Couples will likely not be reimbursed after Sanctuary on Penn fire

INDIANAPOLIS – Couples are now learning that they may not be reimbursed after a popular downtown wedding venue burned down two years ago.

Charlotte Erbe and her partner got engaged just before Christmas of 2023. Shortly after, the couple visited the Sanctuary on Penn and booked it the same day.

“I fell in love with the sanctuary, and I loved the architecture,” said Erbe. “I loved the Catholic stained glass windows. It was everything I dreamed of as a wedding venue.”

That’s until one year later, her dreams burst into flames.

“Sure enough, there it is. I click on the live stream and it’s just crumbling down. I’m sobbing,” said Erbe.

The venue allowed couples to pay monthly, spread across the course of their engagement, which Erbe and her partner opted to do.

“We were just shy of six grand that we put into the venue before it burnt down,” said Erbe.

Ever since Christmas Eve, it’s only been radio silence from the owners.

Their phone number listed online is disconnected and brides have been unable to get in contact with them.

“The lack of communication has been the most frustrating part of this entire thing, not even an ‘I’m sorry,’ not a ‘We will do everything we can,’” said Erbe.

Several couples then turned to the Indiana Attorney General’s office for help. The Attorney General’s office said that they looked into 11 cases, including Erbe’s.

She was forwarded a letter from an attorney representing the venue last week.

“It was basically like, ‘Sorry, you guys are out of luck,’ like they didn’t have insurance, even though our contract literally stated that they had insurance,” said Erbe.

The lawyer added that the venue had serious financial struggles and now Erbe and her fiancé are on their own, having lost $6,000.

Couples are now having to reschedule all their plans.

Erbe is keeping their original holiday season wedding, but will be tying the knot at the statehouse instead.

“It’s not the wedding we want, but it’s the wedding that we are able to have at the moment,” she said.