A Philadelphia bride has accused her wedding planner of ruining her special day, leading her to pursue legal action. Ashley Lopez claims that Traci R. Lawton, who runs Wedding Kiss Ballroom and refers to herself as the “Fairy Bride Mother,” failed to provide essential services despite being paid more than £6,000 for her assistance.
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Lopez expressed her dismay in an interview with 6ABC Action News, stating that issues began to arise just before the ceremony. Approximately one hour prior, Lawton informed her that the caterer had been involved in an accident and would not be able to deliver the food items for the reception, leaving her to handle the situation unassisted. “I walk into a venue, and the first thing I get told is this has been a day from hell,” Lopez recounted, bewildered by the circumstances she was suddenly facing.
The problems did not stop there. Lopez alleged that Lawton neglected to set up a memorial table designed to honour her deceased relatives. “There was supposed to be a memorial table to honour my husband’s father who passed away and my grand-mama who passed away,” Lopez explained. Despite sending specific instructions and even a photo of the table’s intended appearance, she was disappointed to find that it had not been put together.
In addition to these issues, Lopez stated that the reception meal service suffered significant delays and that the food served was not what she had originally ordered. To complicate matters further, the wedding planner misplaced Lopez’s marriage certificate after she entrusted it to Lawton for signing. “So then I had to go back, file a duplicate,” Lopez shared, adding that she was forced to repeatedly contact Lawton for a week to finalise her marriage certificate and ensure her legal status as a married woman.
Reflecting on her wedding day, Lopez described her emotions as a mix of anger and stress. “You hear everyone talk about their wedding day, and it’s like this beautiful thing. Here I’m stressed,” she mentioned, highlighting the stark contrast between her expectations and the reality she faced.
Despite Lawton reportedly promising Lopez a refund for her inadequate services, Lopez claims that she has not received any compensation. “So that’s why I sued her,” she said, indicating that she emerged victorious in her legal battle after Lawton allegedly failed to attend court. Nonetheless, Lopez remains without the financial reimbursement she was expecting.
In response to the situation, Lawton expressed her own disappointment over the events of Lopez’s wedding day. She acknowledged that there were numerous “mishaps” and offered multiple apologies for the outcomes. “I still intend to pay Ashley back. Hers was my last wedding, and then I closed down my business,” Lawton remarked in her communication with the media.
Lopez’s experience serves as a cautionary tale for others planning their weddings. She advised prospective brides to thoroughly vet potential vendors before making any commitments. Although she initially discovered Lawton through an online search, Lopez now emphasises the importance of seeking out recommendations and references to avoid a similar fate.
As Ashley Lopez reflects on her wedding day, she is keen to share her story. She hopes that her experience will encourage future brides to be more discerning when selecting their wedding planners and vendors. Following a day filled with challenges, Lopez remains hopeful that her story will resonate with others and help prevent such unfortunate circumstances from occurring again.