Overview

• Chris Perry died on May 12, 2025, months before the Oct. 11 wedding date he and fiancée Kristen Seidel booked at The Cotton Room in Durham.
• The venue kept $18,382.50 in deposits tied to food, drink and rental fees, while the DJ, wedding planner and photographer returned their payments.
• The Cotton Room says the funds support advance planning, staffing and operations, and it offered nearly $11,000 back only if the date rebooks, which has not happened.
• WRAL’s reporting prompted a wave of online criticism and review activity, and staff say the owner has received multiple death threats.
• Experts note some venues include death or deployment clauses and that relatively inexpensive event cancellation insurance typically covers unexpected deaths.