You booked a wedding vendor — venue, photographer, caterer, florist, DJ, dressmaker, celebrant, anyone. You paid a deposit, sometimes a substantial one. Then circumstances changed: the wedding was cancelled, postponed, downsized, the vendor became unavailable, or there’s a pandemic-style force majeure event. You asked for the deposit back. The vendor said no.
Wedding-vendor disputes are some of the most emotionally charged in Australian consumer law. They also have surprisingly clear legal answers.
What the contract actually says
Most wedding-vendor contracts have a “non-refundable deposit” clause. That clause is not automatically enforceable. Australian courts (and tribunals) look at:
- Whether the clause amounts to a penalty (extracting more than the vendor’s actual loss) — which is unenforceable
- Whether the deposit was a true deposit (a small earnest payment) or a part-payment dressed up as a deposit
- Whether the vendor has been able to mitigate their loss by booking another customer for that date
- Whether frustration of contract applies (a force majeure event making performance impossible)
- Whether the cancellation came with reasonable notice in line with industry practice
In practice, vendors usually keep their actual costs and out-of-pocket expenses, and refund the rest. A 100% retention of a large deposit when the vendor has booked another wedding for that date is generally not enforceable.
The Letter of Demand
Most wedding vendors fold once they receive a formal Letter of Demand because they know the alternative — a tribunal claim that becomes a public decision — damages their reputation in a referral-driven industry. The letter:
- References the booking (date, deposit amount, services)
- States your reason for cancellation and the notice given
- Cites the legal position on penalties, mitigation, and frustration
- Requests a specific refund (often partial, accounting for legitimate costs)
- Sets a deadline (typically 14 days)
- Names the next step — tribunal application or Fair Trading complaint
What’s reasonable to ask for
The strongest position is usually: “We accept you’ve incurred costs of [$X]. Refund the balance of [$Y].” Asking for 100% back when the vendor has done legitimate work or had real costs weakens the claim. A reasonable demand letter is more persuasive than an aggressive one.
Flat fee
Claim Done’s Letter of Demand for wedding-vendor disputes is $79. The wizard asks about the booking, the cancellation, what the vendor has refused, and the refund you’re seeking. The AI drafts a measured, legally-grounded letter on professional letterhead and sends it to the vendor on your behalf.
Most wedding vendors settle within two weeks. The few that don’t get a Final Demand or face a tribunal application — both available through the same dashboard.