COUNTY NEWS: Couple's despair after wedding venue cancels

A young couple's whole world came crashing down when their dream wedding was suddenly cancelled.
The couple's wedding day was left in tatters when the popular venue told them it was closing downThe couple's wedding day was left in tatters when the popular venue told them it was closing down
The couple's wedding day was left in tatters when the popular venue told them it was closing down

Brett-Yasmin Drew and Phillip Boucher from Burgess Hill were due to tie the knot at The Ravenswood in Sharpthorne in May this year and paid a £2,000 deposit.

But the pair’s special day was left in tatters after the popular venue revealed it was closing down.

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Bride-to-be, Brett-Yasmin, 25, a care-coordinator at Everycare in Victoria Road, Burgess Hill, said she heard a ‘rumour’ about the closure which soon turned out to be true.

The soon-to-be newlyweds fortunately managed to sort out a new venue for their big dayThe soon-to-be newlyweds fortunately managed to sort out a new venue for their big day
The soon-to-be newlyweds fortunately managed to sort out a new venue for their big day

She said: “I heard last summer that planning permission was in place to change the site into flats. So I rang them up immediately to find out but I was re-assured by a member of staff that it was just a rumour.

“It wasn’t until January this year that we realised it was true when we received a letter confirming the closure with our deposit inside. I found it quite funny at first but once I had taken it in I was in shock and burst into tears to my sister.

“My wedding day was completley ruined. Phil was really angry – especially for me and we both just hit panic mode and quickly started looking for new venues.”

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The couple got engaged in February last year and booked up the 15th-century manor hotel the following month to accommodate both the ceremony and reception.

Following the horror the couple from Burgess Hill are now looking forward to their special dayFollowing the horror the couple from Burgess Hill are now looking forward to their special day
Following the horror the couple from Burgess Hill are now looking forward to their special day

The pair then started planning their big day.

“We had done absolutely everything – the invitations, catering, flowers, music, the lot,” Brett-Yasmin added.

The nightmare became even more real when the two headed to the venue to get some answers but no one was there. And after succumbing to send an email instead, the bride-to-be said she has not yet received a response.

“I feel angry, if they had just given us a verbal apology it would be different. I am happy to have got the deposit back but after these additional charges – I feel like we deserve some sort of compensation – our whole world came crashing down,” she added.

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Fortunately some good news arrived for the soon-to-be newlyweds after they managed to find a new venue in Henfield on the same date – and they even preferred it, Brett-Yasmin said.

“Tottington Manor were able to fit us in and even at the same time as we had booked it at The Ravenswood. They have been so lovely and have accomodated everything I wanted and they gave me a glass of wine to calm me down!

“I just feel sorry for other people in the same situation as us who might not be able to find anywhere else.”

The couple did not take out wedding insurance and if they did not find a venue on the same date, the 25-year-old said they would have had to pay an additional £500.

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Due to the horror the pair were also forced to complete another notice of marriage at the council offices in Haywards Heath, which cost them an extra £70.

“We were so lucky to get another venue on the same date and fortunately we didn’t have to pay the £500 but we still had other unnecessary costs to pay like sending out new invitations,” Brett-Yasmin added.

Despite the horror, the bride-to-be said she is now ‘really excited’ for the big day at the new confirmed venue.

The Ravenswood has yet to comment.

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