If you've followed wedding news in Central Texas lately, you've probably heard about Posey Meadows. If you haven't, here's the short version. According to KSAT Investigates, a young couple booked the Hays County venue for a November wedding. In April, the groom, Diego Hernandez, died suddenly at 25. His fiancée had paid nearly $16,000 toward the venue. When the family asked for a refund, the venue pointed to its contract, which says payments are forfeited if the wedding is canceled. The contract doesn't say anything about what happens if one of the two people getting married dies.
The fiancée sued to get the money back, and the venue countersued her for breach of contract. The story has since been picked up by outlets across the country, including Yahoo and AOL. In fairness, the venue later sent KSAT a statement saying it was heartbroken, that it has given full refunds in similar situations, and that it was already working on a refund when it was served with the lawsuit. The case is still pending in court, and I'm not going to pretend to know how it will end.
What I do know is how this story made me feel as a wedding vendor, and I want to tell you where Radiance Photography stands.
Contracts Matter, and So Does Doing the Right Thing
I believe in contracts. Every couple I work with signs one, and I'd encourage you never to book a vendor who doesn't use one. Contracts protect small businesses like mine from clients who act in bad faith, and they protect you from vendors who do the same. They make sure everyone knows what to expect.
But a contract is a tool, not a replacement for judgment. At some point you have to set the paperwork down and ask yourself a simple question: what's the decent thing to do here? When someone has just lost the person they were going to marry, I don't think the answer is complicated.
A Cancellation I Handled Recently
I recently had a couple cancel a wedding that was still five months away. The bride reached out and asked me what my cancellation policy was. I'll keep her reasons private, because they're hers, but once I understood her situation I decided not to charge a retainer or any service fee. They hadn't started their payment plan yet, and even if they had, I would have refunded them in full, especially since I'm able to rebook the date.
That wasn't a hard decision. Holding onto someone's money when they're already going through something painful, and when I haven't lost anything I can't recover, isn't how I want to run my business. For her, it was simply the right thing to do.
Who I Want to Be Associated With
Wedding vendors in this area know each other. We recommend each other, share venues and work the same weekends. Who we choose to stand next to says something about us. I don't want Radiance Photography associated with Posey Meadows, or with any vendor that treats couples the way this family describes being treated. I'd rather send you to venues and vendors I trust to treat you like a person, not just a signature on a contract.
How to Protect Yourself Before You Sign
Most vendors are good people, and you'll probably never need your contract's fine print. But the best time to find out how a vendor behaves when things go wrong is before you sign, not after. Here's what I'd ask.
Ask Every Vendor: What Happens When Things Don't Go Well?
This one question tells you a lot. Listen for how they answer as much as what they say. A good vendor will walk you through it calmly and specifically. If they get defensive or vague, take note.
Questions for Your Venue
- What is your force majeure policy? What counts as an event outside anyone's control, and what happens to my payments if one occurs?
- What happens if one of us dies, or has a serious illness or emergency, before the wedding? Is that written into the contract?
- If we have to cancel and you rebook our date, do we get any money back?
- Can we postpone instead of cancel, and is there a fee or deadline to do that?
Questions for Your Photographer (Including Me)
- What happens if we need to cancel months in advance? Is the retainer refundable, and does it matter whether you can rebook the date?
- What happens if we fall behind on a payment plan? Is there a grace period, and will you talk to us before canceling our booking?
- What happens if you get sick or can't make it on our wedding day? Do you have a backup photographer?
- Can we move our date instead of canceling, and do our payments carry over?
The Better Business Bureau also shared advice with KSAT that's worth reading: compare cancellation policies across vendors, look for clauses that cover emergencies, and don't be afraid to ask for changes to a contract before you sign it. A vendor who won't consider any changes at all is telling you something.
My Promise to You
Planning a wedding is supposed to be one of the happiest seasons of your life, and I take it seriously that you're trusting me with part of it. If life gets in the way, I want you to be able to call me and have an honest, human conversation about what happens next. If you have questions about my contract or how I handle cancellations and payment plans, ask me. I'm always happy to talk it through before you book.
You can see what's included in our wedding photography packages, or reach out with any questions. And to the family at the center of this story: I'm so sorry for your loss.