Bride’s big day ruined after caterers’ wedding cake blunder

A bride with a nut allergy has received compensation after a wedding cake blunder made her swell up so much her ring did not fit.

Kayleigh Cortis, 23, told the catering firm hired for the big day that she could not eat nuts and was assured the meal would be nut-free.

But she suffered an allergic reaction when she was served cake containing almonds. Mrs Cortis said the day had been ruined and was a “diabolical mess”.

She and her husband Stephen had hired Impressions Caterers Ltd for their reception at Hunsbury Hill, Northampton, in September 2016.

Northamptonshire County Council Trading Standards investigated and the company admitted an offence contrary to the Food Safety Act. Mrs Cortis said: “I couldn’t eat, or at least keep anything I’d eaten down, I couldn’t drink anything other than water and I was left being sick throughout the day.”

Her lips began to swell minutes after she started to eat the cake and she had to take off her wedding ring as her fingers were swollen.

The company had made changes to its processes, Wellingborough Magistrates’ Court heard. It was given a penalty of £3,156.36, which included a fine of £850, investigation costs and £85 victim surcharge fee.

Councillor André Gonzalez de Savage said: “It is very important food businesses have the processes in place to ensure they know which foods can cause allergies and intolerance.”