Brief
Texas wedding venue keeps $16,000 fee after groom’s death and files counterclaim
The venue’s contract lacks a death clause, prompting a legal battle in Hays County.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Posey Meadows, a wedding hall in San Marcos, Texas, has retained the $15,909.28 paid by a couple and filed a counterclaim against the surviving fiancée after the groom, Diego Hernandez, died in late April 2026, KSAT reported.
What happened
The couple had booked the venue for a November 20 wedding. Hernandez, 25, died suddenly in April, seven months before the scheduled date. The bride‑to‑be requested a refund, but the venue cited a contract that contains no provision for death. Instead, venue owner Julie Campbell emailed the family suggesting they rebook or hold a different event.
What the reports add
KSAT obtained internal emails showing Campbell’s insistence on rescheduling rather than refunding. The outlet also noted that the venue’s Google and Facebook pages have seen a surge of negative reviews, with recent commenters calling the owners “greedy” and “disgusting.”
What was said
Lucy Hernandez, the groom’s mother, told KSAT she pleaded with Campbell on the phone “just moments before seeing her son’s body one last time” and was rejected. She said, “Where are their morals? Where are their moral principles?”
An attorney for the bride, quoted by KSAT, said the venue demanded proof of death and ignored repeated offers to provide the death certificate. The attorney called the venue’s claims “bogus.”
How it came about
The bride filed a lawsuit in Hays County district court in late July 2026. Posey Meadows responded with a counterclaim alleging breach of contract and demanding the remaining balance, arguing the family had not supplied a death certificate. Court documents reportedly include the death certificate, but the venue’s legal team has not responded to further inquiries.
Key facts
- Posey Meadows received $15,909.28 for a wedding scheduled for Nov. 20, 2026. (nypost.com)
- Groom Diego Hernandez died in late April 2026, seven months before the wedding. (nypost.com)
- The venue filed a counterclaim demanding the remaining contract balance, alleging the family did not provide proof of death. (nypost.com)
- Lucy Hernandez, the groom’s mother, said the venue rejected her pleas for a refund. (nypost.com)
- Negative online reviews surged after the dispute became public. (nypost.com)
Timeline
- 2026-04-XX — Diego Hernandez dies suddenly
- 2026-07-XX — Bride files lawsuit in Hays County district court
- 2026-10-15 — Venue files counterclaim against the bride
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “‘Ghoulish’ wedding venue keeps $16K booking fee after groom dies — then countersues grieving widow”
