Clear expectations make planning easier. These policies explain payment, reserved servings and service time, cancellations, rescheduling, weather and what happens if plans change.
Effective September 5, 2026
What you agree to when you book
By booking Happy Hippo you agree that the quote snapshot is the price we will charge, that indoor/outdoor details must be confirmed before we auto-confirm environment-dependent setups, and that payment in full after approval holds the date.
After we confirm the details, you have 24 hours to pay or the spot is released and you will need to submit a new request.
Once your booking details are approved, payment in full must be completed within the stated 24-hour window to keep the date.
Changes are requests
Cancellation, rescheduling, weather holds, service changes and other booking modifications must be requested and approved by Happy Hippo. They are not treated as free cart edits after booking.
Card information
We never store card numbers in Happy Hippo.
Your booked serving count is reserved for you
The number of servings included in your booking is reserved specifically for your event and is non-refundable if unused.
If fewer guests or participants are served than the number included in your booking, the remaining servings do not create a refund, credit, rollover, or reduction in the amount due.
If your booking includes 80 servings but only 62 guests are served, the booking price remains the same and no refund or credit is issued for the 18 unused servings.
Booked serving quantities help determine the supplies, product, equipment, staffing and preparation reserved for your event, regardless of how many guests ultimately participate.
Your reserved time begins at the scheduled start
Happy Hippo plans to arrive before the scheduled event start time so our team can prepare and be ready to serve at the start time provided by the customer.
Your reserved service time begins at that scheduled start time and is not automatically extended because of delays caused by the customer, venue, guests, participants, event organizers, or other circumstances outside Happy Hippo’s reasonable control.
If Happy Hippo cannot access or set up in the designated area when we arrive, your reserved service time may still begin at the originally scheduled start time.
Setup and access delays
Delays include a vehicle parked where the Happy Hippo bus, kiosk, equipment or service setup is scheduled to operate; a blocked or unavailable setup area; gates, rooms, parking lots, loading areas or event spaces that are not accessible when we arrive; or delayed instructions or access from the venue or event organizer.
Guest and participant delays
Delays also include guests arriving late, an event beginning later than scheduled, schools or organizations sending students or participants out later than planned, delayed class schedules, delayed dismissal, or similar circumstances that prevent service from beginning or continuing as originally scheduled.
Customer, venue or participant delays do not automatically extend the reserved service period and do not create a refund or credit for service time that could not be used because of the delay.
Additional service time
If additional service time is requested because of a delay, Happy Hippo may provide it only when staffing, scheduling and event conditions allow.
Any additional time approved by Happy Hippo may require an additional service fee at the applicable rate.
Happy Hippo is not required to remain beyond the originally reserved end time when doing so would interfere with another event, staffing commitment, travel schedule or operational requirement.
If you need to cancel
All bookings reserve a specific date and time for your event.
Cancellations made 14+ days before the event are eligible for a refund minus a 10% administrative fee.
Cancellations made 7–13 days before the event receive a 50% booking credit.
Cancellations made less than 7 days before the event are non-refundable.
Booking fees, weekend surcharges, travel fees, and other non-recoverable costs may be non-refundable once incurred.
Moving your event to a new date
Bookings may be rescheduled one time with at least 14 days’ notice , subject to availability.
The new event date must occur within 12 months of the original event date.
Any price increases, additional travel charges, weekend fees, or service changes applicable to the new date will be the customer’s responsibility.
Requests made less than 14 days before the event are treated as cancellations unless Happy Hippo agrees otherwise.
Safety comes before serving
Outdoor events should have a suitable backup plan whenever possible.
Happy Hippo may delay, modify, pause, relocate, or cancel service when weather or site conditions create a safety concern for our team, guests, vehicles, or equipment.
Weather-related cancellations do not automatically qualify for a refund.
When Happy Hippo determines that an event cannot safely operate because of severe weather or unsafe conditions, payments may be transferred as a credit toward a rescheduled event within 12 months.
Light rain, heat, cold, clouds, forecast uncertainty, or a customer’s decision not to proceed when Happy Hippo is able to safely provide service does not qualify for a weather refund.
If we have to cancel
If Happy Hippo must cancel for a reason unrelated to weather, safety, customer actions, or circumstances outside our reasonable control, the customer may choose a rescheduled date or a full refund of amounts paid for services Happy Hippo is unable to provide.
Please watch for event updates
Photos may be taken during or around your event and used by Happy Hippo for marketing, including social media and our website, unless you tell us in writing before the event.
Watch your email, including your spam or junk folder, for booking, payment and event-related updates.
Tell us in writing before the event so we can note your preference on the booking.
Need help with a booking?
For payment or booking-policy questions, contact Happy Hippo.
Email: bookings@happy-hippo.fun
