When Chris Perry proposed to Kristen Seidel during a 2024 trip to Italy, the couple couldn’t wait to start wedding planning. They booked The Cotton Room at Gold Belt in Durham, North Carolina, for their reception. Everything seemed perfect until the most unthinkable tragedy occurred. Perry died suddenly just one day before his 33rd birthday in May 2025. He left behind a broken-hearted family and a devastated fiancée. But when they thought things couldn’t get any worse, The Cotton Room hit the family with a shocking blow.
Sue Perry, Chris’ mom, told WRAL that her son and Seidel couldn’t wait to get married. But when the bride-to-be found her fiancé dead on May 12, life changed in the worst possible way. Within days, the families worked to cancel the wedding. They also had to help Seidel navigate what had to be one of the worst times of her life.
When they contacted The Cotton Room, they hoped the venue would have sympathy. The couple signed a contract and gave the business an $18,000 nonrefundable deposit. Seidel and Sue Perry thought the business would make an exception given the circumstances. With a deceased groom, the wedding clearly would not go on. It would certainly seem that any person with a heart would realize that. According to Sue Perry, however, The Cotton Room is heartless.
The Cotton Room told Seidel it would give her $7,500 of the deposit back. But that was only if someone booked the venue for a wedding on that date.
“During that time, we turned away other couples who inquired about booking October 11,” Michelle Aldred, executive director of TC Hospitality Group, which owns The Cotton Room, told WRAL in an email.
Aldred further noted the business had no intention of changing its policy.
“Because the date was held exclusively for this event, even though no food or beverage will ultimately be served, those funds cannot be refunded. However, in recognition of this tragic and extraordinary circumstance, we released the family from the remaining 50% balance of the contract,” she wrote.
Sue Perry and Seidel cannot understand why The Cotton Room can’t give the money back because it has done nothing for them.
“We can’t figure out what they could have spent the money on,” she explained. “They haven’t done anything, and they haven’t earned this money yet.”
Although offering no refund, Aldred did suggest couples purchase additional insurance in case someone dies. She quite literally wrote that in her response.
“While our venue policies do not specifically plan for unexpected deaths, we strongly encourage all couples to obtain event insurance. Event insurance is designed to protect against many unforeseen circumstances, including serious illness or death, and provides families with peace of mind that goes beyond what a venue alone can offer,” she wrote, per WRAL.
Perhaps in theory that makes sense, but what couple thinks one of them will die months before the wedding? Aldred’s responses seem callous with just a slight sprinkle of concern.
The online backlash came in fast and furious for The Cotton Room. Thanks to TikToks and Reddit threads, it seems the company did much more harm than good with its decision.
“The bad press is going to cost them more money than returning a deposit. I can’t imagine planning a wedding then having to plan for my fiancée’s funeral,” one Redditor wrote.
Another person who experienced a tragic death before their wedding had a compassionate venue, unlike The Cotton Room.
“I was engaged to be married and had a fully planned wedding. My fiancé died unexpectedly at 30 about three months before and the wedding was obviously cancelled. The venue was very generous and understanding,” the person wrote.
@southernboysmama Karma….. As a former planner, The Cotton Room will most likely not come back from this 🤷🏼♀️ And as a former PR specialist, they fumbled from the beginning so hopefully they learn something…. #weddingvenue #fyp #prnightmare #sad ♬ Karma never forgets By Esme Rose – Spellcraft By Esme Rose
The Cotton Room still will not budge.
“We understand emotions are high and that the families are dealing with an unimaginable loss. This is why we continue to respect their grief and will not engage in back-and-forth commentary online,” Aldred wrote to WRAL. “However, we stand by the integrity of our process, our decision; and continue to extend our condolences to those mourning this loss.”
Yikes. Yes, weddings are a big business, but we must remember the foundation of love that the industry is built upon. If you can’t show compassion in someone’s darkest hour, maybe you aren’t the best place for people to celebrate.
