Couple's wedding woes solved by generous surprise
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Niki Stephan and her fiancé Brian had to cancel their wedding in July after they found out their wedding venue had to close due to fire code violations.
The owners of the Arista Ballroom in Southeast Portland didn’t refund the couple’s $4,000 for their reservation, Stephan said.
“That’s what I’ve asked of them,” Stephan said in July. “Please do the right thing.”
When she heard the couple’s story, wedding planner Kristina Kutz sent a link to the story on KATU.com to other wedding businesses.
“I heard about the story and it kind of broke my heart,” she said. “Sooner or later it became a snowball effect.”
Earlier this month, Kutz’s company, Niella's Special Events, surprised Stephan with a check for $20,000 for her wedding.
Everything was paid for - the venue, food, flowers - down to the last detail. All Stephan has to do is show up in her dress.
Many vendors joined the effort to make the couple’s wedding happen.
The couple will even have their original wedding date: March 17.
Stephan admitted that her faith in people was shaken after Arista’s owners kept her money without delivering a wedding.
“I’m amazed. I’m really, truly amazed,” Stephan said.
Vendors that contributed to the wedding:
Niella’s Special Events $9,500
Food, rentals and full wedding coordination
The Heathman Lodge $1,650
Room rental and honeymoon suite giveaway
April Williams Photography $1,588
Complete wedding photography package
LaCamas Flowers and Events $1,200
Flowers arrangements and bouquets for wedding
Bust-A-Move DJ $1,050
DJ services during ceremony and reception
Photobooth for You $749
Photo booth for guest use at reception
Pacific Perks $600
Italian soda bar for guests at reception
Posh Skin & Hair $500
Facials for bride and bridesmaids, plus waxing for bride
Truly Scrumptious $450
Sweetheart cake and dessert buffet
Silpada Designs $400
Jewelry for bride and bridesmaids
AJ’s Hair Design & Makeup $355
On-site hair and makeup services for bride and bridesmaids
Herbal Life with Julie Bloomquist $115
Wellness coaching, plus healthy shakes and protein powder for bride and groom
Hello everyone! This is Niki's mother, Denise-
Just want to THANK all the vendors & others who MADE my daughter's dream come true! SHANNON LONG of the HEATHMAN LODGE & KRISTINA KUNTZ of NIELLA'S SPECIAL EVENTS- YOU ARE MY HEROS!!!  It was was so beautiful! This makes me believe that the kindness of strangers does still exist- please do a random act of kindness for a stranger, "pay it forward"! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!! The Stephan family
This is wonderful for this couple but what about the rest of the couples that have been duped out of their deposit. My daughter lost $2,600 and no one has come to rescue her. We did the recommended reporting to DOJ but other than that we've been given no guidance.Â
This is a wonderful story for someone deserving of it, Karma works in strange ways. Sometimes its hard to know if you have been scammed, or if patience is the true key.
=)
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It's great when a good thing snowballs to create happiness for others.Â
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Nicely done!
Great Job Kristina for putting this together! Great work to all the vendors that helped out. Can't wait until March! It's gonna be an amazing wedding!
What a wonderful story. I think what the original place did was horrible. This was not the only couple,that had to make other plans. I believe they should all get their money back I believe what they did was a  crime,and they stole that money. Instead of working with these couples,and making things right,including making their place up to code,they closed down,and took all that money with them. Makes me wonderful,what other things they did,that were not legal!
This is really awesome. Kudos to all of those businesses who made this happen. What went from a wedding nightmare is becoming a wedding dream come true. Kindness will be returned to you, tenfold.
Just an FYI to any other Brides that may be in a similar situation on Feb. 2nd 2013 11 am-4pm Niella's Special Events is hosting the "Wedding of Your Dreams Showcase" at The Heathman Lodge in Vancouver, WA. The event vendors are handing out a total of  $10,000 in giveaways. It is Free to Enter with Champagne Service and Hor' Dourves provided by The Heathman. For more information visit the Niella's Special Events Facebook page for more chances to win!
 @Kristina Kuntz I think you mean "hors d'oeuvres" and what a nice thing to do for someone - It's great to see some positive news once in a while. Best wishes to the bride and groom!
KATU helped make Niki's Dreams come true. There is something great to be said for Shellie, Or else I would have never heard about this story. It was an amazing opportunity to give back. I am thankful to everyone who helped and participated in such an amazing en devour. Not to mention they are the best at what they do and Niki & Brian will have one of the most amazing weddings to date! Thanks Shellie and KATU :D
Good grief! Now everyone will know where to go when they want to get married and can't rub two nickels together! Great ending but now how many others will suddenly have a "Eureka" moment and call KATU for some media attention to their problem?Â
What a wonderful thing to do for this couple..! Â Â "Big Business" might not care, but the SMALL businesses do..! Â :-)
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Question, though... how is it that the owners of Arista Ballroom are apparently getting away with NOT refunding the couple's money..??? Â Â
 @margay1 Thanks for the kind words. It was such an amazing gift to be able to give. I am lucky to have had the opportunity to get involved.
 @Kristina Kuntz ~  I think, with individuals, families, and small businesses all struggling these days just to survive, it's more important now than ever before to try to help each other when we can, instead of just sitting back and waiting for "someone else" to do it (eg: the gov't).   This kind of neighborhood / community help is what our country was built on...not gov't hand-outs.  Â
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I'm sure this couple will have a beautiful wedding..! Â :-)
 @margay1 They were accepting deposits as 'non-refundable'. However, I think a DA should nail em for fraud considering they knew about the issues and continued to accept deposits. At that point I would assume that behaviour elevates to a fraudulant action.
 @Peregrine  @margay1 Usually non-refundable means they won't give it back if there is an issue on your side, but have to if there is an issue on the business' side. Sounds like a bunch of customers need to get together to go after the business. That is just wrong.
 @Peregrine ~  Good point, Peregrine..!   Seems to me that businesses and/or building owners are given notices when fire code violations are found.  Therefore, as you say, any deposits they accepted after they were made aware of the code violations would have been accepted under false pretenses, if the violations had not been corrected.  Â
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I hope the DA will get involved in this... One business doing things like this tarnishes the reputations of all similar businesses, and in this economy, who needs that..?!?
Thank you to all the businesses that helped her out. I will remember you if I ever need your services.
 @RalphCramden We are always here:) It was our pleasure to be part of such an amazing gift. It's important to take care of your community because they are the ones who take care of you!