Edmond couple left without wedding reception venue, out $1,500 until News 4 steps in
EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) — An Edmond couple feared they'd be left without a place to celebrate their wedding after the previous owner of the venue they booked stopped communicating.
Corey Vesey and his fiancée got engaged back in March of last year.
The couple is planning to elope, but also want to mark their union with a post-wedding celebration, so they set their eyes on Round Midnight Bar and Jazz Lounge.
"I feel taken advantage of," said Vesey. "We just we fell in love with it, with the atmosphere and the esthetic of it."
The couple then met with Benjamin Nockels, who was one of the owners at the time.
"We came to the joint agreement that we would pay an accumulation of $3,500," said Vesey.
The couple set a date for October 19, 2024.
However after they paid a deposit of $1,500 they could no longer reach Nockels by text or phone.
Vesey sent a message to the bar's Instagram page, only to learn that their wedding reception wasn't on the books.
"I was told that Ben was no longer with Round Midnight and that deposits had been taken that Round Midnight was not aware was being taken," said Vesey.
Vesey was told the business couldn't shut down on a Saturday night, leaving them without a reception venue.
News 4 reached out to Round Midnight Bar and Jazz Lounge about the situation.
They confirmed Nockels is no longer part of the ownership group and the bar itself had no record of any payment from Vesey or Nockels.
Mike Garrison is one of the current owners and he said after talking with his fellow investors they decided to fix Nockels' mistake.
"All of the investors involved in the bar experienced a loss when it came to the previous operator," said Garrison. "We have an event space called The Stables, Round Midnight can cater the drinks. We can offer that venue free of charge."
The great news brought tears of happiness and relief for the soon to be groom and his bride.
"I just want to give my fiancée the day that she wants to have, you know, the day that she's dreamed of," said Vesey.
News 4 reached out to Benjamin Nockels regarding the claims, but he said he did not want to comment.