Wedding venue collapse leaves 48 couples scrambling to salvage big day
A beloved wedding venue in Berriedale, Tasmania, has gone into liquidation, leaving 48 couples urgently seeking new arrangements for their ceremonies. Hidden Garden Estate notified clients on Friday, November 7, that Glenorchy City Council had found them in breach of their home business permit.
Notice and restrictions
The estate’s email, titled “Sad”, presented couples with three choices: proceed under new strict conditions, postpone the event, or cancel for a full refund. The updated council terms significantly limited operations.
- Ceremonies could only be conducted by owner Diane Burrows.
- Guest numbers were restricted to 60.
- Only two vendors were allowed per event.
“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 end of business on Monday, November 10, to make their decision.
Closure and council decision
By the afternoon, the venue confirmed its permanent closure and entry into liquidation. Owners Shan Strus and Diane Burrows said the strict council terms made it impossible to continue operations.
“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.
According to the owners, attempts to request leniency from the council were denied.
Community reaction
Local residents are rallying around the affected couples, offering assistance to help them reorganize their special days.
Author’s summary: A popular Tasmanian wedding venue closed after strict permit conditions triggered its liquidation, leaving dozens of couples to find new places for their ceremonies.