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Dream Wedding in Paso Robles Shattered by COVID. Bride Now Suing to Get Her Money Back.
When Riki Neice started planning her dream wedding in June of 2019, the thought of a pandemic never crossed anyone’s mind.
She and her fiancé live in Arroyo Grande and found what they thought would be the perfect venue for a large wedding. The ‘Home Sweet Home Cottage and Ranch‘ in Paso Robles was exactly what they were looking for. It was large enough for up to 200 guests, and an Airbnb right on site would provide necessary lodging.
Paid Nearly $16,000 to Secure Date
Neice was so sure this was the right spot that she paid a non-refundable deposit of $2,500. Then, in February of this year, she paid another $13,150 toward the cost of the wedding to be held on September 19th, 2020. In total, she and her fiancé, Cody Hosier, put down $15,650.
But, COVID-19 was the guest they never invited. Neice says the venue told her in July that due to the pandemic, attendance at gatherings like weddings was now limited to no more than 50 people under California’s emergency health orders.
Neice was unhappy, but says she understood the situation was out of everyone’s control. But the venue is now keeping her money — saying she signed and then breached her contract.
So, she’s filed a lawsuit and could wind up walking down a court aisle instead.
“Yes, I did know what I was signing, but they’re not offering what I signed for. Just morally, it doesn’t feel right.”–Riki Neice, suing wedding venue
Unacceptable Alternatives
According to the complaint, the venue offered Neice another date for her wedding in 2021, or said she could keep her current date with no more than 50 guests. Neice said both alternatives were unacceptable to her.
She was pregnant and due in early August. She said that is why she had paid so much upfront money to hold the date in September. She wanted to have everything paid off for the wedding so she could focus on the birth of her new son.
“I had to come to terms the fact that I was going to be pregnant right up to the end of basically my wedding and I planned everything out ahead of time,” Neice tells GV Wire℠ by Zoom.
She says needed the venue because of the size of the wedding party, including a large number of family members she expected to attend.
‘They Could Not Keep Their Promise’
The complaint further states, “Defendants (Home Sweet Home Cottage and Ranch owner Randall and Channon Clagg) advised Plaintiff that due to the COVID-19 restrictions they could not keep their promise; and, they would not be reimbursing her any of her $15,650.00 they were holding.”
Neice says that’s a considerable amount of money for her family, especially since she’s now raising a newborn along with a 6 year old son.
“They offered us a situation where we can have the venue for four hours for pictures and the ceremony, but still no reception,” says Neice. “And they weren’t going to refund anything, or next to nothing.”
Channon Clagg sent GV Wire℠ a statement by email. “I have not been served with any lawsuit. What I do know is that Ms. Neice entered into a binding contract that had very clear terms regarding the use of our property and clear provisions regarding any payments she made. Ms. Niece voluntarily canceled her wedding and chose to cancel our agreement and not reschedule the wedding despite being offered many alternative dates and other options.”
Neice’s attorney, Dennis Balsamo says the Claggs have been served. A court date is scheduled for December in San Luis Obispo Superior Court.
Read the complaint here.
The Contract
“There wasn’t anything of natural disaster in there that I can recall off the top of my head,” explains Neice. She says she remembers her initial $2,500 deposit being non-refundable – which she’s OK with. She just wants the rest back.
“Yes, I did know what I was signing, but they’re not offering what I signed for,” says Neice. “Just morally, it doesn’t feel right.”
The complaint states, “Defendants advised Plaintiff that it was not their fault they could not honor their promise, rather it was due to the COVID-19; and as such, they would not be reimbursing her the $15,650.00 or any portion of it they were holding.”
Future Wedding Plans
“Backyard, under the tree,” says Neice of her new wedding plans. Since she no longer has the money she’d saved for her dream wedding, Neice says she’s just going to try to make do as best she can.
“I didn’t picture this when it came to planning a wedding. It had the curve balls right from the beginning when I got pregnant and it just became stressful from there on out.”
Cody Hosier and Riki Neice (Dylan Kyle Photography)
Karen M Cherno
August 27, 2020 at 4:53 pm
Give her money back!!!
TH
August 28, 2020 at 10:04 am
Do the right thing, Give her a refund or this will doom your venue, People will think twice about using you for a WEDDING
Catherine Reimer
August 27, 2020 at 6:15 pm
Wow – the same thing has happened to myself and my daughter. I also will be filing suit. We should talk.
Jonathan
August 27, 2020 at 8:33 pm
Bride signed a legal contract and backed out. I support the venue! Many options were given and bride changed her mind. I’ve never seen a contract that you can change your mind and expect refund when alternative and reasonable efforts have been made by the Venue. Best of luck to Home Sweet Home. Our community supports you.
Dee
August 28, 2020 at 6:04 pm
She didn’t back out! They did!
Jayson
August 31, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Government. Same as everyone else
Karen M Cherno
August 31, 2020 at 9:03 pm
She didn’t back out. They offered her something different then what she paid for.
Jessica Kuipers
August 28, 2020 at 9:56 am
They had a legal binding contract, period. They were given options that they chose not to take advantage of. Everyone is affected by this and all parties need to make compromises. The venue could have sold that date to another couple who were OK with having an event of 50 people or fewer, and they technically were willing to give them a second date with no penalty if they wanted. In no other situation would ignoring a contract be allowed. They were just upset that the scope of their wedding had to change. Well guess what, we are all having to pivot. Getting married is a right, but having a wedding is a luxury, and it’s not ok to assume all parties forego their contracts and reimburse all monies. They wouldn’t be able to survive. The money that is paid to any vendor goes towards the running of their operations. Upkeep, insurance, staffing, etc. So that money isn’t just sitting in a bank somewhere, its assisting in the running of the business. I fully support the venue and wish them luck in this difficult time.
Karen M Cherno
August 31, 2020 at 9:07 pm
She didn’t back out. They offered her something different then what she paid for.
HSH 2021 Bride
August 28, 2020 at 12:34 pm
I actually had to postpone my own wedding date of 9/5/20 to 10/30/21, and as heartbreaking as it was, Kari gave us our last set of options because we couldn’t risk losing 2021 dates. What shocks me with this whole story above is that it feels more of a buyers remorse where they’d rather get married on top of a hill and back out of a full blown wedding because now a baby is coming. If you knew you were going to be bringing a month old newborn to your wedding as it is, why not post-pone til next year being you were already going to be carrying a child regardless? Enjoy the happiness that you prepared for and now you have more time to make sure your dress is how you want it, you’re not stressed last minute because an unexpected “curve ball” came out of nowhere and now you’re knocked up so close to the wedding, and you can wind down a little more knowing your baby is older and not literally newborn to need much more attention on your big day. Think about all the pro’s out of this that most people can’t say they got! All of this just sounds kind of selfish just so that they can get all the money back to now financially support a “curve ball.” I mean if this all didn’t happen, would you still be suing for all your money back if Covid didn’t interfere? My gut says you still would. Like you said, “morals.”
Andyfab
August 28, 2020 at 6:28 pm
My can company, Fabulous Audio, had a couple schedule a wedding and paid a $250 non-refundable deposit for the date. When Covid-19 hit and they called to cancel I refunded their deposit in full not because I had to, but because it was, morally, the right thing to do. If GVWIRE would contact this lady to give me a call, I’d gladly do it for the price of gas to and from the event. Just give her my e-mail address.