Michael Jenkins, 23, of Fostoria, and Tasha Chambers, 21, of Mayville, have no place to hold their wedding reception.

Saturday will mark a future anniversary that Natasha Chambers, 21, of Mayville, and Michael Jenkins, 23, of Fostoria, hope to forget — the day they weren't married.

Less than 10 days before they were to become husband and wife, the couple received a letter from Virgilio's Banquet Center in Imlay City, advising them to make new arrangements for their 200 guests.

"I couldn't believe it," said Chambers, who grew up in the North Branch area. "We just didn't know what to do. I got on the phone and called every hall listed. There's nothing available for Saturday."

In his letter, Virgilio's owner Bill Wallace claimed the business was forced to shut down temporarily because of an electrical problem. But a Lapeer County Health Department notice plastered on the banquet hall door says they can no longer serve food. The banquet center never renewed its food service permit that was due April 30. Wallace first licensed it with the health department on July 12, 2004.

"We notified them," said Director of Environmental Health Mitch Caskey. "Including the late fee, it would have cost them $550. We put in a number of calls, and stopped by. They never returned them. We assumed they weren't operating."

But no one told Chambers and Jenkins, who had been planning their wedding for over a year.

"I phoned him like he said to, two weeks before, to confirm the menu and the number of guests," Chambers said. "He didn't return the calls, and then I received the letter in the mail."

Even if the couple had found a hall, they're uncertain how they would pay for it. Wallace is not returning phone calls concerning the $5,000 deposit Chamber's father gave him.

The canceled wedding has caused a chain reaction of bad events, said Amber Iseler, who planned to be a bridesmaid.

"They both dreamed of this wedding, and this is really unfair," said Iseler, who is Jenkins sister. "Tasha and my brother were going to use some of their wedding money to pay for their rings. Now there's no wedding."

The family has forfeited the flower deposit money and the expensive invitations are now useless. On Tuesday, Chambers purchased postcards to notify the guests who couldn't be reached by phone. The cake and the music also had to be canceled.

The five bridesmaids have their dresses which may be used in a future date, but the store is insisting the groomsmen pay the complete price for their canceled tuxedoes.

Virgilio's has disappointed other clients. The children of Marilyn and Tim Coulter, of Lapeer, had invited 125 guests to a surprise 40 year anniversary party on Oct. 20. The Monday before, the family received a letter similar to the one Chambers has. They had to reschedule the event, notify the guests and not ruin the surprise. The family was able to find a room at Devil's Ridge in Oxford.

"It turned out just wonderful, but they had just five days to put it together," said Marilyn Coulter. "I know they called everywhere. I can't imagine what they went through. I don't think they got their money back."

An Imlay City woman who planned a November wedding at Virgilio's feels she has more reason than most to be a nervous bride.

"I don't know what we'll do," said the woman, who didn't want her name used. "The invitations have all been sent. We have out of state guests coming."

The future bride has not yet received a cancellation note.

"We don't have any more money to plan our wedding," she said. "I hope we can work something out. This is the time that he said we'd be sampling food to choose our menu. He's not returning my phone calls."

Wallace didn't return County Press phone calls.

Susan Younger may be reached at (810) 664-0811, Ext. 8122 or susan.younger@lapeergroup.com