Brides-to-be Left In A Lurch

News Story
Beka Johnson

The rolling hills, waterfalls and manicured flower beds of Montefiori persuaded Kristy DeMichele not to elope and instead book a June ceremony.

A certified letter arrived last week and announced the exlusive Lombard wedding venue was out of business so she's changing her mind again.

"I totally fell in love with Montefiori. The place is beautiful," said DeMichele who said she cried after reading the first lines of the letter: "It is with deep regret that we must inform you that after five years, Life@MontefioriLLC will close its doors."

DeMichele discovered the company she had paid a $3,000 deposit now removed its website and phone number. She hasn't received a response to her email. She started a blog and found others were having the same experience.

One of Montefiori's owners said the business left about 30 couples in the lurch, non with wedding scheduled sooner than Man.

Montefiori has already returned checks from five couples, and the rest will be reimbursed within a few weeks, said Joseph Lepore, a minority owner who, after seeing several of the would-be brides complaining on television, has taken it upon himself to call each of the couples who had weddings planned.

Each couple has a different story. They all hope they have enough time to find other places to have their celebrations. "If we've made it through this crisis, we can weather whatever our marriage brings," said DeMichele. "For now we're planning to go to an island and get married on the beach."