Wedding order late: UK delivery rights
Tell the UK seller before ordering that delivery by your stated date is essential, and get its agreement in writing. If that deadline is missed, consumer delivery rules may let you end the contract and recover all payments without giving extra time. Discuss the delivery plan with Cambridge China Bridge.
Check that this is a consumer purchase
A consumer is an individual buying wholly or mainly outside their trade, business, craft or profession. A personal wedding purchase can meet that definition; buying decorations for your event business is a different situation. Check the purpose of the purchase before relying on consumer delivery remedies.
Identify the UK business selling you the goods. Ask whether it is your seller or only arranging a purchase from another supplier, and keep its name, order confirmation and payment records. For a business purchase, use our UK seller supply terms guide.
Agree the essential date before ordering
Before entering the contract, tell the seller the event date, your required delivery date and why later arrival would be useless. Ask it to accept an essential delivery deadline at the named address. Save its response alongside the order. Do not leave the requirement in an unanswered message.
Suggested wording: “These goods are for my wedding or personal event. Delivery to the address stated in this order by the required delivery date is essential. Arrival after that date would not meet my purpose. Please confirm that you agree to this delivery deadline before I place the order.” Use the first-order checklist for the product specification.
Separate delivery from factory dispatch
Ask the seller to distinguish factory completion, dispatch, UK arrival and delivery to your address. Request a plan allowing for inspection, transport, customs clearance and local delivery, plus time to check and prepare the goods. Our export-port guide covers the shipping handoffs.
Under the consumer delivery rules, an agreed delivery time or period takes precedence over the default deadline. Without an agreed time or period, delivery must be without undue delay and no more than 30 days after the contract is entered into. Agree the actual delivery date rather than relying on a dispatch estimate.
Check whether you must allow extra time
If delivery misses the agreed deadline, you may treat the contract as ended without allowing an additional delivery period where you told the seller before contracting that timely delivery was essential. The same remedy applies where essential timing was apparent from the circumstances when contracting, or the seller has refused to deliver.
Otherwise, specify an additional delivery period appropriate to the circumstances and require delivery within it. If that period is also missed, you may treat the contract as ended. Put the deadline and your request in writing. If the seller disputes that your event deadline was essential, gather the original messages and seek advice before choosing your response.
Request the refund and keep the evidence
When you end the contract under these delivery remedies, the seller must reimburse all payments made under it without undue delay. Write to the seller identifying the order, agreed deadline, missed delivery and reason you are ending the contract. Attach the evidence that you communicated the essential date before contracting, and request reimbursement.
Keep receipts for any replacement purchase and ask an adviser to assess any further claim. The delivery rules preserve other remedies where available. Check change-of-mind cancellation separately using our online cancellation exceptions guide. If goods arrive after you have ended the contract, ask the seller for written collection or return instructions.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my wedding delivery date essential?
Tell the seller before entering the contract why delivery by your specified date is essential. Ask it to confirm agreement, and save the exchange with the order.
Does a dispatch date count as my delivery deadline?
Ask the seller to agree arrival at your named address by the required date. Keep factory dispatch and final delivery separate in the order confirmation.
Must I give the seller another chance to deliver?
Not where the essential-date conditions apply or the seller refuses delivery. Otherwise, specify an appropriate additional delivery period; if that is missed, you may end the contract.
Can I check delivery remedies for personalised goods?
Yes. Check the missed essential-date delivery remedies separately from change-of-mind cancellation. Keep the seller’s agreement and your explanation of the event deadline.