![\"Claire](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/P66OD7FOUBATHJBFCB2N5D4HE4.jpeg\")
Claire Lopez of Weddings In Tenerife <\/p>\nAn Irish couple due to marry in the Canary Islands in September is facing the loss of \u20ac26,000 paid to a Spanish wedding planner who closed her business last week amid claims of insolvency.<\/p>\n
Sorcha McManigan from Dublin and her fiance Alan Kent have expressed anger and heartbreak at the loss of the money handed over for their wedding in Tenerife. <\/p>\n
The couple had been planning their September 19th wedding since the autumn of 2024 and taken multiple trips to Spain to meet wedding planner Claire Lopez of Weddings in Tenerife. <\/p>\n
They had paid over two-thirds of what they believed would be the final bill for their wedding to a company they had researched and which had been in business for 12 years and won awards.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe was so flexible and willing to cater for special requests and arranged a tasting menu for us to pick the wines,\u201d McManigan said of Lopez.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe wanted to make sure we were doing this without having to take out any loans so worked really hard and saved everything that we had.\u201d <\/p>\n
They chose Tenerife as Kent\u2019s grandmother lived on the island.<\/p>\n
The couple\u2019s wedding plans are now in tatters as they have learned that none of the vendors, including the hotel, restaurant, cake supplier, videographer, photographer celebrant or florists have been paid. <\/p>\n
McManigan said 80 invitees have booked flights and paid for accommodation, giving her less than four months to arrange a wedding they don\u2019t know how they will be able to afford.<\/p>\n
Claire Lopez of Weddings In Tenerife <\/p>\n
The bride-to-be said she started having misgivings about Lopez in the run-up to last Christmas after she became slow to respond to emails and text messages.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy gut was telling me something wasn\u2019t quite right but we had a contract and had paid out so much already that I didn\u2019t want to pull out,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The couple delayed payment of a final payment of \u20ac10,000 given significant issues with an invoice Lopez promised to address.<\/p>\n
On May 22nd she received an email from the company\u2019s business address stating: \u201cI regret to inform you that Weddings in Tenerife has informed the commercial court of Santa Cruz Tenerife that we will file for insolvency as soon as our lawyers have prepared the necessary documents.\u201d <\/p>\n
The email said the couple would receive instructions for submitting a claim for the money paid and that the company \u201cwill not be able to deliver any products or services for your project\u201d. <\/p>\n
![\"Sorcha](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/KUU5XDWWQRA5FL6NSOREYCL55I.jpeg\")
Sorcha McManigan and her fiance Alan Kent have to work out how to have their wedding <\/p>\n
\u201cEven though it doesn\u2019t offer you any consolation I still want to emphasise that we have done our most to avoid this situation and that we are aware of the implications it will have for you but unfortunately there is nothing we can do about it,\u201d the company told them. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just sickening,\u201d McManigan said.<\/p>\n
She said that while the booking for the venue was made and is still secure, only \u20ac1,000 or 20 per cent of the total cost has been paid with no other vendors paid.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe now have to work out how to have our wedding and work out how to pay for it,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
The Weddings in Tenerife website and all related social media accounts have disappeared, she added. <\/p>\n
She has contacted the Garda in Ireland, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Spanish solicitors on her options but is not optimistic about getting her money back.<\/p>\n
![\"Weddings](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/HU6SOM7NIBBHDOU5HJMZ7PGA2Q.jpeg\")
Weddings In Tenerife website <\/p>\n