Humpty Doo couple left fuming after wedding from hell at Lake Bennett

NEWLYWEDS Shaun and Katie Noble needed only two things to make their wedding day a success at Lake Bennett — ‘cold grog and good food’. But they claim not even these basic requirements were met

Katie Noble with 10-month-old daughter Temperence and husband Shaun Noble after their ‘disastrous’ wedding at Lake Bennett. Picture: Michael Franchi

NEWLYWEDS Shaun and Katie Noble needed only two things to make their wedding day a success: “Cold grog and good food.”

But they claim not even these basic requirements were met at their reception at Carolyn Reynolds’ Lake Bennett Resort.

The couple first booked their big day in at Lake Bennett two years ago when it was under different management.

Shaun and Katie Noble during their wedding ceremony. Picture: Supplied

The birth of their daughter last year meant they postponed the wedding until last Thursday, by which time the resort had been taken over by Ms Reynolds, who stood as a candidate for the CLP at last year’s Territory election.

Instead of the simple lakeside wedding they’d planned, they said the venue was an unmitigated disaster.

“A clusterf*** is probably the most polite way of putting it,” Mr Noble said.

When their 50 guests arrived at the resort last week, the Nobles said they were greeted by dirty rooms and shoddy facilities.

They claim a used tampon was left inside a guest’s shower.

“The fridges leaked, the irons didn’t work, toilet paper was rare as f***ing hens’ teeth,” Mr Noble said.

Carolyn Reynolds has rubbished suggestions her Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort is unclean. Picture: Justin Kennedy

The couple had arranged for a wedding dinner of roast meats and salads, but instead got a spread of food they didn’t ask for.

Mrs Noble said several guests fell ill after eating.

Mrs Noble said dogs were walking through the kitchen and restaurant and chickens wandered through the dining area.

Ms Reynolds’ operation has been cited several times previously by the Department of Health for serious food service violations at her Lake Bennett Resort including staff not washing their hands, serving questionable food and keeping an “unsanitary” kitchen.

“I’m not trying to ruin her business but I don’t want anyone else to go through it,” Mrs Noble said.

Ms Reynolds, who says she is a certified microbiologist, said the claims that the resort was unclean and kitchen facilities were unsanitary were “rubbish”.

Her motivation for providing food outside of what was requested was Christian charity, she said.

She claimed the Nobles were provided with a “phenomenally beautiful, meticulous wedding” and said wedding guests were unruly and damaged her property.

She said she wanted the resort to be a Territory icon.

“I want to have a place for Territorians and I don’t want to sell out to the Chinese,” she said.

Despite the drama, the newly married couple said the ceremony itself was beautiful, and they were thrilled to be married.

“In a few years to come we will laugh and drink beers about it, but the moment I’m a bit angry about,” Mrs Noble said.

A Health Department spokeswoman confirmed environmental health officers were “working with the proprietor of the Lake Bennett Wilderness Resort to ensure food safety and public health standards are met”.