A wedding venue located in North Carolina is facing backlash as it refuses to refund a deposit following the tragic death of a groom just five months prior to his wedding date.
Christopher Perry, a resident of Durham, proposed to his fiancée, Kristen Seidel, during a trip to Italy in 2024. They secured The Cotton Room for their wedding on October 11, 2025, paying over $18,000 in deposits for catering, beverages, and venue rental, covering nearly half of their total contractual agreement, according to a report by WRAL.
Sadly, on May 12, 2025, just before turning 33, Perry tragically collapsed and passed away. His family notified the venue within two days of his death.
The venue’s management claimed that the deposit was nonrefundable as it secured the date and addressed “advance planning, staffing and operational commitments,” and only offered a partial refund if the date were to be rebooked, which ultimately did not occur.
Despite the circumstances, the venue has decided to retain the $7,500 rental deposit while waiving the remaining balance of the total cost.
“They’re profiting from my son’s death,” remarked Bill Perry, Christopher’s father, in an interview with WRAL, accompanied by his wife, Sue Perry.
“No parent should ever have to endure the loss of a child — experiences like what The Cotton Room is doing only exacerbate the pain,” Bill explained.
“They haven’t done anything, and they haven’t earned this money yet.”
His wife, Sue, expressed confusion regarding what the venue might have already spent from the deposits. “They haven’t done anything, and they haven’t earned this money yet,” she reiterated.
Fox News Digital reached out to TC Hospitality Group for a statement.
The couple’s DJ, wedding planner, and photographer returned their deposits, according to the parents from New Hampshire.
In a heartfelt Facebook message, Sue Perry appealed to others for understanding. “How can a venue that focuses on love and happiness respond so coldly to this tragedy that my son’s family and Kristen’s family are experiencing?” she questioned.
Since the passing of her son, Sue mentioned that the venue owners have declined to engage in discussions with the family.
Numerous individuals have taken to social media, Reddit, and Google reviews to rally behind the family, with many calling upon the venue to reconsider its stance.
“It’s shocking for a family-run business,” commented one individual on Facebook.
“Atrocious,” another added. “They’ll lose much more than that deposit… they have tarnished their reputation.”
“Legally, they’ve done nothing wrong… but morally? That’s another question.”
Conversely, in a Reddit thread pertaining to Durham, some defended the venue’s decision.
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“[Four to five] months is last-minute planning,” a comment read. “October is peak wedding season in North Carolina… it’s understandable they couldn’t fill the vacancy with such short notice.”
Another said, “Legally they’ve done nothing wrong… but have they behaved unethically? Possibly.”
A wedding planner remarked that many businesses rely heavily on these deposits for their operations.
Raleigh-based wedding planner Haines Jones, not connected to either party, shared with WRAL that many venues are “relying on retainers to stay afloat” following the pandemic.
“I understand both perspectives,” she noted. “Nonetheless, I believe the family at minimum deserved a partial refund.”
According to statements to WRAL, the venue indicated that the payments received before an event do not correlate dollar-for-dollar to food and beverage costs and reasserted that they waived the outstanding balance entirely for the family.
“Deposits are also essential for the advanced planning, staffing, and operational needs required for such sizable events,” explained Michelle Aldred, executive director of TC Hospitality, in her comments to the outlet.
