A newlywed couple have revealed their dream Luna Park wedding descended into chaos after teens riding the ferris wheel threw a drink at one of their guests.
Richard Johnson and Rebecca Stone have opened up to Daily Mail Australia about their wedding nightmare after accusing the iconic Sydney theme park of ruining their big day following a series of mishaps – which culminated in a call to the police.
Ms Stone said the drama on what was meant to be a magical day began when a group of teens were kicked off the ferris wheel after throwing a drink at her cousin.
‘It’s very lucky he kept his cool,’ she said.
‘My cousin told the ride attendant that a bunch of teens on the ferris wheel had thrown drinks at us so they got the s***s when they were kicked off.’
The bride said all hell broke loose after a confrontation with the father of one of the teenagers.
‘I went outside and I saw the father of the teenager arguing with my cousin, so I got in his face and told him he was “wrecking my f***ing wedding, just f*** off you idiot!’, she said.
‘And then next thing he’s raised his arm to take a swing at me.’
Mr Johnson said he ‘saw red’ during the altercation.
Richard Johnson and Rebecca Stone (both pictured) opened up to Daily Mail Australia about their wedding nightmare after accusing Luna Park of ruining their big day following a series of mishaps – culminating in a call to the police
Ms Stone said the drama on what was meant to be a magical day began when a group of teens were kicked off the ferris wheel after throwing a drink at her cousin
Mr Johnson said he ‘saw red’ over the altercation. The couple claimed the enraged teenager’s father tried forcing his way into the theme park’s Palais function room, where their reception was being held
Luna Park fired back by releasing a statement saying management had called police to shut down the couple’s (pictured) wedding ‘following numerous incidents’
‘Friends had to hold me back from going out there and confronting him,’ he said.
The couple said the enraged teenager’s father tried forcing his way into the theme park’s Palais function room, where their reception was being held.
‘The guy was trying to kick the door down to get into our reception room, then trying to punch on with me and my cousin,’ Ms Stone said.
‘It was actually our guest Michelle who called the police on this lunatic attacking us – not venue staff calling them on us.’
On Monday, the couple had lashed out at Luna Park over a series of complaints including threats their wedding would be cancelled and incorrect food portions.
Luna Park fired back by releasing a statement saying management had called police to shut down the event ‘following numerous incidents’. The theme park has rejected all of the newlywed couple’s allegations.
As Mr Johnson sipped a Woodstock bourbon and puffed on a cigarette on Tuesday, the couple told Daily Mail Australia that Luna Park had always been a special place for their family – but now they will never return.
‘It used to be a family happy spot for us. Now it’s destroyed, we will never go back,’ Ms Stone said.
Mr Johnson added: ‘When we returned on the Monday after the wedding, security blocked the entrance to guest relations, treating us like complete criminals.’
The couple, who live in south-west Sydney and have been together six years, said they had been targeted by trolls since their wedding disaster made media headlines after Ms Stone wrote a negative review on the theme park’s Facebook page.
‘People are slagging us off saying we’re trying to get a free wedding, we’re getting trolled. The amount of nasty comments online about my weight isn’t nice,’ she said.
‘The main thing we want cleared up is people thinking we had the coppers called on us – we want that straightened out,’ Mr Johnson said.
Despite the chaos of their wedding day, the couple claim their troubles started much earlier when the venue ‘threatened’ to cancel their wedding.
‘Luna Park made multiple threats to cancel our wedding the day before while waiting for the final $1,700 payment to clear, despite having the receipt showing that the payment had been paid,’ she wrote in her viral Facebook post.
‘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.’
On Monday, the couple (pictured) had lashed out at Luna Park over a series of complaints including that their wedding would be cancelled and incorrect food portions.
The couple told Daily Mail Australia that Luna Park had always been a special place for their family – but now they will never return.
Ms Stone claimed the threat of cancellation was only the tip of the iceberg with much worse to come – even before a drink was thrown on their guest.
‘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,’ she wrote on Facebook.
‘This was personalised photo charms of my relatives that are sadly no longer with us. Again a very bitter and upsetting moment.
‘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.’
The couple then claimed the portion sizes that were served during the ceremony were considerably smaller to the ones they had enjoyed during the food tasting.
‘The food, if you can call it that, was disgusting,’ Ms Stone’s post read.
‘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.’
She claimed guests were forced to leave the venue so they could go out and buy snacks being sold at the theme park.
Ms Stone said the couple’s reception was shut down early at 8.30pm despite agreeing with staff that it would be able to run until 11pm.
Ms Stone claimed the nightmare began on the eve of the wedding when the venue ‘threatened’ to cancel the wedding
The newlyweds now urge other bride and grooms to-be considering Luna Park to think twice before booking their special day at the popular harbourside destination
‘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?’
The couple said they want ‘reasonable compensation’ for the harrowing ordeal.
Speaking on Channel 9’s A Current Affair on Tuesday night, Ms Stone said one of her guests had been kicked out by 7pm, apparently because he was intoxicated.
‘He hadn’t even had two drinks,’ Ms Stone said.
Ms Stone also suggested snobbery about where her family lives may have been at the centre of their experience.
‘They found out that we were from Campbelltown. Now, I don’t think you should judge a book by its cover because you never know where people are from,’ she said.
Luna Park have hit back in a fiery response on Monday, releasing a statement that offered a much different version of events.
‘Following numerous incidents involving this wedding party, Luna Park Sydney can confirm that NSW Police were called and closed down the event,’ a spokesman said.
‘We firmly dispute the claims made and stand by our record of being a wedding venue of choice for nearly two decades.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Luna Park for further comment.
Luna Park describes itself as one of Sydney’s most sought after wedding spaces offering unique and elegant venues with unrivalled vistas of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
‘Our team of experienced Wedding Event Managers will be with you every step of the way helping with all the details to create your memorable event in a magical location.’
There are five spaces to choose from, including its Grand Ballroom which has a capacity of up to 450 guests.
Packages start from $165 per head for a five-hour cocktail package and up to $205 per person for the ‘signature’ reception.
Mr Johnson and Ms Stone’s colourful wedding featured a hot-rod school bus and casual cocktail attire.
‘I hate wearing high-heels so I made the bridal party all wear Converse,’ Ms Stone said. ‘And we love hot rods and Richard’s favourite colour is yellow.’
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