A Virginia couple’s long-anticipated wedding turned into a disaster when they arrived at their venue to find what they claim was an ant-infested, unprepared property — and even unexpected visitors.
After getting engaged, bride Maggie Reed and groom Tyler Smithhart planned their dream day at what Reed believed was a rental venue called Buttercups Home in Portsmouth, Va. The couple booked the site for Oct. 11, signing a contract and paying $5,000 plus a $750 security deposit 18 months in advance, they told WAVY 10.
When Reed arrived at the property for the wedding weekend, she immediately sensed something was wrong. She described seeing delinquency notices and for-sale signs on the property, with no power or water available. “I thought I had been scammed,” she said. Attempts to contact the venue’s owners went unanswered for nearly two hours. When no one responded, her maid of honor discovered the basement door unlocked, allowing them to enter. Reed maintains that their contract entitled them to be on the property from 3 p.m. on October 10 through noon on October 13.
Bridesmaid Brandi Paugh confirmed to WAVY 10 that “no one was at the venue to let them in, and no one was answering calls.”
The couple said the problems didn’t stop there. Reed claimed that she and her bridal party were forced to clean the property themselves, removing leftover trash and finding ants in the kitchen and bathrooms. “They destroyed some of the food we had prepared for the next day,” Reed told WAVY 10. She also said she found a mildewed load of laundry in the washing machine and leftover food in the air fryer, while the grounds appeared unmaintained.
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Paugh recalled how close they came to calling off the event entirely: “No bride should have to think about restarting her entire wedding 24 hours before it begins.”
Even on the big day, chaos continued. The venue, which was reportedly up for sale, drew multiple would-be buyers who mistook the wedding date for an open house. “I had to go to the end of the driveway several times to get rid of people coming to the open house,” the groom’s father, Randy Smithhart, told WAVY 10.
“I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” Reed admitted of the ordeal. Despite everything, she said, “We still had an incredible wedding day with our family and friends, and at the end of the day, that’s what matters most.”
Reed added that other brides have shared similar experiences in online reviews. She said she has not received her $750 deposit back, as the owner accused her of trespassing. “It’s not even about the money anymore, but the principle,” she said. “It all boils down to their lack of communication and professionalism.”
Venue owner Brandon Feagin denied most of Reed’s claims in a statement to WAVY 10. “At no point before, during, or after Ms. Maggie’s stay were any utilities disconnected or interrupted,” he said, asserting that he was on a flight when Reed arrived and sent her the access code as soon as he got Wi-Fi. He also said a cleaning service prepared the property before and after the event and that he was never informed of any insect issues.
Feagin later apologized, saying, “We understand how important weddings are to our guests and are truly sorry the recent couples who have come forward did not have the experience they hoped for.” He confirmed the property has since stopped hosting weddings due to “economic headwinds currently facing the broader hospitality industry.”
“Our goal from the beginning was to offer people a safe, unique, and affordable setting for their short-term stay,” Feagin told WAVY 10. “We remain proud of the many wonderful overnight stays and gatherings we have hosted and the joy this property has brought to so many people over the years.”
