Protecting Wedding Deposits When Canceling a Wedding

Protecting Wedding Deposits When Canceling a Wedding Is Doable

Yes it is possible to recoup your wedding deposits if you cancel with enough notice, allowing the vendor to salvage the date, and especially if you have wedding cancellation insurance.

You’ve put a lot of money into your big day, so you don’t want to let that investment just slip through your fingers. Whether you’re cancelling your wedding altogether, or simply postponing it for a later date, here’s how to go about protecting wedding deposits if you have to cancel a wedding.

What Are the Wedding Vendor and Wedding Venue Deposits You’ll Have to Pay?

Many wedding vendors will require a deposit before the event, typically including the venue, photographer, caterer, rental companies, officiant, florist, DJ, wedding planner, hair stylist, and makeup artist. Most simply ask for a percentage of their total fee, anywhere from 25% to  50%, at the time of booking. This will go toward the total bill, of course, with the remainder to be paid shortly before or at the event.

Obviously, all of these deposits can quickly add up, meaning that you could spend a very large amount of money on your wedding even months in advance of your actual  wedding date.

As such, if you decide that you’re canceling the wedding even as far as six months out, it would be natural to worry about losing potentially tens of thousands of dollars — but you don’t have to fret! In many cases, you may be able to recoup deposits, if you have the right safeguards in place and approach cancelling the wedding the right way.

First, Check Your Vendors’ Cancellation Policy

Before you contact vendors and announce that you need to cancel the wedding, check the vendor contracts to see what provisions may already be in place to help you in getting back wedding deposit funds.

While deposits are not always 100% non-refundable, some vendors may refund part of your deposit if you give them enough advance notice, especially if they’re able to rebook their services with another couple for the same date.

Other Options Vendors May Offer

If you’re just postponing your wedding and plan on moving it to a later date, some vendors may simply keep your deposit but allow you to rebook for the new date, essentially using your deposit as a future credit.

Some vendors may even allow you to book a separate service instead, such as pivoting to family portraits with your photographer instead of wedding photography. And some may allow you to cancel a wedding deposit if there are unique circumstances that impact the venue or vendor as well, such as a natural disaster.

The Proper Etiquette for Canceling a Wedding with Vendors

If you’re not simply postponing getting married for a different date, and you want to fully cancel services for your wedding day, you’ll need to inform your vendors in writing. Clearly and succinctly explain the cancellation, including a note as to what you’ve paid them thus far and whether or not you feel you are entitled to any refund of the deposit.

While you might feel like making phone calls to vendors to explain the cancellation, try to keep everything in writing, so that you have a paper trail in case it’s needed.

Some Important Things to Keep in Mind

As you go about cancelling vendor services, keep in mind that, while this is an emotionally challenging and difficult time for you, any cancellations (particularly last-minute ones) can cost wedding vendors substantially, too.

Many are small businesses, and they rely on deposits to stay afloat. As such, have grace and understanding if they say that refunding a deposit simply isn’t possible, particularly if you signed a contract that stated those terms.

The Best Way to Recoup Wedding Deposits Is Wedding Insurance

If you really want to ensure that you can recoup deposits in the event that you decide the wedding is canceled, event insurance is your best protection. Specialized policies will refund money lost no matter when or why you cancel the wedding, and regardless of what your vendor contracts say.

Wedding insurance can also protect other elements of your wedding plans if you move forward with the event. For example, if the wedding dress is damaged, the engagement ring is lost, a family heirloom accessory breaks, or some wedding gifts go missing, your policy protects you and will help recoup any losses.

Wedding Cancellation and Deposits FAQs

How Much Is a Wedding Venue Deposit?

Wedding venues often require a deposit of 20–50% of the total cost at the time of booking in order to secure the date.

How Do You Cancel a Wedding?

Inform your venue and vendors as soon as possible, and then move on to telling all your family members and close friends. You don’t need to necessarily explain the reasoning to your family and friends, especially if you are not going through with the marriage, but do be clear that the event will no longer be held. If the wedding is still a few months out, some couples may choose to send out a printed card to all guests, but emails, calls, and texts to each person are all fine, too, so long as all parties are aware.

What Do You Say in a Wedding Cancellation Announcement?

If you need help with your wedding cancellation announcement, you can simply say something along the lines of, “We regret to inform you that we will not be moving forward with our wedding on [date]. We thank you for your understanding and support during this very difficult time in our life.”

Can You Expect to Get Your Deposit Back if You Cancel Your Wedding?

You may be able to get a portion of your vendor deposits back if you cancel your wedding with enough time before the big day. This is especially true if the vendors can rebook their services with another couple. As well, if you have wedding cancellation insurance, it can refund you for lost deposits even when vendors refuse to do so. Before signing contracts with any vendor, be sure to read the fine print about cancellations and refunds.

Why Would You Cancel Your Wedding?

There are many reasons why someone might cancel their wedding, and they’re not only because the couple in question decides that they no longer want to be together. For example, the couple might decide they’re not financially ready for a wedding yet, there could be an unforeseen illness in the family, or life can just get too busy to make time for wedding planning.

Get Your Free Wedding Insurance Quote from BriteCo

Whether the bride and groom plan to pay for the wedding, or the parents are chipping in, wedding insurance keeps anyone’s investment protected over the entire course of the wedding planning process. From the time you put together your guest list and pick out invitations to the moment you leave the reception and jet off on your honeymoon, you’re covered.

Learn more about how wedding insurance could save your big day from disaster and get your free quote now.

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