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The Postmark in Chillicothe looks to forfeit $60,000 for stranded Noah's brides

When Michelle and Josh Staley heard the news about Noah's Event Venues closing down, they knew they had to help.

CHILLICOTHE, Ohio - Couples and dates go together, significantly.

"It was her birthday, so, I better know that," Demetrius Clemens laughed. "It was October 2 of last year."

It was the day Clemens and Jasmine Haughn got engaged. She wasted no time. Days later she was on the phone, booking the Noah's Event Venue in New Albany. Soon after, a contract was signed and the couple started paying.

"We spent over $2,000 for it so far," Haughn said. "We were paying every month."

Haughn and Clemens in an engagement photo (Haughn)

Recently, Clemens started to hear rumblings. He saw online articles saying Noah's had filed for bankruptcy and stores were closing. They say when they asked the New Albany location about this they were told yes, stores were closing, but the New Albany location was staying open.

On Saturday, the New Albany store did close.

Here's another date: September 21, 2013.

Michelle and Josh Staley married on September 21, 2013 (Josh Staley)

It's the day Michelle and Josh Staley got married. As a bride and as a groom they couldn't believe the Noah's headlines.

"But when we saw everything online on Saturday, my heart just broke for these brides," Josh said. "I couldn't believe that a company would just go out of business."

The business of wedding vendors, they say, is close-knit.

"Hey, what if we just waived the venue fee," Clemens said of his phone call to his wife, Saturday evening. "What if we're gonna waive a $3,000 fee to let brides know that they have options here, that this isn't the end of the world and maybe we could help a couple people. And, with no hesitation, she's like 'Yeah, let's do it'."

In November, they purchased space in Chillicothe.

"It served as one of the original post offices in the state of Ohio and they actually sorted the mail in this room," Josh said.

The Postmark wasn't set to open until March 2020 as a wedding venue. Since Noah's closed, though, they've had upwards of 20 parties call them for availability. Their first wedding is Feb. 22. They'll make it work even though the venue hasn't officially opened.

The couple is also waiving the $3,000 rental fee. By doing so, the Staley's are forfeiting upwards of $60,000.

"Just thinking about all the brides who are going through that, my heart is just hurting for them," Michelle said.

One of those brides is Jasmine who is touring the Postmark this week and is thankful for it and other venues who, she says, are opening their doors at discount prices to help those left stranded.

"We thank everyone that's came to us and all the other brides that were affected by this," Haughn said. "They didn't have to do that."

Haughn and Clemens say they had set their wedding date for October 10, 2020. As of now, the Postmark has that date available.

Whereas the Staley's are waiving the $3,000 for the rental fee, they are asking that couples put down at least $2,000 for the event. They are also allowing brides to keep any other contracts they have with DJs, photographers or caterers, so that they don't have to break any more contracts or lose any more money.

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