Devastated couple claim reception venue cancelled their booking two weeks before their

Couple are left devastated after their wedding venue dumped them and took a more lucrative booking just two weeks before their big day

  • In July, April Shwe and her fiance Bobby Paul booked to have a $3000 reception 
  • The bar recently cancelled on the couple because they booked a $20,000 party
  • The couple were devastated as they had planned their big day around the venue
  • The owner said the situation was due to ‘confusion’ from a new events manager
  • The bar has said the couple can keep their original booking at the venue 

A couple claim a reception venue cancelled their booking two weeks before their wedding because they received a more lucrative offer for a $20,000 party.

In July, April Shwe, 27, and her fiance Bobby Paul, 30, booked and paid a deposit to have their $3000 reception at Tom Tom Bar and Eatery in Auckland on January 29.

But when the couple met with the bar on Tuesday for a final meeting ahead of their wedding, they were told a $20,000 party had been booked on the same date. 

In July, April Shwe, 27, and her fiance Bobby Paul, 30, booked and paid a deposit to have their $3000 reception at Tom Tom Bar and Eatery in Auckland on January 29

But when the couple met with the bar on Tuesday for a final meeting ahead of their wedding, they were told a $20,000 party had been booked on the same date

But when the couple met with the bar on Tuesday for a final meeting ahead of their wedding, they were told a $20,000 party had been booked on the same date

Just two weeks out from their wedding, Mr Paul and Ms Shwe were devastated as they had specifically planned their big day around the venue.

As compensation, management told the couple they could instead have their reception at La Zeppa, a smaller venue next door that would only be able to hold 80 of their 95 guests.

Tom Tom also offered to pay for some hot chips to compensate for La Zeppa’s smaller dining options.

Ms Shwe said if their reception was at La Zeppa’s her guests most likely wouldn’t be able to hear their speeches due to the loud event right next door. 

‘If I could I would just cancel the reception at this stage, but we’ve already pre-paid for everything else… I’m still lost for words,’ she told the NZ Herald.

Just two weeks out from their wedding, Mr Paul and Ms Shwe were devastated as they had specifically planned their big day around the venue

Just two weeks out from their wedding, Mr Paul and Ms Shwe were devastated as they had specifically planned their big day around the venue

Unfortunately the couple only had an invoice and a confirmation email from Tom Tom rather than a written contract.   

‘The thing that really concerned me is she [event organiser] said this has happened before. They cancel on people if someone was going to pay more money on the day,’ she said.

‘I was like, ‘In the future please don’t – I’m begging you – don’t take any other wedding bookings if you do this to people because that’s horrible.’ It’s traumatic. What’s the whole point of the deposit, where’s the integrity.’ 

Ms Shwe said she felt powerless in the situation because she didn’t have as much money as whoever booked the venue. 

The couple still hasn’t received their $500 deposit back, and are worried they won’t find another venue in time.

Ms Shwe said she was crying following their Tuesday meeting, and feared she may have to end up having their reception in their backyard.

The couple’s honeymoon is booked for a few weeks after their wedding date, and they have guests flying in from overseas so they are unable to postpone their nuptials.

Tom Tom owner Rav Brar said the situation was a misunderstanding due to a new events manager.

‘The understanding was that if we could move them next door and not compromise their plans – only then we would let them move. Because we understand that it’s a wedding – we host weddings all the time – it’s just unfortunate that our events manager didn’t pass on the right message,’ he said. 

Mr Brar contacted the couple and said they would be able to pick from keeping their original booking at Tom Tom, or taking up the counteroffer of La Zeppa. 

Ms Shwe is yet to make a decision, but said Tom Tom now feels tainted to them. 

Ms Shwe said she was crying following their Tuesday meeting, and feared she may have to end up having their reception in their backyard

Ms Shwe said she was crying following their Tuesday meeting, and feared she may have to end up having their reception in their backyard

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk