diff --git a/app/Http/Controllers/MarketingController.php b/app/Http/Controllers/MarketingController.php
index 00eecfa..d9065e0 100644
--- a/app/Http/Controllers/MarketingController.php
+++ b/app/Http/Controllers/MarketingController.php
@@ -63,23 +63,40 @@ class MarketingController extends Controller
         ]);
 
         $locale = app()->getLocale();
-        $contactAddress = config('mail.contact_address', config('mail.from.address')) ?: 'admin@fotospiel.de';
+        $contactAddress = config('mail.contact_address', config('mail.from.address'));
 
-        Mail::raw(
-            __('emails.contact.body', [
-                'name' => $request->name,
-                'email' => $request->email,
-                'message' => $request->message,
-            ], $locale),
-            function ($message) use ($contactAddress, $locale) {
-                $message->to($contactAddress)
-                    ->subject(__('emails.contact.subject', [], $locale));
-            }
-        );
+        if (! $contactAddress) {
+            throw ValidationException::withMessages([
+                'email' => __('marketing.contact.error_recipient_missing', [], $locale) ?: 'Anfrage derzeit nicht möglich. Bitte später erneut versuchen.',
+            ]);
+        }
 
-        Mail::to($request->email)
-            ->locale($locale)
-            ->queue(new ContactConfirmation($request->name));
+        try {
+            Mail::raw(
+                __('emails.contact.body', [
+                    'name' => $request->name,
+                    'email' => $request->email,
+                    'message' => $request->message,
+                ], $locale),
+                function ($message) use ($contactAddress, $locale) {
+                    $message->to($contactAddress)
+                        ->subject(__('emails.contact.subject', [], $locale));
+                }
+            );
+
+            Mail::to($request->email)
+                ->locale($locale)
+                ->queue(new ContactConfirmation($request->name));
+        } catch (\Throwable $exception) {
+            Log::error('Contact form mail failed', [
+                'error' => $exception->getMessage(),
+                'code' => $exception->getCode(),
+            ]);
+
+            throw ValidationException::withMessages([
+                'email' => __('marketing.contact.error_send_failed', [], $locale) ?: 'Nachricht konnte nicht gesendet werden. Bitte versuche es später erneut.',
+            ]);
+        }
 
         return redirect()
             ->back()