SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (WXYZ) — Lots of engaged couples are busy planning their summer and fall weddings.
It’s supposed to be a joyous time, but for several couples in metro Detroit, it has turned into a nightmare after Noah's Event Venue in Southfield abruptly shut its doors.
Aisha Scott is a bride that thought she scored with a beautiful venue that would be the perfect backdrop for her October 2020 wedding
But soon after forking over her $1,000 dollar deposit to secure the date and booking other vendors around that time frame, she received the frightening e-mail.
The company was buckling, impacting its more than 30 locations nationwide, leaving Aisha and dozens more across the country scrambling to get refunds and book new venues with little time.
Aisha was told she could file an administrative claim to get her money refunded. But how? And on what timeline? 7 Action News reached out to the event venue but didn't hear back.
The closure didn't come as a surprise to metro Detroit wedding planner Jennifer Troy.
"If you just do a simple word search, a Google search, you can see where they were having financial problems in 2018 and 2017," said Troy.
In July, a separate location in Auburn Hills had shuttered not long after the company entered bankruptcy court.
Troy says it's a reminder to all engaged couples to vet your venue so you can steer clear of any potential bombshell closures.
Consider wedding insurance that can protect you from financial liability. Given you’re spending thousands of dollars on your wedding day, to drop $200 to make sure you're covered in the event of an emergency could be worth the investment
Also, be vigilant when you check out the contract. Consider a venue that’s willing to agree beforehand in writing to accommodate you in the event of an emergency. Perhaps that means they’d be willing to help you find another venue if something were to happen that they couldn’t hold your event or issue your refund under more flexible cancellation terms.
