Bridal firms come to rescue of couples after Cannock firm goes out of business
Brides who were left fearing for their big day when an events firm went out of business have been given a helping hand to ensure they still get the wedding of their dreams.
The boss of the company, Donna Hodgkiss, posted a message on Facebook declaring herself bankrupt last this week, leaving brides worried that their weddings had been ruined.
Some had paid for a package including table runners, chair covers, food, a chocolate fountain and decorations.
But now several companies from around the region have offered to help couples after the issus was featured in the Express & Star.
Among those who have been offered help is bride Rachel Layton from Rugeley.
She had booked with Wow Weddings in April and paid an initial deposit of £30 before being asked to hand over another £252 several weeks ago.
It was only when the 28-year-old teaching assistant was contacted by someone on Facebook that she realised there was a problem.
Rachel, who is getting married to partner Kevin Chamberlain, a manufacturing specialist, at Lichfield Register Office on August 29, had booked Wow to provide the likes of table and chair covers at the reception, which was being held at the Cedar Tree Hotel in Rugeley.
It left the couple, who have three children, fuming and also out of pocket.
But they were contacted by Sam Badhan, from Just The Two of Us in Wolverhampton, who has stepped in at late notice after contacting Rachel through social media.
She has even been able to provide a free wishing well and table runners.
A relieved Rachel said: "Sam has been as good as gold.
"We would not have been able to afford room decorations, and that would have been disheartening on the day.
"I can't thank her enough – she has been absolutely amazing.
"We have been waiting 18 months for the wedding, we have been paying bits off each month so we can afford it. You are only going to do it once." Melissa Grew has run Bespoke Creations in Stafford for the last three years and is another one of the businesses that have stepped in to help brides left in the lurch.
The 22-year-old said she felt 'devastated' for the couples whose weddings had been 'ruined' and wanted to do something to help.
"When I heard what had happened, it really pulled at myself and my staff's heartstrings," she said.
"We immediately wanted to offer our help to these couples because it is such a special occasion."
Mandy Price said she cried when she was told how many would-be brides were out of pocket by hundreds of pounds.
The 52-year-old owner of Make my Wedding Special in Ingram Road, Leamore,said: "I cried my eyes out for these poor men and women because I treat my clients like my own family. I can only imagine what these poor people have gone through, and I would like to help them out to put everything right once again."
Anthony Kinsey, 28, runs Classic Moments from his home in Walsall.
He said: "I would really like to be able to help some of the brides and grooms to relieve some of the stress."
Ian Wilson and his fiancée Gay Edwards, who live in Cannock, have invited around 100 friends and family to their wedding at the Littleton Arms in Huntington in five weeks' time.
The couple paid almost £200 for a package from Wow Weddings that included a marquee, chair covers, lights and a sweet shop.
Mr Wilson said: "It's an absolute disgrace the way we have been treated.
"But it is really nice to see the community pulling together and other businesses stepping in to help."
Wow Weddings' Facebook page, which has more than 600 likes, has been bombarded with negative reviews over the last week – including one comment that said the firm had failed to turn up to their wedding.
In total, dozens of people have reacted angrily on the firm's Facebook page.
One woman posted that the company has been booked to decorate a room for a member of her family but failed to turn up, even though full payment had been made in advance.
It added: "Me, my mom and daughter did the best we could to try and make the room look special but it wasn't the same.
"This company did not answer any of our frantic calls."
Ms Hodgkiss has not responded to messages left on her phone by the Express & Star.
