What force majeure actually does
Force majeure (French for "superior force") is the clause that answers one question: what happens if something huge and unforeseeable, that neither you nor the vendor caused, makes the wedding impossible?
Without the clause, courts fall back on doctrines like impossibility, which are narrow and unpredictable. With the clause, the contract itself spells out which events count and what happens to payments and obligations when one occurs.
What it looks like in a wedding contract
A typical version lists qualifying events (severe weather, fire, flood, epidemics, government orders, civil unrest), then states what each side must do. The fair versions do 3 things:
- Define the events specifically instead of vaguely.
- Excuse both you and the vendor, not just the vendor.
- Say exactly what happens to money already paid: refund, credit toward a new date, or forfeiture.
Force majeure vs. "act of God"
Some wedding contracts say "act of God" instead. The two overlap but aren't the same thing. An act of God is a natural, unpreventable event: the hurricane, the flood, the ice storm. Force majeure is the broader category, and a well-drafted clause can also cover human events like government shutdown orders, civil unrest, or a venue losing its license.
Why it matters: narrow labels like "act of God" cover less than a clause that names its events. If your contract only excuses acts of God, a government order that shuts down gatherings may not be covered. The safer clause spells out its events instead of leaning on the label.
Red flags to watch for
- One-sided coverage. The clause excuses the vendor's failure to perform but still requires you to pay in full. A fair clause works in both directions.
- "All payments are non-refundable, including force majeure events." The vendor keeps everything even when nobody could have performed. Push back on this one before signing.
- Vague catch-alls with no payment terms. "Any event beyond our control" with no refund language means the outcome gets decided during the worst week of your planning, not before it.
- No rescheduling option. Better clauses give you first right to an available makeup date before any money is forfeited.
What to do before you sign
Read the clause and ask the vendor 2 questions: which events are covered, and where does my money go if one happens? Get any changes in writing as an amendment, not a text message. Our free legal templates include amendment language you can start from.
If the vendor refuses to make the clause mutual, weigh that against everything else you know about them, starting with their verified reviews.
Frequently asked questions
No. Force majeure only covers extraordinary events outside anyone's control, like natural disasters or government orders. Calling off the wedding is a voluntary cancellation and falls under the contract's regular cancellation terms instead.
It depends entirely on what the clause says. Some clauses refund everything except documented costs, some convert payments to a credit for a rescheduled date, and some let the vendor keep everything. That last version is the one to negotiate before signing.
Only if the clause says so. After 2020, many vendors added epidemics, pandemics, and government health orders to their force majeure lists. If the clause only names weather and natural disasters, a future health emergency may not be covered.