

8th April and clinging on! Venue are hopeful that we can have 30.

@Seriously79

8th April and clinging on! Venue are hopeful that we can have 30.

Good luck! Same date as me, I think you may well be fine with 30 but we have a huge family and want more than 30

@GarlicMushroom

That's really interesting thank you *@Sandyfeet101* Our first date was 4th april 2020 so right in the first strict lockdown. We were not offered a refund but told we needed to "work with them" because otherwise it could be interpreted as us cancelling the wedding at no point were we offered a refund. I hope you get on better than we are with getting yours! Its so frustrating when you read the CMA guidance as I feel that it definitely applies to our situation but they have said today that when we agreed a new date we have effectively taken out a new contract and now are bound by those terms and because at the moment there is nothing to say our wedding will be impacted (17th April) then we either go ahead (or plan as if we are) or say that we are cancelling and lose the money. 😭

You agreeing to a new date is negated by the fact that they should have offered the option as a refund as well in the first instance. We both agreed to postpone under the impression that was our only option.

I quoted the extract below in my email to them.

"It is also open to them to agree to re-arrange the wedding to another date, as an alternative to making a refund (as long as the option of a refund is just as clearly and easily available).
It may be that this kind of outcome is in both parties’ interests and wedding businesses may offer incentives to consumers to agree alternative dates (again, as long as it is clear that a refund is available to consumers who want one).
If the consumer asks for a refund and disputes the amounts that the business has deducted, the consumer could take legal action to recover the remainder of the refund.
In certain circumstances, where a business tells a consumer that he or she is not entitled to a refund or refuses to refund the full amount owed, this may amount to a misleading action or aggressive practice which is in breach of consumer protection law.”

Really hope your venue comes around! Fingers crossed for both of us.

Hi all just wanted to come here to have a self indulgent moan. I know a wedding isn't important considering what's happening out there, so I don't feel like I can or should whinge about it!

We're still hoping to get married at the end of April with 30 guests but at the moment who knows. We've moved it twice as it is but we really want our close family there so if the numbers are below 30 we will move it.

We're just playing a waiting game really and will make a final decision 4 weeks before.

The person making my cake is dropping off samples this week for Us to choose which will be lovely, and the photographer has emailed to check we're going ahead.

I know the actual wedding is the most important part but I feel as though the shine has Gone from the day as we have no control over anything. As I said, I know worse things are happening so this is just a whinge!

Anyone else feel the same?

I’m in a similar situation @MissMogwai

We’re due to get married on May 1st. I feel so up and down at the moment, some days thinking we’ll be able to have 30 people (which I’ve accepted is far from a bad outcome at the moment) and other days I feel so panicked that we won’t be able to have at least 30, will need to rebook and will struggle to find a summer date next year, let alone this year!

I also agree it’s taken the shine off. We all only plan to get married once - I’ve spent the whole time of planning coming up with plans A, B and C, apologising to people who can’t make the cut if we’re restricted to 30 or below, and reassuring my bridesmaids not to stress if they need to cancel my hen do, because it obviously isn’t their fault and can’t be helped.

My mum and I are very close. We are both quite pragmatic, get on with it sort of people. The other day she told me she was sad we hadn’t been able to have the experience of wedding dress shopping together (I bought my dress online). It made me feel so sad for her. I’m her only daughter, so she won’t ever have that experience.

I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal, but lockdown really does take away so many singular life experiences. From little preparation details to the wedding day itself, we won’t get a second opportunity to experience those things.

And I agree the uncertainty just adds another layer of stress and sucks the joy out of wedding planning. I can’t daydream about the day, because I fear I’m just setting myself up for disappointed.

I’m fed up with it. And I don’t say any of this out loud in real life, but I just wanted to get it off my chest here. Having a wedding affected by lockdown is upsetting, and I’m tired of having to apologise before expressing any slight frustration.

I hope things become clearer soon for everyone, and that we all get to have a wedding day that allows us to celebrate our marriages with close family and friends.

@SquashedSquashes thanks for your reply.

It's good to be able to vent on here with others who are in the same boat!
I can see why your mum is sad about not having that experience with you. It's one of those small markers that can be so special and significant.

The news that schools may be closed until Easter doesn't bode well does it. It's such a worrying time.

I think if we can't have at least 30 then we will have to postpone again and in that case we will maybe move it to next year.

Fingers crossed things improve for everyone.

@SquashedSquashes I'm sorry you feel nervous. I agree the shine has been taken off a lot of things. Today we were going to discuss buying rings but then we just both looked at each other with a kind of 'oh shit all the shops are shut' kind of look on our faces as it dawned on us. Obviously we will be able to buy our rings eventually but let's face it we'll probably be in masks which will transform it from something fun into something to just get out of the way so we can be in and out of the shop without having to wear a mask for too long. No doubt my hair trial will be the same.

The other day a relative asked if our day "will still be going ahead" and it was deflating if I'm honest. However I'm 90% confident it will go ahead and trying to remain positive. I just want to have a nice day and be married! It's good to be able to vent here.

Hey! Has anyone made any progress? We are hesitantly awaiting Monday's announcement but have this week out of the blue, had an email from our venue asking if we would like to postpone. We have declined as just want to get married now and would rather have a refund so holding on to see what they come back with.

Hi we're also waiting for Monday's announcement. Will it be data and not dates though!

We should be getting married in 10 weeks but depends on numbers and restrictions.

I'm tempted to just move it again as I'm fed up to be honest. However DP wants us to stick to the date and hopefully have the reception with a smaller number of guests or have a smaller do at home.

I've also been looking at Gretna Green as an alternative.

We've decided we'll make a Decision by the end of March and stick to it. Most things need paying for by then so a natural deadline.

Update: finally received refund from my venue today after not hearing from them for over a month. Time to start looking for a new venue!

I hope everything works out for all of your weddings