Wedding venue collapse leaves 48 couples scrambling to salvage big day

Wedding Venue Collapse Leaves 48 Couples Scrambling

The Hidden Garden Estate in Berriedale, Tasmania, has gone into liquidation after local authorities ruled it had breached its home business permit. The closure has left 48 couples urgently seeking new plans for their weddings.

Council Breach and Notification

Couples were informed by email on Friday, November 7, that Glenorchy City Council had advised the venue a day earlier about the permit violation. The email, titled “Sad,” presented three choices to affected couples:

Go ahead with the wedding under strict new permit rules
Postpone to a later date
Cancel and receive a full refund

Severe Restrictions Imposed

The council's new conditions significantly limited the venue's operations. Only one person, owner Diane Burrows, was allowed to conduct ceremonies, guest numbers were restricted to 60, and no more than two vendors could provide services at any event.

“DJ, photo booth, live music, wedding planners, event hire suppliers and similar services are all classified as vendors,” read the notice sent to couples.

Couples were required to decide how to proceed by the close of business on Monday, November 10.

Liquidation Announcement

By the afternoon, the estate confirmed its permanent closure and entry into liquidation. Owners Shan Strus and Diane Burrows explained that the stringent council requirements left them with no viable path forward.

“The authority initiating stringent terms that effectively caused couples to vote for refunds, has forced us to close the business,” they said in a statement.

The owners also stated they had asked the council for leniency but their request was denied.

Author’s Summary

The abrupt closure of Hidden Garden Estate after council permit breaches disrupted wedding plans for 48 couples, highlighting how strict local regulations can devastate small businesses.

Pulse Tasmania — 2025-11-10