Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Here's the scoop. We booked a venue for our spring 2011 wedding last April. I have had nothing but trouble trying to communicate with the venue since. My questions go unanswered and I'm made to thing that it 'wasn't my turn' because they were busy with other business for 8 months. Now, the venue lost the director (that we signed the contract with) and put an event coordinatoer in place that they didn't have before. The coordinator is telling us that the contract wasn't done correctly and that they want to add $$$$$ to our final cost because of the 'mistake' their last catering director made. We have a signed and very detailed contract in regards to the pricing so it is the vendor who is trying to break it.

Advice on what I can do about this? I want to work it out but at the same time, if we win this contract battle, than I'm afraid they will intentionally ruin our day.

Should I consult a lawyer and if so, any recommendations??

Thanks in advance for your help, ladies.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

i'm not a lawyer, but i would think if you have a signed contract with the hall it should hold water. They can probably add an addendum, but whatever you have written in your contract should be correct and they, legally, probably need to be held to it.

THere are some lawyers on this board so they should be able to help you more!

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

I have no doubt that they would be made to hold to their contract but if for some reason they dont agree to, I wonder how long it would take to rectify financially (get our money back). Our wedding is only 4 months away...

Thanks for your input.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

The contract is legally binding. Just tell them you rather go to another hall than pay the extra $$$

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Ok so hears the deal. You need to read the contract CAREFULLY. Every word. There might be some fine print saying that prices are subject to change, or that the venue has the right to change the prices. Do you have any lawyer friends?

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Nope, no fine print. The deal is this, when we contracted, the tax was included in the per person price. It clearly states that it's included. Now they want to say it's a mistake on the part of the old employee that we contracted with and they want us to pay an extra 20%. Keep in mind that we are paid in full at this time. There's no doubt that the contract states that the tax was included. Unfortunately, no lawyer friends, so that's why I'm reaching out on here.

I'd gladly take a full refund and find another venue so as not to chance them messing everything up for us because of our unwillingness to agree to pay more. But it's a matter of how fast we could get our $$ back in order to book another place.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

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Posted by April2011Bride

Nope, no fine print. The deal is this, when we contracted, the tax was included in the per person price. It clearly states that it's included. Now they want to say it's a mistake on the part of the old employee that we contracted with and they want us to pay an extra 20%. Keep in mind that we are paid in full at this time. There's no doubt that the contract states that the tax was included. Unfortunately, no lawyer friends, so that's why I'm reaching out on here.

I'd gladly take a full refund and fins another venue so as not to chance them messing everything up for us because of our unwillingness to agree to pay more. But it's a matter of how fast we could get our $$ back in order to book another place.

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It doesn't matter - you have a contract that was signed by someone who had every authority to offer the contract and to sign the accepted contract. They are legally bound to abide by it unless you agree to sign a rider stating something new. And, it would be HORRIBLE PR for them to mess up your wedding because of one of their executive employee's errors at the time of contracting.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Oh, absolutely. You have no idea what kind of PR they will get if they are to mess things up!! The thing is that I don't need the stress of worrying about it. If it comes down to them going back on thier contract and saying they won't refund for some reason. I'm afraid it would take too long to fight to get our $$ back...we would need to book something soon and need that $$ to pay for it, you know?

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

You mentioned 20% - maybe they're referring to the gratuity for that? I've never seen tax be so high.

Either way, you have a contract and they need to stick to it!

I'm sorry you have to deal with this :(

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

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Posted by April2011Bride

Oh, absolutely. You have no idea what kind of PR they will get if they are to mess things up!! The thing is that I don't need the stress of worrying about it. If it comes down to them going back on thier contract and saying they won't refund for some reason. I'm afraid it would take too long to fight to get our $$ back...we would need to book something soon and need that $$ to pay for it, you know?

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Do you know if there is another venue that you like that is available on your date? I definitely wouldn't do anything about pulling out of the contract until you know if there is something out there.

Plus, I am not sure if the RH would be considered to in breach, since they haven't done or said anything absolute so if you backed out you might not be able to claim anticipatory repudiation...

Regardless, it would probably take a while to get your money back.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

No, I wouldn't book anything unless I knew it wouldn't work out with our current venue. I'm waiting on a response from the event director as to whether or not they will hold up their end of the contract.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

I really hope it works out for you! Especially since you're my date twin!

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Oh, thank you,


That's so exciting. I hope your planning is going much smoother! :) You must be getting excited. Not too much time left :)

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

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Posted by April2011Bride

Oh, thank you,


That's so exciting. I hope your planning is going much smoother! :) You must be getting excited. Not too much time left :)

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It's coming along, I can't complain too much. Hopefully everything runs smoothly for you moving forward.

Re: Legal Advice - Venue is going back on their contract!

Thanks so much and I hope you (... We) have a wonderful wedding day!! :)