PETALING JAYA: For many couples, a special day is intended to be picture-perfect; however, the performance of vendors and makeup artists can easily make or break those fond memories.
One complainant, who wished to be known only as Sharmila, spent over RM7,000 on her engagement only to face a series of disappointing setbacks, from botched styling to subpar furniture.
The 30-year-old Kajang resident said her ordeal began with her beauty team, despite paying RM1,550 for a package including makeup and saree draping.
Having sent both her sarees in advance for pre-pleating, Sharmila was devastated to discover on the day of the event that the first saree had been pleated inside out.
“They had to undo and redo everything, which made me very anxious. The saree ended up crumpled and messy, which was especially obvious because it was white,” she said. To her dismay, safety pins were also left visible on the garment, marring her official photographs.
“I had to discreetly remove the safety pins myself during the event. As a bride, I should be able to trust my makeup artist without having to micromanage them,” she said, adding that the team later apologised after she provided feedback.
The frustrations extended to the traditional attire; she recalled how the coloured garlands, which cost RM500, bled dye onto her husband’s expensive engagement suit.
ALSO READ : Wedding package compensation claims on the rise
“My husband expressed his dissatisfaction with the company that same night. They tried to justify it by blaming the bad weather, but they still charged us the same price as those who received higher-quality garlands during better conditions,” she said.
The largest expense was an RM3,900 bill for furniture and decorations, which arrived in such poor condition that the paint was peeling off. The quality was so lacking that Sharmila’s 58-year-old father had to stay up at night to repaint the items himself.
Despite the catalogue of errors, the frustrated bride told The Star she chose not to seek a refund to avoid further conflict. However, the emotional toll remains.
“It took me more than a month to post my photos. Every time I looked at them, all I could see were the mistakes,” Sharmila said.
Her story, unfortunately, is not an isolated one.
K. Prishaa, a 29-year-old teacher from Johor, claimed she lost over RM4,000 to a man posing as a wedding caterer for her sister’s nuptials.
Her ordeal began on Sept 3, 2025 when she contacted the suspect and received a quotation of RM7,700 to provide food for 400 guests, inclusive of transport. While the man initially demanded an 80% deposit, Prishaa negotiated the upfront payment down to RM2,000.
However, the demands for cash did not stop there.
“Later, he kept asking for more – RM250, RM500, and RM1,500 – claiming he needed the funds to purchase groceries, chicken and mutton,” she said.
Despite the increased payments, the suspect failed to show up for two scheduled home visits to finalise arrangements.
The situation reached breaking point just 24 hours before the ceremony.
“He suddenly claimed he had been in an accident and couldn’t come,” Prishaa said.
While the suspect promised to refund her deposit, he has since gone silent.
To ensure the wedding could proceed, the family was forced to hire a last-minute caterer at an additional cost of RM6,000.
After sharing her story online, Prishaa discovered she was not alone; several other families in the Ipoh area had allegedly fallen prey to the same individual.
Equipped with chat records, the original quotation and payment slips, she has since lodged a police report.
“He still has not responded to any messages or calls. I just want my refund,” she said.
Another young bride, who only wished to be known as Safiah, said her nikah (solemnisation) ceremony is still shadowed by regret and anxiety due to a bridal experience that did not go as planned.
The 26-year-old warehouse executive said her disappointment began during a series of makeup trials with an artist recommended by her fiance’s cousin.
The artist was new in the field, but she agreed to support her.
“After three trials, I started feeling anxious. My face looked dark, older and dull. There was no glow at all,” she said, adding that she paid more than RM500 for basic makeup for herself and her husband.
She said a Korean-style look was also attempted but did not suit her features.
“I already have eye bags and sharp features, so the dolly-eye look didn’t work,” she said, adding that the results improved slightly after further feedback.
