Shuttered Banquet Hall Leaves Brides And Grooms In The Lurch
(CBS) -- It's supposed to be the most important day in a couple's life: their wedding day.
But a Mount Prospect banquet hall has closed its doors, leaving brides and grooms scrambling.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports from Bristol Court Banquets and Legendary Catering.
Some brides had tastings there only two weeks ago. Their checks, worth thousands of dollars, were cashed. Now, each of the front doors has a chain and padlock.
"I am numb, I'm hurt. I'm just beside myself. I don't even know what to say. I'm devastated," bride Katie Lunsmann says.
She and her fiancé, Jimmy Waron, were supposed to get married in two weeks.
The couple paid an $8,000 deposit for the cake and wedding reception.
"Now, there's no contact whatsoever with them. Everything was disconnected," Waron says.
In a statement, a village of Mount Prospect spokesperson says the village had no idea the business was going under. A bank now owns the building.
Natalie Hooper's mother embraced her at the now-chained entrance. She was supposed to get married here in four weeks and already paid $7,000 toward her wedding.
"This is peoples' lives. I'm getting married next month, and now I have to start back from square one," says Hooper.
Each of the people interviewed have filed police reports for their loss. The village is helping those impacted by contacting area hotels and banquet halls. The local chamber of commerce is fielding all inquiries.