Two brides, Lindsey Board and Krystal Underwood, have come forward with heartbreaking accounts of how their wedding planner failed to show up on their big day, leaving them scrambling to salvage their celebrations. Both women experienced significant financial losses and emotional distress due to the absence of the planner, who had been hired to coordinate essential wedding services.
Lindsey Board found the wedding planner through a Facebook group and had envisioned a beautiful beach wedding in Rockport, Texas. Initially, communication with the planner seemed promising, but as the wedding day approached, responses became sparse.
“A little closer to the day, it seemed like she was getting the venue mixed up with another venue,” Board recalled. “I sent [the address] to her over and over again, all the way up until the day, making sure she didn’t forget.”
On the wedding day, essential elements such as photography, a DJ, and decorations were missing. Family and friends had to step in to set up the venue themselves. Board, overwhelmed by the situation, sat in her maid of honor’s car, trying to process the chaos unfolding around her.
Despite paying more than $2,000 for services, Board only received a partial refund for tablecloths and chair covers.
“We barely heard any music,” she said. “I actually stopped when I got to the ceremony because I wasn’t hearing my song—the one I was supposed to walk down the aisle to.”
In an effort to prevent other brides from facing a similar experience, Board posted a warning in the Facebook group “Texas Brides on a Budget.” That’s where she connected with Krystal Underwood.
Another Bride’s Nightmare Experience
Underwood came across Board’s warning post just days before her own wedding and immediately became concerned. She shared the post with her venue coordinator, who assured her they would monitor communication with the planner.
However, on the morning of Underwood’s wedding, the planner failed to arrive at the scheduled time. When the venue coordinator reached out, the planner claimed she was at a funeral and would arrive later.
“That’s when we all started panicking,” Underwood said.
The planner never showed up.
The Underwoods had paid $6,000 for a DJ, catering, and decorations—none of which were provided. Underwood’s husband and his groomsmen spent the day scrambling to find last-minute replacements.
The couple, who had waited 30 years to marry, had to rely on friends and family to pull together a celebration on short notice.
“We had to pay another $5,000 or more that day just to get everything together so we could at least have a wedding,” Underwood said.
Planner’s Response Raises More Questions
A reporter from KPRC 2 reached out to the wedding planner but did not receive a return call. However, the planner responded to text messages, claiming she was merely a local coordinator and that payments went directly to vendors.
“Yes, I have an agency. The money doesn’t go to me at all; it is paid to the responsible vendors,” the planner stated. She added that she could not release vendor information without permission.
When asked if she could provide the names of the vendors, she replied, “I will send them a message.”
Both Board and Underwood emphasize the emotional toll of the experience. Underwood noted that her husband could not fully enjoy their wedding day due to the stress of making last-minute arrangements.
They urge future brides to thoroughly research vendors and share their experiences to prevent others from going through similar hardships.
