How binding is a banquet hall contract?

Banquet Hall Contracts

It depends on the contract, who wrote it, who signed it, whether money changed hands. If the contract clearly expresses intent, you signed the contract and you paid for part or all of the hall rental, it's probably a pretty solid contract and you're stuck. Your best bet would be to try to work with them for some kind of compromise. Getting upset with them won't do you much good. Remember that they're in the business of renting the hall and if you tie it up for the night then they aren't making money on their investment. If you could find someone to take the contract for the period of the rental you could probably work out a favorable resolution.

All written contracts are legally binding to the extent of the contractual terms and the established laws in the state in which they were created and/or entered into.

All verbal contracts are equally binding if the plaintiff can provide substantiated evidence that there was a "meeting of the minds" by the involved parties.

In the US it is not always necessary for money to exchange hands to insure the legality of the instrument in question and the enforcement of such.