Maison Melbourne ordered to pay $13,000 for ‘ruined’ wedding reception
A COUPLE who says the food at their Elsternwick wedding reception was so bad guests had to go to McDonald’s have been awarded $13,000 in compensation for their “ruined” wedding.
Inner South
Don't miss out on the headlines from Inner South . Followed categories will be added to My News.
AN Elsternwick venue has been ordered to pay a couple $13,000 after it “ruined” their wedding reception.
Ben Bui and Wendy Lam shelled out almost $26,000 in November 2016 to Maison Melbourne to serve an Asian banquet to their 173 guests but the civil claims tribunal heard “the night was a complete disaster” when tiny portions of cold food were served on platters and without cutlery.
RELATED: Popular Melbourne wedding venue shuts its doors
RELATED: Couple forced to pay for wedding reception that never happened
It is at least the second time in a year the now-defunct venue has been in legal dispute with couples.
Mr Bui told the Leader the food they were served during a menu tasting at the venue had been “awesome” and “wedding quality”.
But what was served up on their special day was completely different.
“We were told they would be individual servings but everything came out as platters, there wasn’t enough and what there was was horrible,” he said.
“My friends actually left to go to McDonald’s because there wasn’t enough food and they were still hungry.”
Mr Bui said the “nasty experience” had left him and Wendy embarrassed.
“Every time we think about our wedding day now we’re reminded of this horrible experience,” he said.
“We are stuck with this memory for the rest of our lives.”
Ms Lam told the tribunal some dishes tasted like they were “from the frozen food aisle”.
She said she avoided her family during the reception because she was ashamed.
“I may have just bawled my eyes out and I did not want to appear like that because it would have ruined everyone’s mood even more,” she said.
Mr Bui and Ms Lam also forked out extra money to ensure each guest would be served half a lobster, but some guests missed out completely.
Duy Minh Ngoc Bui, a cousin of the groom, said the meal was “nowhere near what was expected of Ben and Wendy”.
“Anyone who knows Asian weddings will vouch that almost the entire wedding hinges on whether there is half a lobster per person at dinner,” she said.
“Without it, the couple would be considered cheap.”
The tribunal heard former venue and events executive Katie Smith said she was “constantly in damage control” during her five months working at Maison, because clients often didn’t get what they were promised.
Another client, bride-to-be Lisa, who didn’t want her surname published, told the Leader she had the “most horrible experience” with Maison, after she tried to change her wedding date more than a year before she was due to get married.
“We had booked the venue and then a month later I found out I was pregnant so I rang to move the date or cancel and was told I we would be charged thousands of dollars,” she said.
“They were so rude and we had no choice but to go ahead with them.”
Lisa said she had booked flowers, photographer, music and a cake for that date but got an email from Maison in October cancelling her wedding because its lease had not been renewed.
“I was heavily pregnant and it was so stressful but in the end I’m just glad I didn’t have to go with (Maison),” she said.
“I don’t think I would have enjoyed the wedding if I had.”
Lisa said she was given a full refund and will now be married at Vogue Ballroom in Blackburn in October.
Maison has been blasted online, including a slew of one-star reviews slamming the “horrible food” and lack of communication from venue staff.
VCAT member David Kim said Maison had breached “some of its obligations under the contract” and ordered it to pay Mr Bui and Ms Lam $12,958.50, including $2000 for distress.
Maison Melbourne’s website states it has been closed for business since December 22.
The Leader has unsuccessfully attempted to contact Maison.
‘It would save lives’: New app could solve delayed calls for help
New technology which allows people to text lifesaving information and images of incidents to triple-0 has been pitched as a solution to improve long wait times for help.
Albert Park pensioner slashed neighbour in frenzied knife attack
A retired bank manager nearly killed his neighbour in a stabbing frenzy, but his first thought was to protect his pristine, architect-designed floors from bloody splatters.