A BRIDE was left ‘inconsolable’ when she arrived for her wedding ceremony to find a photographer she had paid for failed to turn up.

Samantha Bannister, 28, booked Chorley photography business Unforgettable Moments to record her special day as she married fiance, Tony, 34 at Chorley Register Office last Saturday.

However, nobody from the business – which held a ‘grand opening’ on March 1 – attended despite being paid £100 in full to record the service and the subsequent reception at the nearby St Mary’s Social Club.

A former business partner in Unforgettable Moments blamed a ‘mix-up’ and said the firm had recently gone into liquidation.

Mum-of-three Mrs Bannister, of Eaves Green Road, said she was so upset she had to delay the ceremony to compose herself.

She said: “It was the first time I’d been married and although we wanted a low-key day, having a photographer there was obviously an important part of that.

“I’d had a meeting with Heidi Slater from Unforgettable Moments three weeks earlier and paid for a budget package where they would do an hour at the ceremony and a short time at the reception for which I would receive a CD of photographs.

“When I realised we weren’t going to have a photographer I felt very let down. I was angry and got upset. I wasn’t able to walk down the aisle and the service was delayed by around 15 minutes.

“It put a black spot on a fabulous day. Family and friends rallied round and we got some lovely photographs and my brother even made a call and got Carol Christian Photography to attend at short notice.”

Unforgettable Moments’ premises, in Eaves Lane, have been closed for days and the shop interior appears to have been cleared.

Heidi Slater, who ran the business with Craig Elias, said: “Unforgettable Moments went into liquidation and Craig and I no longer work together. I’ve been unable to contact Craig by any means for several days.”

Mrs Slater added that she would offer Mrs Bannister a full refund and apology, and that her new business would honour Unforgettable Moments’ commitments.