"We had an agreement over text but we never signed anything." This sentence comes up in every wedding vendor dispute. Here is what Texas law actually treats as binding.
The short answer
Under Texas''s Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (Business and Commerce Code § 322), electronic records and signatures have the same legal force as paper records and handwritten signatures — when both parties have agreed to conduct business electronically.
Text messages count. Emails count. DMs count. As long as both parties are engaging, the content of those conversations can create binding obligations.
What makes a text-based agreement enforceable
- Offer — "I can do your wedding on June 14 for $3,500."
- Acceptance — "Great, book us in."
- Consideration — something of value exchanged (deposit, service commitment).
- Mutual intent to be bound — both sides acting as though this is an agreement.
- Reasonable clarity — enough specificity to identify what was agreed to.
Four out of five via text is usually enough. Texas courts have repeatedly held that texts and emails create enforceable contracts in consumer transactions.
What makes it NOT enforceable
- Too vague. "I''ll take care of you" is not a contract.
- Missing essential terms. No price. No date. No deliverable.
- "Subject to contract" language. "Let me send over a proposal" — the formal contract is the binding doc.
- Statute of Frauds applicability. Texas requires certain contracts to be in a signed writing: agreements that cannot be performed within one year, real estate transactions, sales of goods over $500 under UCC. Weddings rarely trigger Statute of Frauds issues.
Practical consequences
- If a vendor promised "complimentary engagement video" over text and is not delivering, that is a contract modification. Enforceable.
- If a bride texted "please add 20 more guests" and the vendor agreed, that is a scope change. Enforceable.
- If a client said "I''ll Venmo you on Friday" and didn''t, that is breach.
How to make texts enforceable (for both sides)
- Use full sentences, not shorthand. "Yes" is weaker than "Yes, I confirm the June 14 booking at $3,500 with a $1,750 deposit due by Friday."
- Send follow-up confirmations summarizing what was agreed.
- Export and save thread screenshots as soon as agreement is reached.
- For anything substantive, convert to email and use a subject line.
In court
Printed text message transcripts are admissible under Texas Rules of Evidence. Metadata (timestamps, sender numbers) is typically enough authentication. Carriers can be subpoenaed for messages the parties no longer have.
Sources: Texas Business and Commerce Code § 322 (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act), Texas Rules of Evidence.