Couple takes legal action over wedding deposit after pandemic leads to postponement, cancellation

It’s been a challenging time for couples trying to get married. Many who postponed in the spring due to the pandemic are now facing the decision a second time.

When Tyler and Joy Igou got engaged last December, they planned a June wedding.

“We knew we wanted a party, a wedding is not a wedding without a celebration,” Joy Igou said.

They signed a contract with Lumber Exchange Event Center in downtown Minneapolis, expecting to host a 200 to 250-person event. They put down a $3,000 deposit plus another $500 for a groom’s dinner at The Pourhouse.

Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“We thought, ‘OK, well let’s just rebook it then,’” said Joy Igou. “We thought surely in November things should settle out, we should be able to have gatherings again and here we are six months later almost and it’s really nothing has really changed.”

They got married in an intimate ceremony in June, while looking forward to the November reception.

There are still executive orders in place, however, restricting indoor events. Venues are allowed up to 25% capacity, with a maximum of 250 people as long as social distancing can be maintained. There are limits to how many people can be seated at one table together. Dancing is not recommended by health officials but allowed if masks are worn and those from different households maintain social distancing.

“That’s not the party we wanted,” said Tyler Igou.

He said they are concerned about the health of their guests and the possibility for COVID spread.

“I would feel awful,” Tyler Igou said. “I just don’t think we’re ready for that size of a celebration and the size of a celebration we desire.”

They decided in October to cancel instead of postponing a second time.

“Are we going to be in the same position again come June of next summer?” said Joy Igou. “We don’t really know.”

They told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS they can’t get their deposit back. They’ve now filed a claim in court seeking the funds.

According to the court filing, the venue assured them they would have the entire floor, adding two rooms, to adjust to the restrictions and maintain social distancing.

The couple argues, “There are restrictions to what we’re able to have and do that were not originally agreed upon when signing the contract. The growing fear and caution of large gathering, coupled with ongoing restrictions led us to make the difficult decision to cancel our reception.”

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS spoke to Lumber Exchange owner and operator Joe Berg, who said "I understand where they’re coming from but work was done on the wedding.”

He told us the non-refundable deposit pays for the planning process ahead of the event. Berg said, in this case, the sales employee had planned the entire wedding.

“It’s not like we’re holding that $3,000 and putting it on our pocket, that goes to our employees,” said Berg.

He added that they offered to give the couple a credit for an event, on an open day, anytime in the future. It’s a courtesy, he said, they’ve extended to other couples as well.

Still, the Igous feel the deposit should be returned.

“Some people have saved their entire lives for this big celebration, this party and now they’re out thousands of dollars and it just doesn’t seem fair,” Joy Igou said. "Hopefully other businesses out there take a look at what’s going on in our world.”

Tyler Igou added, “Just having a little bit of compassion with the people you’re working with.”

Ben Wogsland, director of Government Relations for Hospitality Minnesota, said the restrictions on events have impacted the hotel industry.

He said the occupancy rate in downtown Minneapolis is about 15% currently and about 42% statewide.

"It’s tough for these operators and companies to stay in business,” Wogsland said.

He told 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS that as of September, the state lost 13,164 of 34,550 hotel jobs. They expect that number to grow.