It’s natural for brides and grooms to want everything to be perfect on their special day. The flower arrangements must be fresh, the DJ’s playlist needs to be full of bops, and the photographer better capture every single precious moment. But if something doesn’t turn out exactly how the couple imagined, are they entitled to a refund?
One artist recently reached out to the Bridezillas subreddit detailing how a client demanded a refund 2 months after her wedding because she suddenly decided that she wasn’t happy with her service. Below, you’ll find the full story, as well as conversations with wedding experts Desiree Adams, CEO & Founder of Verve Event Co., and the creator of Modern MOH, Megan.
This artist was hired to make hand-painted wedding signs for a colleague's daughter
Image credits: Antoni Shkraba / Pexels (not the actual photo)
But weeks after the wedding, the bride suddenly decided that she wasn't happy with her services
Image credits: JESSICA TICOZZELLI / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Nataliya Vaitkevich / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Image credits: S**tzme
Image credits: Kaboompics.com / Pexels (not the actual photo)
Over half of newlyweds went into debt paying for their weddings in 2024
Planning a wedding can be stressful for a wide variety of reasons. You and your partner want to make sure that the day is exactly what you have in mind, but you’ll also want to keep your guests and families happy and ensure that you’re not paying the day off for years to come. According to The Knot, the average wedding nowadays costs a whopping $35,000.
And of course, the majority of that money is going straight to the wedding vendors. Venues typically charge the bride and groom around $12,800, and a great photographer will run you about $2,900.
A wedding planner’s fee could be over $2,000, and florists typically charge about $2,800 for their services. Alcohol for the reception usually costs $2,800, and if you want to hire a videographer, that’ll cost you about $2,300 as well.
Unsurprisingly, this means that the couple mentioned in this story is far from the first to go into debt by paying for their special day. In fact, a survey from U.S. News found that a whopping 56% of newlyweds went into debt while paying for their weddings last year.
This includes accumulating credit card debt, taking loans from banks, getting loans from family members or a combination of all of the above. Nearly half of these couples also admitted that they had no intention of going into debt when they started wedding planning, and 42% regretted their financial decisions that led them here.
As you’d probably expect, couples who had huge weddings, with 150 guests or more, were twice as likely to find themselves in debt than those who had small, modest weddings. And the average newlyweds spent $10,000 of their own money on their special day. But almost a third of all newlyweds, even those who didn’t end up in debt, regret spending so much on one day.
Image credits: Jeremy Wong / Pexels (not the actual photo)
"A wedding isn’t a dress from Amazon—you can’t just send it back because you don’t like the price tag after the big day"
So if a bride and groom find themselves having regrets weeks after the wedding, are they still allowed to ask for refunds from vendors? To learn more about this, we got in touch with wedding experts Desiree Adams, CEO & Founder of Verve Event Co., and the creator of Modern MOH, Megan.
First, the experts noted that it's not very common for brides and grooms to ask for a refund. "It usually happens for one of two reasons: either there was a legitimate issue with the service, or the couple is having some serious post-wedding financial regret," Megan said.
"Legitimate refund requests come up when a vendor fails to deliver what was promised—think a DJ who ghosts on the wedding day, a caterer serving up cold, tasteless food, or a photographer who somehow loses all the family photos. In those cases, asking for a refund (at least partial) makes total sense," she explained.
"But then you have the buyer’s remorse cases, like in this story, where the couple realizes after the fact that they spent way too much and now want to undo the damage," Megan continued. "Spoiler alert: It doesn’t work like that. A wedding isn’t a dress from Amazon—you can’t just send it back because you don’t like the price tag after the big day. Thankfully, these situations are very rare."
Desiree says a refund is a reasonable request if the services that were contracted for weren't in fact received. "For example, you hire a photographer for 10 hours of shooting and they only provide you with 8," she explained.
As far as whether or not it's actually possible to get a refund, Megan says it just depends on the situation. "If there was a genuine problem—like a vendor failing to meet their contract obligations—then yes, a refund might be possible. The key here is the contract, and it’s the reason most wedding vendors have super detailed agreements that outline what happens in case of cancellations, mistakes, or issues," she explained. "So, if you think a vendor has dropped the ball, the first step is to read the fine print."
Timing is also a huge factor here, the wedding experts say. "If you need to request a refund, you need to do it when the service was rendered," Desiree told Bored Panda. "If you accept the product from the vendor and use it and don't bring up the issues at the time of delivery, it is dishonest."
"If a couple has a complaint, they need to address it immediately—not weeks or months later," Megan shared. "The longer they wait, the harder it is to prove their case. If something went wrong on the wedding day, they should document the issue (photos, emails, witness statements if necessary) and reach out as soon as possible."
The real value of the issue is another key factor. "Not every issue is worth chasing a refund over. If a major vendor completely botched their job—like a photographer losing all the pictures or a caterer delivering inedible food—that’s a big deal and absolutely worth pursuing. But if it’s something minor, like flowers being a slightly different shade than expected, the stress of fighting for a refund might not be worth it," Megan added.
Image credits: Mikhail Nilov / Pexels (not the actual photo)
"The only thing couples should be bringing into their marriage is love, not credit card debt"
But if a couple really thinks they have a solid case, the first step is to approach the vendor professionally. "If you are unhappy with a service or product you received, you need to alert the vendor immediately in writing," Desiree says. "When you do so, you should be specific and refer to what the vendor was contracted to provide you and how they did not deliver this service. There is a lot of room for interpretation, so you need to be specific."
"Make sure to keep it drama-free and just present the facts," Megan added. "A polite but firm email outlining the issue, referencing the contract, and requesting a refund (or partial refund) is the best approach. If that doesn’t work, depending on how much it’s worth to them, they could raise a dispute with their bank/credit card company, or even just leave a bad review."
"But if the issue is just wedding budget regret? Sorry, but that’s on them," she continued. "The vendor delivered the service they were paid for. It’s not their job to refund a couple just because they overspent."
We also asked the wedding experts if they have any advice for planning a wedding without going into debt. "We never recommend clients go into debt for a wedding or another milestone event," Desiree shared. "It's important to put together a budget at the beginning of the planning process, preferably with a professional, reputable planner, and continue to revisit as you select your vendors and continue with your planning."
"There is so much pressure on couples these days to have the Insta-perfect wedding that they think they have to host such lavish affairs. We see it all the time with bridal showers and bachelorette parties too," Megan says. "But here’s an insider secret–weddings do not have to break the bank to be beautiful."
She suggested a few key ways to keep costs down: setting a real budget and sticking to it; prioritizing what actually matters; consider having the wedding during an off-peak time; DIY wisely; shorten the guest list; and skip the traditional venue and opt for a more affordable place, such as a backyard or park. “Bottom line: The only thing couples should be bringing into their marriage is love, not credit card debt,” Megan noted.
Desiree also recommends making sure you have a wedding planner. “Many couples don’t realize how much time and effort service providers in the wedding industry spend on their goods or services, so it’s important to educate yourself and work with a professional planner so that you have a good foundation from the beginning of your planning process,” she told Bored Panda. “A planner can help couples avoid costly mistakes or oversights that can save clients a lot of headaches.”
Finally, Megan added that there’s no denying that weddings are a big deal for the couple. “But at the end of the day, they’re just one day. No party is worth financial ruin and newlywed fights, and no couple should be chasing refunds just because they had too much fun swiping their credit card,” she told Bored Panda. “Plan smart, spend wisely, and remember: the marriage is what really matters, not the price tag on the big day.”
We would love to hear your thoughts on this situation in the comments below, pandas. How would you have responded if a client asked for a refund in the same way this bride did? Feel free to weigh in. Then, you can check out another Bored Panda article discussing wedding vendor drama right here!
Later, the author answered a couple of questions from readers to provide more information
Many readers called out the bride for her entitled behavior and shared messages of support for the artist
