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COUPLES SCRAMBLING TO FIND ALTERNATE WEDDING SITES. WESH 2 NEWS REPORTER GREG FOX EXPLAINS. [CHEERING] GREG: THIS IS ONE OF MANY WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS INSIDE THE CHURCH STREET BALLROOM SINCE IT OPENED IN 1994. BUT THE SOUNDS OF CELEBRATION WILL SOON BE FADING. THE NEW SUNTRUST PLAZA WILL BE OPENING THIS YEAR AND THOUGH IT BRINGS 28 FLOORS OF DEVELOPMENT, LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY IS ALREADY PLANNING A SECOND TOWER. PUFF N STUFF CATERING, WHICH OPERATES THE BALLROOM AND NEIGHBORING ORCHID GARDEN POSTED ON FACEBOOK, "IT IS WITH HEAVY HEART THAT WE ANNOUNCE OUR FINAL EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER 3. SADLY WE HAVE RECEIVED NOTICE FROM THE BUILDING OWNERS ON THEIR INTENT TO COMMENCE WITH REDEVELOPMENT THIS FALL." WARREN DIETEL OWNS PUFF N STUFF. >> OUR HEARTS ACHE FOR THOSE COUPLES AND THE CORPORATIONS THAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS. WE DID NOT SEE THIS COMING. AND WE HAVE AND I HAVE PERSONALLY CONTACTED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THESE CONTRACTED CUSTOMERS. GREG BUT DOZENS REACTED WITH : SHOCK ON SOCIAL MEDIA INCLUDING MICHAEL HAFFNER WHO SAID, THAT WAS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE. NOW WE HAVE TO FIND A NEW VENUE AND REBOOK IT. DEVASTED. SO ARE AMANDA ENNIS AND HER FIANCE. BY PHONE SHE TOLD ME "I’VE BEEN , DEVASTATED BY THE LOSS OF THIS SPACE. IT WAS MY DREAM VENUE, I HAVE ALWAYS PICTURED MY WEDDING THERE AND YOU KNOW THAT IT IS GOING TO BE TORN DOWN IS BEYOND HEARTBREAKING." SHE ALSO PROVIDED WESH 2 NEWS WITH EMAILS INCLUDING ONE FROM PUFF N STUFF APRIL 30 THAT READS, "IN REGARDS TO THE BALLROOM, IT’S BUSINESS AS USUAL." I ASKED IF CLIENTS WERE GIVEN UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE BALLROOM CLOSING TIMELINE. >> OH GOSH NO. GREG, WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT. NOT IN A MILLION YEARS. GREG: ONE THING TO KEEP IN MIND, LINCOLN PROPERTIES ALSO OWNS THIS PART OF THE BLOCK THAT INCLUDES THE CHEYENNE SALOON, WHICH OPENED IN 1982. WE HOPE TO BE TALKING WITH SOMEONE FROM LINCOLN PROPERTY COMPANY AS SOON AS TOMORROW.

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Two of the region's most popular spots for weddings and receptions are closing this fall.The Ballroom at Church Street and the neighboring Orchid Garden are being demolished at year's end to make way for a new downtown Orlando office tower, leaving some couples scrambling to find alternate sites.Many weddings, receptions and special events have taken place inside The Ballroom at Church Street since it opened in 1994, but the sounds of celebration will soon be fading.The new SunTrust Plaza will be opening this year, and although it brings 28 floors of development, Lincoln Property Company is already planning a second tower.Puff 'n Stuff Catering, which operates The Ballroom and neighboring Orchid Garden, posted on Facebook, "It is with a heavy heart that we announce our final event will take place on November 3. Sadly, we have received notice from the building owners on their intent to commence with redevelopment this fall.""Our hearts ache for those couples and the corporations that are impacted by this. We did not see this coming," said Warren Dietel, who owns Puff 'n Stuff. "And we have, and I have personally contacted each and every one of these contracted customers." Dietel said he reached out to help the customers with booking alternate venues, but dozens of people reacted with shock on social media, including Michael Haffner, who said, "that was such a beautiful place. Now, we have to find a new venue and rebook it. Devastated."Another customer, Amanda Ennis, and her fiance, said they are also upset."I've been devastated by the loss of this space. It was my dream venue, I have always pictured my wedding there, and to know that it's going to be torn down is beyond heartbreaking," Ennis said.Ennis also provided WESH 2 News with emails, including one from Puff 'n Stuff on April 30 that reads, "In regards to The Ballroom, it's business as usual." WESH 2 News asked Dietel if clients were given unrealistic expectations about The Ballroom's closing timeline."Oh, gosh, no. We would never do that. Not in a million years," Dietel said. The Cheyenne Saloon & Opera House is next door to The Ballroom and Orchid Gardens. Lincoln Properties also owns this part of the block, making some people wonder if the Saloon is next on the development hit list.