What To Do If Your Wedding Has Been Postponed Or Cancelled Due To COVID-19
The wedding season is just around the corner and in the wake of COVID-19, many couples will be wondering if their big day can go ahead as planned. With so much uncertainty out there and the UK currently in lockdown, it can be an overwhelming time. But don’t worry, we have you covered. In this article, MyBaggage.com look at everything you need to know if you have to postpone or cancel your wedding.
What are the current guidelines for lockdown in the UK?
The UK has been in lockdown since March 23rd and restrictions have not yet been lifted. Current government recommendations are against leaving your home for all but essential travel. You are allowed to leave your house to attend work that can not be done from home, to get food and medical supplies and for one daily allocated outing for exercise. Everyone has to adhere to social distancing, meaning you must keep 2m distance between you and others from outside of your household.
What does lockdown mean for your wedding plans?
Unfortunately, the current government advice is that weddings and civil partnerships cannot go ahead at the moment due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The ceremonies go against social distancing guidelines and ceremonies that are due to take place are being postponed or cancelled.
I have wedding insurance, will it cover me?
Whether your wedding insurance covers you or not will depend on the policy you have taken out. Wedding insurance is different from house or car insurance. It doesn’t usually cover unforeseen circumstances and usually only covers things such as a venue or supplier cancelling on your or closing down, key guests unable to attend due to illness, lost, damaged or stolen goods or any personal liability or legal expenses. This means that whether a policy will cover you in the wake of Covid-19 is a grey area.
Everything will depend on the policy you have and what cover it offers. Similarly, to travel insurance, many companies are now suspending the sale of wedding insurance during the outbreak. John Lewis is one of the companies that has done this, however, they are reassuring potential customers that if they have an existing policy it remains valid and unchanged.
If you are unsure of your rights regarding your insurance and cover if your wedding has been cancelled, it has been recommended to contact the Citizens Advice Bureau for legal advice. If you feel your insurer has treated you unfairly and need to make a complaint, do so to their customer service team directly. If you are unhappy with the response or they don’t get in touch with you the next step would be to escalate your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman, this is free and will provide you with an independent ruling on your complaint.
What if I decide to cancel my wedding, will I be covered?
Every policy is different, it’s important to get in touch with your venue and then your insurer to see what options you have and if you will incur any fees to reschedule your big day. Unfortunately, many insurers do not cover government regulations, but this will vary on a company by company basis.
What if I decide to postpone or reschedule the wedding?
If you decide to postpone or reschedule your wedding, although not perfect, this is the better option for your venue or suppliers as it shows they are still open for business. However, if you are worried about your venue deciding to postpone your wedding without your input this might leave you feeling some concern.
In previous circumstances when you needed to reschedule or postpone your wedding, you would have often lost your wedding deposit and incurred extra fees depending on how close you are to your wedding date. However, with your wedding being postponed or rescheduled due to COVID-19, many suppliers are waiving postponement fees.
We have chosen an alternative wedding date but our supplies are booked up, do we get a refund?
Even if you decide to postpone your wedding, you have to show that you have offered your suppliers a range of dates to find one that suits all. This does depend on your contract, but generally, you will have to avoid causing, ‘frustration,’ to your suppliers. So if you only offer one alternative and stick with that, they are not obligated to refund you if they are unavailable. If you can show you have offered a variety of options all of which the supplier has turned down, then you will more than likely be liable for a refund.
I paid with a credit card, am I covered?
If you have paid for your wedding with a credit card, you have additional protection if something goes wrong. Under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act, anything you buy between £100 to £30,000 is covered and your credit card company is jointly liable for a breach of contract, including a cancellation. You can then claim the money you have lost directly from your credit card company.
If I am planning to cancel or postpone, when should I contact my suppliers?
As soon as possible! It is important to contact your supplies immediately. Contact them via email and outline your concerns and requests regarding rescheduling and if you will incur any costs. It’s vital to know what your options are as soon as you can, so you can make the best decision for you and your partner. Check the contracts you have with your suppliers and work together to plan for an alternative date. The whole wedding industry has ground to a halt, so many suppliers and venues are being flexible and working with their couples.
Many thanks to MyBaggage.Com for this article.
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