TEARS FLOW AS DUO’S WEDDING PLANS UP-ENDED
APRIL 7 was meant to be the happiest day of Chloe Williamson’s life.
Now she and fiance Jake Wyatt are scrambling to recover nearly $8000 from Hampton Estate Wines after cancelling their wedding because of the coronavirus.
“I have been crying for days,” Ms Williamson said. “I just can’t believe they won’t give us our money back. I’m also kicking myself for paying in full before the final payment was actually due (March 24).”
The Ormeau Hills couple reluctantly called off their wedding because they have family and friends in New Zealand and interstate that aren’t allowed to travel and because of rules in regards to social distancing.
“The Saturday before Scott Morrison’s announcement I had finalised everything, my dress, handmade decorations and I had even paid the venue in full so I was organised,” she said.
But things turned sour for Wyatt, a 22-year-old apprentice plumber, and his 21-year-old administrative receptionist partner when the venue offered to postpone to a later day but declined a refund.
“We’re happy to lose our $500 deposit, but we can’t lose $7980, especially as we’re not sure about what the future holds in regards to our employment. That’s a fair chunk of our savings they are keeping. It took us a long time to save this much money,” Mr Wyatt said.
He said it wasn’t an option to continue the wedding because it was not feasible to ask people to quarantine for 14 days ahead of their nuptials. “They told us we can postpone and rebook at a later date but we can’t be without that much money until then. We would have been happy to rebook at the venue, because we really like it, but we won’t be now they are holding on to our money. We just want our money back, why should they keep it?”
A statement from Hampton Estate Wines owner Karen Rea said she had advised “Chloe multiple dates to postpone; she advised she wanted a full refund. I advised as per her T&C as she was cancelling and it wasn’t under government advice then the terms and conditions would stick. I did offer her a 50 per cent refund in light of the situation.”
She added: “Hampton Estate Wines is a family-run business and in the current economic climate, I’m sure you can understand that the next few weeks and months will be tough on any small business. We truly appreciate your understanding given the circumstances.”
The Bulletin asked whether the business would give the young couple their money back. Manager Hope Rust said: “We will discuss that with Chloe should she respond to our correspondence and not with the media”. Ms Williamson said she had been advised by Fair Trade, who she has lodged a complaint with, to cease communication with the winery.
THAT’S A FAIR CHUNK OF OUR SAVINGS THEY ARE KEEPING. IT TOOK US A LONG TIME TO SAVE THIS MUCH MONEY
JAKE WYATT