While it’s rare, it does happen, especially in recent years with Ireland only just starting to come out of recession now. Wedding venues can suddenly close, without warning, and the calendar of events will be cleared, including your wedding. Your first instinct would probably be to go into meltdown, but try not to panic; it’s not the end of the world.

Get Wedding Insurance

Bride and groom Amelia Johnson

It may seem like an unnecessary expense, and one you’re definitely tempted to skip to save a few bob, but trust us, this is exactly the kind of thing wedding insurance can cover. If your venue goes out of business it’s unlikely that you will get your deposit back and if you have to rearrange the date, there may be other deposits you lose out on from vendors. Wedding insurance is relatively cheap, especially in comparison to what it could save you should the worst happen, so there’s no reason not to invest.

Do Your Research

Aster and Olive Photo

Make sure you look into your venue before you put a deposit down, especially smaller or newer venues. Be sure to ask how long the venue has been in business and if it has changed ownership recently, and if so, why. You should also look for red flags like inexplicably low prices, signalling a venue desperate for business. This is not always the case but it is something to wary of.

Pay The Venue By Credit Card

Abby Jiu

We know this may not always be possible but it’s highly advisable to pay your venue deposit (or any deposit for that matter) with a credit card. This gives you a bigger level of protection against lost deposits when a service has not been delivered or a venue has closed down.

Contact Your Other Vendors

Curious Rose Photography

Let your other vendors know as soon as you find out. For a start, professionals in the industry might be able to help you out, whether they’re able to move to another day or suggest other venues to try on the same day. Either way, it’s polite to let them know what’s going on so they’re aware that you might have to cancel or move the day. Who knows, you might even get a sympathetic deposit back.

Get A Planner

Christina Brosnan

Speaking of professionals in the wedding industry, if you had decided you didn’t need a wedding planner, now might be the time to reconsider. We know it might be hard to swallow the expense, especially if you lost any money, but a planner will be the best person for the job when it comes to rectifying the situation as best they can, as well as taking the stress and pressure off you when disaster strikes.

 

- Jenny Darmody