Wedding venue collapse leaves 48 couples scrambling to salvage big day
The popular Tasmanian wedding venue Hidden Garden Estate in Berriedale has gone into liquidation, leaving 48 couples urgently seeking alternative arrangements for their ceremonies. The closure followed a council ruling that the business had breached its home business permit.
Couples were informed by email on Friday, November 7, that the Glenorchy City Council had alerted the venue the previous evening about the violations. The message, titled “Sad,” outlined three possible choices for affected clients: continue under new permit limits, postpone their event, or cancel for a full refund.
Strict new permit terms
The revised restrictions imposed by the council were described as highly limiting. Guest numbers were restricted to 60, and only two vendors were permitted onsite. The venue specified that vendors included DJs, photo booths, live music performers, wedding planners, and event hire providers.
“DJ, photo booth, live music, wedding planners, event hire suppliers and similar services are all classified as vendors,” the notice stated.
Couples were given until the close of business on Monday, November 10, to make their decision. However, later that day, the estate confirmed it would close permanently and proceed with liquidation.
Owners’ response
Owners Shan Strus and Diane Burrows expressed disappointment, saying the stringent council measures left no viable options for most couples.
“The authority initiating stringent terms that effectively caused couples to vote for refunds has forced us to close the business,” they said in a statement.
They added that they had requested a reprieve from the council but were denied any leniency.
Community support
Following the announcement, local businesses and the wider community have begun offering assistance to displaced couples, seeking to help them salvage their wedding plans despite the setback.
Author’s summary: Hidden Garden Estate’s closure after council permit breaches left nearly fifty couples searching for new venues, highlighting the fragility of small event businesses.