NSW Wedding contract

[Pooja]

We were looking for an Indian wedding venue with Havan (fire) ceremony in NSW. The wedding venue verbally approved the Indian ceremony can be done inside and send us photos of two Indian wedding ceremony with Havan and Indian menu, we paid deposit and signed the contact in April 23. No mention on the Havan ceremony was made in the contract, as they said it was it was a generic one-page contact.
In July they said we cannot do the Havan (fire) ceremony inside and they can be done on the deck. They send us email to apologise for miscommunicating and misguiding us. We were concerned with no wet weather plan. and they assured that they will come up with the solution. They pressed us to pay further deposit which we did in $10k October. In December tell us that we cannot do the ceremony on the deck too if it’s a bad weather. The whole idea of the venue was to do the ceremony. Where do we stand. What are my rights?
Am I entitled to a full refund under Australian Consumer Law? Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Roche1n]

I’m a bit late here, but I’m curious whether you ever raised the verbal approval with the venue after signing. In NSW, a verbal promise can still matter if you relied on it when agreeing to the contract, especially if they showed examples and encouraged you. Sometimes venues will add an email note or amendment if you push. Did you try getting anything in writing later on?

 

[Avemalle]

Courts here usually stick to whatever is written in the signed contract, so a verbal ok often won’t carry much weight unless you’ve got clear evidence it formed part of the deal. I’ve saved myself stress in similar situations by getting every special condition in writing, right down to tiny details like my choice of wedding bands for women from Aydins Jewelry. You might nudge the venue to put their approval in writing now so there’s no drama later.