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one Florida Wedding venue refuses to refund thousands of dollars in deposits, even after bride‘s fiancé died unexpectedly just months before their planned wedding.
Tye Hinson and William Coney are scheduled to get married in May at the Crystal Ballroom Lake Mary, a large, all-inclusive event space designed to accommodate a growing guest list. but not long ago gratefulKony, 42, died of a heart attack. Hinson said she contacted the scene two days later to inform them of the tragedy.
“This isn’t like a cancellation. This is a person dying,” Hinson told News 6.
Although she paid the venue a total of $7,609 when she signed the agreement, including a $2,000 non-refundable management fee contract Hinson was denied any payment in August, as well as an additional $5,609 two days before Coney’s death. Refund. Venue quoted terms contract as a reason.
“I understand the contract. I have a contract.” Hinson is a beautician who has wedding and other incidents, told the media. “I have sent Refund A hurricane destroys someone’s home before the wedding. My compassion as a person carries over into my career. “
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Instead, Hinson claims an employee at the wedding venue came up with a heartbreaking alternative.
“Her suggestion was, ‘Maybe you could have a commemorative event here on your wedding day,'” she said
Hinson and Coney met at Orlando’s Fashion Square mall more than 20 years ago. Despite moving away, they still want to get married in Central Florida. Hinson said that upon learning of Coyne’s death, all of her other wedding vendors refunded her payments or canceled their contracts, even those that were non-refundable.
Crystal Ballroom owner Lukasz Rogowski sympathized with Hinson’s loss but said it was unfair to compare the full-service venue to other providers.
“They operate under different legal, financial and operational obligations and take on costs up front,” he told News 6.
Rogowski told the media that the venue would not issue refunds policy Make this clear in writing before the client signs the contract and review it during the initial meeting. The company also recommends purchasing third-party cancellation insurance to protect customers’ financial commitments in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
“This recommendation was made before the contract was signed and again during the planning process,” Rogowski said. “We cannot force anyone to purchase insurance or take specific risk mitigation measures, and our policies exist precisely because incidents of this nature are complex, emotionally difficult and often financially significant.”
Rogowski added that his team tries to accommodate customers facing serious illness, loss or emergencies through options such as alternative space use or postponement while still adhering to contract terms. He said the company has been communicating with Hinson’s wedding planner, Patricia Aro, but did not name Hinson, News 6 reported.
“While the vast majority of experiences have been happy and positive, we have encountered a handful of complex and unfortunate situations over time, including illness, accidents, deaths, military deployments and other life events,” Rogowski said. “These experiences have shaped our policies and procedures — not to avoid responsibility, but to protect customers, vendors and sites in a fair, transparent and legal manner.”
However, Rogowski did donate $525 to one organization. to fund me News 6 confirmed the event the wedding planner set up for Hinson and claimed the donation was made in his personal capacity and had nothing to do with the Crystal Ballroom.
As of publication, the campaign has raised more than $3,500 toward its $4,000 goal.
“While we understand contracts and policies exist, we believe compassion and care should always lead the way, especially after such a tragic loss,” Arrow wrote on the fundraiser page. “We hope the Crystal Ballroom (Lake Mary, Florida) will choose empathy and do the right thing for those who have lost so much.”
independent Crystal Ballroom has been contacted for comment.
