Sydney couple slams Luna Park for wedding gone wrong

Sydney newlyweds say Luna Park staff ruined their wedding day, accusing the venue of “inhumane” treatment. But the amusement park says it was forced to call the cops on the nuptials.

Rebecca and Richard Johnson during their wedding day at Luna Park. Picture: Supplied

A Sydney bride and groom claim Luna Park staff ruined their wedding day, accusing the venue of “inhumane” treatment. But the amusement park has hit back saying they were forced to call the cops on the fiery nuptials.

Newlyweds Rebecca Stone and Richard Johnson married at the iconic theme park in April. A day which should've been the happiest of their lives but “turned to sh*t”, according to Ms Stone.

The pair slammed Luna Park staff for the handling of everything from their food, drinks, cake, photos and function room, saying the day was “ruined”.

“A lot of money was paid out for my dream wedding and to be left in tears before my ceremony was heartbreaking and I just wanted to go home,” Ms Stone said via a social media post.

The pair urged other engaged couples to “think twice” before booking their special day at the Milsons Point park.

Rebecca Stone and Richard Johnson during their wedding day at Luna Park. Picture: Facebook.

A Luna Park Sydney spokesman issued a statement responding to the couple’s accusations, disputing all claims made about the wedding day.

“Following numerous incidents involving this wedding party, Luna Park Sydney can confirm that NSW Police were called and closed down the event,” the spokesman said.

“We firmly dispute the claims made and stand by our record of being a wedding venue of choice for nearly two decades.”

Richard Johnson and his groomsmen at Luna Park in April. Picture: Facebook.

NSW Police confirmed they were called to the event, no arrests had been made and guests had left “prior to polcie attendance”.

Here are the couple’s complaints from the day:

CANCELLATION THREATS

Ms Stone claims the day prior to the wedding, staff contacted her and “threatened” to cancel the wedding as their deposit had not come through ahead of the celebration.

“Luna Park made multiple threats to cancel our wedding the day before while waiting for the final $1700 payment to clear, despite having the receipt showing that the payment had been paid,” she said.

“I was told if it was not clear by 5pm, then my wedding would be cancelled due to bank transfer delay issues. I did not need this stress 24 hours before my wedding.”

GUEST MANAGEMENT

The newlyweds said the management of their guests on the day was “inhumane” as family and friends were left to stand in the rain before the couple arrived and not allowed into the function room.

“Upon arriving we were confronted by many upset guests who were left out in the rain. Mind you my 90-year-old grandmother who uses a mobility frame was left to get soaking wet and cold,” the bride said.

“Definitely not appropriate when they could have easily been allowed into our function room due to the poor weather conditions.

“So inhumane, especially to our elderly guests.”

Ms Stone also said many of her guests were “sadly” left to stand for the night after not enough chairs were put down in the room.

Rebecca Stone and Richard Johnson with a guest at their Luna Park wedding. Picture: Facebook.

FUNCTION ROOM

The event DJ and decorator were not able to access the car park or the room to set up for the evening, according to the couple.

“The balloon decorator was not allowed into the room to set up her arrangement and was treated very poorly and copped nothing but attitude by the staff at Luna Park,” Ms Stone wrote in her post.

“We were confronted by a semi completed function room which was an embarrassment to myself as the bride, as I pride myself on my attention to detail which is always on par and 110% completed and beyond one’s expectations,” she said.

She also claimed the run-sheet for the proceedings, which was organised prior to the day, was ignored by staff.

“I wanted photos on selected rides as part of my package that I paid for but that did not happen and at one ride my personalised bouquet was stolen. This was personalised photo charms of my relatives that are sadly no longer with us. Again a very bitter and upsetting moment,” she said.

“The bridal party was supposed to be greeted with canapes and a drink (and) this did not happen at all. The services were so poor it felt we were treated like second class citizens.

“We walked into a room where tables were not set out as instructed, again not enough seats for all the guests.”

FOOD AND DRINKS

The couple selected both chicken and beef main meals for the dinner portion of the event but said both did “not even come close” to the meals they were served during the food tasting.

“The food, if you can call it that, was disgusting,” Ms Stone said revealing her guests ended up leaving the food to go and buy Park snacks.

“Not cooked thoroughly, chicken was raw both for the kids and the adults’ mains. The beef medallions literally seared 5 seconds each side and left floating in a pool of blood on the plate.

“As quick as the meals and drinks were put down, we weren’t even allowed time to eat or drink and the staff would take them away.”

The pair were also left heartbroken after specifically requesting the top tier of their cake be preserved for the one year wedding anniversary, only to have it “all cut up”.

“They even threw out our Mr and Mrs keepsake wedding topper,” the new wife said.

She also claimed a guest was asked to leave the venue by staff and cut off his drinks before 7pm “for unbuttoning his shirt to do a silly pose at the Photo Booth with his wife”.

Newlyweds Rebecca Stone and Richard Johnson have slammed Luna Park who hosted their wedding in April. Picture: Facebook.

WEDDING SHUT DOWN

According to Ms Stone, the wedding was closed down by the event co-ordinator at 8.30pm, but had an original organised finish time of 11pm.

“My maid of honour personally spoke to ... the co-ordinator, and she advised her she has never been in this situation and would come back to me soon with what would happen next. How can you be in a role and not know what to do,” she said.

“Why was there no discussion to resolve any concerns as we did pay for the event to conclude at 11pm?

“I bet if it was her wedding she would have been just as upset and saying I understand but doing nothing to assist does not fix anything.”

The couple wants a complete refund of the “thousands” they paid to have their wedding at the venue.

“If we are not compensated I will be taking this further. This wedding did not go as planned and for all the guests that travelled from QLD, inner and outer NSW for them it was so unfair to be in attendance of something so poorly run on Luna Park’s behalf,” Ms Stone said.

“I hope Luna Park takes this all on board very seriously, not only did they ruin our wedding day and cause myself and my husband to be extremely upset, they also upset all of our guests, friends and family.”

Wedding guest Michelle Jeffery also vented her frustrations at the venue staff, telling The Daily Telegraph it was a “day from hell”.

“If you are considering to have your wedding at Luna Park Sydney do yourself a favour and just book into your local Maccas and this isn’t exaggerating,” she said.