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Hundreds of couples lose out on wedding videos

Dan Miles Rich Smith, left, in a navy blue suit and a silver waistcoat. He is bald with a beard. He kneels on the floor and holds his dog, who is white and fluffy and supported by wheels due to being ill. His wife is on the right and wears a lacy dress and veil. She has dark hair and holds a bouquet. Dan Miles
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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".

'She went off radar'

Amy Campbell Amy Campbell is on the left wearing a lacy wedding dress holding a pen. Her husband is on the right wearing a navy suit, silk waistcoat and pink handkerchief and tie. There are flowers in the foreground. Amy Campbell
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".

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".

"It would mean so much to have the video my nan saw," she said.

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.

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.

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".

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.

Mark Thompson @ MST Photography Shania Stanton and her husband on their wedding day signing the marriage schedule. She is on the left wearing a white dress with exposed shoulders and a tiara. She has long dark hair and is laughing and holding the pen. He is wearing a suit with a blue silk tie and a flower brooch. He is bald. There is a bouquet in the foreground. Mark Thompson @ MST Photography
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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