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Dream Wedding Turns Into Nightmare

By Kimberly Curth Weekend Anchor / Reporter

What was supposed to be a dream wedding for one bride-to-be turned into a nightmare. Dream Wedding Turns Into Nightmare

Published: Tue, June 17, 2008 - 7:20 pm

Kimberly Curth

What was supposed to be a dream wedding for one Mobile bride-to-be turned into a nightmare. Latoria Johnson says she booked the Southern Stars Hall in Tillmans Corner back in March for her July 12th wedding and reception. She even put down a 75 dollar deposit. But last week, she called to pay the remainder of her balance only to find out, weeks before the wedding, the people she booked with are no longer in business there, "they have ruined everything for me and no telling who else they've ruined, wedding, reception or whatever some else may be having there at that facility," said Johnson. Johnson says she had to cancel all her plans. The reception hall is still open for business but under a new owner. We talked with that owner. He says he sold the Southern Stars business back in February to the people Johnson booked with and was sub-leasing the building to those owners, but the deal fell through, "now with the people that's already booked with them we want to make it right with them, we just don't know because we don't have their contracts or anything, so when people call in like, Ms. Latoya Johnson, we go ahead and let her have the place, if they call in, but if they don't call in, we don't have any idea if they even on the books," said the new Southern Stars owner, Justin Foster. Johnson says she has to start from scratch now and won't have enough time to get it all done by July. As for her new wedding date, that's still up in the air. Johnson says she can't find an affordable place that's not already booked for the rest of the year.

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mustuknow Says:

Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 6:00 pm

In her interview she referred to a place to hold the wedding and reception, not a place that was going to do her printing, etc. Likewise I also noticed in the video her invitations and party favors. Again, I understand her disapointment and anger of feeling like she has been taken advantage of on her big day but SHE MADE THE DECISION TO CANCEL THE WEDDING, not the owners of the wedding facilities.

But I think the bride needs to take a good look into why she is marrying this gentleman. It seems to me from the outside looking in that she was looking for any reason available to CANCEL HER WEDDING.

Here’s the case of another runaway bride that just wasn’t able to ru, LOL.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 5:46 pm

I just love these investigative reports. I have yet to see one get the “whole truth.” I think it’s just the thrill of the drama, trying to make “someone” look bad.....

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KxVx Says:

Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 2:48 pm

Watch the video. I very clearly see her invitations meaning they’re already printed, her party favors tagged and in order...She even has snazzy little garter belts still in the package!! The only thing wrong I see is a BRIDEZILLA freaking out over an ownership change.

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rmseek1234 Says:

Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 2:35 pm

Perhaps, calling the Better Business Bureau would have been a good start, especially when booking with a place not well known. And there is still time to pull off a wedding by that date. Enlist the help of family, friends and print your own invitations if you have to.

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KxVx Says:

Thu, Jun 19, 2008 at 2:14 pm

I don’t understand the problem? Why is this a news story??
SHE RUINED HER OWN WEDDING BY CANCELLING IT!!!!!!!!!
The new owner was letting her use the place for the night, but for some reason she cancelled everything?
IDIOT just wanted to be on TV.

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Wayne225 Says:

Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 5:50 am

Yea but what about invitations that didn’t get printed? The caterers that didn’t get hired, menues made, seating arrangements, and the other thousands of things that need to be done for the proper wedding. They didn’t get done and there isn’t time for her to do them herself and meet her wedding date is what she’s trying to say…

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mustuknow Says:

Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 8:35 pm

OK I completely understand Ms. Johnson’s frustrations but what I do not understand is why she didn’t just go ahead and pay the balance of her contract and go ahead with the July 12th wedding date if she already had everything in motion (Invitations, Programs, Tuxes, etc).... Not to be negative or doubtful but it seems that the new owners are trying to do the right thing with the people that have been taken advantage of by the Walters....

If Ms. Johnson thinks she is gonna get anything out of the Walters, she is probably gonna get a big disapointment. If they could not afford to pay the rent and utilities you can bet they didn’t carry insurance to cover this type of stuff and I’m sure they don’t have a pot to pee in or a window to pour it out of.

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