![Canberra couple Tanja Cobden and Seb Tobes at Lake George Winery where they will marry on Saturday after Pialligo Estate closed last week. Picture by James Croucher Canberra couple Tanja Cobden and Seb Tobes at Lake George Winery where they will marry on Saturday after Pialligo Estate closed last week. Picture by James Croucher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/ac44ec35-124d-448d-8dd2-8972e0ff8961.jpg/r0_356_5000_3178_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Canberra couple Seb Tobes and Tanja Cobden were supposed to be married at Pialligo Estate this Saturday, the event booked for more than a year and the $17,000 bill paid in full beforehand.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Now they will tie the knot at Lake George Winery north of Canberra after owner Sarah McDougall threw the couple a lifeline in the wake of Pialligo Estate's snap "temporary" closure last week. They made the decision in a vacuum of information from Pialligo Estate which confirmed overnight Tuesday that talks with financiers had failed and the business was closing for good.
Seb and Tanja have now put all the stress of the last few days behind them to concentrate on celebrating with family and friends.
"We're excited," Tanja said.
"We're going to make it an amazing day."
![Lake George Winery owner Sarah McDougall with Tanya and Seb. She was able to make their wedding happen on the same day as planned at Pialligo Estate. Picture by James Croucher Lake George Winery owner Sarah McDougall with Tanya and Seb. She was able to make their wedding happen on the same day as planned at Pialligo Estate. Picture by James Croucher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/9ffe608c-c2f8-47d9-8ae4-f3c3edc85e9d.jpg/r0_256_5000_3078_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Tanja and Seb never received any information from Pialligo Estate about whether their wedding could go ahead or not.
With phones going unanswered and the business' website down, the couple went out to Pialligo Estate last Friday and was told by the functions manager it was still unclear if their wedding - then in just over a week's time - could go ahead.
But they were also told it was also unlikely they would receive their $17,000 back, unless "there was a miracle".
"It's been pretty poor form all around," Seb, 29, said.
It was revealed late on Tuesday night that Pialligo had in fact collapsed, despite the naming of a "temporary" closure.
READ MORE:
Both public servants, Tanja and Seb have been together for a decade.
They went to school together at Burgmann Anglican College and reconnected at university.
Their wedding will be a celebration of their relationship with 90 guests, including some flying in from overseas and interstate.
The couple could have given up on a wedding but still wanted to go ahead, especially with many friends and family travelling long distances to be with them.
"We were going to get married, rain, hail or shine," Tanja, 28, said.
![Tanja and Seb are putting the stress of the last week behind them to enjoy their wedding on Saturday. Picture by James Croucher Tanja and Seb are putting the stress of the last week behind them to enjoy their wedding on Saturday. Picture by James Croucher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/ba6a4449-7949-4965-95b1-87911f987798.jpg/r0_256_5000_3334_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
A friend saw on social media that Lake George Winery, like many local venues, had reached out to couples affected by the Pialligo Estate closure.
They contacted owner Sarah McDougall, who has booked them in for almost the same time this Saturday and who has also waived the venue hire fee.
Tanja said it was a relief after so much stress.
"They have made it so relaxed and fun and worked with us as much as possible on everything," she said.
![Sign of the times: the gates at Pialligo Estate are closed. Picture by James Croucher Sign of the times: the gates at Pialligo Estate are closed. Picture by James Croucher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/550ecd20-d356-4cfb-a63c-0c6238b68184.jpg/r0_267_5000_3078_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"We wanted to bring our own dessert, which was also our plan at the other venue, my grandmother makes doughnuts and my mum was making the cake, and they were okay with that. Nothing has been a problem."
Ms McDougall said she had been "inundated" with enquiries from couples affected by the Pialligo Estate closure, with others now booked for later in April and in June.
"And we're working with about five other couples," she said.
Seb said everyone had been doing their best to give them a wonderful wedding.
"The wider Canberra community has been very supportive," he said.
Pialligo Estate owner John Russell released a statement just before midnight on Tuesday saying, "it is with a heavy heart that this evening I have to announce that Pialligo Estate has ceased trading".
This comes after staff were told on Thursday evening that "Pialligo Estate was temporarily shutting it's doors with immediate effect" after "a breakdown in negotiations with financiers", and customers were left with no answers.
External contractors were brought in to deliver weddings scheduled at Pialligo Estate last weekend.
Tuesday's statement said financiers had confirmed they would take possession of the venue on Wednesday, with Mr Russell saying "unfortunately we have not been able to reach an agreement to continue to trade the business".
![Seb and Tanja have been told they are unlikely to have returned the $17,000 they paid for their wedding at Pialligo Estate. Picture by James Croucher Seb and Tanja have been told they are unlikely to have returned the $17,000 they paid for their wedding at Pialligo Estate. Picture by James Croucher](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/32suSVsqH3pdw6NJyh92X9D/b28866d2-653a-4251-8ab8-f8c940e47d3f.jpg/r0_256_5000_3334_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
"Pialligo Estate is a small local business and we are very much hurting for all those affected by its closure.
"Please understand we did everything in our power to try and keep the business running ... unfortunately we have finally succumbed to the impact of these events."
We've made it a whole lot easier for you to have your say. Our new comment platform requires only one log-in to access articles and to join the discussion on The Canberra Times website. Find out how to register so you can enjoy civil, friendly and engaging discussions. See our moderation policy here.