Wedding organiser ordered to repay BD5,500 for failed event booking

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A wedding organiser who failed to secure a venue after taking full payment from a client has been ordered by the High Civil Court to return BD5,500, along with BD500 in compensation and BD50 in legal costs.

The ruling came after the claimant, represented by lawyer Taqi Hussain, filed a civil case demanding repayment and damages for emotional and material distress.

According to the court documents, the incident dates back to January 2024, when the client booked a wedding celebration for 250 guests at the Sofitel Hotel. The package was to include catering, décor, reception arrangements, and a stage setup. The full amount was paid upfront, and the client provided receipts and bank transaction records as proof.

However, as the wedding date of 3 May 2024 approached, the client contacted the hotel to confirm arrangements — only to discover that no reservation had been made and no payment had been received by the venue. Attempts to reach the organiser were unsuccessful.

The matter soon gained traction on social media, with multiple users sharing similar grievances against the same organiser.

A police investigation followed, resulting in a criminal conviction. The organiser was sentenced to three years in prison, fined BD1,000, and banned from working in the event planning field.

Despite being properly summoned, the organiser failed to attend court or submit a written defence. The claimant had initially sought BD3,000 in damages, but the court awarded BD500, stating the amount was sufficient to reflect the harm caused without exceeding reasonable compensation.