Bride bubbly as venue plight ends

The couple ditched by their wedding venue two weeks before they were to tie the knot have secured a “dream wedding venue” after more than a dozen generous businesses offered to host their party.

Not only will April Shwe and fiance Bobby Paul be the first people to have their wedding reception at Viaduct hotel M Social, others have gifted wedding props, offered to do April’s makeup and shout them a threecourse meal to eat as newlyweds.

Shwe contacted the Herald last Monday in shock after she was told by a staff member that the restaurant they had booked, Tom Tom, had received a more lucrative booking so could no longer host their wedding. They were referred to a smaller venue next door. Tom Tom’s owner,

Rav Brar, told the Herald last week the incident was due to “confusion” and it would honour the booking if that was what the couple wanted.

But Shwe decided it was not worth taking the risk. She got her $500 deposit back.

The couple spent the past week frantically looking at nine venues after receiving more than 16 offers from businesses. They decided on M Social, part of the Millennium Hotel chain, at Auckland’s Viaduct.

Shwe said they chose it for its location and it not only had agreed to meet their tight budget, but also offered the couple complimentary accommodation and other “insane” extras. She said M Social general manager Nigel Edwards “went above and beyond for us”.

The hotel’s restaurant, Beast and Butterflies, was being completely reserved for the wedding and the couple could also use the outside deck for dancing, weather permitting.

“I was nearly in tears . . . it is just so nice.”

Shwe said they had gone from having no venue to having too many to choose from. SkyCity, Wildfire, Mikano, Grace Hill Vineyard in Kumeu, Pilkingtons, The Dog’s Bollix and Manhattan Lounge were among other businesses that also offered to help them.