The Stolen Wedding
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Friends,
I would like to tell you about how our wedding was stolen.
Almost two years ago, my fiancee Saskia accepted my marriage proposal. We planned a long engagement to allow ourselves ample time to plan and save money. In May of 2013 we found a lovely venue named the Craftwood Inn, a historic restaurant that had been open since 1940. We loved the staff and quickly booked an all-inclusive package, putting down a five hundred dollar deposit for May 31, 2014.
We returned over the Summer to sample cake and dinner options. We bought wedding invitations and told our family and friends. My fiancee bought her wedding dress, we booked a honeymoon, everything was coming together.
In September of 2013, Saskia and I went to the Craftwood Inn and Paid in Full our remaining balance for the wedding, paying them six thousand, one hundred and fifty five dollars.
That was a huge mistake. A mistake we wouldn't know we had made until March 10, 2014. That was the day we read in the local paper that the Craftwood Inn had gone out of business.
Saskia was on the phone that morning, so when her mom called me on my phone, I really didn't think too much of it. But when her first words were, "Have you seen the article in the paper about the Craftwood?" I felt my heart sink. Her sad and worried tone said it all.
"No" I responded, trying to sound brave and strong. "Let me read it and I'll call you back."
As I read the Colorado Springs Gazette article, and was realizing the scope of the news, I heard Saskia choking back sobs in the kitchen. The phone call she had recieved was from our (now-former-maybe-rebooked) cake maker Carol, who called to let us know that she was still available for our wedding even though the Craftwood was now closed. This was not a fun phone call for Carol, who had assumed the Craftwood had already contacted us. They had not.
In the news coverage of the closing, the owner of the Craftwood has been very clear that he is filing for bankruptcy and that he has no money left to return. It also seems he has no intention of ever returning it, despite owning another still-open restaurant a few blocks away.
It is two days later, as of this writing. Saskia and I are emotionally exhausted. We still have not heard from our former wedding venue. We are moving forward and rebooking everything that was formerly to be provided by the all-inclusive deal we bought. New venue, new caterer, new contract for the DJ, new contract for the wedding cake and of course, new fees for everything.
We saved up for over a year to buy the first wedding. Now we are left with two and a half months to buy a second.
If there is anything you would like to do to Help Saskia and I, we would be eternally grateful. Even if all you have to give is time, please use it to read the articles below and maybe drop a link to this page in the comments.
All Our Best,
Brian and Saskia
Local News Coverage:
Colorado Springs Gazette
KRDO News Channel 13
KKTV 11 News
Colorado Springs Independent
I would like to tell you about how our wedding was stolen.
Almost two years ago, my fiancee Saskia accepted my marriage proposal. We planned a long engagement to allow ourselves ample time to plan and save money. In May of 2013 we found a lovely venue named the Craftwood Inn, a historic restaurant that had been open since 1940. We loved the staff and quickly booked an all-inclusive package, putting down a five hundred dollar deposit for May 31, 2014.
We returned over the Summer to sample cake and dinner options. We bought wedding invitations and told our family and friends. My fiancee bought her wedding dress, we booked a honeymoon, everything was coming together.
In September of 2013, Saskia and I went to the Craftwood Inn and Paid in Full our remaining balance for the wedding, paying them six thousand, one hundred and fifty five dollars.
That was a huge mistake. A mistake we wouldn't know we had made until March 10, 2014. That was the day we read in the local paper that the Craftwood Inn had gone out of business.
Saskia was on the phone that morning, so when her mom called me on my phone, I really didn't think too much of it. But when her first words were, "Have you seen the article in the paper about the Craftwood?" I felt my heart sink. Her sad and worried tone said it all.
"No" I responded, trying to sound brave and strong. "Let me read it and I'll call you back."
As I read the Colorado Springs Gazette article, and was realizing the scope of the news, I heard Saskia choking back sobs in the kitchen. The phone call she had recieved was from our (now-former-maybe-rebooked) cake maker Carol, who called to let us know that she was still available for our wedding even though the Craftwood was now closed. This was not a fun phone call for Carol, who had assumed the Craftwood had already contacted us. They had not.
In the news coverage of the closing, the owner of the Craftwood has been very clear that he is filing for bankruptcy and that he has no money left to return. It also seems he has no intention of ever returning it, despite owning another still-open restaurant a few blocks away.
It is two days later, as of this writing. Saskia and I are emotionally exhausted. We still have not heard from our former wedding venue. We are moving forward and rebooking everything that was formerly to be provided by the all-inclusive deal we bought. New venue, new caterer, new contract for the DJ, new contract for the wedding cake and of course, new fees for everything.
We saved up for over a year to buy the first wedding. Now we are left with two and a half months to buy a second.
If there is anything you would like to do to Help Saskia and I, we would be eternally grateful. Even if all you have to give is time, please use it to read the articles below and maybe drop a link to this page in the comments.
All Our Best,
Brian and Saskia
Local News Coverage:
Colorado Springs Gazette
KRDO News Channel 13
KKTV 11 News
Colorado Springs Independent
Organizer
Brian Robinson
Organizer
Colorado Springs, CO
