CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Couples across the country and the Carolinas are still in the middle of a wedding nightmare after a major event chain suddenly shut down.
Noah’s Event Venue in Charlotte closed with no notice earlier this month, leaving brides devastated and scrambling for alternatives.
Anchor Allison Latos spoke with several brides who are now turning to the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office for help. So far, six people have filed formal complaints, asking North Carolina Attorney Josh Stein to get involved.
[ READ MORE: Attorney General gets 4 complaints after Charlotte wedding venue closes unexpectedly ]
Since 2018, Janiya Rorie has been planning the wedding of her dreams, but four months before her big day, her wedding plans came to a halt.
“I was so devastated. Words don’t even describe,” said Rorie.
Rorie said she questioned Nah’s when the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May, but was assured the Charlotte location would stay open.
“They send this letter saying they had renewed their lease for another two years,” said Rorie.
Now, in Chapter 7 bankruptcy, Noah’s is selling assets to pay creditors, but brides like Rorie are at the bottom of the list. Rorie said she’s out more than $4,000.
“I would hope that we wouldn’t have to go to the courthouse or elope, but it’s leaning towards that way,” Rorie said.
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Desiree Wade said the staff at the Noah’s in High Point convinced her to book her wedding and paid $5,300. She hasn’t gotten a dime back.
“For me to put that much money down on a facility is really heartbreaking,” said Wade. “I feel that they took advantage of us.”
Rorie and Wade are among the six to file formal complaints with Stein.
“I want to feel like something is being done and my voice is heard,” said Wade.
The Attorney General’s Office said because of the bankruptcy proceeding and that the business is effectively over, sadly there isn’t much they can do to help the brides. That means the only option is to go to bankruptcy court in March.
The hearing is in Utah and some of the women said they just can’t spend the time or money to travel that far with no guarantee of getting their money back.
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