Brides across the north-east have been left in the lurch – and thousands of pounds out of pocket – after a wedding catering firm went bust.
Aberdeen-based Salt and Sauce launched earlier this year, headed up by chef Chris Tonner.
The company had already been booked to provide catering at a number of ceremonies over the next few months.
But now dozens of brides fear they are going to be left out of pocket after Salt and Sauce’s parent company Gilbert and Joseph was dissolved.
Several couples say they only found out through their wedding venue, with one bride-to-be claiming she was still paying Mr Tonner’s firm after it folded.
The woman and her fiance, from Elgin, paid £4,360 towards the catering of their July nuptials.
The woman, who did not want to be named, said she had yet to receive any official correspondence about the business going under, and was only informed by her venue.
She said: “You can imagine, it was just heartbreaking. We just panicked about where we were going to get the money from and whether we would be able to get a caterer on time.
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“It’s been quite a stressful time but thank God our venue contacted us because otherwise we would have had no idea – we’ve never been contacted officially.
“I can’t believe how many people have been affected, some are getting married in just a few weeks.”
Police have confirmed they have received a complaint, while Aberdeen City Council’s trading standards team has also been informed.
The Salt and Sauce website was live yesterday morning but was later taken down.
Mr Tonner was previously co-owner and chief executive of Beetroot Restaurants, which ceased trading last year.
It ran The Adelphi Kitchen and The Courtyard, which later became barbecue restaurant Cue.
They were both forced to shut their doors in 2016 as the oil and gas industry downturn took its toll on the local independent restaurant market.
Mr Tonner did not respond to requests for comment.