Updated: 5th August 2020
A note to our valued clients,
Although our business has suffered huge loss since March due to the restrictions placed on us as a result of Covid-19, we are still here working away behind the scenes and answering your emails and messages as quickly as we can. Please be patient during this time, we promise to get back to you asap!
Our first priority is to all our couples who’s weddings are scheduled for 2020. We are in the process of rescheduling a second wave of postponements due to the latest border restrictions coming into effect this weekend, and will work with you, your venue & other suppliers to make this a stress free as possible. Please don’t worry, your booking deposit will be honoured and moved forward with your new date (subject to a mutually available date) and there are definitely no additional fees involved in rescheduling. We are here to support you in any way we can.
If you’ve decided to keep your original date and have a small elopement instead, your deposit can be used towards a beautiful ceremony set-up within the scope of current restrictions (or held for 18 months). An elopement can be a stunning compromise, and you can still have an amazing reception/party at some stage down the track!
If you have decided to cancel your wedding altogether, for whatever reason, please don’t ask us to refund your booking deposit. Per our TERMS & CONDITIONS, this is a non-refundable fee. It holds the date securely for you, our client, sometimes for up to 18 months in advance, allowing us to turn away other bookings and concentrate on one styling job per wedding date. Booking deposits are the cash flow for a small business such as ours. They are essential to keep us running, pay our staff wages, our warehouse rent, our workcover & public liability insurances, our taxes, phone bills, internet & electricity providers. Booking deposits allow us to purchase items in advance for our clients and pay deposits to other suppliers. Booking deposits are our income source during the down times and our wedding off-season. If booking deposits were refundable, there would be no point in us taking them in the first place.
COVID-19 is having a huge impact on consumers and businesses both in financial and non-financial terms. These are very challenging circumstances and we want nothing but the best for all of our clients. We are so sorry for what everyone is going through. We know this exceptional situation is beyond anyone’s control. It is beyond ours, and as a small business in the wedding industry, who’s only income has been taken away totally for the foreseeable future, we ask for understanding.
Thank you to one of our clients for sending this through. Excerpt from the ACCC:
Consumers are not entitled to a refund under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) if they wish to cancel bookings or return items they no longer require. This is the case even if their circumstances have changed, or they have no use for what they purchased because the wedding has been cancelled.
To all who have rebooked already, we are excited to get back into what we love doing once this is over, and can’t wait to create magic for you in the not too distant future! Thank you for being so amazing!
Until then, keep safe & stay home,
Chloe and the Bliss & Willow team xx
