So, you’re dealing unfortunate situation unexpectedly where your wedding venue has closed, we have news for you, all is not lost. You based everything around your venue; it was the perfect backdrop for your wedding day. We know possibly 40% of your budget has been dumped into your venue. With a somewhat clear head-space, if you put the strategies we are sharing to the test, you’ll be able to get your wedding planning back on track within the next few days. In most cases, the venue that you find this time around will be better than your original venue.

Here are a few practical ways to implement immediately to get back to planning. As a bonus, we also included two actions we don’t recommend for you to do. So put your shades and favorite lipstick color on right away and let’s get started already!

Freak Out

It is okay to freak out and cry!!!! Tell any and everyone that your Wedding Venue Has Closed and why your wedding day is completely ruined. You can even take the time to comment on a few Facebook groups for support. You didn’t see it coming after you’ve communicated with your venue and everything seemed to be going perfectly fine.

Reach out to your established vendors

Rely on the vendors that you already have booked and let them know what has taken place. Chances are they have established connections with other event venues. Your vendors are as invested in your wedding day as you are, so don’t be afraid to ask them for help navigating this difficult situation. Don’t forget to ask if they have any connections with wedding planners to assist you in moving forward.

Review your contract

Review all the clauses in your contract to see what it states about Wedding Venue Closures and the inability to execute services. Don’t hesitate to reach out to the venue directly to get more information about the closure; before you give the venue a call be sure to take the time to gather your thoughts and write down important questions and concerns you would like to address. If the venue makes any promises during your phone conversation be sure to tell them that you would like those promises in writing. Your venue most likely has already reached out to other wedding venues to see if they are able to accommodate your wedding and to see if they are willing to offer the same services and take into account any lost deposits.

Call Wedding Insurance Company

Call your Wedding Insurance company and give them this dreadful news that your Wedding Venue Has Closed. This may eliminate at least half of the headache you may be experiencing. Surprisingly enough, research shows that 41% of wedding insurance claims paid were due to wedding venue closing (non-covid-19 related closures). If you don’t have wedding insurance, you may want to consider getting it moving forward. Wedding insurance is relatively cheap, especially compared to what it could save you should the worst happen, so there’s no reason not to invest. If you do not have wedding insurance call your credit card company or personal banking institution to file a dispute. Paying with a credit card, debit card, and or a check can add a bigger level of protection against lost deposits when a service has not been delivered, or a venue has closed down.

Hire a Wedding Planner

If you had decided you didn’t need a wedding planner, now might be the time to reconsider. Wedding Planners have the biggest network of industry contacts. If you have a day of coordinator, you can upgrade your service so you feel less stress navigating this difficult time. Your planner will get shit done to make you happy on your wedding day! At this point, planners don’t bat an eyelash when they hear another venue has gone out of business and will most likely have several venues for you to tour by the end of the week and a strategic plan in place.

Don’t forget that your wedding is still on!

The #1 reason you went through all of these details in the first place is to marry your love. When you look at your wedding day from that perspective, you’ll remember that there is nothing in this world that will change the fact that there will still be a marriage. Everything else essentially affects things that are replaceable with strategic planning. Sometimes the last-minute change is the way to go, you’d be surprised at the hidden gems you find in the process.

Bonus Tip:

Review the timeline of your wedding stationery and contact your wedding stationer; inform them of this update. Depending on your timeline for your wedding invitations, you may need to have an updated card mailed to your guests reflecting the new location. You should also check other print materials that have been designed or ordered that may have the name of the closed wedding venue printed, such as wedding programs, wedding signage, and your wedding website.