Hurricane Irma forced Addie and Michael Wyman to cancel their wedding and reception 4 days before the storm blew into Plant City.
Addie says she called the venue, Crossroads Seafood and Steakhouse for three days before the storm hit and no one answered the phone.
The couple paid the owner $990 for a reception for 25 guests. But the venue’s owner Simone Tolley refuses to refund the money paid to the catering side of the business, UM Catering.
On the phone Tolley told us they were prepared to host the reception in the middle of a hurricane. But on Sept 8 the restaurant posted on Facebook that it would close for 3 days including the day of the Wyman wedding.
The owner would not go on camera. Tolley said she would send us a contract different from the one the Wyman's provided us but never did. Addie's contract says nothing about acts of God or what happens if the venue shuts down.
Addie's mother-in-law Connie Wyman says she too has tried to negotiate with the venue. The restaurant and U-M Catering claim they offered to host the wedding another day. For this bride that wasn't an option. Her Dad gets one vacation a year and was already in town for the ceremony.
Post Irma Addie and Michael got married in a park in front of her dad and in laws.
We've connected the couple with Hillsborough Consumer Protection for civil mediation and the Attorney General's office. Their only other recourse is small claims court.
