DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – When Shanika Roberts found her dream wedding venue, she knew immediately it was the one. Four months before her big day, that dream came crashing down.
Roberts and her fiancé, Charles, got engaged in December and wasted no time planning their future together.
“We got engaged. When we got back from the cruise, I immediately started looking for venues,” said Roberts.
The couple chose the first venue they toured, an intimate ballroom with sweeping ocean views.
“The ceremony room is what actually blew me away. I was like, yeah, I can definitely see myself walking down an aisle here. The view was gorgeous. It was stunning,” Roberts said.
Then, four months before the wedding, an unexpected email changed everything.
“I was like, hey, I think we have a problem here. Crystal Ballroom is shutting down,” Roberts recalled.
[WATCH: Daytona Beach wedding venue suddenly closes without warning to couples]
News 6 was the first to report on the sudden closure of Crystal Ballroom Ocean Walk, which left dozens of couples without a venue. Investigator Pavlina Osta met with Roberts as she worked to figure out her next steps.
“It’s been hard, been kind of down knowing that we have planned out so much and for it to be taken away from us,” Roberts said.
What couples can do to protect themselves
Holly Salmons, CEO of the Central Florida Better Business Bureau, says couples can take steps to protect themselves before falling in love with a venue.
“The time to read the fine print is ahead of time, and if the venue doesn’t allow you that time or they tell you, sorry, you need to do this now, pay the deposit and get your name on the list now or this is going to be gone, that could be considered a red flag,” Salmons said.
Salmons recommends three key steps before booking:
- Do your homework: Look at reviews, which can be a good indicator of what your experience will be like.
- Consider venue insurance: It can help protect both the couple and the total investment if something goes wrong.
- Ask questions: The more vendors couples talk to, the better they’ll understand industry standards.
“If you only go to one place, you’re only allowing yourself one experience and one shot at asking all the questions and so you know getting your hopes all wrapped up into one location could be dangerous,” Salmons explained.
Paying by Zelle carries big risks
Since News 6 first reported that Crystal Ballroom Ocean Walk was evicted from its space, dozens of brides came forward, saying they paid via Zelle.
Salmons warns that payment method matters.
“Consumers should understand that paying by credit card affords the consumer some protection. But if a venue or a business asks you to pay through a payment app, you need to understand what is at risk. Once the money is gone, it is gone,” Salmons said.
Crystal Ballroom’s owner told News 6 that brides who cannot be relocated to other Crystal Ballroom locations will be refunded. News 6 will continue to follow this story to ensure couples get their money back.
For more information on finding a venue for your next event, click here.
For more information on wedding planning resources, click here.