A grieving North Carolina family is engaged in a public dispute with a wedding venue after it reportedly refused to return tens of thousands of dollars in deposit fees following the sudden death of the groom.

In a heartfelt Google review posted in August, Sue Perry recounted the circumstances surrounding her son Chris Perry and his fiancée, Kristen Seidel, who had booked The Cotton Room in Durham, North Carolina, for their wedding scheduled for Oct. 11, 2025.

“Tragically, my son passed away on May 12, 2025,” Perry wrote. “His fiancée has requested that the contract with The Cotton Room be cancelled and their deposits refunded due to this unfortunate situation. How can a venue that specializes in the business of love … have such a cold, cruel and compassionless response to this tragedy?”

According to Perry, the couple had paid a substantial deposit to secure the venue, a sum that now remains in dispute. The review has drawn attention from local media and sparked discussion on social media about the ethical responsibilities of wedding vendors when confronted with personal tragedies.

The Cotton Room has not publicly commented on the situation, leaving the family seeking both clarity and restitution for the funds they say were unfairly withheld during an already devastating time.

She continued, “The Cotton Room has insisted that they ‘cannot’ refund the deposits paid, although they have done nothing to earn the nearly $20,000 that had been paid to them to date.”

Sue Perry said repeated attempts to meet with the venue and find a resolution have been unsuccessful, prompting her and her husband, Bill Perry, to contact WRAL News 5 On Your Side.

“How can a venue that specializes in the business of love, happiness, and weddings have such a cold, cruel, and compassionless response to this tragedy, which my son’s family, fiancée, and her family are still trying to navigate?” Sue wrote before speaking to the local news station.

In a joint interview with WRAL, the Perrys described the devastating events of May 12, just one day before Chris’s 33rd birthday, when he suddenly collapsed and died. His fiancée, Kristen Seidel, discovered his body hours later.

“They were just so excited,” Sue recalled, reflecting on the couple’s joy after Chris proposed during a trip to Italy in 2024.

Bill Perry accused The Cotton Room of “profiting off the death of our son,” adding, “He had found the person to complete his trip through life.”

According to WRAL, the nearly $20,000 non-refundable deposit was earmarked for food, drinks, and rental fees. Sue, however, questioned whether the venue truly deserved to retain such a large sum for an event that would never take place.

The Cotton Room did not respond to requests for comment. Seidel did not participate in the interview with Chris’s parents, though Bill emphasized that his son “adored” his fiancée.