A marriage venue in North Carolina is reportedly refusing to return a deposit after the groom died 5 months earlier than his massive day — sparking outrage on-line and requires compassion.
Christopher Perry, a Durham resident, proposed to his fiancée, Kristen Seidel, in Italy in 2024. The couple booked The Cotton Room for Oct. 11, 2025, and paid over $18,000 in deposits for meals, drinks and rental charges — about half the entire contract, WRAL reported.
On Could 12, 2025, a day earlier than his thirty third birthday, Perry collapsed and died. Inside two days, the household notified the venue, a part of TC Hospitality Group.
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The corporate mentioned the deposit was nonrefundable as a result of it secured the date and coated “advance planning, staffing and operational commitments,” as a substitute providing a partial refund provided that the date was rebooked, which didn’t occur.
Employees on the venue, which is a former textile mill, mentioned it might hold the $7,500 rental deposit regardless and waived the remaining 50% steadiness of the entire invoice.
Christopher Perry, pictured right here, died someday earlier than his thirty third birthday and 5 months earlier than his marriage ceremony day. (Sue Leblanc Perry)
“They’re profiting off the death of my son,” Christopher Perry’s father, Invoice Perry, mentioned in an interview with WRAL as he sat alongside his spouse, Sue Perry.
“No parent should ever have to experience the loss of a child – and having situations like The Cotton Room and what they’ve done or are doing just kind of keeps the wound open,” Perry added.
“They haven’t done anything, and they haven’t earned this money yet.”
His spouse mentioned the household couldn’t determine what the venue would have spent the cash on already. “They haven’t done anything, and they haven’t earned this money yet,” she mentioned.
The DJ, marriage ceremony planner and marriage ceremony photographer, in the meantime, all returned the deposits, in accordance with the New Hampshire-based mother and father.
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In a Fb submit, Sue Perry shared a private plea with others.
“How can a venue that specializes in the business of love, happiness and weddings have such a cold, cruel and compassionless response to this tragedy that my son’s family, fiancée and her family are dealing with?” she wrote.
Since her son’s dying, the homeowners have refused to have a name with the household, she added.
A marriage venue in Durham, North Carolina — as soon as a textile mill — is now dealing with consideration for a dispute that’s gone viral. (Google Road View)
A whole lot of individuals have taken to social media, Reddit and Google evaluations in help of the couple and their household, with many urging the corporate to rethink its resolution.
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“Shocking for a family-run business,” one man wrote on Fb.
“Atrocious,” one lady agreed. “They will lose more than that deposit. …. They have lost their reputation.”
“Legally, they’ve done nothing wrong. …. Have they done something morally wrong? Perhaps.”
Nevertheless, in a Reddit group devoted to Durham, some individuals defended the enterprise for its resolution.
“[Four to five] months is last minute,” one individual wrote. “October is prime wedding season in North Carolina. …. Not surprising they couldn’t fill a slot with only a few months’ notice.”
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Another person mentioned, “Legally, they’ve done nothing wrong. …. Have they done something morally wrong? Perhaps.”
One marriage ceremony planner mentioned that corporations are counting on deposits.
Perry’s father mentioned he believes the corporate is cashing in on his son’s dying. (Sue Leblanc Perry)
Raleigh-based marriage ceremony planner Haines Jones, who isn’t affiliated with the household or venue, informed WRAL that many companies are “staying afloat on retainers” amid a post-pandemic stoop.
“I see both sides,” she added. “At the end of the day, I do think the family at least deserved a partial refund.”
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The corporate informed WRAL that funds made forward of an occasion should not tied dollar-for-dollar to food and drinks and famous that it waived the remaining 50% steadiness for the household.
“Deposits also support the advanced planning, staffing and operational commitments required to prepare for an event of this size,” Michelle Aldred, govt director of TC Hospitality, informed the outlet.
Perry was remembered in his obituary as a lifelong athlete who cherished soccer, basketball and baseball, and as a pc science skilled who constructed a profitable profession. (iStock)
“While our venue policies do not specifically plan for unexpected deaths, we strongly encourage all couples to obtain event insurance,” Aldred mentioned. “We stand by the integrity of our process, our decision and continue to extend our condolences to those mourning this loss.”
“We stand by the integrity of our process.”
WRAL additionally reported that The Cotton Room mentioned, partly, “In our industry, deposits serve two important purposes: They help cover upfront costs and, equally important, they reserve a specific date exclusively for that client. In this case, the date had been held and removed from availability for 11 months before the unfortunate passing. While our deposit policy is non-refundable, we deeply sympathize with the family’s loss.”
Perry’s mother and father mentioned the couple was “so excited” to tie the knot, and the dad famous his son “adored” his fiancée.
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Perry was remembered in his obituary as a lifelong athlete who cherished soccer, basketball and baseball, and as a pc science skilled who constructed a profitable profession, most just lately serving as a software program engineer.
