Brides in the Valley searching for new wedding venue as venue closes up shop

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - A Valley wedding venue has closed up shop, leaving several brides-to-be wondering where they'll be holding their wedding. 

The brides we spoke with say they're left high and dry. The venue was supposed to include almost everything that makes someone's wedding so special, including the food, music, and decorations. Now, the brides are back at square one.

It was a hectic couple of days for Asia Haliburton, who's getting married in February. She was supposed to be spending her happiest day at The Palace on 43rd Ave. and Northern. But when she came for a consultation, the owner was nowhere to be found. Her calls — dismissed.

"I chose this venue because it was within my budget," Haliburton said. "[The business owner] was doing so much for me — decorations, cake, food, setting up, [and the] rehearsal dinner, and people referred her to me."

Now she's left scrambling, looking for another venue, but potentially out of thousands of dollars.

"She was going to be my whole wedding," Haliburton said.

Putting together the entire wedding including music, catering, and much more. Receipts show payments Haliburton made directly to the business.

"[My contract] says that my balance is $5,000," Haliburton said. "I have paid $2,700 and she hasn't told me how to get my money back. It's upsetting."

As for Krystal Garcia, this is much more urgent. Her wedding is in five weeks. Her wedding date is special to her, and she's worried another venue won't be able to honor it.

"We had our mind set on that day," Garcia said. "I don't know if we are going to do that wedding on that date because we paid in full. The amount of money doesn't matter — it's that you've taken something from me, [she's] taken this opportunity.

We reached out to the business owner, Dorrenda Windsom. She says her company went bankrupt.

"Due to unforeseen circumstances, between building issues and a lack of clients, we have to close," Windsom said in a statement. "The business is going bankrupt. If there was money to give back to clients, I wouldn't be closing."

Windsom added she's trying to work with nearby venues to see if she can transfer their dates with them. She says she has about 10 clients and the brides should dispute the payments with their banks.

As for the brides, they've filed police reports and have contacted the Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau.