Bali wedding 'soured'
A Geraldton couple had their dream wedding ruined when a Perth-based Bali event planner left them $19,000 out of pocket.
Elise Chapman and Shannon Gill went to Bali last month with the impression everything had been organised for their wedding.
However, when they showed up on the day of their wedding they were told nothing had been booked or paid for.
The couple hired Bali D'luxe Weddings and Events to plan their dream day, but instead were left to fork out $7000 six hours prior so the wedding could go ahead.
Ms Chapman said she always pictured her dream wedding day, but it was more of a nightmare.
"It was horrible — one of the worst experiences of my life," she said.
"It wasn't what I dreamed of — I expected it to be a stress-free day and I would wake up and have breakfast with my friends and just enjoy the day.
"Instead we were all stressed and trying to get the cash together so we could go through with the wedding."
Consumer Protection said nine WA couples had reported problems with Bali D'Luxe, which was declared insolvent last week after sole director Catherine Williams, of Wanneroo, voluntarily wound up the business.
The WA complainants paid almost $105,000 to Bali D'Luxe, including two couples who paid more than $20,000 for weddings yet to take place.
The Geraldton couple said they booked and paid for the wedding last year and had been to Bali twice to meet with Ms Williams to look at venues and to organise wedding details.
Ms Williams reportedly spoke with the couple up until the week before their wedding.
Ms Chapman said she then became hard to get in contact with.
"Her business partner Frank CM Rembet then got in touch and informed us he'd be taking over planning the wedding, because she mentally and physically could not continue," she said.
"Six hours before the wedding we were informed that only the venue had been booked and paid for and make-up, catering, alcohol, cake and videos and photos hadn't been."
Mr Gill said their wedding day was ruined.
"It was horrible and embarrassing," he said.
"Our guests were arriving and they were still setting up - it had literally been thrown together in six hours.
"Nothing was how we planned it and it ruined the whole day for us both and our stay in Bali."
Consumer Protection's senior regional officer Danni Bloomfield warned couples planning to get married in Bali to take precautions.
"It's unlikely this couple will get their money back or even a small amount of their money, because they are non-secured creditors," she said.
"It's important that people who are planning a wedding in Bali get referenced and do their research, especially when they are outlaying a large sum of money.
"If people can use credit cards rather than cash or bank transfer, the bank can give them a charge back if they haven't received the goods or services – so this is a way to safeguard themselves."
Ms Chapman said she would never forget her wedding day, but not for a good reason.
"It should have been the best day of our lives,," she said
"We want to know what's been done with the money. So many couples have been affected, as well as Bali's wedding industry."
