Wedding Photographer Scammed Couples, Kept Their Photos, AG Says In Lawsuit

PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia-based wedding photographer scammed several newlywed couples after failing to give them their wedding photos and, in some cases, leaving them at the altar at the last minute, according to a lawsuit state authorities filed Friday.

Pennsylvania's Office of Attorney General (OAG) has sued photography business Wandering Stardust Collective and its owner, Christina Garcia.

On multiple occasions, the company entered wedding-photography contracts and then failed to provide those photos and videos. Wandering Stardust Collective refused to refund the victims' deposits, the OAG said.

In some instances, Garcia told customers she would personally photograph their weddings. But she canceled last-minute after double- or triple-booking herself and sent replacement photographers instead, the lawsuit claims.

Victims' combined losses are at least $75,000, authorities said.

"A wedding day is one of the most precious and cherished moments in the lives of a couple, and this business darkened those days by neglecting appointments, then refusing to refund customers," said Attorney General David Sunday.

Last year, after several couples told Inside Edition that they hired Garcia as their wedding photographer and never received their photos.

Wandering Stardust Collective's website has been taken down, and the business is listed as closed on Google. The listed phone number was not in service on Friday.

Multiple people left negative reviews for the business on Google a year ago.

"The photographer canceled on me an hour prior to my wedding and sent someone in her place so the shots I requested were not taken," one reviewer said. "There has been very little communication, including her husband communicating for her, my gallery is way past due and I just continue to be hit with excuse after excuse as well as many other brides! Very disappointed!"

The lawsuit requests court orders for Garcia to pay restitution to all victims and permanently ban her from owning or operating a business in Pennsylvania. The OAG is also seeking civil penalties of $1,000 for each violation and $3,000 for each violation involving a victim age 60 or older.

Customers who believe they were victims can file a complaint on the OAG's website.

Garcia didn't immediately respond to Patch's email seeking comment.