Wedding Bartending Business Accused of Ghosting Clients and Withholding Refunds

A wedding bartending business, Sip of Eden, launched in October 2024 by Eden Regula, is facing accusations from numerous brides across Michigan and Ohio. Clients allege that after paying upfront for services, Regula canceled last minute, failed to appear at weddings, and withheld refunds, causing significant disruption to their special events.

Initially praised for its service, Sip of Eden began receiving negative attention by the end of summer 2026. Brides reported Regula becoming unresponsive, accepting multiple bookings for the same date, and failing to provide promised services. Some clients accused the business of taking thousands of dollars and then disappearing.

Regula, 26, told the Daily Mail that she never intended to abandon clients and claimed harassment had escalated to the point where details about her family and children were shared in a private Facebook group created by affected brides. She stated her lawyer advised against direct contact and that she would have continued working if not for the harassment.

One bride, Zoe Young, booked Sip of Eden in October 2025 for her August 22, 2026, wedding. She paid $450 upfront for bartending services, with a contract stipulating a full refund if the company canceled. Days before the wedding, Regula informed Young she could not work due to her health and promised a refund, which Young claims never arrived. Young later discovered Regula had allegedly booked multiple weddings for the same day.

Emma Vanderwaal-Gomez paid $650 upfront for nonalcoholic drinks, mixers, ice, and cups for her September 27, 2026, wedding. Communication with Regula faltered in the weeks leading up to the event, with Regula citing being on vacation and later claiming illness. Regula's associate, Madison Bagdonas, who also served as Regula's nanny, communicated with Vanderwaal-Gomez, at one point threatening legal action for harassment after Vanderwaal-Gomez requested a refund.

Helaina Spoutz paid approximately $650 in December 2025 for an eight-hour bartending package for her October 3, 2026, wedding. Less than a week before her event, she received a message from Elite Bartenders LLC, a company that had acquired Sip of Eden and was honoring existing contracts. Elite Bartenders ultimately provided services for Spoutz's wedding.

Regula and Bagdonas stated that Sip of Eden was sold to Elite Bartenders on September 21, 2026, with responsibility for outstanding refunds and future bookings transferred to the new owner, Jason Allen. Regula directed customers with disputes to contact Allen, asserting that the public nature of the complaints harmed her business's image.

Some brides have reported submitting documentation for a potential class-action lawsuit against Sip of Eden, although no suit had been officially filed as of mid-October. The business contracts reportedly include clauses for dispute resolution through negotiation, mediation, or arbitration before legal action.

Regula cited undergoing surgery in August 2026 for the removal of her fallopian tubes, during which cancer was discovered. She claimed to have continued working weddings despite pain and bleeding. However, other brides learned of similar health-related excuses from Regula, leading to skepticism about the extent of her planned services.

Bagdonas claimed she infiltrated a private Facebook group of brides and alleged they were plotting to harm Regula. She stated that threats were made against Regula and her family, including sharing addresses and children's whereabouts. Bagdonas sent cease-and-desist letters to some individuals involved in the dispute, asserting she was attempting to de-escalate confrontations.

Many brides were left scrambling to find alternative arrangements at the last minute, incurring additional costs to salvage their wedding days. Some are still seeking financial recovery for services they paid for but did not receive.