Loss of 'dream venue' leaves bride-to-be reeling

A Kent bride-to-be who lost her "dream venue" after the company which ran it went into administration wants to show other affected couples that there is a way forward.

On Friday it was confirmed that St Augustine's College Limited had ceased operations.

Charlotte Rickwood, 31, and Jordan Collins, 39, were due to get married at St Augustine's, in Westgate-on-Sea, on 17 April - exactly one year after getting engaged.

Ms Rickwood, from Blean, said: "The hardest thing about it is that people may only see the money side of things, but I have had my heart set on that venue since I had my prom there."

The couple, who have been together for two years, said they were never officially told about the administration or that the £3,000 they had paid was most likely lost.

They first realised that something was wrong on 23 January after Ms Rickwood's bridesmaid saw a post on Facebook.

When she realised she couldn't get married at St Augustine's, Ms Rickwood says she gave herself time to mourn "the fact that I wasn't going to get my dream venue".

The couple then resolved to move ahead with plans to get married. The Grove Ferry Inn in Upstreet offered its venue for half the usual price.

"Hats off to them," Ms Rickwood said, adding that a number of venues have done the same for other affected couples.

Acknowledging that "it's not going be the same", she is determined to still have an "amazing" day.

"A part of why we want to bring this to light is to show other couples who have been affected that you can still have your wedding," she said.

The Thanet & District Caledonian Society said it lost £1,500 after being forced to cancel a Burns Night dinner due to be held for 91 people at St Augustine's on 21 January.

Chairman David Walker said it could have been even worse, but the society managed to cancel a further cheque for £1,600.

"I was taken aback, I was in a bit of shock," he said of learning that administrators had been called in.

He said the society would refund members, although it would not be possible to donate any monies left over at the end of the financial year to charity, as the society usually does.

A spokesperson for administrators Kreston Reeves said the situation was a result of ongoing financial difficulties exacerbated by challenging market conditions.

"Unfortunately, the company's financial difficulties mean that the company is unable to host events for its clients whilst in administration," the spokesperson said.

"The administrators are aware that this will cause great distress. All those affected have been contacted by the administrators.

"The business centre which operates from the company premises continues to trade as normal."

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