Events planner leaves wife-to-be in tears after ruining lobola day – Brings wrong décor, chairs, designs

A lobola day turned out to be a disaster when the bride cried tears of disappointment after an event planner provided wrong décor and designs.

Hellen Chipidza’s lobola ended in tears after Kristle Smasher of Sapphire Events Zim failed to provide what she had paid for.

Hellen expressed her disappointment in a Facebook post accusing Kristle of ruining her day.

“I booked this lady in November for my roora day on the 23rd of December and paid deposit. She asked me for the remaining fee early December and I paid.

“Three days before the event, she said I should add US$135 for a waterproof tent which I didn’t have because I was working on a tight budget and I had long concluded that I was done with decor payments.

What she got

“I tried liasing with her to give her the money after the event or pay a deposit and pay the remainder later which she also refused.

“I managed to get someone to give me a stretch tent as she was threatening not to bring decor at all.

“She went on to make unreasonable changes like not bringing hanging flowers and removing other things from my package because as she put it ‘I had negotiated the price’.

“I tried assuring her that it wouldn’t rain after looking at the weather forecast but she wouldn’t have any of it,” said Hellen.

“The final blow came when she brought wrong shades chairs, wrong shade of green serviettes and completely destroyed the rustic look I was going for.

“She brought a broken back drop and green and red balloons instead of brown and beige, she also didn’t bring cutlery.

“My event was starting at 11am, but she began to set up at 11am.

“When I asked her why she was doing the opposite of what we agreed on, she roughly told me that as long as I have paid her it doesn’t matter, why didn’t you tell me your main color was green.

“I even started crying in the middle of getting my makeup done.

“No apologies were offered whatsoever,” she said.

In her defence Kristle said:

“I told the client when she negotiated that she was not going to get exactly what she wanted and we were going to reduce on flowers and she agreed and paid her deposit.

“She changed her theme on the ground, day of the event, fortunately I had brought the colors to blend with the ones she wanted.

“Due to the current unpredictable weather conditions lately I didn’t want to ruin my equipment and asked her to top up for a waterproof tent, I never forced her or threatened not to pitch for the event.

“She insisted that we bring our cabana tent that is not waterproof and was not concerned about what would happen to my stuff if it rains,” said Kristle. H Metro