Ashley Lopez Lawsuit Against Wedding Kiss Ballroom, A Philadelphia Bride’s Wedding Day That Fell Apart

Ashley Lopez, a Northeast Philadelphia bride, sued wedding coordinator Traci R. Lawton — who operated under the name Wedding Kiss Ballroom — after paying more than $6,000 upfront for wedding services that were never fully delivered. Lopez won the lawsuit after Lawton failed to appear in court, but as of May 2026, she still has not received any payment.

This case has drawn significant local attention after Philadelphia’s Action News Troubleshooters reported the story in May 2026.

What Ashley Lopez Paid For — And What She Actually Got

Lopez hired Lawton after finding her through an online search. Lawton marketed herself as the “Fairy Bride Mother” and promised to handle catering, decorations, music, and officiating for a Center City wedding.

Lopez paid over $6,000 in advance for a full package. What she got on her wedding day was something very different.

About an hour before the ceremony, Lawton told Lopez the caterer had been in a car accident — then left the venue, leaving Lopez to finish the preparations herself.

That was just the beginning. A memorial table meant to honor Lopez’s late family members — including her husband’s father and her grandmother — was never set up. The meal service was delayed. The food that did arrive was not what she had paid for, and there was not enough to feed all her guests.

Lawton also misplaced the marriage certificate. Lopez said she had to file a duplicate and spend a week tracking Lawton down just to get her signature so the marriage could be legally recorded.

A Promised Refund That Never Came — So Lopez Sued

After the wedding, Lawton promised Lopez a refund. Lopez received nothing. That is why she filed the lawsuit.

Lopez won in court after Lawton did not appear. Despite that judgment, Lopez had still not received any payment as of the time the story was reported.

Winning a court judgment and actually collecting the money are two separate things. When a defendant ignores the court and the judgment goes unpaid, the winning party often has to take additional legal steps — like wage garnishment or asset liens — to recover what they are owed. Lopez’s situation reflects a problem many small-claims winners face across Pennsylvania.

What Traci Lawton Said About It

Lawton did respond to Action News when they reached out. She acknowledged it was “a day from hell” and said she was devastated by how things went. She said she had apologized repeatedly and still intended to pay Lopez back. She also confirmed that Ashley Lopez’s wedding was her last event before she closed down the business.

Wedding Kiss Ballroom was founded in 2003 and positioned itself as an affordable, full-service venue for intimate weddings of 125 guests or fewer, offering catering, decorating, coordinating, and officiating under one roof.

The business is not BBB accredited. A review on Zola from another bride described a similar experience — arriving to find nothing finished, no cocktail food, no mixed drinks at the bar, and no food available for guests by early evening, with the DJ playing music from a phone because no songs had been downloaded in advance.

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Are You Part of the Ashley Lopez Lawsuit?

This is not a class action. Ashley Lopez filed an individual civil lawsuit in Philadelphia. If you are a different bride who had a bad experience with Wedding Kiss Ballroom or Traci R. Lawton and lost money you never recovered, this case does not automatically include you.

However, if you paid for services that were not delivered, you may have your own legal options. A wrongful termination of service contract or breach of contract claim can be filed in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Court for amounts under $12,000 without needing an attorney. If your losses exceed that, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas handles those cases.

For guidance on how courts handle wedding vendor disputes and breach of contract claims, see our full breakdown at AllAboutLawyer.com — Consumer Fraud and Breach of Contract Claims.

Ashley Lopez Lawsuit — Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Plaintiff	Ashley Lopez
Defendant	Traci R. Lawton / Wedding Kiss Ballroom
Location	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Amount Paid	More than $6,000
Services Promised	Catering, decorations, music, officiating
Court Outcome	Lopez won — default judgment after Lawton did not appear
Payment Received	None as of May 2026
Business Status	Closed — Lawton confirmed this was her last wedding
Last Updated	May 19, 2026

Ashley Lopez Lawsuit — Case Timeline

Milestone	Date
Wedding date and incident	TBD — exact date not disclosed in reports
Lawsuit filed by Ashley Lopez	TBD — exact filing date not publicly available
Court judgment in favor of Lopez	TBD — exact ruling date not disclosed
Story reported by 6abc Action News	May 14, 2026
Payment received by Lopez	None as of May 19, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a lawsuit against Wedding Kiss Ballroom?

Yes. Ashley Lopez filed a civil lawsuit against Traci R. Lawton, who operated Wedding Kiss Ballroom in Philadelphia. Lopez won after Lawton failed to appear in court, but has not received any payment.

Did Ashley Lopez get her money back? 

Not yet. She won the court judgment, but as of May 2026 Lawton has not paid. Collecting on a civil judgment often requires additional legal steps like asset liens or wage garnishment in Pennsylvania.

Is Wedding Kiss Ballroom still operating?

 No. Lawton told Action News that Ashley Lopez’s wedding was her last event and that she has since closed the business.

Can other brides who had bad experiences with Wedding Kiss Ballroom join this lawsuit?

 No. This is not a class action. It is an individual civil lawsuit filed by Lopez. Other affected brides would need to file their own separate claims. Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Court handles contract disputes up to $12,000 without requiring an attorney.

How do I find a reputable wedding coordinator in Philadelphia?

 Lopez advised other brides to carefully research vendors, seek references and recommendations, and not rely solely on an online search before hiring. Checking BBB status, reading verified reviews on platforms like Zola or The Knot, and asking for a written contract are all essential steps.

What should I do if a wedding vendor takes my money and doesn’t deliver? 

Document everything — contracts, receipts, emails, and photos from the day. Send a written demand for a refund. If it is ignored, file in Magisterial District Court for amounts under $12,000. You do not need a lawyer for small claims in Pennsylvania. If your losses are larger, consult a consumer rights lawyer for a free legal consultation about breach of contract options.

Will Traci Lawton face additional legal consequences?

 That depends on Lopez’s next steps. A civil judgment is on record. If Lawton still does not pay, Lopez can pursue enforcement through Pennsylvania courts. Lawton has publicly stated she still intends to pay.

Sources & References

• Wedding Kiss Ballroom official website — weddingkissphilly.com
• Better Business Bureau — Wedding Kiss Ballroom Profile

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding your particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the 6abc Action News report and publicly available court and business records. Last Updated: May 19, 2026.