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Reports are surfacing that an Australian wedding planner, organizing weddings in Bali, has gone into receivership. There is a news report in the West Australian, saying at least $200,000 in client’s money has been lost.
Some couples were about to board the plane for Bali for the wedding before hearing the bad news. They had paid the full amount for the wedding only to find out, venues haven’t been booked or paid.
The company’s website has at least two websites: www.balidluxe.com and balidluxeweddingsandevents.com, both of which are still online.
The owner of the company is Catherine Williams, trading under the Australia registered company name Acceler8 Group Pty Ltd (ABN 62 538 036 723).
RSM Bird Cameron have been appointed receivers and affected persons can contact them at: http://www.rsmi.com.au/home.html
It is the second recent case of an Australian agent having problems and people losing money, so I thought I would post a warning.
Of course I believe Bali is a great place to get married, but you obviously do need to take precautions. Paying one person the full amount, has an element of risk. I don’t know what the solution is. In Bali D’ Luxe’s case they did have a registered company and had until now had many satisfied clients.
One solution might be to try and arrange it yourself or at least part of it yourself. Maybe even booking and paying for the venue directly yourself.
The Australian consulate in Bali has information on their website about getting married in Bali, which you can see here: https://bali.indonesia.embassy.gov.au/blli/marriage.html
The West Australian government posted a consumer alert here: http://www.commerce.wa.gov.au/announcements/consumer-alert-bali-dluxe-weddings-insolvent
Update: I have received reports of suppliers not being paid, so I think the $200,000 figure mentioned is likely much higher, not to mention the local staff who problem have salary owing.
There are many reputable hotels which would be happy to host weddings and make all the arrangements. We know one hotel manager personally who would be absolutely delighted to handle that sort of business, so why deal with operators who exist “on paper” only?
I agree. Unfortunately there will always be the shyster skimmers who take 20%+ off the top, increasing the cost to the consumer. Deal direct.
There’s so many hotels that can do it so they made a mistake by getting a wedding company. 1 thing they could have done to ensure it was safe was to have placed it in a escrow account.
I have been organizing weddings and events in Bali for almost 23 years now and taken care of thousands of couples over that period. Our history speaks for itself and there are hundreds of venues and vedors on the island who can vouch for our professionalism and integrity. We are licensef, our western consultants have work permits and we always pay our vendors and venues on time.
Yes hotels can do a wedding for you but the level of personalization and understanding (which every couple deserves and are entitled to), of their persibak wants and needs is just not there. Hotels specialize on accommodation, food annd beverage afterall and weddings are more or less a ‘sideline’ fort them.
In any case not everyone wants to be married in the public eye of a hotel garden and they are best taken care of by a professikoal organizer.
Private villas mostly insist that an organizer is engaged to take care if and responsibility for everything thereby protecting both the venue and the couple.
Most villa management compnies will not accept bookings frombinknown organizers or those who cannot show they are licalky based and operating legally.
Bottom line professiinal and legally operating organizers do exist in Bali but like everything people need to do their due diligence and make sure of who they are workibg with.
One small hint – people cannot open a bank account in a company name here in Bali without having a registered company and showing all the paperwork. If asked to pay to a personal name or a name not the same as the company you are dealing with – they are probably not a company at all…..and there will be no recourse if you don’t get what you have paid for.
Thanks Katrina for your comment.
I planned my wedding in Bali for a year prior to October 2014. I found a wedding planner who appeared legitimate, had 20 years’ experience and I took references from couples that she’d worked with. 2 weeks before my wedding, having paid the full balance, Bali D’luxe went into liquidation. Many couples were affected losing in excess of $200,000.
Though this devastated my husband and I, still determined, I contacted as many organisers and vendors as I could. I saw a thread on Tripadvisor with the details for the Bali Wedding Association. Of course I struggled to trust so I read up more about them – http://www.baliweddingassociation.com/
Bali Wedding Association is not a wedding organiser, the association will refer you to members who are registered companies in Bali and trusted. It is important to note that there are many unregistered planners that do not reside in Bali but travel in to organise a wedding.
Bali is a beautiful place to marry with character and the love and attention of trustworthy people. Do not let the recent media reports deter you. Ensure that your planner and vendors are trusted and reputable through Bali Wedding Association.
The help that I received assisted me to reorganise my wedding on arrival to Bali. Without the help of these kind and honest people, I would not have had a wedding at all. My wedding was sensational and a fairy tale.
Karen Cody – We are interested in gitetng a wedding estimate for a date in October 2013 and what exactly the cost of the site and wedding reception will include (i.e., cake, dinner, open bar, linens, table, appetizers, etc.)Thanks, karen