Couples hit with cruel new blow after Tasmanian wedding venue closure
Couples who lost their dream wedding venue have faced fresh heartbreak after refunds were stalled and some allege their bank accounts were frozen by the venue owners.
Tassie couples who lost out on their dream wedding venue months – sometimes weeks – ahead of their ceremonies have been hit with another cruel blow as refunds have been stalled, including allegedly resulting in the freezing of couples’ bank accounts.
In early November, 48 couples received an emailed letter from Berriedale business Hidden Garden Estate and its owners, Shan and Diane Strus, notifying them of plans to scale back operations in order to comply with their home business permit from the Glenorchy City Council.
The letter, seen by the Mercury and titled “Sad”, explains the owners had been advised by their lawyers to immediately inform clients they had received notice from the council they were in breach of their permit.
The letter outlined three options for the couples: to cancel and receive a full refund as per their cancellation policy, postpone to a later date, or proceed under strict permit conditions.
“We are profoundly sorry for this situation and the pain it causes,” the letter stated.
“Thank you for your understanding and patience while we work through these requirements.
“We remain committed to doing everything we can to support you and preserve the spirit of your day.”
Couples had to suddenly change their venues and reorganise plans for their weddings – some given just two weeks to find a new location if they could not follow the new permit conditions.
Cameron Jones and his fiance Ellen Bennett were one couple who decided to opt for a full refund instead, but are now finding that the owners Mrs and Mr Strus are not replying to emails or calls.
The Hidden Garden Estate Facebook page has been taken down since the announcement and the Dianne Burrows Celebrant Facebook page has also been removed.
“When your ex wedding venues refunds you because they shut down … then three weeks later reports the refund as “fraud” so the bank freezes your account two days out from your wedding,” Mr Jones wrote in an Instagram post.
“This s… never ends.”
Mr Jones and Ms Bennett have found some good news, managing to reorganise their wedding on Saturday, November 28, but are still frustrated by the issue with refunds.
Danica Ayers and her partner Blair have another year to find an alternative venue, but the efforts are made harder by the fact they too have also not received their requested refund.
“We replied to the director’s initial email stating we’d like a refund when that offer was on the table,” Ms Ayers said.
“We never got a response and we haven’t received a refund.
“Thankfully for us it’s only $1100, but it’s also other vendor deposits if we can’t keep the same date.
“We are having a look at a few venues next week so fingers crossed.”
Ms Ayers said she heard rumours in online wedding planning Facebook groups that one couple went up to the Berriedale venue just last week and got a partial refund of their booking.
She said this is being denied by the directors to the liquidators.
“We also found out that our date was offered to another couple who were doing a ceremony only,” Ms Ayers said.
“That means I would have been getting ready in the bridal suite while Dianne married another couple outside, I assume with our decorations and everything set up.
“The first email implied they were shocked to have some restrictions placed on them, meaning weddings could only proceed if there were two vendors, which included just having a cake dropped off as one vendor, up to 60 guests and Dianne had to be the celebrant.
“We couldn’t make any of that work so we responded pretty quickly to say we’d like the refund offered.
“We didn't get a response.”
Molly and Bryce Plummer went ahead with their wedding last weekend, but said they too were caught up in the refund bungle.
“I has to call our bank to get it resolved,” Mrs Plummer told the Mercury.
Glenorchy City Council CEO Emilio Reale previously said that the council had at no point ordered the owners to cease their activities, but “simply requested the owners comply with relevant legislation”.
“The building was originally approved in 2006 as a single dwelling, and the modified upper level has never received approval or an occupancy permit,” he said.
“Council has been working with the owners since the building was modified from its original approval to resolve this issue.
“Council met with the owners about this matter, reinforcing the need to adhere to their planning permit conditions and to obtain an occupancy certificate from a building surveyor prior to any occupation or use of the upper level of the building.
“These are the same regulations that applies to any and all developments.”
Mr and Mrs Strus did not respond to the Mercury for comment.
Originally published as Couples hit with cruel new blow after Tasmanian wedding venue closure
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