Refund of Your Wedding Supplier Booking Deposit in Pandemic

Refund of Your Wedding Supplier Booking Deposit in Pandemic

Consumer Protection Ireland has provided the following guidance:

in regards to refund of booking deposits paid in advance for a wedding postponed due to pandemic restrictions:

If you have found it necessary to postpone your wedding day, and any of your wedding suppliers have not been able to change to your new wedding date with the same quality standard of service you originally booked them for, which includes the same day of the week as your original booking, you are eligible for a full refund of any part payments made in advance including booking deposits.   But only if your wedding day can’t proceed as originally planned due to government restrictions in place on that date.   This also includes government restrictions in place limiting the numbers of guests.  If you postpone your wedding to a later date, because your original date has restrictions on the number of guests, for example you had invited 300 guests but you are now limited to 100 guests, and you want to postpone your wedding date to ensure that everyone on your guestlist can attend, you are entitled to any refunds due for booking deposits paid on your original date.

However if there are no government restrictions of any kind in place on your original wedding date, you are not entitled to a refund of booking deposits if you postpone your wedding “just in case”.

According to the consumer laws in Ireland, a booking deposit is not a separate fee.  A booking deposit is a part-payment of services to be provided on a certain date. 

Direct from the Consumer Protection website:

Deposits

When you buy goods and services you are sometimes asked to pay a deposit e.g. if you order furniture or book a wedding venue.  When you pay a deposit you are paying a percentage of the price of a good or service and it means you are entering into a contract with the business.  In general and in normal situations you will be entitled to your deposit back:

  • If the business cannot deliver the goods or provide the service you agreed to purchase.
  • If the business cannot deliver the goods or service on the agreed delivery date and the new delivery date is not acceptable to you.

However, given the current situation we are in due to COVID-19 we would suggest that in the first instance you talk to the business to see if you can make an alternative arrangement that suits you both.  If not you should try and negotiate with them to see if you can get some or all of your deposit back.

If after following the above step you are not happy with the outcome and you have bought instore and the business refuses to return your deposit, you may have to take legal action. If your claim is less than €2,000, you can use the Small Claims procedure to try and resolve the issue. If you place a deposit or part payment online you have a right to cancel the contract and seek a refund, with some exceptions. For more information see our  buying on-line section.

If you change your mind about the good or service and decide not to go ahead with the contract, the business may not be obliged to refund you your deposit. If it is not set out in the terms or conditions or you did not agree anything at the point of sale, the business is not obliged to refund you the deposit.

You can read the full web page here on the Consumer Protection Ireland website:

https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/covid-19/consumer-contracts/

If your supplier contract doesn’t specifically include a pandemic “Force Majeure” or “act of God” clause, or you have no written contract with your supplier at all, and the supplier has not spent any chargeable time or incurred any chargeable expenses for necessary preparations for your wedding day, then a full refund of any money paid in advance including booking deposit is due and payable to you. 

If you contract or quotation from any wedding supplier states “booking deposit is non-refundable” that is not sufficent legal grounds for any wedding supplier to keep your booking deposit or money paid in advance if your wedding must be postponed due to pandemic restrictions in place on your wedding date, unless they have already completed some or all of the necessary work or incurred in preparing for your wedding day.

For correct legal advice regarding your right to a refund you should always refer to Consumer Protection Ireland. 

Warning on Obtaining Legal Advice from a Supplier’s own Trade or Industry Association

You should never obtain legal advice regarding refund of booking deposits from a supplier’s own trade or industry association, especially if a supplier advises you to do so.  The danger for any consumer in obtaining refund advice from a supplier’s own trade or industry association is that the association exists to support their industry members, and as is the case with one known trade/industry association known to be created and run by a wedding supplier who is refusing to refund booking deposits, their advice to consumers by trade/industry associations may not always be in the best interests of a consumer who is seeking a refund

The first place you should contact for legal advice regarding refund of booking deposits of any kind is always the Consumer Protection government agency. 

Consumer Protection Ireland is run by the Irish government and should always be your first point of contact for any questions regarding your right to a refund.   They are there to help you at all times.

You can contact Consumer Protection Ireland here:

https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/

Helpline: 01 402 5555

 

Sharon Q.

Ceremony Officiant / Registered Solemniser of Marriages

SHAI Registered Sound Therapist, Yoga Alliance RYT200 Registered Yoga & Meditation teacher, MBII Registered Positive Mind Coach, Community Volunteer, Musician, Visionary, Creator of dreams = Earth Spiritualist Interfaith Minister

Tel: +353 (0) 858 313 43

What is a Civil Ceremony in Ireland ?

What is a Civil Ceremony in Ireland ?

A Civil Ceremony is Much Different in Ireland

than it is in my homeland Australia. 

In Australia a Civil Ceremony is a marriage ceremony conducted according to the wishes of the couple rather than the rules of a Religion.  A civil marriage ceremony in Ireland is a Registry Office marriage, which means in Ireland, a Civil Ceremony can only be conducted by a HSE Civil Registrar,  Civil Ceremonies are conducted either at a Registry Office during business hours, or at an outside wedding venue for an extra fee.

Civil Marriage Celebrants

According to the Marriage Act of Ireland, there is no such thing as a Civil Marriage Celebrant.  There are many Lay wedding Celebrants here in Ireland who are confusing the public by incorrectly using the job title of “Civil Celebrant” from Australia, to describe their role as a wedding celebrant here in Ireland.

To add to this confusion, funeral celebrants here in Ireland have been known as Civil Celebrants for years!  Oh dear, no wonder there is so much confusion!

Here in Ireland, the term “Civil Ceremony” with regards to a marriage ceremony has a very different meaning to what it does in my homeland of Australia, where the Civil Ceremony movement began. 

Here in Ireland a Civil Ceremony is another name for a Registry Office Marriage.  A standard government non-Religious ceremony, conducted by an employee of the HSE Civil Registration Office who is known as a Civil Registrar,   The Civil Ceremony / Registry Office marriage is short and simple without any fuss and without any Spirituality or Religion.  Perfect for those who prefer this option.

Unlike Australia where Registry Office marriage is always conducted in the Registry Office, here in Ireland for an extra fee, you can book a HSE Civil Registrar to conduct a Registry Office marriage without any Spirituality or Religion  at your choice of wedding venue.  This fee varies depending on the amount of travel needed by the Registrar.

So you see – a Civil Ceremony has a vastly different meaning here in Ireland than it does in my homeland Australia, where the secular Civil Ceremony movement began all those years ago in the 1970’s.

Each marriage ceremony I create & conduct is created according to the traditions and wishes of the couple, rather than the rules and requirements of a Civil Ceremony or a Church wedding.

If you have any questions about getting married in Ireland please don’t hestitate to get in touch. 

I would be honoured to work with you.

Tel: 085 831 3437

Latest Advice for Hotel Weddings

Latest Advice for Hotel Weddings

 The Irish Hotels Federation has provided the following guidance:

in regards to social gatherings such as weddings for the remainder of the year.  (Please stay up to date with latest Government announcements, as this advice is subject to change)

– Weddings before July 20th, will not be permitted to go ahead. If your wedding is before this date I would advise you to contact the hotel and discuss another date.

– From July 20th onwards, small intimate weddings are permitted to go ahead, while practising social distancing and bar table service. The Irish Hotels Federation are waiting on more clarity from the government on this point. If this option appeals to you, please contact the hotel to discuss your wedding plans.

– From August 10th onwards, large social gatherings including weddings are permitted to go ahead. The Irish Hotels Federation are also awaiting clarity on maximum numbers allowed at the event and advice on how to practise social distancing from the government.

– The Irish Hotels Federation believes that from September onwards, there will be a lot more confidence in holding weddings. At this point they suggest keeping your wedding date planned from here onwards, and have a backup plan incase the government announce that they have to implement restrictions again..

As a registered solemniser of marriages I can help you to make your day extra special with a unique & personalised real, legal wedding ceremony.  Please don’t hesitate to give me a call for a no-obligation chat, and to see if I’m available for your big day.  I would be honoured to work with you.

Sharon Quigley

Ceremony Officiant / Registered Solemniser of Marriages

SHAI Registered Sound Therapist, Yoga Alliance RYT200 Registered Yoga & Meditation teacher, MBII Registered Positive Mind Coach, Community Volunteer, Musician, Visionary, Creator of dreams = Earth Spiritualist Interfaith Minister

Tel: +353 (0) 858 313 43

Married in Ireland – Choosing Your Ceremony Type

Married in Ireland – Choosing Your Ceremony Type

Choose Your Ceremony Type

Have you set the date for you big day?  Congratulations!   Next you will need to give some thought to the style and type of ceremony you would like.  Here is some helpful advice which will very useful for you:


a) Civil Ceremony

There is a lot of public confusion in Ireland caused by the use of legal marriage terminology from other countries which has a completely different meaning here in Ireland.  In my homeland Australia, a civil marriage ceremony is a ceremony created & conducted according to the wishes and beliefs of the couple, instead of the rules of a Religion. Yes, according to the Australian meaning I can conduct a civil ceremony but only in Australia.

Here in Ireland a civil marriage ceremony has a completely different legal meaning. A civil marriage ceremony in Ireland is a strictly non-religious registry office marriage and can only be conducted by a HSE Civil Registrar or other HSE Civil Registration Office staff.

As a HSE registered solemniser of marriages, I am not permitted to use the term “civil marriage ceremony”, “civil wedding ceremony” or “civil ceremony” when referring to marriage or wedding ceremonies. Any wedding celebrant in Ireland who advertises civil ceremonies is not registered to conduct legal marriages.

If you would like a unique & personalised non-denominational legal marriage ceremony of any style, including the Australian civil ceremony style, created & conducted according to your own wishes and beliefs, I would be honoured to work with you.

b) Non-Legal Wedding Ceremony

A non-legal wedding ceremony can be your best choice if you are living abroad.  There was once a time where the only way you could have a unique & personalised wedding ceremony was to have a non-legal ceremony plus a visit to the registry office with your witnesses on a separate day for a legal registry office marriage.  In the past 10 years times have really changed regarding legal marriage in Ireland and non-legal wedding ceremonies really are a thing of the past.  Other than living overseas there really is no other reason (other than mis-information) why you would need a non-legal wedding ceremony in Ireland.  These days there are so many government registered marriage solemnisers who are able to create a beautiful unique and fully legal wedding ceremony for you.

If you are living overseas you may find it much less complicated ( and much cheaper ) to be married at the registry office in your country of residence.  If this is the case, maybe you don’t want your family & friends in Ireland to know that you are already married that’s OK too.  Your secret is safe with me and nobody will ever know.  The only requirement I have for a non-legal wedding ceremony in Ireland, is that you must be legally married before your non-legal wedding day.  This is not a legal requirement in Ireland (like it is in my homeland Australia) but is my own requirement based on my own high standard of integrity and ethics. 

 I believe that every couple has the right to a dignified celebration of their marriage as a married couple and I would never agree to conduct a non-legal ceremony unless the couple was already legally married.  Imagine all the fun and excitement of your wedding day celebrations, it would certainly be lost if you were not already married.

c) A Unique & Personalised Legal Marriage Ceremony

If you want the most flexibility with your ceremony design options, including ceremony wording and music, your best option is a marriage solemniser of your choice to create & conduct your unique & personalised fully legal marriage ceremony on any day of the week, at any wedding venue of your choice.  I am a registered solemniser, fully authorised to conduct unique & personalised ceremonies which are unique & completely personalised to suit your requirements.

If you would like a non-denominational ceremony of any style, unique & personalised to your requirements, please don’t hesitate to call me for a quick chat so I can answer any questions you might have about getting married in Ireland.

Sharon Quigley

Ceremony Officiant / Registered Solemniser of Marriages

SHAI Registered Sound Therapist, Yoga Alliance RYT200 Registered Yoga & Meditation teacher, MBII Registered Positive Mind Coach, Community Volunteer, Musician, Visionary, Creator of dreams = Earth Spiritualist Interfaith Minister

Tel: +353 (0) 858 313 43