The closure has left the pair and dozens of other couples scrambling to find new venues and rearrange almost every element of their wedding day. After depositing as much as $17,000 with the venue, many couples are also wondering whether they will ever see their money again. Ms Skelley is $8000 out of pocket and has less than a week to find a new venue for 60 guests. “We were going to have our wedding and reception there,” she said. “We have tried to call them but there is no answer.” The Willows wedding reception on St Kilda Road. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

Ms Skelley said the first she knew of the iconic venue going belly up was a brief email sent to her on Friday night. The email, provided to The Age, claims that “it is with regret” that The Willows has undertaken voluntary liquidation. “We understand that the business’ immediate closure is both an inconvenience and shock,” it states. “We apologise in advance for the disruption and undertake that this was very much a last resort.” The email goes on to list “a handful of venues close by that might be useful”.

“We hope that this goes some way to demonstrating our sincere remorse. A liquidator has been appointed and will be in touch in due course.” Housed in a Victorian mansion built in 1890, the venue was acquired by Aaron and Estelle Lewis in 2002. New-Zealand born Mr Lewis is a chef by trade, while Ms Lewis has a background in sales and corporate HR. Company documents list Mr Lewis as the director and shareholder of Lewis Hospitality Management, the company behind the business. The venue’s website has been shut down, along with all social media channels. Mr Lewis has deleted his LinkedIn profile.

Ms Skelley said she had no way of knowing what was happening with the liquidation and her missing money. “I was talking to them on Tuesday about tables and our photographer went in there as well, my florist was trying to ring them on Saturday to go in,” she said. “We started planning this wedding two years ago, we are just trying to come to grips with it.” Richard Macri said he and his fiancée Hannah have lost $17,000 they transferred to secure their wedding for 150 guests in August. “We are pretty much in shock, it’s not easy saving all of this money,” he said.

Mr Macri said he had been lured into paying the full amount by a recent email offering a discount for people who paid up in full ahead of schedule. He said the pair still hasn’t been contacted by The Willows. Nicole Dreier was booked in for a January wedding, one of the busiest times of the year for nuptials. She had put down $2500 and was about to put down thousands of dollars more. “When I heard about this I was so upset I just started crying,” she said.

Ms Dreier sent out her invitations only last week, after being assured by the venue that everything was still on track for the day. “Now I have to pretty much start from scratch.” The Willows has been contacted for comment.