Couples have been left stranded after a wedding venue suddenly closed and cancelled all bookings.
Manor on Elizabeth, which is located in western Sydney, sent out emails announcing the news while also immediately shutting down all of its social media accounts.
The closure is believed to be the result of a number of ongoing lease disputes between the Manor on Elizabeth wedding organisers and the owners of the Wetherill Park venue, the Slovene Association Sydney.
Shocked and angry customers have been left scrambling to find alternative venues and say their calls and emails are not being returned although the company has promised to return all $1,000 booking fees.
‘It is with great regret that the company informs you (its) occupation of the event premises at 2-8 Elizabeth St, Wetherill Park is terminated,’ the email read.
‘Unfortunately, the termination is beyond the control of the company and notice of termination of the right to occupy is an event of force majeure.’
‘We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the circumstances that have arisen that are beyond the company’s control and which prevent the company from continuing with your function.
An unnamed bride-to-be told 7News she was disappointed in the lack of assistance and ‘common decency’ offered by the company, even if they were refunding the cash.
Popular wedding venue Manor on Elizabeth, which is located in western Sydney, has suddenly shut and cancelled all bookings
‘$1000 means nothing to us when there’s so much at stake,’ she said while in her car racing to inspect other venues.
‘I just felt it was poor communication,’ she said noting the email announcing the shock development went to her spam email folder..
‘It was upsetting that the company did not try to help couples at all. It could have been dealt with in a better way. Let us know and find a solution for us.’
Manor on Elizabeth’s Google reviews quickly filled with furious customers left in the lurch.
‘I know this means nothing to them, I hope you can’t sleep at night knowing that you did this to excited couples,’ one reviewer said.
‘Disgraceful behaviour!’
Another accused the company of ‘weak behaviour’.
‘Zero stars — though there’s probably not a care in the world about ratings now,’ they said.
The venue in Sydney’s Wetherill Park has shut due to a lease dispute between the wedding vendors and the site’s owners The Slovene Association Sydney
‘All of us you’ve left in the dark, now have to stress even more … so close to our wedding.
‘Your phones are switched off, socials are deactivated. Weak behaviour.
‘If I received a phone call with a heads-up, I wouldn’t be so p***ed off.
‘I guess as much as you made out you were there for us, to help us … it was all about the money right?
‘No respect for us whatsoever. I wish you nothing but the worst.’
Manor on Elizabeth owners revealed Slovene Association Sydney indicated the venue may still be able to host some booked weddings in the months to come.
The association said anyone who booked weddings should call 0414 541 157 for assistance and it is negotiating with a catering company so the venue can reopen.
An association spokesperson said they were ‘disappointed and shocked’ at the way Manor on Elizabeth ‘abandoned’ the premises and ‘left (it) in such disrepair’.
Slovene Association members have raised $2.5 million to go towards the legal battle over the lease, which dates back to 2020.
One unnamed bride said the email announcing the venue’s closure had gone to her spam email folder
A 2020 letter from the association’s committee detailed difficulties the club faced at the property, most of which centred around the allegedly crippling financial impact of the lease with the wedding venue.
‘The Slovene Association Sydney… is at a crisis point,’ a 2020 letter to members said.
‘Due to the poor lease arrangement, the club suffered loss of its restaurant, loss of its function room, loss of its kitchen, loss of its playground (and) loss of its tennis courts,’ the letter said.
Daily Mail Australia contactred Manor on Elizabeth for comment.
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