Saskatoon company leaves brides and grooms-to-be in limbo

Dozens of grooms and brides-to-be are wondering about the status of their big day after a Saskatoon wedding event planner declared bankruptcy.

Simple Sentiments Design Company filed the official documents related to bankruptcy on Tuesday. The materials reveal a four-pages long list of unsecured and secured creditors — people who are owed money.

I was scared.- Gina Currie

Gina Currie is one of the people affected.

Her wedding is set for September and she hired the company to light and decorate the bridal party dais.

"I was scared, I didn't know if I was going to get my money back, how I was going to get my money back, how many people were affected by this," Currie said when asked how she reacted when she heard of the bankruptcy move. "Thank God I had time to find my own back up plans, but I feel for those brides that are being really stuck right now."

Among the listed creditors are dozens of individuals from Saskatoon, Dalmeny, Martensville, North Battleford and Lanigan. They are owed amounts ranging from $100 to $4,000.

"I just started to cry," Dallas Dixon, who is set to get married in just a few days, told CBC News Wednesday. She said she learned the wedding store was closed when she received an email from Deloitte.

"The store ... is locked," she said. "You can't get any of your stuff. It's like done."

Dixon said she wonders why the owner didn't say anything, considering her wedding date is so close.

"I'm feeling frustrated because I think she knew she was going bankrupt and my wedding day is very soon," Dixon said. "I just think if I was in that situation I would call the people."

Dixon quickly found another wedding specialist: Melissa Murray at Penny Lane Wedding Store.

"A lot of people had everything booked with that company," Murray said Wednesday, noting she has heard from about 50 couples who were in left in a lurch. "We've had a few people whose wedding is this weekend and it's chaos."

While Dixon has had to scramble, and expects to be out a $200 deposit, she is confident her wedding day will still be the event she wanted.

"My friends and family will be there," Dixon said. "If the hall has fewer decorations, I'm sure no one will say anything."

Also on listed as creditors are the Canada Revenue Agency, the Government of Saskatchewan, a number of banks, an insurance company and former staff. Deloitte Restructuring Inc. is the trustee.

CBC News attempted to reach someone from the company to comment, without success.