An Irish couple who lost €26,000 after their Tenerife wedding planner closed her business have finally celebrated their marriage after a dramatic last-minute rescue. Sorcha McManigan from Dublin and Alan Kent rebuilt their wedding in just three months, supported by family, friends and suppliers who stepped in to help.
The couple married last weekend on a banana plantation in Tenerife, Spain. Although the replacement celebration cost a further €40,000, they said the hastily arranged event became an unforgettable day and, in many ways, better than the wedding they had planned for more than 18 months.
What happened to the couple’s original Tenerife wedding?
McManigan and Kent had been working with Claire Lopez’s Weddings In Tenerife business since autumn 2024. They had travelled to the island several times, met with the organiser and paid €26,000—about two-thirds of the expected final bill.
In May, Lopez contacted them to say she was closing the business with immediate effect. The couple were left without the wedding arrangements they had paid for and without access to the money they had already handed over.
The collapse placed the planned ceremony in serious jeopardy. The couple faced the choice of cancelling their Tenerife wedding or trying to organise a new event within weeks. They decided to continue, despite the financial and practical pressure.
New wedding planners worked around the clock
The couple contacted Licandros Weddings, a different Tenerife-based planner. The team agreed to take on the event just days before the ceremony, while already preparing another wedding scheduled for September 19th.
McManigan said the planners worked continuously to put the celebration together. Their support included a surprise traditional carnival experience, with heavy drums and elaborately costumed dancers leading the newlyweds into the wedding party.
The performance, provided by Tropicana, quickly became one of the highlights of the event. Guests danced on tables and chairs as the celebration took on a distinctly local character.
- €26,000 was paid to the original wedding organiser and remains disputed.
- The couple spent a further €40,000 on the replacement celebration, including hen and stag events.
- The wedding took place on a banana plantation in Tenerife.
- The couple now plans to pursue recovery of the original payment through legal channels.
Family, friends and suppliers helped save the celebration
The second wedding required substantial additional spending. The €40,000 cost covered the ceremony, reception and associated hen and stag parties. Much of the money came through borrowing and financial help from relatives.
Suppliers who learned about the couple’s situation also offered discounts. Two specialist wedding photographers and content creators, Eclectic Elegance and Taliaferro, travelled from Florida and Paris and provided their services without charge.
McManigan said the support made the event possible. Some businesses could not offer discounts, which she said the couple understood, but the assistance they did receive helped reduce the cost and allowed the wedding to proceed.
Couple says replacement wedding was better than the original plan
Despite the financial loss, the couple said the new celebration felt meaningful because their loved ones rallied around them. McManigan described the day as perfect and said the experience reinforced the strength of their relationship.
She also said the hastily arranged event was “definitely better” than the original plan. The couple’s guests, the carnival performance and the support from suppliers created a celebration that felt personal rather than simply polished.
However, the financial consequences remain. The couple expects it will take years to clear the debt created by the replacement wedding and the money lost through the failed arrangement.
Legal action is now the couple’s focus
McManigan said she and Kent did not encounter their original planner while they were in Tenerife and did not seek her out. Their priority was to concentrate on the new wedding and their guests.
They have contacted the former organiser seeking repayment but say they have not received a response. The couple now intends to explore legal options to determine what, if anything, can be recovered.
The legal process is expected to take time. At this stage, the couple’s account confirms that they are seeking repayment; it does not establish whether the disputed €26,000 will ultimately be recovered.
What should couples check before booking a destination wedding?
The experience highlights the risks involved when large sums are paid in advance for overseas events. Couples arranging destination weddings may wish to consider:
- Checking whether the organiser is a registered business and how long it has operated.
- Requesting a written contract setting out payment schedules, cancellation terms and refunds.
- Using payment methods that may provide consumer protection where available.
- Confirming which suppliers hold deposits and whether those payments are transferable.
- Taking out suitable wedding or travel insurance before making major payments.
- Keeping copies of invoices, correspondence and receipts.
These steps cannot eliminate every risk, but they can make it easier to identify problems early and establish what protections may apply.
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Frequently asked questions
How much money did the couple lose?
They paid €26,000 to the original wedding organiser and say the money disappeared when the business closed.
Where did the couple get married?
They were married on a banana plantation in Tenerife, Spain.
How much did the replacement wedding cost?
The replacement celebration cost €40,000, including the wedding and the hen and stag parties.
Will they take legal action?
Yes. The couple said they are now turning their attention to legal routes to see whether any of the original payment can be recovered.
A difficult wedding disaster ended in a day to remember
The couple’s story began with the loss of a substantial wedding deposit but ended with a celebration shaped by determination and generosity. Their experience is a reminder that destination weddings require careful checks, clear contracts and protection against business failure.
For McManigan and Kent, the immediate priority was to get married with the people they love. Despite the debt and the continuing effort to recover €26,000, they say the support they received transformed a potential disaster into a day they will remember for the rest of their lives. Their experience has become a striking piece of Breaking News for anyone planning a wedding abroad: financial safeguards matter, but community support can also make an unexpected difference.
