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| Kent: Hundreds of couples lose out on wedding videos | |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Rich Smith and his wife were hoping to have a video of loved ones who have died since the wedding | Rich Smith and his wife were hoping to have a video of loved ones who have died since the wedding |
| Couples have spoken of their anger, frustration and hurt after paying hundreds of pounds to a videographer who failed to send their wedding videos and did not refund them the money. | Couples have spoken of their anger, frustration and hurt after paying hundreds of pounds to a videographer who failed to send their wedding videos and did not refund them the money. |
| The BBC has seen a list of more than 100 people who are still waiting to receive their wedding video from Sarah L Stanton, who runs a business called Wallflower Weddings Films & Content Creation in Gillingham, Kent. Some have been waiting more than two years. | The BBC has seen a list of more than 100 people who are still waiting to receive their wedding video from Sarah L Stanton, who runs a business called Wallflower Weddings Films & Content Creation in Gillingham, Kent. Some have been waiting more than two years. |
| A Facebook group called Victims of Wallflower Videography (Wallflower Weddings Films & Content ) has 285 members. | A Facebook group called Victims of Wallflower Videography (Wallflower Weddings Films & Content ) has 285 members. |
| When contacted for comment, Ms Stanton said: "Those who know me know I am not a scammer." | When contacted for comment, Ms Stanton said: "Those who know me know I am not a scammer." |
| Rich Smith paid Ms Stanton £850 to film his wedding in June 2023. | Rich Smith paid Ms Stanton £850 to film his wedding in June 2023. |
| He has still not received the video and said he had "let it go a long time ago". | He has still not received the video and said he had "let it go a long time ago". |
| "My wife is pretty sad because she's lost her dad and one of her good friends. That was the last footage of both of those people," he said. | "My wife is pretty sad because she's lost her dad and one of her good friends. That was the last footage of both of those people," he said. |
| When approached by the BBC, Ms Stanton said she was dealing with family issues. | When approached by the BBC, Ms Stanton said she was dealing with family issues. |
| She said: "I honestly do not care what they [her clients] do or say now. | She said: "I honestly do not care what they [her clients] do or say now. |
| "I'm tired of trying to change people's opinion of me." | "I'm tired of trying to change people's opinion of me." |
| In a video posted on her social media, Ms Stanton uses an obscenity to describe her clients and said they were "threatening to take me to court left, right and centre". | In a video posted on her social media, Ms Stanton uses an obscenity to describe her clients and said they were "threatening to take me to court left, right and centre". |
| 'She went off radar' | 'She went off radar' |
| Amy Campbell from Bexley got married in February 2023 and has still not received her wedding video | Amy Campbell from Bexley got married in February 2023 and has still not received her wedding video |
| Amy Campbell from Bexley got married in February 2023 and said in the lead-up to the wedding Ms Stanton had been "attentive and communicative". | Amy Campbell from Bexley got married in February 2023 and said in the lead-up to the wedding Ms Stanton had been "attentive and communicative". |
| Her grandmother was very ill the week of the wedding but Ms Campbell said Ms Stanton had provided a "sneak peek" of the video shortly after so that she could see the ceremony before she died. | Her grandmother was very ill the week of the wedding but Ms Campbell said Ms Stanton had provided a "sneak peek" of the video shortly after so that she could see the ceremony before she died. |
| After that, Ms Campbell said Ms Stanton had gone "off radar". | After that, Ms Campbell said Ms Stanton had gone "off radar". |
| "It would mean so much to have the video my nan saw," she said. | "It would mean so much to have the video my nan saw," she said. |
| Holding video 'at ransom' | Holding video 'at ransom' |
| Ms Stanton has posted on her social media pages asking clients to send in a hard drive so that she can transfer them the raw, unedited footage of their weddings. | Ms Stanton has posted on her social media pages asking clients to send in a hard drive so that she can transfer them the raw, unedited footage of their weddings. |
| She said this would be "overexposed, unexposed, lots of pointing at the floor, fumbly shots, blurry bits etc". | She said this would be "overexposed, unexposed, lots of pointing at the floor, fumbly shots, blurry bits etc". |
| In order to receive their raw footage, Ms Stanton has asked clients to sign a "contract" that absolves Wallflower Weddings Videography of editing their final film. | In order to receive their raw footage, Ms Stanton has asked clients to sign a "contract" that absolves Wallflower Weddings Videography of editing their final film. |
| It also states they cannot seek compensation including a refund or pursue legal action. | It also states they cannot seek compensation including a refund or pursue legal action. |
| She added if clients left negative reviews, "legal action will be taken against you and this will void this contract and allow me to repossess the raws". | She added if clients left negative reviews, "legal action will be taken against you and this will void this contract and allow me to repossess the raws". |
| The clients have told the BBC they feel she is holding their videos at ransom. | The clients have told the BBC they feel she is holding their videos at ransom. |
| Some who have tried to get hold of the raw footage rather than holding out for an edited version have still not received it. | Some who have tried to get hold of the raw footage rather than holding out for an edited version have still not received it. |
| Shania Stanton said Sarah Stanton had not shown up to her wedding and blocked her on Facebook when she tried to contact her | Shania Stanton said Sarah Stanton had not shown up to her wedding and blocked her on Facebook when she tried to contact her |
| Another woman from Surrey, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had booked Ms Stanton for her wedding in June last year but she did not turn up. | Another woman from Surrey, who wished to remain anonymous, said she had booked Ms Stanton for her wedding in June last year but she did not turn up. |
| The woman said Ms Stanton's failure to show up meant she had been anxious on the day. | The woman said Ms Stanton's failure to show up meant she had been anxious on the day. |
| "I didn't really hear my husband's vows because I was worried about why she hadn't turned up," she said. | "I didn't really hear my husband's vows because I was worried about why she hadn't turned up," she said. |
| Although she was refunded the £910 that she paid, she said she was "really upset" about not having a wedding video. | Although she was refunded the £910 that she paid, she said she was "really upset" about not having a wedding video. |
| "All of these moments you want to show your future children," she said. | "All of these moments you want to show your future children," she said. |
| Similarly, Shania Stanton (no relation) said she had booked Ms Stanton for the day of her wedding but she did not turn up. | Similarly, Shania Stanton (no relation) said she had booked Ms Stanton for the day of her wedding but she did not turn up. |
| When Mrs Stanton contacted the videographer on Facebook, she said she was blocked. | When Mrs Stanton contacted the videographer on Facebook, she said she was blocked. |
| Although she did get refunded, she was left with no proper video. | Although she did get refunded, she was left with no proper video. |
| "I grew up watching Mum and Dad's video and wanted to show it to my kids," Mrs Stanton said. | "I grew up watching Mum and Dad's video and wanted to show it to my kids," Mrs Stanton said. |
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