Florida wedding venue, Crystal Ballroom in Lake Mary denies ‘bride to be’, Tye Hinson refund after groom, William Coney suddenly dies months before spring wedding raising questions of moral, ethical and contract legality and fairness.
Should she get her money back? Or at least a portion? Or was it her fault for not taking out contingency insurance? A Florida wedding venue has caused disconcert after declining a bride to be request’s for a refund on account of her husband unexpectedly dying months ahead of their wedding.
Tye Hinson and William Coney were planning to wed in May at the Crystal Ballroom of Lake Mary but shortly before Thanksgiving, Coney suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 42.
‘I called (the venue) two days after he passed away to make them aware,’ Hinson a Florida cosmetologist told News6. ‘This wasn’t like a cancellation. This was a person dying.’
Lake Mary wedding venue explains why it can’t give refund
Instead of voiding the non-refundable contract and returning $7,600 she had paid for the wedding venue, Hinson claims an unidentified ballroom employee instead proposed to host an alternative event.
‘Her suggestion was, ‘Maybe you can do a memorial here on your wedding day,’’ Hinson told News 6.
The wedding venue’s owner has expressed sympathy for Hinson’s loss but indicated the company communicates its non-refund policy to clients while encouraging the purchase of cancellation insurance from third-party providers.
‘Offering compassion and offering refunds are not the same thing, and both must exist within a framework that is fair, transparent, and consistent for all clients,’ Crystal Ballroom owner Lukasz Rogowski told News 6.
The bride-to-be signed a contract with Crystal Ballroom of Lake Mary in August and paid a $2,000 non-refundable administrative fee. Hinson later paid the company which had been in operation for over 16 years an additional $5,609.
‘The last payment that I gave them was literally two days before he died,’ said Hinson.
Alternative solution comes to the rescue of bride to be
After her fiancé’s death, Hinson said all her other wedding vendors refunded payments and voided contracts, even if those agreements were non-refundable.
‘It is not accurate to compare different vendors as though they operate under the same legal, financial, or operational structures,’ said Rogowski, the ballroom owner. ‘A full-service venue coordinates space, staffing, inventory, and third-party services months in advance and incurs costs on a different timeline than individual vendors.’
Rogowski said the company’s policies are disclosed in writing prior to contract signing and reviewed with clients during their initial meeting.
‘This allows expectations to be understood in advance and avoids emotional or inconsistent decision-making later,’ Rogowski told News 6.
Rogowski said his team proactively recommends and facilitates access to licensed third-party wedding cancellation, postponement, and liability insurance so clients can protect their investment in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
‘This recommendation is made before contracts are signed and again during the planning process,’ said Rogowski. ‘We cannot compel anyone to purchase insurance or adopt specific risk-mitigation measures, and our policies exist precisely because events of this nature are complex, emotionally difficult, and often financially significant.’
When situations involving serious illness, loss, or emergencies arise, Rogowski said his team will make reasonable efforts to accommodate clients under the terms of the contract and company policies.
‘In some circumstances, that may include discussing alternative uses of the space, postponement options, or other non-financial accommodations that might be meaningful to a family – not because we are obligated to, but because we recognize how difficult these moments can be.’
To help support Hinson, a GoFundMe Fundraiser was created with $4850 come Sunday night being raised.
‘While we understand contracts and policies exist, we believe compassion and care should always lead the way, especially after such a tragic loss,’ the GoFundMe page states.
Of note, Rogowski has contributed $525 to Hinson’s fundraiser.
Speaking to News 6 the Crystal Ballroom stated that he had requested that his donation not be mentioned, and that the ‘donation’ was made in his personal capacity and not on behalf of Crystal Ballroom or as part of any business action or decision.
