Sebrina and Danial were forced to look for another venue two days before their wedding reception.
A PROJECT engineer had a stressful time when her wedding planner failed to book the reception venue.
Sebrina Tai Thye Jefri’s wedding reception was supposed to have been held on Aug 8 at the International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization at Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur.
The claimant, who hails from Kuala Lumpur but works in Iskandar Puteri, Johor had engaged a wedding planner from Taman Asa Jaya in Kajang, Selangor for the reception.
Sebrina said the akad nikah ceremony on her husband’s side – project engineer Danial Ghazali – was held in Seremban, Negri Sembilan two years ago.
For her reception, Sebrina had booked a RM21,500 wedding package which was supposed to have included the venue, dais, decorations and food for 300 guests, including some who would be flying in from China.
The claimant made a first payment of RM4,700 on Dec 29, 2023, and RM5,000 as a second payment on May 10, 2024.
“The balance of RM11,800 was to be settled when the ceremony was over,’’ she said when met outside the Johor Consumer Claims Tribunal in Menara Ansar, Johor Baru.
“Two months before our reception, we checked with the wedding planner and they told us everything was in order,’’ added the claimant.
Sebrina said she was shocked when the wedding planner called two days before the reception to inform her that the wedding hall was not available.
“Someone else had booked the venue months ahead for their wedding ceremony which was to be held on the same date as ours.
“After that, the wedding planner was not contactable, leaving me in limbo and forcing me to look for another venue at the last minute,’’ she recalled.
Sebrina said after some frantic searching, she finally settled on a venue in Shah Alam, Selangor.
“We had distributed our wedding invitation cards a month before our reception and then had to update all our guests that the venue had been changed,’’ said the claimant.
While the couple had planned to hold their wedding reception in the daytime, the event at the Shah Alam venue had to be held in the evening as that was the only slot available at such short notice.
“We forked out RM24,800 for our reception at the new venue,’’ said Sebrina, adding that the incident left her feeling stressed.
Tribunal president Lee Chee Thim ordered the respondent, who was not present, to refund RM9,700 to the claimant within two weeks for failing to deliver the promised services.
Those needing assistance with regard to Tribunal matters can call 07-227 1755 or 07-227 1766.
