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By Maria Morava
Relationships Reporter
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Many are happy to have their wedding expenses over and done with—but one couple's outgoings are coming back to haunt them.
The couple, married since 2022, received a startling phone call from their wedding venue, claiming they still owed a balance of $7,000, years after the celebration took place, despite having proof the venue had been paid in full before the event. The husband wrote about the bizarre situation in a Reddit post. Newsweek spoke to financial adviser and attorney Alissa Maizes about the couple's options and how they can keep calm as they navigate the situation.
"We got a call from our wedding venue saying that they found a cashier's check from us in a lockbox after doing an internal audit," the poster wrote. "The venue has a website portal that says everything has been paid (since before the actual wedding)."
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According to the venue's representative, the issue stemmed from the fact that the couple's check was never endorsed, so it was never cashed. Consequently, the venue asked the couple to pay the $7,000 again.
The husband expressed his shock in the post. "It's my understanding that venues won't even let you have the wedding unless everything is paid up," he wrote. "I don't understand how they could have possibly made a $7,000 mistake … Not sure what to do, since we definitely don't want to pay double for the venue's mistake."
In an update, the husband confirmed they had reviewed their bank statements from 2022 and found that the funds were never returned to their account. The venue provided further evidence by sending a copy of the check showing no endorsement signature. "The check says VOID AFTER 90 DAYS, so that's probably why they are asking for the money now," he added. The couple plan to visit their bank to see if the original check can be reissued.
Fellow Reddit users were quick to react, many expressing skepticism toward the venue's claim and placing the responsibility squarely on them.
"This sounds like a scam," one person wrote. "Print out the 'Paid in Full' from your portal and send it to them."
Another echoed this sentiment: "Sounds like a them problem, not a you problem. It would be the same if you paid cash and they lost it. Make sure you keep your documents straight that you paid in case they try to come for you and keep all correspondence."
An Expert Weighs In
Maizes, founder and fiduciary financial adviser at Amplify My Wealth, offered her insight into resolving the situation.
"Remedying the venue's error may be as simple as you or the venue first contacting the bank to find out if the check is stale, as the 90 days noted on the check has passed and, if the bank agrees to cash it, all is well as is," Maizes said.
She clarified the financial reality for the couple: "Although you were debited the $7,000 three years ago, in this instance, the bank never paid the money to the venue, so neither you nor the bank is paying or cashing the check again."
Maizes added that returning the original check simplifies reissuance and suggested the venue should cover any bank fees incurred, calling it "a relatively small price for the venue to incur in exchange for being able to correct its error and deposit the $7,000."
For those facing similar unexpected financial stressors, Maizes said that they should take things slow and steady.
"First, take a breath, gather information, get expert advice, and then take the action that best serves your situation," she added.
Newsweek reached out to u/Proudwing for comment via Reddit.
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