EVER AFTER STUDIOS: R21,450 PAID, WEDDING MEMORIES RUINED, MONTHS OF EXCUSES, AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY

EVER AFTER STUDIOS: R21,450 PAID, WEDDING MEMORIES RUINED, MONTHS OF EXCUSES, AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY

We are sharing our experience with Ever After Studios because we believe other couples deserve to know what happened to us before trusting this company with one of the most important days of their lives.

We got married on 14 February 2026 and paid R21,450 for photography, videography and a wedding album. To be fair, the photographers and videographer were professional on the wedding day itself. Our complaint is about everything that followed: the missed deadlines, repeated chasing, unacceptable photographs, deleted gallery, threat regarding our wedding images and the ongoing struggle to obtain a resolution.

**A CONTRACT CHANGED JUST TWO DAYS BEFORE OUR WEDDING**

On 12 February, just two days before our wedding, Ever After Studios sent us a revised contract containing six additional pages and extensive changes to the original agreement. We signed it shortly before the wedding. However, the fully signed version was only returned to us on 16 February, two days after the wedding. We have copies of both contracts and the related correspondence.

**MONTHS OF CHASING, DELAYS AND EMPTY PROMISES**

On 15 February, we were told to expect our photographs within 2 to 4 months and our video within 4 to 6 months. We received approximately ten preview photographs. When we raised concerns about their cold, blue colour tone, these were corrected and resent.

On 24 March, we were told the full gallery was being uploaded and might take several days. It did not arrive. We continued following up. On 14 April, we were told Aden and Adré were in hospital with their baby. We were sympathetic to their circumstances and gave them time.

By 29 April, we were still asking whether the photographs would arrive within the promised timeframe. The response was: “We will send it to you ASAP when we are done.”

On 9 June, we received another generic message about delays, still without a firm delivery date. By 25 June, the maximum four-month photography delivery period had passed, and we still had no completed gallery.

We had been patient. We had followed up repeatedly. We had given them opportunities to communicate and resolve the situation. Yet we were still left chasing a company we had already paid in full.

**FORMAL LETTERS OF DEMAND AND ESCALATION TO THE CGSO**

On 1 July, we sent a formal letter of demand outlining the history of the complaint and proposing a resolution. We received no response.

On 8 July, my husband made one final attempt to resolve matters, explaining that we no longer wanted to continue dealing with the company and wanted a full refund instead. When the deadline passed on 9 July without a response, we escalated our complaint to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO). Ever After Studios only responded later that evening.

On 15 July, we sent another formal letter of demand before pursuing legal action. We offered two possible resolutions: all raw images with a partial refund, or no deliverables and a full refund. This letter was not acknowledged.

**THE VERY NEXT DAY, 16 JULY, EVER AFTER STUDIOS SENT THE GALLERY LINK.**

The timing speaks for itself. We had sent a formal demand the previous day, and suddenly the gallery link arrived. We cannot claim to know their motive, but after months of delays, the timing was remarkable.

Before opening the gallery, we asked approximately three times whether EVERYTHING would be included. They acted confused about what we were asking, despite our repeated attempts to get a clear answer. We were concerned about the risk of opening it, but proceeded.

What we found was appalling. The gallery contained poor-quality photographs, duplicates and images that were simply not acceptable as our completed wedding photography. These were supposed to be our wedding memories, photographs we would treasure for the rest of our lives.

We raised our concerns, and the gallery was subsequently deleted. To be absolutely clear, **we did not download or save photographs from that gallery. We retained screenshots documenting what we found.** We are left without acceptable completed wedding deliverables for the money we paid.

**THEN CAME THE THREAT ABOUT OUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHS**

We explicitly cancelled our contract and demanded a full refund. Instead of reaching a reasonable resolution, Ever After Studios threatened that if we posted about our experience on Facebook, they would use our good wedding photographs for their marketing.

Think about that. We had cancelled the contract, were seeking a refund after months of problems, and were now faced with a threat involving our own wedding photographs if we spoke publicly about our experience. We found this deeply inappropriate and concerning. We have retained evidence of these communications.

We should not have to feel intimidated into silence simply because we want to share an honest account of our experience.

**EVEN THE CGSO IS STRUGGLING TO REACH THEM**

This is perhaps one of the most concerning developments. Two operatives from the CGSO have now contacted us to advise that they have been unable to get hold of Aden and/or Andre.

We approached the CGSO because our direct attempts to resolve this complaint had failed. Now, according to the operatives handling our complaint, they too have been unable to reach the people involved.

We cannot know exactly why they have been unable to make contact. However, from our perspective, this raises serious questions about Ever After Studios' willingness to engage with the complaint and take accountability. A consumer should not have to spend months chasing a paid service provider, issue formal letters of demand and involve a regulatory body, only for the process to reach this point.

We have contracts, our WhatsApp history, correspondence, letters of demand, screenshots and other supporting evidence. We are prepared to put this evidence forward through the appropriate channels.

**WE ARE NOT LETTING THIS GO**

We paid R21,450 for our wedding photography, videography and album package. We are seeking a full refund and intend to pursue the matter through the appropriate channels, including Small Claims Court. Section 54 of South Africa's Consumer Protection Act addresses consumers' rights regarding timely performance and the quality of services. We believe our experience raises serious concerns about whether our rights were respected.

Wedding photographs cannot simply be recreated. These are once-in-a-lifetime memories. We entrusted Ever After Studios with something deeply personal, paid a substantial amount of money, and expected professional service, communication and completed deliverables. Instead, this has become months of frustration, disappointment and fighting to be heard.

We have also received reports of other couples pursuing claims involving Ever After Studios. We cannot speak to the details or outcomes of those cases, but we hope those couples receive a fair resolution.

**A final word to Aden and Andre:** You cannot expect unhappy customers to remain silent forever. You cannot expect formal complaints to disappear simply because they are inconvenient. And you cannot expect people to give up when they believe they have been treated unfairly.

We have heard reports that other couples have struggled with court proceedings because of claims that you cannot travel to Cape Town to attend. If you can travel to Cape Town to shoot weddings, then the question of why you cannot attend court proceedings here deserves a serious answer.

We have given you opportunities to resolve this privately. We have been patient. We have followed the process. We have involved the CGSO. We are still seeking a resolution.

**We want our R21,450 refunded. We want accountability. And we will not be intimidated into silence.**