Has anyone ever really looked at all the fine print in all the contracts that they sign? How much of it do you actually question, and what do you let go because you know that no matter what you say, the rules won’t change anyway? Chris was reviewing the catering contract for our wedding venue the other day, and he pointed out that in the event of an unforeseeable disaster, i.e., earthquakes, fires, or one or both of us dies (they call these cases “force majeure” or “Acts of God,”) our catering vendor still requires that thirty-five percent of the total contract value still be paid and/or forfeited to them. This is to “protect” themselves. Well, what about us? How are we not protecting ourselves in this situation, or why are they not thinking about us in a situation like that? It makes sense to have a policy like this if we decide to either not get married or to screw them by eloping, but how can we ultimately be partially held responsible in the event that we die or that the entire venue burns to the ground?

Even our venue’s contract says that in the event that something like this happens, the full amounts of deposits are due back to us, as long as legitimate documentation is provided. It sounds pretty absurd to both of us, and though clearly none of us want these events to happen, it stinks that a policy like this is in place.