How do I get my wedding venue deposit back?

Questioner

More than a year ago we paid a deposit for a wedding location in the Belgian Ardennes under great pressure. If we did not confirm and pay the deposit, the location would go to another. After having paid the deposit, we received a Word document that apparently stated that we could never, ever cancel. When my partner became pregnant with the 2nd child, we requested to cancel, and the owner then pointed out the Word document to us. After several proposals from our side to share the costs of the deposit (totalled €2000), we gave up in direct contact with this owner. He only wanted to look at moving, but that is not an option for us given the circumstances. Additional: he never pointed out this restriction regarding cancellation in the communication. We only learned this in the aforementioned Word document. What can we do and is this man actually within his rights? Thanks in advance, Yours sincerely,

Lawyer

What is important is whether other services would be used in addition to the use of the location: then it is a package holiday and the provider must provide quite a bit of information in advance about cancellation and the costs. (a reasonable termination fee) The information in the terms and conditions must be provided in advance, but at least simultaneously or immediately thereafter.