Terms of Service
Last updated: February 2026
1. Acceptance of Terms
By accessing or using bookbidwell.com and the Bidwell platform (“Service”), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree, do not use the Service. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Bidwell LLC (“Bidwell,” “we,” “our,” or “us”).
2. Description of Service
Bidwell is a reverse-bidding marketplace that connects couples planning weddings (“Couples”) with wedding venues (“Venues”). Couples post event requests, Venues submit competitive bids, and bookings are facilitated through the platform. Bidwell acts as a facilitator and is not a party to the contractual agreement between Couples and Venues, except as expressly stated in these Terms.
3. Account Registration
You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities under your account. You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use.
You may not:
- Create multiple accounts for the same entity
- Use false, misleading, or fraudulent information
- Transfer or share your account with another party
- Use automated systems to register or interact with the platform
4. Couples — Terms of Use
As a Couple using Bidwell, you agree to:
- Post accurate and truthful event details including dates, guest count, budget, and location
- Not submit fabricated, misleading, or speculative requests with no genuine intent to book
- Not share venue bid details, pricing, or identities outside the platform for the purpose of negotiating directly or leveraging against the venue
- Not use information obtained through Bidwell to contact venues outside the platform to circumvent Bidwell's booking process
- Honor the cancellation and refund policies as stated in the Booking Contract
- Engage in good faith with all venue communications and shortlisting decisions
5. Venues — Terms of Use
As a Venue using Bidwell, you agree to:
- Submit bids that are accurate, genuine, and binding offers that you intend to honor
- Not submit artificially low bids with the intent to increase pricing after selection (“bait-and-switch”)
- Not contact couples outside the Bidwell platform to circumvent Bidwell's commission structure
- Not direct couples to book directly, through your own website, or through any third party to avoid platform fees
- Honor the pricing, inclusions, and availability stated in your accepted bids
- Confirm or decline bookings within 48 hours of couple acceptance
- Pay all applicable commissions as outlined in the Venue Platform Agreement
6. Anti-Circumvention
Both Couples and Venues agree not to circumvent or attempt to circumvent the Bidwell platform. This includes but is not limited to:
- Completing a transaction that originated on Bidwell through any other channel (direct contact, another platform, phone, email, etc.)
- Using information obtained through Bidwell (venue identity, pricing, couple contact details) to facilitate an off-platform transaction
- Encouraging or agreeing to cancel a Bidwell booking in order to rebook the same event directly
- Creating sham accounts, fake requests, or fake bids to manipulate the marketplace
Violation of this provision may result in immediate account suspension, forfeiture of booking-fee payments, commission penalties of up to 2x the standard rate, and pursuit of damages.
Enforcement is handled through a documented review process: Bidwell reviews platform evidence, gives both parties a response window, and communicates a written decision. Disputed enforcement actions may be escalated to a second review under the dispute process in Section 10.
7. Binding Bids
All bids submitted by Venues through Bidwell are binding offers. Once a Couple accepts a bid and completes the booking process, the Venue is contractually obligated to provide the services described at the quoted rates. Fixed-price items lock at the quoted amount. Per-person rates lock at the agreed per-unit rate, with the total adjusting based on the final guaranteed guest count. Consumption-based items (e.g., open bar) lock at the per-unit rate, with the total adjusting based on actual usage. Venues may withdraw a bid only before it has been accepted by a Couple.
8. Commissions & Payments
Bidwell charges Venues a commission on confirmed bookings. The applicable rate depends on the Venue's agreement at registration:
- Standard Rate: 10% of the total booking amount
- Founding Partner Rate: 8% of the total booking amount (permanently reduced for qualifying early Venues)
- High-Volume Rate: 6% for Venues exceeding 25 bookings annually
Commissions are deducted from venue payouts. Couples do not pay commissions. Venue payouts follow a progressive release model:
- Booking fee and mid-installments: released within 3 business days after each couple payment, minus commission
- Final balance: released 7 days before the event, minus commission
9. Cancellation & Refund Policy
- Venue cancellation: Full refund to Couple of all payments including booking fee
- Venue fails to confirm within 48 hours: Full refund to Couple
- Couple cancellation: Refunds follow graduated tiers based on days before event (90+ days before event: 75% refund of total paid; 60-89 days before event: 50% refund of total paid; 30-59 days before event: 25% refund of total paid; Less than 30 days: non-refundable)
- Administrative fee: $250 applies to all couple-initiated cancellations
10. Dispute Resolution
Any disputes between Couples and Venues shall first be submitted to Bidwell's mediation process. Both parties agree to attempt good-faith resolution through the platform before pursuing any legal action. If mediation does not resolve the dispute within 30 days, either party may pursue binding arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association.
11. Intellectual Property
All content, branding, design, and technology on the Bidwell platform is owned by Bidwell LLC. You may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from any part of the Service without our express written permission.
12. User Content
By posting content to Bidwell (venue descriptions, photos, bids, reviews), you grant Bidwell a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to use, display, and distribute that content in connection with the Service. You represent that you own or have the right to use all content you post.
13. Limitation of Liability
Bidwell facilitates connections between Couples and Venues but does not guarantee the quality, safety, or legality of any venue or event services. To the maximum extent permitted by law, Bidwell's total liability for any claim arising from your use of the Service shall not exceed the total commissions paid by or to you in the 12 months preceding the claim.
14. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Bidwell LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, or expenses arising from your use of the Service, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of any rights of a third party.
15. Account Termination
Bidwell may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violation of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or any conduct that harms other users or the platform. Upon termination, all outstanding commission obligations remain due and payable.
16. Modifications to Terms
Bidwell may update these Terms at any time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email. Continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
17. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to conflict of law provisions. Any legal proceedings shall be conducted in the state or federal courts located in Delaware.
18. Contact
Questions about these Terms? Contact us at hello@bookbidwell.com.