Health

25 Investigates: Worcester couple out $30K after popular wedding venue files for bankruptcy

BOLTON, Mass. — Imagine paying thousands for your dream wedding and then your venue suddenly shuts down just weeks before the big day.

That’s what happened to a Worcester couple and 25 Investigates has learned this couple is not alone after a major Massachusetts resort filed for bankruptcy.

When Kendra Holmstrom and T.J. Henrickson got engaged, it was the first wedding for both their families.

They said it was going to be a big one with 300 family members and friends.

“We came across The International and I remember leaving there and we both just said how much we loved it,” said Henrickson.

The International is a golf club and resort in Bolton. The couple says the location would do it all from the rehearsal dinner, to ceremony and reception.

“We were fortunate enough that our families both have, you know, been saving for their kids to get married,” said Holmstrom. “So, we had help from both of our parents who were both pitching in to help us have this dream wedding."

They made an initial deposit of $10,000 in 2018 for a June 2020 wedding. They made two more deposits for a total of $30,000.

“We went for our food tasting in February,” said Holmstrom.

"And, that's when we gave the last one,” said Henrickson.

They made that final deposit just as the coronavirus pandemic was reaching Massachusetts. They expected the outbreak would impact on their wedding somewhat. They never imagined all that would unfold.

First, in early March, they learned The International was shutting down.

“So, for a week straight, I frantically called multiple times a day trying to get a hold of someone,” said Holmstrom.

“Just trying to get a hold of them turned into a complete nightmare,” said Henrickson.

In April, they say after a month of calls, someone called back.

“The Chief Financial Officer, saying that they weren't going to be able to have our wedding based on all the pandemic stuff and that they were going to work on getting us a refund,” said Henrickson.

The couple says that they haven’t heard from anyone since.

Then, in May, The International filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy.

An announcement on the club’s website says claims for members, event clients and vendors will be resolved in bankruptcy court.

“We had that suspicious feeling but once you see it in writing, it kind of hurts,” Henrickson said.

We wanted to know how many other people could find themselves out of an event venue and all their money.

25 Investigates checked with the Massachusetts Attorney General.

Maura Healey’s office says they’ve received 34 complaints about this organization alone since March. While the office can mediate complaints regarding event cancellations and memberships, they typically can’t help you once a business is in bankruptcy. So the Attorney General recommends consumers participate in the bankruptcy proceeding.

"All that planning all, you know, for our big dream wedding just got completely taken away from us,” said Holmstrom.

25 Investigates contacted the firm handling the bankruptcy, Verdolino & Lowey, P.C., about the couples’ deposit. The firm referred her to a press release from May 11.

“This difficult decision became necessary following a lengthy review and analysis of the club’s overall financial position, revenue projections and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic," wrote Craig Jalbert, IGC’s Chief Restructuring Officer.

Holmstrom and Henrickson say they know their problem is not the biggest of this pandemic. But, it is a significant financial loss to them and their family who all contributed to a big day suddenly stripped away.

“No matter what, we’re going to get married,” Holmstrom said. “We’re holding out a small amount of hope. I mean, we just hope they do the right thing. We don’t care if it’s not immediately. But, that’s a lot. That’s $30,000.”

The couple has hired an attorney, hoping to be made whole. They are now planning for a smaller wedding in July, mindful of a new budget and social distancing guidelines.

If you’re a consumer who needs to file a bankruptcy claim, there are steps to walk you through it here.

We also asked the Attorney General about events cancellations when bankruptcy is not an issue. Here’s some advice the office shared.

  • If you are looking to get a refund, the best first step is to reach out directly to the organization.
  • If you can’t or are having a lot of difficulty, we would encourage folks to reach out to our office as we may be able to help mediate or point you in the right direction. You can either call our consumer hotline (617-727-8400) or file a complaint online.
  • We also have a comprehensive guide on COVID resources, including consumer resources.

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