As a self-employed photographer I have three weddings booked this year, hopefully they will just get rearranged - otherwise I'll have to refund the deposits.
Yes and no, I'm a self employed photographer too (I can't do anything else as I'm home schooling and we have someone terminally ill living with us sadly). This came directly from a lawyer:
Coronavirus is an on going event at the moment, not a one off. Which means that postponement is inevitable.
1. If your clients cancel you, because they have cancelled the wedding, not giving a date to postpone to, they are cancelling you’re contract, so your t’s & c’s apply.
2. If your client moves to a date which you cannot do, they are not working with you, for you to be able to transfer the booking to another date, therefore they are in breach of contract. You do not have to refund.
3. If your client moves the wedding date and to another venue which you cannot do; as the venue is out of your travel distance, again, they are in breach of contract. You do not have to refund.
They have advised me not to contact the clients, I am to wait for them to contact me. I must make it clear that I am willing to transfer to a new date. Any changes are to be emailed to the client, DO NOT write up a new contract. I have put a post on Facebook saying I am willing to transfer dates at no extra cost, subject to my availability.
As a “frustrated contract” is where BOTH parties cannot fulfil the contract, you are able to fulfil it on another date. It therefore falls on them to find a date you can do. If they can’t, then it is they who are in breach of the contract.
I suspect in the real world, you need to weigh up what is personally the right thing to do for you regarding deposits. I had 45 weddings to shoot this year, I've now have 34 with non now until August (and I suspect those will re-arrange dates over the following weeks). I'm waiting for the self employed help I can apply for and a bounce back loan, which hopefully I won't need to use.