Seasonal Garden Cafe brides reveal anguish after learning the Hahndorf wedding venue will close, potentially costing them thousands
It was the unexpected closure of an Adelaide Hills’ wedding venue that left nuptials of brides-to-be in chaos. And two women who paid a $3000 deposit only found out about it in The Advertiser.
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Heartbroken brides-to-be say they are devastated and feel betrayed after the shock discovery an Adelaide Hills wedding venue will close, potentially costing them thousands of dollars in lost deposits.
Two women, who each paid a $3000 deposit for a wedding at the Seasonal Garden Cafe, say they only discovered that the Hahndorf venue would close its doors on Sunday after reading about it on Advertiser.com.au .
Another honoured the wishes of her partner’s late grandmother by using a $3000 inheritance to pay for a deposit for a November wedding.
The Advertiser revealed on Friday up to nine weddings had been thrown into chaos after couples were told unexpectedly that the Main Street venue, operated by Silvia Hart, would close after Father’s Day trade with no certainty their deposits would be refunded.
Bride-to-be Shelley, 39, whose wedding was planned for November 22, said she learned the venue was closing after speaking to an employee on Thursday after repeated emails to Ms Hart about the status of their wedding were ignored.
“The only reason we could afford to get married was because my partner’s grandmother died and left us money to get married; the deposit was just under a third of it (total cost),” she said.
“She (Silvia) took $3000 and didn’t tell us anything. We are devastated. We have family flying in from overseas and we just feel so betrayed.”
Shelley, who did not want her surname published, said her partner’s South African grandmother was religious and wanted him to get married.
Shelley and her partner Shane have two children — a daughter, 1, and son, 6, with special needs — who were going to give her away on the day in front of 67 guests.
“The wedding industry been amazing and has scrambled so hard to help us … but even the cheapest option we can’t afford having lost the deposit,” she said, conceding she might have to have the wedding at a pub.
“We’ve had it pretty rough … that money could’ve been used for our kids, it’s breaking my heart,” she said.
“We are a single-income family because I haven’t been able to work because of my son being on the Autism Spectrum.”
She called on Ms Hart to own up to what has happened but did not expect her to apologise.
“The fact she was going to slink off and shut her doors and not make people aware that indicates the sort of person she is,” she said.
“We’re disgusted that she told everyone she had new owners (for the venue) to buy her time with wedding couples and staff.”
Another bride-to-be said she learned the venue was closing after reading The Advertiser report.
“My friend sent me an email and I read it (the story) and tears came to my eyes,” she said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
“To find out from the paper was devastating and unacceptable that she (Ms Hart) didn’t have the decency to let us know. My mum then rang (the cafe) and it was confirmed by a worker at the cafe.”
Her mother emailed Ms Hart in July seeking assurances her daughter’s wedding was secured and that the venue was still “viable” after The Advertiser revealed one of Ms Hart’s company — Maerhuev Pty Ltd — was in financial trouble.
Ms Hart assured the mother in an email at the time that everything was fine, that Maerhuev was not connected with the Hahndorf venue and that the report was “bad journalism”.
On August 7 Ms Hart also told staff that the cafe had been sold safeguarding jobs and weddings, with settlement to occur within four weeks.
The Advertiser is aware there has been no sale. Ms Hart’s only comment today was: The people that have become worried. I’m happy for them to contact me, and that’s the way this should be done”.
Ms Hart faces a bankruptcy hearing on September 17.
Grace, 28, said she also only learned via The Advertiser - later confirmed by the cafe - that the venue was closing putting her March 2020 wedding in limbo.
“I have been in constant contact with Silvia, since the articles started a few months back, and was assured on multiple occasions the wedding would still proceed,” she said.
“I was upset, but more disappointed at the lack of communication, especially considering we had been reassured on multiple occasions that all would be ok.”
She and her partner Mark also paid a $3000 deposit but have not heard whether it would be refunded.
Wedding venues and suppliers across Adelaide have offered to help affected couples after The Advertiser broke news of the Seasonal Garden Cafe’s woes.