Wedding in crisis: Couple scrambles after sudden closure of Massachusetts college

I'm Boston 25 News reporter Lisa Gresche on scene in Southbridge where one couple is desperately trying to save their fairytale wedding. We've done so much there. We had our first date. Ezekiel Diaz and Hannah Tomeno taking us back to where it all began. We really fell in love over there at Anna Marie College. It only made sense for the wedding of their dreams to be on campus. The deposit was in and the countdown was on until the big day, August 1st. Until just a few months out, they caught wind of what they hoped was just a rumor. I was confused first and then I was very emotional. Not only was the college abruptly closing, ending all academic operations by the end of the spring 2026 semester, after a few frantic emails, the groom received this response about the reception. Hi Ezekiel, I am so very sorry, but due to the closing of the college, we will not be able to accommodate you. It just broke my heart that now we can't do the wedding of our dreams and now we're rushing. Ezekiel and Hannah now have to find a new venue with no real notice in the matter of weeks, a next to impossible task in the world of wedding planning. All while their deposit is seemingly wrapped up in the college's sudden closure. Money they need to secure a new venue. A financial nightmare. I spent close to 60 hours a week the entire year just to get money to financially deposit into them and that's not even considering the DJ and the photographer. Now a pile of wedding decor is sitting in the living room. A special space on the wall is being held for what should be the happy couple's wedding photo and the groom is doing whatever it takes to hold it together for his bride to be. I'm just trying to do the best I can for her. I love her no matter what. Now the college did get back to us to say the couple will be receiving their deposit back by the end of the week, but when we asked what was taking so long and why the couple wasn't hearing back initially, they said on top of the closing, they've also been dealing with cyber issues. In Southbridge, I'm Lisa Greschi for your local station, Boston 25 News. Other local colleges shutting down include Hampshire College in Amherst and LaBeret College of Healthcare in Milton. Both cited financial struggles and dwindling in enrollment for the cause.